New Marriott with Women-Only Floor
May 16, 2007, 6:00 pm
#1
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New Marriott with Women-Only Floor
New JW Marriott hotel sets space just for women
Wednesday, May 16, 2007By Chris KnapeThe Grand Rapids Press
GRAND RAPIDS -- Among the amenities planned for the new JW Marriott hotel, one might be a first in America.
The Alticor Inc.-owned riverfront hotel is reserving its 19th floor and a lounge exclusively for female clientele when it opens Sept. 19.
Andrea Groom, a spokeswoman for the 24-story, 340-room hotel, said the idea recognizes more than half of all business travelers are women.
"A lot of women are saying they're not feeling like they're safe when they're traveling to a strange city," Groom said. "They don't necessarily want to go down to a lounge and feel like they are getting hit on by guys."
The women-only rooms also will have amenities not found in other rooms, such as chenille throw blankets, ionic hair dryers, jewelry holders and special bath products.
Access to those rooms will come at a $25 to $30 per night premium over standard rates of about $229.
So, is it legal?
Harold Core, a spokesman for the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, said he wasn't sure.
"You cannot deny a person services just because they are male or female," Core said. "In a lot of cases, there could be a nondiscriminatory reason where a hotel would have that kind of set-up or policy. But I can't speak to what that reasoning would be."
He cited restrooms and locker rooms as examples of gender-specific amenities that are legal.
"I can imagine if this is something they're announcing publicly, it is something that will either come to a court or come to our commission," he said.
George Aquino, general manager of the hotel, said with only a small percentage of women-only rooms, he doesn't expect it to become an issue.
News of the women-only floor and lounge emerged Tuesday as the company announced a Sept. 19 grand opening gala. The hotel's restaurant and other amenities will be open Sept. 21.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007By Chris KnapeThe Grand Rapids Press
GRAND RAPIDS -- Among the amenities planned for the new JW Marriott hotel, one might be a first in America.
The Alticor Inc.-owned riverfront hotel is reserving its 19th floor and a lounge exclusively for female clientele when it opens Sept. 19.
Andrea Groom, a spokeswoman for the 24-story, 340-room hotel, said the idea recognizes more than half of all business travelers are women.
"A lot of women are saying they're not feeling like they're safe when they're traveling to a strange city," Groom said. "They don't necessarily want to go down to a lounge and feel like they are getting hit on by guys."
The women-only rooms also will have amenities not found in other rooms, such as chenille throw blankets, ionic hair dryers, jewelry holders and special bath products.
Access to those rooms will come at a $25 to $30 per night premium over standard rates of about $229.
So, is it legal?
Harold Core, a spokesman for the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, said he wasn't sure.
"You cannot deny a person services just because they are male or female," Core said. "In a lot of cases, there could be a nondiscriminatory reason where a hotel would have that kind of set-up or policy. But I can't speak to what that reasoning would be."
He cited restrooms and locker rooms as examples of gender-specific amenities that are legal.
"I can imagine if this is something they're announcing publicly, it is something that will either come to a court or come to our commission," he said.
George Aquino, general manager of the hotel, said with only a small percentage of women-only rooms, he doesn't expect it to become an issue.
News of the women-only floor and lounge emerged Tuesday as the company announced a Sept. 19 grand opening gala. The hotel's restaurant and other amenities will be open Sept. 21.
Okay--let the discussion ensue!!! And would you pay more this?
May 16, 2007, 7:06 pm
#2
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I don't, in the least, feel threatened by men in the club lounge when traveling alone. I wouldn't pay more for a womens' only floor and lounge. If a guy hits on you (collective, of course) just tell him to take a hike.
May 16, 2007, 7:36 pm
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I do fine in nice hotels. So far so good as far as having problems or guys try to hit on me, but I'm older than their mothers! I wouldn't pay extra.
May 16, 2007, 9:49 pm
#4
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Lovely that there is a Women Only Floor. 
The thing that most concerns me is getting from the parking lot to the floor
Last year I stayed in a hotel at BOS (might have been Hilton or Marriott) and the scariest thing of all was the walk from the terminal which led to a tunnel which led to an unsupervised hotel entrance. I would like to see a little more security in parking structures and less concern about club lounges.
The thing that most concerns me is getting from the parking lot to the floor
Last year I stayed in a hotel at BOS (might have been Hilton or Marriott) and the scariest thing of all was the walk from the terminal which led to a tunnel which led to an unsupervised hotel entrance. I would like to see a little more security in parking structures and less concern about club lounges.
May 16, 2007, 11:25 pm
#5
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The BOS Hilton has you go through the parking lot. You can catch a shuttle to the hotel as well. However, you bring up a great point - its the walk to the gym in some hotels (usually away from the hotel - Park Hyatt DC, Park Hyatt Philadephia to name two), that gives me the heebies.
May 16, 2007, 11:55 pm
#6
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I'm glad this was posted here -- I never go to the Marriott or other forums where I could've seen this. I agree that it is the walk from the parking lot or even walks back to the hotel at night from a meeting or restaurant around the corner that make me more concerned. Hotel gyms also can be weird when you're the only one there and a man comes in.
For business travel, I can only imagine the reaction from a client getting a higher bill for me to stay on a women's floor than staying on a "normal" floor -- would not be good!
For business travel, I can only imagine the reaction from a client getting a higher bill for me to stay on a women's floor than staying on a "normal" floor -- would not be good!
May 17, 2007, 7:06 am
#8
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Most of my business trips are to large conventions these days. The hotel is often huge, with hallways to match.
I absolutely hate walking back to my room alone. A colleague (male) and I asked to be on the same floor to make it easy to work on a presentation for the convention. I wound up with a double bonus. It was easy to get work done as well as having someone to go back to the floor with.
I'm not sure I would spend the extra money for a women's floor on a normal basis, but I just may when going to a huge hotel.
I absolutely hate walking back to my room alone. A colleague (male) and I asked to be on the same floor to make it easy to work on a presentation for the convention. I wound up with a double bonus. It was easy to get work done as well as having someone to go back to the floor with.
I'm not sure I would spend the extra money for a women's floor on a normal basis, but I just may when going to a huge hotel.
May 17, 2007, 7:09 am
#9
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They almost had me. No, I wasn't interested in the women's only lounge (in some places, that's known as a bathroom 
). It wasn't the women's only floor. It was the amenities they listed. But.....why would I pay $25-30 extra for it after the base price of $229? For that standard rate, they can add the amenities on a complementary basis to attract more clientele.
The concern about safety as a selling point holds no water considering the other issues already brought up. Nope, not interested.
). It wasn't the women's only floor. It was the amenities they listed. But.....why would I pay $25-30 extra for it after the base price of $229? For that standard rate, they can add the amenities on a complementary basis to attract more clientele.The concern about safety as a selling point holds no water considering the other issues already brought up. Nope, not interested.
May 17, 2007, 7:14 am
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May 17, 2007, 7:39 am
#11
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No one has ever followed or threatened me.
It's the old, in-bred NYC girl warning about never walking anywhere that's deserted. My radar goes off immediately when I'm alone in a long corridor.
It's the old, in-bred NYC girl warning about never walking anywhere that's deserted. My radar goes off immediately when I'm alone in a long corridor.
May 17, 2007, 7:41 am
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They almost had me. No, I wasn't interested in the women's only lounge (in some places, that's known as a bathroom ). It wasn't the women's only floor. It was the amenities they listed. But.....why would I pay $25-30 extra for it after the base price of $229? For that standard rate, they can add the amenities on a complementary basis to attract more clientele.
The concern about safety as a selling point holds no water considering the other issues already brought up. Nope, not interested.
). It wasn't the women's only floor. It was the amenities they listed. But.....why would I pay $25-30 extra for it after the base price of $229? For that standard rate, they can add the amenities on a complementary basis to attract more clientele.The concern about safety as a selling point holds no water considering the other issues already brought up. Nope, not interested.
That seems wrong to me... I honestly cannot say I know what it would be like to feel unsafe as a woman... but I do think it is wrong to charge someone a premium for that feel of safety.
I personally do not see any discrimination... there are still other lounges... and rooms available. I guess the issue would be... lets say the hotel was full except for the Women Only rooms... and a man wants to check in. I assume he would be rejected due to no "non women" rooms available. Could he claim discrimination? Perhaps.
William
May 17, 2007, 7:54 am
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so interesting....
Out here in the west a Texas man always gives a woman a wide berth when walking just to show he means no harm.
May 17, 2007, 7:58 am
#14
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I felt at first that Marriott was doing something good... to help with the perception of safety for women. But then I saw the "premium" you would have to pay to for this safety.
That seems wrong to me... I honestly cannot say I know what it would be like to feel unsafe as a woman... but I do think it is wrong to charge someone a premium for that feel of safety.
That seems wrong to me... I honestly cannot say I know what it would be like to feel unsafe as a woman... but I do think it is wrong to charge someone a premium for that feel of safety.
I guess the issue would be... lets say the hotel was full except for the Women Only rooms... and a man wants to check in. I assume he would be rejected due to no "non women" rooms available. Could he claim discrimination? Perhaps.