The essential point, however, remains: there are differences between men and women, a fact most of us probably appreciate. From the hotelier's perspective the question is less about the differences in gender than about whether ladies and gents should be treated differently. Do women, in fact, want to be treated differently from their male colleagues and counterparts?

Speaking as a woman and as the general manager of a hotel that enjoys a sizable and loyal clientele of women, I must say that the simple answer is "No." Most women do not want to be considered a "special category" of hotel guest any more than they want to be considered a special category in the workplace. They want to be treated with the consideration and respect that any guest is provided. Some, particularly women traveling alone, might even feel that being too obviously identified as a "woman" guest draws unwanted attention and thus threatens their sense of security.

What women want from a hotel experience, I believe, and what we try very hard to provide, is to have their needs and expectations met. A pleasant surprise or two is also nice. What is very important is to recognize that women's needs and expectations, ...