Women
A Female Business Traveler
Aug 24th
I am a woman who travels the world on business, thus making me a business woman. Should this fact separate me from others who travel, such as a business man? It’s an ongoing question that has warranted many articles and even a contest, GT‘s Female Global Traveler of the Year.
I do believe that as a business traveler, I have the same goals as my male counterparts — to get business done. However, the way we view the world along the way can be very different. I believe I take note of different aspects of a trip than a male traveler might. It could be the details of the hotel room — is it clean? Is the carpet dirty? What floor am I on? How close is my room to the elevator? — to noticing the everyday details of the people I pass on the street.
The differences in the way men and women view the world is an argument that could last a lifetime. But, as a woman business traveler, I enjoy witnessing other women from around the world and seeing how they vary and compare to me.
In the boardroom, we all get work done. It’s fun for me, however, to see a beauty salon in Abu Dhabi or a shopping mall in Tokyo and know the women inside are doing the same things I would do in Manhattan.
Whether I am in the United States, Asia or the Middle East, I do not need to wear the same clothes or speak the same language to understand my surroundings. It’s the small things in life that are fun to appreciate — watching a group of girls in Tokyo giggle as a group of boys walk by, for example. Some things are universal — compassion, health, family. I’m proud to be a woman who travels for business. I know that oceans may separate us, but women everywhere encounter similar day-to-day challenges and accomplishments no matter what.
– Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher
Girls’ Weekend
Jul 25th
Nearly every year, the women of my family come together to enjoy a weekend of fun and relaxation. No menfolk, no counting calories, no rigid schedule or rules. We’ve been doing this since my daughters were young, and now the girls of their generation (who were all too young to come along on those first excursions because — another requirement — there is no whining or being taken care of on these trips) are young mommies themselves. They have come to discover the joys and blessings of leaving kids, husbands and responsibilities behind for a few days of just hanging out with the girls.
Perhaps we are unique, but our group is blessed with very little drama and a bountiful appreciation for each other. A quick wit and the ability to laugh at oneself are hallmarks of each of us, whether daughter, sister, aunt or mom. Usually, we find a big house at the beach or a lodge in the mountains to rent for a long weekend, and a dozen or more of us will trickle in over the course of a Friday (depending on work schedules and the distance from home). We bring along beverages and goodies of choice, perhaps a game or two, and a store of family news and chat to share. There are always those who stay up late and others who rise early and get the coffee on; those who head out for a walk in the cool of morning and those who prefer to just find a cozy corner to curl up in with a good book.
That is the charm of a girls’ weekend: Everyone is comfortable with doing her own thing without pressure to take part in any group activity, but there is usually at least one other person prepared to join you when you want company for a shopping excursion or a little outdoor activity. We share cooking duties or, more often than not, let someone else do the cooking for us with take-out or a restaurant meal. Most of us are avid readers, so there are often lively book discussions as well.
This year, for the first time, the venue for this much-anticipated event was held in a family home . . . mine, to be exact. It gave me the opportunity to share our new place with a bunch of my female relatives, most for the first time. With cute shops to peruse in nearby Grants Pass, Ashland and Jacksonville; outdoor activities galore; and an assortment of other avenues of entertainment, ours seemed to be the right place to host our gathering. Today, seven of us enjoyed an exhilarating (and wet) jet boat ride on the Rogue River (a nice way to spend a 100-degree afternoon) while the rest partook of a little shopping and a leisurely lunch in historic Jacksonville. Tonight we shared Lemon Drops and dinner together, followed by a new event, a book swap where we traded off our favorite reads with each other. Tomorrow we’ll enjoy brunch and a shower for my niece and her first baby before everyone (except me, of course) returns home.
We’ll all come away from this time together refreshed and recharged for our daily lives and responsibilities. We will also have tightened the bonds that tie us together through blood or marriage, thankful to be part of this loving and lively family.
– Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editorÂ
A Girl’s Gotta Go
Sep 18th
A great organization, A Girl’s Gotta Go, was recently brought to my attention. The company specializes in vacation packages for women and by women. The website features a ton of great vacation packages for girlfriend getaways or other trips for women. There is also a tool to request a customized vacation package from the organization.
But, what truly impressed me about A Girl’s Gotta Go is the charitable nature of the organization. A portion of each vacation package purchased through the company is donated to breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment. A Girl’s Gotta Go is truly dedicated not only to women, but to women’s issues. The approach of October is the perfect time to get involved, as October marks Breast Cancer Awareness month.
A perfect way to get involved is to join the A Girl’s Gotta Go Team for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The company is involved in the Boston, Mass., race taking place Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Seaport World Trade Center.
Another great offering from the company is the Girlfriend Cruise4Cause. The package provides a supportive, stress-free vacation getaway for females battling any kind of cancer. Every reservation equals a $25 donation to the American Cancer Society. The goal is to raise $2,500 for the organization. The cruise is a four-night getaway to Fort Lauderdale, Key West and Cozumel aboard Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas, from Oct. 22-26. For more information, visit www.agirlsgottago.com/charitable-giving.
Help support a great cause and enjoy a great getaway with A Girl’s Gotta Go. Female travelers may also be interested in participating in Global Traveler‘s Female Global Traveler of the Year contest. Enter the contest here.
–Kimberly Krol, eFlyer editor, circulation and public relations executive
Are You the “Female Global Traveler of the Year”?
Sep 10th
Global Traveler is currently running a “Female Global Traveler of the Year” contest. To enter the contest, click here. Personally, I think this is an important issue for us to address, as females still do face challenges, not only in the business world, but also in the travel industry.
During my travels, I have noticed there are certain precautions I must take as a female that males would not even have to consider. A trip abroad for me would be very different from a trip abroad for Fran. When traveling alone, I must consider my safety when planning where I am going, how I will get there and what time of the day or night I will be traveling. I am sure these are factors Fran considers when traveling, but they do not limit him in the same way they would limit me, simply because I am a 5-foot, 3-inch female and Fran is a male over 6 feet tall.
Although the height differences between men and women are not always this drastic, the dichotomy between males and females in business and travel still remains, and is more complicated than height and physical strength. Business originated as a “man’s world.” A man behind a CEO desk is rarely questioned. Even in my own experiences meeting women in upper management, I think to myself, “Hmmm, I wonder how she got here?”. When I encounter a male in the same position, maybe a male undeserving of his status, I think to myself, “I know exactly how you got here!”
This issue of questioning a female’s status, while conceding to the male role, arises because it is more difficult for women to reach higher management positions. We have to prove ourselves more, and I think this stems from the underlying, basic, back-to-nature fact that women have babies. A pregnant woman means maternity leave.
It is easy to sit and complain that this is a man’s world, but I think a more appropriate and accurate standpoint is to understand that life is unfair. Women have always faced challenges and we always will. What is important is the fact that we will continue to succeed. A woman in an upper management position will get paid less than a male, but she will probably receive more recognition because she had a harder climb to the top. In a fair world, we would get both the paycheck and the respect. I am just glad shoulder pads are no longer in style!
–Courtney Centeno, account executive
