Are Hotels Only Designed With Men In Mind?

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

Not long ago‭, ‬I stayed at one of Dubai's most elegant new hotels‭ ‬-‭ ‬beautifully designed‭, ‬refined in its details‭, ‬and clearly created with care‭. ‬But as I settled into my suite‭, ‬I found myself wondering‭: ‬who was this space really designed for‭?‬

It didn't quite feel intuitive‭. ‬Or feminine‭.‬

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The space lacked the tactile‭, ‬textural touches that invite emotion‭ ‬-‭ ‬softness‭, ‬calm‭, ‬curiosity‭, ‬joy‭. ‬It didn't flow in a way that made daily rituals effortless‭, ‬though I did quietly applaud the hairdryer plug being by the mirror‭ (‬surprisingly rare‭, ‬as many women know‭). ‬A small but telling win‭ ‬-‭ ‬proof that someone had considered a woman's experience‮...‬‭ ‬just not all the way through‭.‬

The stay got me thinking more deeply about the female luxury experience‭, ‬and how often it's overlooked‭. ‬In a world where women drive a significant share of luxury spending‭, ‬why do so many products and spaces still feel‭ ‬impersonal‭?‬

This became the starting point for our recent‭ ‬Women Connecting the World of Luxury‭ ‬roundtable in Dubai‭, ‬where I asked a dynamic group of female leaders from across the UAE's luxury ecosystem‭: ‬“What does luxury feel like for women today‭?‬”

What we uncovered is that luxury for women is more about what the heart feels than what the eyes see‭. ‬The seamless flow from one‭ ‬moment to the next‭. ‬The comfort that makes you never want to leave‭. ‬The joy of small rituals made easier‭. ‬We want spaces that understand why and how we travel solo‭ ‬-‭ ‬what is the reason and who is with us‭.‬

Designing With‭ ‬-‭ ‬Not Just For‭ ‬-‭ ‬Women‭ ‬

Pallavi Dean‭, ‬founder of acclaimed Dubai-based design studio ROAR‭, ‬summed it up well‭: ‬true emotional intelligence in design is still rare‭. ‬It's not about aesthetics‭ ‬-‭ ‬pink versus grey‭ ‬-‭ ‬it's about intention and sensory detail‭. ‬Where's the light‭? ‬Where's the privacy‭? ‬Is there a space to rest a handbag or lay out skincare‭? ‬The details we notice‭ ‬-‭ ‬and miss‭ ‬-‭ ‬are different‭.‬

Our recent research with FINN Partners across the GCC backs this up‭: ‬affluent travellers‭ ‬-‭ ‬especially women‭ ‬-‭ ‬seek experiences that are restorative‭, ‬culturally immersive‭, ‬and emotionally resonant‭. ‬Today's buzzwords aren't about‭ ‬“exclusivity”‭. ‬They're‭ ‬“connection”‭, ‬“wellness”‭, ‬and‭ ‬“intention‭.‬”

And yet‭, ‬when we walk into many luxury spaces today‭, ‬what greets us‭? ‬Beige-on-beige interiors‭, ‬cold marble lobbies‭, ‬perfectly styled minimalism that somehow forgets to be human‭. ‬Where's the texture‭? ‬Where's the storytelling‭? ‬Where's the quiet elegance that invites you to exhale‭?‬

This doesn't mean‭ ‬“female-friendly”‭ ‬needs to be pastel or performative‭. ‬It means it should be emotionally attuned‭. ‬Can I exhale here‭? ‬Do I feel safe here‭? ‬Is the space inviting or alienating‭?‬

One roundtable guest put it best‭: ‬“The real luxury is not needing to explain what you need‭. ‬The space already knows‭.‬”

That's the kind of design we need more of‭. ‬What excites me is that we continue to see these sensibilities in Beverly Hills‭. ‬Many of the most exciting new openings are designed with female sensibilities in mind‭ ‬-‭ ‬from wellness clinics to art spaces to boutique experiences designed with emotional intelligence in mind rather than spectacle‭.‬‭ ‬I'm excited to champion and support these stories‭, ‬not just because they resonate with women‭, ‬but because they reflect the future‭ ‬direction of luxury itself‭.‬

Quiet Influence‭, ‬Deep Impact

In many parts of the Middle East‭, ‬women are driving decisions around travel‭, ‬wellness‭, ‬and lifestyle with clarity and confidence‭ ‬-often behind the scenes‭. ‬

When a woman recommends a brand or shares a space that moved her to those who trust her opinions or knowledge‭, ‬it sticks‭. ‬It shapes perception in ways no billboard ever could‭.‬

Understanding and honouring that influence means creating experiences that feel generous‭, ‬not transactional‭. ‬Spaces that make room for memory‭, ‬connection‭, ‬and care‭.‬

Craft‭, ‬Culture‭, ‬and Connection

When we asked what today's female traveller truly values‭, ‬the answers were clear‭. ‬They want beauty beyond the surface‭ ‬-‭ ‬craftsmanship with a story‭, ‬immersive experiences‭, ‬and design that's thoughtful and sensory-rich‭.‬

One panelist said‭: ‬“They don't want to be in the hotel ballroom‭. ‬They want lunch with a Saudi woman in her home‭.‬”‭ ‬That image stayed with me‭. ‬Because that's what we all crave now‭: ‬authenticity‭, ‬intimacy‭, ‬and the sense that luxury is something you feel in your heart‭, ‬not just post on‭ ‬Instagram‭.‬

The Feminine Future of Luxury

The future of luxury lies in spaces that understand people‭, ‬not just their demographics‭, ‬but their emotions‭, ‬cultures‭, ‬and stories‭. ‬That means asking better questions‭: ‬How does a space make you feel‭? ‬Is it comforting‭? ‬Beautiful in an unspoken way‭? ‬Does it‭ ‬care‭?‬

For me‭, ‬that's the standard in Beverly Hills‭.‬

This isn't about replacing masculine ideas of luxury‭. ‬It's about expanding the definition to include softness‭, ‬stillness‭, ‬and intuition‭ ‬-‭ ‬not as afterthoughts‭, ‬but as design principles in their own right‭.‬

And sometimes‭, ‬that begins with the smallest detail‭ ‬-‭ ‬like making sure the plug is right where it needs to be‭.‬

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