The News Republic is reporting that the Dukes Hotel in London may be setting itself up for a bit of controversy in the name of safety. The hotel has become the latest to roll out a suite of amenities for women—despite a ruling that declared a similar plan in Copenhagen illegal under discrimination laws.
Some of the hotel's rooms will become "Duchess Rooms," filled with treats for single female travelers or groups of women.
The Duchess rooms will be looked after by exclusively female room attendants, contain extra items such as a makeup mirror, hair dryer and styling accessories, and offer a selection of glossy magazines. The bathrooms will have female amenities, and the rooms will be filled with fresh flowers.
While this seems like great news for girlfriend getaways or single ladies, the experiences of the Bella Sky Hotel in Copenhagen suggest that some guests may not appreciate the new setup.
The property, which opened last year as Europe's largest design hotel, blocked off a whole floor for women, adding extra amenities to keep its female guests happy. The move caught the attention of a member of the public who complained about the property to Denmark's Equal Treatment Board, which ruled that the initiative was illegal. The hotel has been ordered to remove the ban on male access to the floor, and the case is still ongoing.
No word yet on whether the Dukes initiative will generate a similar outcry, but with European hotel guests reporting that one of their biggest concerns is safety, any step to help guests feel more secure seems like a step in the right direction.