Call them sexist, but one Brisbane hotel is giving female guests preferential treatment - by offering them access to their very own, gorgeously girlie "Ladies Only" floor.
In what is believed to be an Australian first, the Best Western Portal Hotel is one of a handful of international hotels catering for the growing number of independent female travellers who demand luxury and security in equal measure.
According to owner Georgie Woods, the decision to ban boys - from one floor at least - was based on demand within the market. "These days, women account for around 40 percent of Australia's business travellers - that's a lot of ladies travelling alone, often in unfamiliar cities without a good working knowledge of the area," Ms Woods said.
It's not surprising, then, to learn that 60 percent of women identify safety as their main concern when choosing travel accommodation.
"It goes without saying that security on our Ladies Only floor is paramount - but as we don't have to worry about appealing to male guests, we've also had a lot of fun designing a feminine haven packed with girlie treats that only a female guest could truly appreciate!"
Heightened security is provided by secure access elevator keycards and even the hotel staff employed to carry out duties on the floor are exclusively female. Rooms have been designed with a female aesthetic in mind and each features a fresh seasonal bloom, scented candle, waffle robe and slippers, complimentary women's magazines and a refresher unwind pack featuring organic beauty products and MOR bathroom products. Cloud 9 GHD hair straighteners and yoga mats are available on request and can be purchased at the end of the stay.
In place of the standard minibar is the Portal PamperBar, featuring an extensive range of Yuva organic beauty products, Yealands Way Carbon Zero wine range made by award-winning female winemaker Tamra Washington and hair dressing services available from leading Brisbane salon Vogue Nationale.
Conveniently located within a stone's throw of Brisbane's central business district, the Best Western Portal Hotel boasts 84 individual rooms - 11 of which are dedicated Ladies Only accommodation. The hotel itself has just undergone a quarter of a million dollar refurbishment, transforming it from humdrum city lodgings into a stylish boutique destination filled with bespoke furniture and antique pieces.
Antique solid steel gates, once 'the portal' to a 19th century Parisian mansion, provide an intriguing front entrance, while original artwork and cleverly contrasting interiors ensure every corner of The Portal has been thoughtfully designed.
Free wireless internet, iPod docking stations in every room and a specialised turndown service also come as standard. Guests can also enjoy the culinary delights on offer at the "O" Bar and Restaurant, the latest venture from the restaurateurs behind Brisbane's favourite breakfast venue the Gunshop Café.
For more information or, to book accommodation at the Best Western Portal Hotel, call 131 779 (from Australia), 0800 237 893 (from New Zealand) or log on to www.bestwestern.com.au/portalhotel
