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Privacy, lighting: How hotels can cater to luxury for women
“Female-friendly” does not need to be pastel or performative. It means it should be emotionally attuned
- PUBLISHED: Fri 22 Aug 2025, 4:51 PM
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.
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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.
