Business Travel Question

[Anonymous]

As a woman, if you were going on a short (3 day) business trip with two male colleagues, would you be comfortable with sharing a rented house (each has own bath/bedroom) vs. staying in hotels in your own rooms? Female is new to the company, two males have worked together for many years. All are married.

[Anonymous]

Wouldn't be my preference if I didn't know the males at all, but I know that in many firms economies of scale lead the travel offices to recommend such arrangements...

[Anonymous]

I would definitely prefer a hotel. Not so much for safety reasons but because there is too much risk in a house that they will expect you to be the wife role and that isn't the way I'd want to start a professional relationship.

[Anonymous]

No, I’d want to stay in a hotel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, I’d want to stay in a hotel.

+1

[Anonymous]

OP here. The accommodations are not so much a budget issue, it's more that the team leader (one of the males) thinks it would be a better bonding experience to all stay together. Also, the shared space in the house would be used as a quiet meeting space to brainstorm/debrief rather than having to rent/find another space. Meals would all be at restaurants/takeout so no one would be expected to cook anything like that.

As the female, if you really felt uncomfortable with the house situation, would you say something or just go along with the plans since, financially and logistically, they do make more sense?

As an aside, I am not one of the three people traveling. I am the admin who has been asked to book the house and I don't think the woman has been asked if this is ok with her. She hasn't expressed any discomfort but I feel like, as a courtesy, she should be asked. I'm just following orders but I feel like maybe I should say something to my boss, who I am sure is just not thinking about this from the female perspective.

[Anonymous]

I'd want a hotel.

[Anonymous]

My company had some people stay in air Bnb apartments instead of hotels - it was a significant cost savings. Fortunately I wasn't traveling but from what people said, it was less than ideal.

[Anonymous]

I would NOT be okay sharing a house with coworkers.

[Anonymous]

If it's not a cost issue, can you book them a nice hotel suite with living room + 2 separate rooms? That way everyone has privacy AND you get quiet meeting space.

[Anonymous]

It depends on which of my male colleagues... If I didn't know them, then I'd prefer not to stay with them in a house.

[Anonymous]

No, I would not be okay with that arrangement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The accommodations are not so much a budget issue, it's more that the team leader (one of the males) thinks it would be a better bonding experience to all stay together. Also, the shared space in the house would be used as a quiet meeting space to brainstorm/debrief rather than having to rent/find another space. Meals would all be at restaurants/takeout so no one would be expected to cook anything like that.

As the female, if you really felt uncomfortable with the house situation, would you say something or just go along with the plans since, financially and logistically, they do make more sense?

As an aside, I am not one of the three people traveling. I am the admin who has been asked to book the house and I don't think the woman has been asked if this is ok with her. She hasn't expressed any discomfort but I feel like, as a courtesy, she should be asked. I'm just following orders but I feel like maybe I should say something to my boss, who I am sure is just not thinking about this from the female perspective.

If you feel comfortable approaching the subject with your boss (even if you're not 100% comfortable), I think you should.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it's not a cost issue, can you book them a nice hotel suite with living room + 2 separate rooms? That way everyone has privacy AND you get quiet meeting space.

This for the two men and a separate room for the woman.

[Anonymous]

I would not be ok with it. Why don't you reach out to her and say, are you ok with me booking a hotel for the three of you or would you like to talk to the boss about it (or I'd be happy to talk to him but didn't want to overstep my role).