Eight out of the top 10 safest cities for female business travellers are in Europe, according to a new report by Good Travel Management.
The UK's highest-placed city in the rankings was London, which came in 19th.
The report analysed factors including gender pay gap parity, women’s safety, female workforce participation and proportion of well-reviewed hotels. The report also delved into average review scores of co-working spaces and taxi services to produce a guide to the safest and most supportive destinations for female business travellers.
In first place, with a score 9.04 out of 10 is Switzerland’s capital, Bern. Bern scored highly among all the categories, but has the strongest score in women’s safety (9.91) which is second only to Copenhagen.
Bern also has the highest percentage of high-quality hotels, with just under 70 per cent averaging a score of four stars or higher. It also has the highest average online review score of co-working spaces of all the cities studied, with an average score of 4.45 out of five, while it similarly had an impressive average taxi rating of 4.23 out of five, making it an ideal destination for female business travellers.
In second place is Wellington, New Zealand, with a score of 8.11 out of 10, an ‘outstanding’ workforce participation rate – the highest of all cities studied – and strong women's safety metrics (9.38).
Notably, New Zealand also has the highest female workforce participation rate in the world (66.9 per cent). This strong cultural emphasis on gender equality enhances the appeal of the city as a destination where female business travellers can thrive both professionally and personally.
Just missing out on the top two place is Amsterdam, with a score of 7.86. Amsterdam performed well across all categories studied, in particular for women’s safety, for which it secured a score of 9.47, placing it seventh in the world for this category.
Amsterdam ranked the best for its exceptional quality of business travel-related amenities. More than half of its hotels are reviewed at four stars or higher, while it has the second-best reviewed taxi services in the world, receiving an average review score of 4.59, second only to India’s New Delhi (4.71). It similarly has an impressive average review score of 4.6 for its co-working amenities.
Stockholm, Sweden (7.63) and Vienna, Austria (7.45) complete the top five safest cities for female business travellers.
Laura Busby, commercial director for Good Travel Management, said “Women’s safety is often an overlooked aspect of business travel, despite its critical importance as more women take on roles requiring frequent travel.
“Ensuring that female professionals feel secure and supported while on the move is not just a matter of well-being but also of enabling them to perform at their best. Partnering with a travel management company ensures trips are planned with safety and inclusivity at their core, offering invaluable support for female travellers and businesses alike.
“Organisations that prioritise safety and inclusivity not only protect their employees but also enhance their overall travel experience, paving the way for greater success and productivity.”
You can view the full study findings here.
