Noise is a top guest complaint but many hotels can’t fix it
CNN • • business
Key Points:
- Noise is one of the top concerns for hotel guests after cleanliness, with sources ranging from loud air conditioning and refrigerators to noisy elevators and rowdy neighbors, impacting travelers' sleep quality.
- Hotels have increasingly recognized the importance of a quiet environment since the late 1990s, but investments in sound mitigation can be costly and complex, especially for older buildings not designed to modern sound standards.
- New construction and renovations can incorporate soundproofing measures like high Sound Transmission Class (STC) ratings, double walls, and multi-pane windows, but these add to costs and are not always prioritized.
- Travelers can improve their chances of a restful stay by requesting rooms away from elevators or noisy areas, consulting quiet hotel rating websites, and using personal aids like white noise machines and earplugs.
- External noise, unpredictable urban sounds, and varying guest behaviors also challenge hotels' ability to ensure quiet, and while some hotels offer premium "quiet rooms," most guests must navigate noise issues themselves.
