Posted on Wednesday, 17 February 2016

Getting a good night's sleep is usually a high priority for any hotel guest – but it can be especially important if you're travelling on business. Hotel room noise – such as from loud neighbours, late-night revellers or banging doors – remains a problem for hotels across the world.

Silent Night?

But a new "acoustic door" has been developed by Holiday Inn Express hotels in the US, aimed at cutting room noise to an absolute minimum. This specially-designed panel slides in front of the hotel room door, providing an extra barrier against the noise outside.

Soundly Tested

Holiday Inn Express hotels tested the new door in 100 rooms across 15 hotels in the US over the past year. Parent firm Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) has given the green light to install the doors across the chain.

However, owners of IHG chain hotels are not being forced to add the sound-proofing doors – but they are being urged to consider it.

Noise-Reducing Headboards

That said, new or renovated Holiday Inn Express hotels already benefit from noise-reduction initiatives because they are part of the company's ‘Next Generation' programme – which features new “padded, noise-reducing headboards” for beds.

Quiet Zones

Aside from making physical changes to a hotel room, there have been other ideas in the hotel industry that should make for a quieter night's sleep. In IHG's Crowne Plaza Hotels, for instance, quiet zones are in operation, where housekeeping and non-essential engineering work is not carried out between 9pm and 10am.

White Noise?

And some hotel chains, including Hyatt, Marriott and Ritz Carlton, are offering white noise machines in some of their rooms. White noise can help to block out unwanted noises – arguably offering more of a distraction than a proper solution.

For those who don't tend to stay in such high-end accommodation, white noise apps can be downloaded for smartphones, providing an effective alternative.

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