Sound Machines and the Science of Sleep: Enhancing Hotel Sound Design
Travel can be an exciting adventure, but it can also be stressful. After a day on the road or navigating flights, airports and rentals you want a hotel to feel like a home away from home.
Why Sound Matters for Your Hotel Guests' Wellness
A welcoming as relaxing guest-room atmosphere is a full sense experience. What guests see, smell, touch and hear in your rooms all contribute to creating a sense of wellness. Sound is a critical and sometimes overlooked dimension in room design. Keeping noise out and rooms quiet is important, but is there an opportunity to design with sound to enhance the room environment? We looked at consumer tech trends, sleep studies and science for insights and inspiration to find out.
Bringing Consumer Trends at Home to Hotels
Consumer trends show an increase and project continued market growth for sound machines. It’s a $1.4B consumer market with a projected +5% CAGR growth trajectory over the next 7 years. “An increase in disposable income, changes in lifestyle, and an increase in awareness pertaining to health and well-being are some of the factors anticipated to foster market growth during the forecast period.” (Grand View research white noise machine market report 2023).
People become used to a sound machine as a sleep aid and can find it hard to fall asleep without. It’s no surprise that we’ve seen an increase in guests traveling with their sound machine, portable sound machines and sound machine apps. With sound machines as a focus for creating a soothing environment at home it makes offering sound machines in hotel guest rooms a market proven solution to help hotels improve guest comfort and satisfaction.
Science of Sleep and Sound
The science of sound is well-documented. Research shows that certain sounds—such as white noise, nature sounds, or gentle ambient noise—can help the brain transition into a state of relaxation, which is critical for better sleep. These sounds can promote brain wave activity that facilitates deep, restorative sleep and reduces the chances of being disturbed by external noises, like traffic or hallway sounds.
“A 2021 study found that white noise significantly improved sleep for people who experience difficulty sleeping due to high levels of environmental noise. It concluded that the application of white noise may be an effective tool in helping to improve sleep in metropolitan areas.” (Healthline 2021)
A Good Night’s Sleep Improves Customer Loyalty
Hoteliers that focus on sleep and wellness show their commitment to guest satisfaction—a key factor in securing positive reviews and encouraging repeat visits. When guests report that they had a restful, rejuvenating sleep, it significantly increases the chances of a return stay. A study found that guests who had a great night's sleep were nearly twice as likely to rate their stay positively and recommend the hotel to others.
For hotels, the right soundscapes can also help reduce noise complaints. A quiet, calm environment with minimal distractions creates a peaceful retreat for guests, allowing them to unwind without disruption. By offering scientifically backed sound solutions, your hotel can improve the overall experience, fostering positive reviews, higher satisfaction rates, and repeat business.
Station R & Station A: Elevating the Guest Experience with Sound & Recharge Features
Both our Station R and Station A are designed with guest comfort in mind, seamlessly blending wellness-focused sound features with essential charging capabilities.
Station R offers a variety of soothing sounds to help guests unwind and includes our Gentle Wake feature, allowing guests to wake up smoothly and calmly. It also provides USB and USB-C charging options to ensure guests can keep their devices powered throughout their stay.
Station A offers relaxation sounds in addition to USB, USB-C, and wireless charging capabilities. It also includes Bluetooth functionality, allowing guests to play their own music or use their own sound machines apps.
Together, these devices provide the perfect balance of relaxation, convenience, and flexibility, ensuring your hotel rooms are equipped with features that enhance the guest experience and promote restful sleep and rejuvenation.