Expedia released the results of its inaugural Expedia 2015 Hotel Etiquette Study, which surveyed 1,022 Americans about the most aggravating behaviors they encounter from other hotel guests.
The respondents ranked the following guest behaviors from most to least annoying:
- Inattentive parents — 67%
- Hallway hellraisers — 64%
- Complainers — 54%
- In-room revelers — 52%
- Bickerers — 26%
- Poolside partiers — 22%
- Loudly amorous guests — 21%
- Hot tub canoodlers — 20%
- Business bar boozers — 12%
- Elevator chatterboxes — 6%
The study also explored Americans’ tipping habits while staying at hotels. Although 27% say they do not tip hotel employees at all, a majority—51%—do tip housekeepers. Personal routines appear to influence tipping choices: 80% of guests keep their rooms tidy, while 20% rely entirely on housekeeping services.
Other tipping behaviors recorded in the survey include:
- Tipping to attempt an upgrade — 3%
- Room service tips — 40%
- Valet tips — 31%
- Porter tips — 21%
- Concierge tips — 10%
- Cabana attendant tips — 7%
The survey also uncovered several lesser-known hotel habits among travelers:
- 26% of Americans admit to taking toiletries home
- 9% have hidden extra guests in their room overnight without notifying the hotel
- 8% have secretly taken items from their hotel room
- 5% have smoked in a non-smoking room
- 2% have eavesdropped on neighboring guests
- 74% view room service as a luxury expense
- 54% reuse towels during a stay for environmental reasons or at the hotel’s request
- 6% haggle over the room rate at check-in
Overall, the Expedia 2015 Hotel Etiquette Study highlights which behaviors fellow guests find most disruptive, how travelers tip in different situations, and a range of common, sometimes questionable habits guests bring to their hotel stays.