Have you ever entered a hotel and, upon hearing the music, experienced a surge of exhilaration or serenity? It’s not a coincidence. It’s similar to selecting the appropriate wine for a fine dining meal; if you make a mistake, the atmosphere will be off. Hotel soundscape design has a significant impact on creating a memorable first impression. Read this!
Picture yourself stumbling into a posh hotel. The kind where everything appears to be fit for Instagram. Soft jazz music can be heard in the background. You are immediately transported to a different time period. This music wasn’t your typical kind. It was a decision, designed to capture that vintage allure. Change gears now. Imagine walking into a modern skyscraper with a bar by the pool. Do you hear anything? Perhaps lively tropical house music that transports you to Ibiza. More quickly than you can say “room service,” the appropriate music creates the perfect atmosphere.
But why all this commotion over music? The goal is to create an experience. Imagine being trapped in an opulent apartment while listening to elevator music—completely buzzkill, don’t you think? Hotel playlists aren’t just put together like an old mixtape. They show the clientele, the brand, and even the time of day. Evenings require a more muted and relaxed mood, but mornings may be lively and light.
A hotel manager I met once insisted on listening to acoustic morning playlists. According to her, people would tell her that they woke up feeling happier, and who doesn’t want happy customers at breakfast? Then there are some who, as night falls, turn places into lively centers of laughter and social interaction by favoring electronic beats.
Not to mention lobby music, which some people consider to be an art genre. It’s very noisy, and instead of conversing, guests are yelling. It feels like a library, and it’s too silent. A friend related how a well-chosen playlist once ensnared her in a comfortable chair in a lobby. Despite missing her dinner reservation, she seemed at ease!
However, how do you get it right? Some organizations employ music curators—people who are passionate about this. In ways you wouldn’t think possible, they align playlists with the hotel’s philosophy. These sound tapestries are the result of a combination of science and mysticism. similar to solving a sonic puzzle that results in satisfied customers.
Not to be overlooked is adaptability. Like sands in a desert, music trends change. Remaining current and fresh? That job is full-time. To keep things as fresh as morning dew, some hotels even change their playlists on a monthly or seasonal basis.
Take a moment the next time you enter a hotel. Pay attention. Feel. Those notes contain a complete world that is specifically written for you. It’s not only about filling the void with music in hotels. It’s about using sound to create an artwork.