It's becoming more and more common to see ear plugs and white noise machines in hotel rooms. This makes perfect sense. Even in the nicest hotels and resorts, you can still end up with noisy neighbors -- and getting good quality sleep away from home can always be a challenge. We've spent a lot of time recommending ear plugs and travel white noise machines to our individual customers. However, if you run a hotel, you should really consider providing these sleep aids as a perk. A pair of quality ear plugs might be a nicer surprise for your guests than a mint on the pillow.
I have two suggestions for you to consider: Foam ear plugs and moldable silicone ear plugs. Here are the pros and cons of each:
- Foam ear plugs are the least expensive option and I would suggest our own Got Ears? Brand called “Got Ears? Natural” which are a nice neutral color, and a very inexpensive high quality option, at about $.12 per pair. Foam ear plugs offer the highest noise protection. However, most people do not know how to properly insert them, and so some will complain that the plugs block little noise and/or they slip out of their ears. (You could explain to those who complain about them, how to use them properly, but it would be better if you could avoid the complaint in the first place.)
- Moldable silicone ear plugs are much easier to use for those not familiar with ear plugs, but they are more expensive at around $.50 per pair. However, if your guests stay for several days, the Mack’s ear plugs can be reused throughout their stay, while the foam ear plugs are just a single use item. Mack’s ear plugs are not rated quite as high as are the foam ear plugs (NRR 22 vs NRR 32), but they are more comfortable for sleeping with, and the novice user is more likely to get the full rated noise reduction because they are simpler to use. If you decide to go with Mack’s, I would recommend that you also stock some at your checkout desk where I am confident your guests will ask if they can buy some to take with them! Mack's come in many quantities, such as 6-pair packs for resale, and bulk packs for cost-effective distribution to guests.
Finally, you might consider getting a few simple white noise machines for guests who do not want to use ear plugs. I recommend the Marpac Dohm, and again, I would suggest that you stock some to sell to guests who will ask. I use this machine every night myself and love it.
Ultimately, hotel guests who sleep better will be happier with their stay. With ear plugs and white noise, you can provide low-cost solutions to keep your guests sleeping like babies.
Until next time, be safe and do the right thing.
Tom Bergman, Vice President
Ear Plug Superstore
Comments