MEMPHIS, TN- Embassy Suites Hotels recently commissioned a proprietary survey of more than 300 frequent travelers and found that there are two distinct personality types in travelers: “Upstairs” and “Downstairs” guests.
Upstairs personalities are defined by actions and characteristics of more introverted people who spend less time in public areas and prefer private spaces such as bedrooms over more social spaces such as lobbies and lounges. While the finding indicate that nearly two out of three female respondents generally classify themselves as extroverts, more than half of these same women travelers changed attitudes when traveling for business, describing their behavior as more upstairs and introverted on a business trip.
Unlike their female counterparts, men overwhelmingly maintained the same downstairs personality when traveling for business or pleasure.
Travelers with downstairs personalities are considered to be more extroverted and tend to use concierge services more often, dine out of their rooms and prefer social spaces to private areas.
Downstairs personalities also appreciate a spacious hotel room like a two-bedroom suite. In fact, 75% of male respondents in the survey reported increased productivity while working in large spaces compared to smaller work areas. (11/1/00)