Logo 'Embassy Suites'

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 1 / Room service, Pay-Per-View movies and private sitting areas or hotel restaurant dining, drinks at the hotel bar and sight-seeing between meetings. Men and women today have different needs and desires when it comes to personal space while traveling, according to Embassy Suites Hotels. The brand recently commissioned a proprietary survey of more than 300 frequent travelers.

The Embassy Suites Hotels Space Survey (©2000, Hilton Hospitality, Inc.) found 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 findings 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. For example, female business travelers might opt for room service, in- suite wet-bar, and the spaciousness of a two-room suite that allows a separation of work and sleep areas.

Unlike their female counterparts, men overwhelming 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 hotel (or travel) personalities might enjoy a nightly manager's reception, dining in the on-site restaurant and relaxing in open lobby areas.

"Both the 'upstairs' and 'downstairs' personality types interviewed through our research describe very different reasons for choosing our hotels," said Mark Snyder, senior vice president of brand management, Embassy Suites Hotels. "Depending on their personality, travelers seek specific comfort zones which we aim to provide."

While the survey found many differences and preferences depending on gender or personality type, all travelers surveyed stated that meeting other people was the best thing about traveling overall. "This is one reason our manager's reception in our atrium continues to be one of the highest ranked amenities. If people want to get out of their rooms and meet other people, we provide a comfortable, casual atmosphere for that," said Snyder. "Men and women have different travel needs and our goal is to appeal in a significant way to both, whether they are on vacation or business and feel like being introverted or extroverted."

The survey also found that while "upstairs" personalities enjoy "staying upstairs," "downstairs" personalities also appreciate a spacious hotel room like a two-room suite. In fact, 75 percent of male respondents in the survey reported increased productivity while working in large spaces compared to smaller work areas. Additionally, more than half of the travelers surveyed made negative allusions to the proverbial "shoe box" room as being the standard hotel fare. Whether introverted or extroverted, male or female, respondents shared another common sentiment – they all expressed an intensified need for personal space to feel more comfortable when traveling.

About Embassy Suites Hotels

Embassy Suites Hotels was the first all-suite upscale hotel brand to enter the industry in 1983 and today has more than 150 hotels. Each Embassy Suites Hotel offers spacious, two-room suites that include a separate living area with a sofa bed, private bedroom and bath, televisions in each room, a wet bar, refrigerator, microwave oven, and work desk with amenities like high- speed Internet access at many hotels and voice mail. In addition, all Embassy Suites Hotels offer a complimentary, cooked-to-order breakfast each morning and a two-hour nightly manager's reception, popular with both business and leisure travelers. Other standard amenities include an indoor pool, health club and on-site restaurant.

To make reservations at an Embassy Suites Hotel in resort and destination areas, travelers can call 1-800-EMBASSY or visit the Embassy Suites Hotels Web site at www.embassysuites.com . Embassy Suites Hotels is a member of the Hilton HHonors® guest reward program that allows its members to DoubleDip® by simultaneously earning both hotel points and airline miles with each qualifying stay.

Embassy Suites Hotels is a subsidiary of Hilton Hotels Corporation, which is recognized internationally as a preeminent hospitality company. The company develops, owns, manages or franchises 1,800 hotels, resorts and vacation ownership properties. Its portfolio includes many of the world's best known and most highly regarded hotel brands, including Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Harrison Conference Centers, Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Red Lion Hotels & Inns, and Conrad International.

The following trademarks are owned by Hilton Hospitality, Inc.: Hilton®, Doubletree®, Embassy Suites Hotels®, Hampton Inn®, Hampton Inn & Suites®, Homewood Suites® by Hilton, Red Lion Hotels & Inns® and Conrad International®. HHonors® and Double Dip® are trademarks owned by Hilton HHonors Worldwide, L.L.C.