10 hotel websites that autoplay sound to delight visitors

I read a brilliant article the other day… one of the very funniest things I have read in ages. It was all about how companies in the hospitality sector should play sound to make visitors feel “secure”. Sound, it says, “can help your website achieve major impact”.

Here’s another quote from the article in question:

Website audio can make your website stand out from your competition’s site while reinforcing the marketing and customer service strategies you’re already using.

After pulling myself together I decided to reconsider my views on autosound, which I have up until now considered to be one of the worst user experience mistakes you can make. I set about to find some examples that would make me – and you – see the light (and, ahem, hear the sound).

So then, here are 10 automatic audio experiences on hotel websites that will presumably make you reach for your bank card to book a room. Make sure you have your sound turned up, especially if you’re in the office.

By Chris Lake June 18th 2013 11:50

DO YOU NEED TO GO…?

WAVES AND SQUAWKING

BRAHMSED OFF

LADIES & GENTLEMEN, WE ARE FLOATING IN SPACE

I GAVE MY LOVE A CHERRY

MUZAK OVERKILL

AMBIENT BLOOPING

“BOHEMIAN ELEGANCE”

DID RÖYKSOPP SANCTION THIS?

LOSING THE WILL

At a guess, there are probably another 10,000 other hotel websites in the world that make use of autosound. If you’ve seen one then by all means flag it up in the comments area below, so we can delight our eardrums (while feeling secure).

Alternatively, you might want to read 14 pages worth of comments on Etsy about why playing sound automatically is universally hated by web users.

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