2010 WORLDWIDE ELEVATOR MUZAK TOUR.

by Eddie Winkle (NWM Staff Writer)

Doesn’t seem like any industry is safe in this ever-depressing economy. Hotels are probably at the top of this list because they are viewed as an unnecessary expense. In an effort to attract guests and biz travelers it seems like these lodgings are constantly trying to update their décor and tech. Of course all of that constant modernization has pretty much eliminated one of the hotel’s most iconic possessions – Elevator Muzak.

This tame-tunage is actually produced by the company called Muzak Holdings. It's been around since 1934, providing light instrumentals for retail stores, malls and of course, hotels. Founder & inventor Major General George O. Squier (pictured above) stated that they deliberately made the music bland so not to be disruptive to any foreground tasks. Unfortunately, Muzak (like so many companies)filed for bankruptcy in 2009.

For those who have a taste for this cheesy charm, there are a handful of hotel elevators that still offer this easy listening delight.

Aloft Hotel in Charlotte North Carolina.

• Hotel Stay Cost: $200 +
• Type of E-Music: High energy mo-town music, pop instrumentals
• Other Elevator Features: Floor # and directional (up or down) announcements
• Button Lights: Gold tint

St. Giles Hotel in London, UK

• Hotel Stay Cost: $160 +
• Type of E-Music: Easy listening hits
• Other Elevator Features: Floor # announcements

Nameless hotel in Naha, Okinawa (Japan)

• Hotel Stay Cost: ???
• Type of E-Music: Far East instrumentals that loop every 11 seconds
• Other Elevator Features: TV screen
• Button Lights: Gold tint