How to request a high floor for less street noise at RSNA hotels

A quiet room can make a real difference during RSNA 2020, held in Chicago from 29 November to 4 December. After a long day of scientific sessions, networking and travel, sleeping above traffic, nightlife and delivery vehicles helps you arrive focused the next morning.

The request is simple, but the wording matters. A high floor may reduce noise from busy roads, while a room facing an inner courtyard can be quieter still. Neither preference is guaranteed, so it pays to ask early and give the hotel useful details.

For Australian delegates travelling from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, the booking process may feel familiar, although Chicago hotels can handle room blocks and special requests differently from a typical Australian CBD property. A polite, specific request gives staff the best chance to match your needs.

Request the preference before arrival

Add the high-floor request when making the reservation rather than waiting until check-in. Hotels often allocate rooms according to availability, booking type and loyalty status before guests arrive. An early note places your preference in the booking record while the room plan is still being organised.

Use clear wording such as: “If available, please assign a room on a high floor away from lifts, traffic and late-night venues.” This is more useful than simply writing “quiet room”, which can mean different things to different properties.

Identify the quietest side of the building

Floor height is only part of the solution. A room on a high floor facing Michigan Avenue, a major intersection or an elevated train line may still be noisy. Ask whether the hotel has rooms overlooking an internal courtyard, a rear street or a side of the building with less vehicle movement.

Chicago’s Loop and River North can remain active late into the evening, particularly around restaurants, bars and event venues. If the hotel is near public transport, ask about rooms away from the “L” tracks. A higher room on the opposite side may offer better sleep than the highest available room facing the street.

Use practical wording with hotel staff

Australian travellers often say they would like a room “up high and away from the ruckus”. That friendly style works in conversation, but a written request should be precise. Mention that uninterrupted sleep is important and list the main sources of noise you want to avoid.

A message like “Could you please note my preference for a high-floor room, away from lifts, service areas, bars and street-facing traffic?” is concise and professional. If you are travelling with colleagues, include the names of everyone covered by the request so the hotel can apply it to the correct rooms.

Make the request through the right channel

For an individual reservation, place the request in the online booking notes and follow up by email with the hotel. For a radiology team or delegation, send the preference through the group registration contact handling the room block. Centralised communication helps prevent requests being lost across multiple reservations.

The RSNA 2020 accommodation service was designed for professionals, teams and delegations seeking three-star, four-star and five-star hotels with coordinated room arrangements. When reviewing the event details, use the RSNA accommodation information to keep hotel and meeting plans aligned.

Understand what the hotel can guarantee

A high-floor request is usually a preference, not a guaranteed feature. Hotels must balance availability, accessibility requirements, room categories, maintenance work and last-minute changes. A booking made through a group block may have different allocation rules from a flexible public rate.

If quiet is essential, ask whether the property offers a specific room category known for reduced street exposure. Some hotels can sell courtyard-facing rooms, upper-floor rooms or executive categories as confirmed features. Paying for a defined category can be more reliable than relying on a complimentary allocation.

Confirm the details before check-in

Contact the hotel several days before arrival and repeat the request using the reservation number. Ask whether the room is high floor, away from lifts and positioned on the quieter side of the building. This gives the front desk time to review the allocation rather than discovering the issue after you arrive.

Travellers from Australia should also allow for the time difference when calling Chicago. An email can be useful when travelling across the Pacific, while a direct phone call during Chicago business hours may produce a faster answer. Keep the written confirmation with your itinerary and watch for overseas card fees or currency conversion differences when changing room categories.

Have a calm backup plan

If a high-floor room is unavailable, ask about alternatives: a courtyard-facing room, a room at the end of a corridor, upgraded window glazing or a location away from conference traffic. Earplugs and a white-noise app can help, but the best solution is usually a better room position.

Do not assume a room change will be easy after a full day at the assembly. Arrive with your preference clearly documented and speak to the front desk promptly if the allocation is unsuitable. For families or colleagues needing adjacent spaces, planning room arrangements early is especially important; guidance on connecting rooms for families can help coordinate those needs.

A well-timed request, a clear description of the preferred room side and a quick confirmation before arrival can greatly improve the odds of a restful stay. Add the preference to your RSNA hotel booking, contact the property, and keep the written response with your travel documents. If your journey includes rail travel before or after the meeting, review this guide to booking an electronic train ticket as part of the wider itinerary.