The Novotel survey, now in its third year, highlights that women are fussier eaters, make more complaints and call for more doctors when staying at hotels, whereas men have a better knowledge of wine when ordering dinner, are more likely to buy a round of drinks for their mates and are noisier guests. The most common sources of noise are sex and the television (sometimes at the same time) for men, and laughter and the hairdryer for women.

Men are still the tidier sex, leaving the cleanest rooms and women are still on the most wanted list for souveniring more in-room amenities. Some of the stranger items taken from the hotels include batteries from the TV remote control, the in-room bible, shower curtain, bed spread, in-room safe and on one occasion, the toilet flushing system (a male guest took this item).
In terms of eating and drinking habits, men have the bigger mini-bar bills; almost universally their favourite beverage was beer. For women, water and chocolate were the most popular mini-bar temptations. On a healthier track than previous years, the most popular room service order for men was steak, and women salads - specifically the Caesar. The survey identified room service as the preferred option for single female travelers and a preference for continental breakfast on weekdays, compared to men who dine in the restaurant and choose a full hot breakfast seven days. 

The survey revealed that men generally watch adult or action movies, with the most popular genre for women, the romantic comedy. Across all hotels, men watched the most blue movies, made more excuses about having to pay for their �blue� selection, but were less likely to check their overall bill at the end of their stay than women.

Almost without exception, both sexes pay their hotel account on credit; American Express the most popular card for men in 1999 and Visa for women.  Men forget more personal items than women, most often leaving their mobile phone chargers. Women most often forget toiletries. Advice from the Novotel house attendants - check the shower and the closest power point before you leave! Some of the stranger items left behind include a black negligee (from a male guest�s room), sexual aids (all unclaimed!) and a gold fish (successfully reunited with owner).
The dry cleaning of underwear is on the increase for both sexes; the strangest items sent out by guests include handkerchiefs, a poodle�s woolen jumpsuit and a targa-racing suit.

Men book and sleep through more wake up calls, as well as host more in-room parties, tip the most, make more passes at hotel staff and get locked out of their room naked more than women. The best excuses for being locked out of their rooms naked were mistaking the bathroom door for the room door, sleepwalking and the door closing when putting out the room service tray.  One brave guest wanting to skinny dip attempted the dash to the pool from the fourth floor - no chance!

The most reported places for hotel guests being discovered making love were the fire stairs and sauna, spa or pool; the strangest places included the hotel roof, under the piano in the lobby bar, on the piano in the lobby bar, under the table at a function, the restaurant bathroom, guest laundry and even the hotel�s administration offices.

Men have the bigger phone bills, travel lighter and ask more for their frequent flyer points. There was no difference reported on the amount of men and women travelling with lap top computers and both sexes now equally ask to be upgraded.

Women conduct most of their business meetings in the hotel�s restaurant; men do so in the bar. The most popular request by businessmen is for modem connection, for women an upgrade or vanity packs and bathrobe. Taxi is the number one method of transport for business travelers, with hire cars for men and pick up by colleague for women also highly reported.

Men have more accidents in the car park, order more flowers and make the most dinner reservations; the most popular time for dinner at Novotel is 7-7.30pm. Along with engagement rings in roses and champagne glasses and rose petals on the bed, the most original proposal for marriage at a Novotel occurred in a limousine from the hotel to a rugby final - how romantic!!
The hotel staircase and gardens are the most popular places for wedding photographs; women get most out of control at weddings and souvenir more table centerpieces. The most popular items souvenired by men at social functions are glassware and women!! Some of the stranger items, the table numbers and eggplants from a floral arrangement.

Men work out in the gymnasium more than women, and women use the pool more than men. Laps are the most popular form of exercise for both sexes. For recreation, beer is the most popular poolside order for men, water for women and coca-cola for children. Women use more pool towels, buy more sunscreen, and hang their room towels up more than men. Men complain more about the no smoking policy in place at the hotels (50% of all rooms and no smoking in public areas) and women seem more concerned with the environment choosing to participate in more of the hotel�s initiatives.

For children, the Novotel resorts indicated that team sports and games were the most popular activities for boys, with craft and painting number one for girls. Girls were also inclined to play better together.  A sign of the times, the mobile phone is now the number one choice of contact for parents leaving their children at the kids clubs.

The Novotel Survey was conducted across 22 Novotel hotels and resorts in Australia and New Zealand. New Novotels to open in 2000 include Novotel Homebush Bay at Olympic Park, Novotel Canberra and Novotel Ellerslie in Auckland. Novotel is one of the world�s most renowned �business class� brands with some 400 hotels worldwide. Novotel is managed by Accor, the world�s largest hotel and tourism group.