Petition for Tripadvisor: Quietness Indicator for Restaurants

[Julien87]

Hello,

I thought about creating a petition addressed to Tripadvisor. This platform has a huge influence in the food service industry (and in the tourism industry in general), and I think it would make a difference if they take into account the quietness of the venue in their rating system.

This is the text I wrote so far for the petition:

Title: Quietness indicator for restaurants on Tripadvisor


When choosing a restaurant, there is a criterion very important for me, and, I believe, for a lot of other people: quietness.
Although Tripadvisor is very useful already, it is currently not possible to check on the restaurants pages if a restaurant will be quiet. The current system of ratings and pictures cannot give any indication on how loud the place will be. Indeed, users can post comments complaining about the level of noise, but the visibility of such comments is limited. Some users can also consider that the noise issue will fall under the "atmosphere" rating, but this idea of atmosphere is very subjective and in the end this rating does not give a clear picture on the restaurant's loudness.

The result is that people concerned by quietness (and I really think it's a lot of people) often end up entering a restaurant that is much louder than they thought it would be, and have to leave and go to another one.

In order to correct this, I suggest that Tripadvisor updates its rating system to give a clear idea of restaurants loudness level. They could, for example, add a "Quietness" rating (in addition to the current ratings: "Service, Food, Value, Atmosphere"), or use a "quietness certification" system based on users' feedback (those would be asked "is this restaurant quiet?").

If you also think this is important, please sign the petition.


Please let me know what you think of this. And also tell me if some passages should be rephrased (since I am not a native speaker I am not sure everything sounds good). And of course, if you think I should be more accurate and clear.

Thanks a lot for your help,
Julien

 

[Bill Bauer]

I suggest inserting the green font text and removing the red font text.

When choosing a restaurant, there is a criterion that is very important for me, and, I believe, for a lot of other people: quietness.
Although Tripadvisor is very useful already, it is currently not possible to check on the restaurants pages if a restaurant will be quiet. The current system of ratings and pictures cannot give does not provide any indication on how loud the place will is going to be. Indeed, users can post comments complaining about the level of noise, but the visibility of such comments is limited. Some users can also consider that The noise issue will might fall under the "atmosphere" rating, but thise idea of atmosphere is very subjective and in the end this rating does not give a clear picture onf the restaurant's loudnessnoise level.

The result is that the people concerned bywith quietness (and I really think it's a lot of people) often end up entering a restaurant that is much louder than they thought it wouldwas going to be, and have to leave and go to another one.they end up having to leave and search for another restaurant.

In order to correctfix this, I suggest that Tripadvisor updates its rating system to give a clear idea of restaurants loudness level. They could, for example, add a "Quietness" rating (in addition to the current ratings: "Service, Food, Value, Atmosphere"), or use a "quietness certification" system based on users' feedback (those would be asked users answering the question "is this restaurant quiet?").

If you also think agree that this is an important issue, please sign the petition.

 

[GregCA]

@Julien87 - Interesting idea. You should pitch it to more than TripAdvisor. You'll have more chances of seeing it implemented: once one of them does it, the other ones are likely to catch up.

 

[Julien87]

Thanks a lot Bill for the correction and GregCA for this idea

 

[Starthrower]

Great idea Julien.

So many restaurants here would get a low rating. It seems the trend is to create a loud atmosphere. The use of tile, cement and other non-noise absorbing materials are always used here now in the new trendy places. The tables are very close together.

Perhaps this would have a positive change?

 

[Agrajag364]

That's a great idea!

I have never had a restaurant refuse to turn down the music yet when I asked though

 

[GregCA]

So many restaurants here would get a low rating.

Where are you located? I'm in the US and find the restaurant noise really difficult to bear with.

 

[Starthrower]

@GregCA (just remembered threefirefour said to do that)

I am on the coastal area in Southern California.

 

[GregCA]

@GregCA (just remembered threefirefour said to do that)

I am on the coastal area in Southern California.

OK, so you know what I'm talking about then...

 

[AZeurotuner]

Hello,

I thought about creating a petition addressed to Tripadvisor. This platform has a huge influence in the food service industry (and in the tourism industry in general), and I think it would make a difference if they take into account the quietness of the venue in their rating system.

This is the text I wrote so far for the petition:

Title: Quietness indicator for restaurants on Tripadvisor


When choosing a restaurant, there is a criterion very important for me, and, I believe, for a lot of other people: quietness.
Although Tripadvisor is very useful already, it is currently not possible to check on the restaurants pages if a restaurant will be quiet. The current system of ratings and pictures cannot give any indication on how loud the place will be. Indeed, users can post comments complaining about the level of noise, but the visibility of such comments is limited. Some users can also consider that the noise issue will fall under the "atmosphere" rating, but this idea of atmosphere is very subjective and in the end this rating does not give a clear picture on the restaurant's loudness.

The result is that people concerned by quietness (and I really think it's a lot of people) often end up entering a restaurant that is much louder than they thought it would be, and have to leave and go to another one.

In order to correct this, I suggest that Tripadvisor updates its rating system to give a clear idea of restaurants loudness level. They could, for example, add a "Quietness" rating (in addition to the current ratings: "Service, Food, Value, Atmosphere"), or use a "quietness certification" system based on users' feedback (those would be asked "is this restaurant quiet?").

If you also think this is important, please sign the petition.


Please let me know what you think of this. And also tell me if some passages should be rephrased (since I am not a native speaker I am not sure everything sounds good). And of course, if you think I should be more accurate and clear.

Thanks a lot for your help,
Julien

I don't think the noise level should factor into their overall rating, most people don't seem to mind it. I do like the certification idea though, make it a side note for individuals such as ourselves who aren't very fond of loud environments. Although at peak hours I think it's hard to avoid, get a bunch of people in one space, especially factoring in alcohol, and it's just not gonna quiet unless you hire a librarian to go around shushing people.

 

[Starthrower]

OK, so you know what I'm talking about then...

Yeah. Sigh.

Hum a librarian to go around shushing people....sounds like a good job for a certain person...oh never mind.

Sorry Julien. Actually even though the trend is noise I think a rating for quiet atmosphere is very reasonable.
I would check for that myself using tripadvisor.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Interesting idea! We frequently use Trip Advisor when planning and I often read through reviews looking for information about sound levels.

I also use the Yelp app often and in the amenities category it provides information on noise levels. I have found it to be fairly accurate.

 

[Julien87]

I have published the petition, if you want to support it, please go there :

http://chn.ge/2EYuwaW

Thank you!

 

[Julien87]

Bump

 

[Hazel]

Great idea! I would definitely use such a rating. Let me know if I can help. Most countries have their own restaurant rating sites, I could petition the one in the Netherlands for instance.

 

[BuzzyBee]

Has anyone used SoundPrint? It's an app that tells you the average decibel level of restaurants in a given location . The information is from patrons using the app, therefore it's up to people concerned about noise to download the free app and do a quick decibel input when visiting a restaurant. The more people use it, the more info we'll have.

Here are a few screenshots for anyone curious. The first is London. All the little thumbprints are locations waiting for user input. The place marked very loud (in red with an 81) is The Wolseley restaurant.

Here's what this part of New York City has so far. The light orange restaurants are loud, while the red restaurants are in a decibel level that they categorize as Very Loud

And here's Chicago. Right now it shows that Harry Caray's is "very loud" at 87. If you have the app, you can tell which restaurant it is. I couldn't capture that in the screenshot. In looking at the bigger picture there were a couple of restaurants such as La Storia and Devon Seafood that come in as quiet. They are marked in green. So the more people use the app, the more informed we'll all be.

I hope this app takes off!

 

[AZeurotuner]

Has anyone used SoundPrint? It's an app that tells you the average decibel level of restaurants in a given location . The information is from patrons using the app, therefore it's up to people concerned about noise to download the free app and do a quick decibel input when visiting a restaurant. The more people use it, the more info we'll have.

Here are a few screenshots for anyone curious. The first is London. All the little thumbprints are locations waiting for user input. The place marked very loud (in red with an 81) is The Wolseley restaurant.

View attachment 18969


Here's what this part of New York City has so far. The light orange restaurants are loud, while the red restaurants are in a decibel level that they categorize as Very Loud

View attachment 18970


And here's Chicago. Right now it shows that Harry Caray's is "very loud" at 87. If you have the app, you can tell which restaurant it is. I couldn't capture that in the screenshot. In looking at the bigger picture there were a couple of restaurants such as La Storia and Devon Seafood that come in as quiet. They are marked in green. So the more people use the app, the more informed we'll all be.

View attachment 18971

I hope this app takes off!

That's a pretty nifty little app you found there my man. I still remember this time years ago when my 90 year old grandma turned around during dinner to yell out to a noisy table, "Hey, will you tone it down over there?!?!"... Grams was a boss, rest her soul.

 

[Candy]

Have just downloaded it...all greys for my area in London - take it that means there are no readings? If it did take off it would be a useful piece of technology to add to the tool kit...

Thanks for posting the details...

 

[dfw]

That's a great idea!

I have never had a restaurant refuse to turn down the music yet when I asked though

I have & we left

 

[Starthrower]

I have & we left

Same here @dfw. I don't think anything will change the noise factor for dining places. Not in today's markets.

We adapt also by going out earlier for like a late lunch around 3:00 pm or a bit later if possible. But a lot of places close for lunch at 2:00 pm here.