Dometic has invested in a multi-market study to understand what travellers actually want from in-room refrigeration. Below are the five features guests value most, the exact numbers behind those preferences and practical ways to specify equipment and processes that work for both guests and hotel teams.

Silent operation

Across segments, quiet operation is the non‑negotiable. 53% of US travellers and 70% of German travellers selected silent operation as a leading feature for the mini-bar or mini fridge. When asked to trade off, 82% of US respondents and 89% of German respondents chose “silent” over “lowest energy consumption.”

Flexible storage

Guests want room for real‑world use. Space for large bottles stored upright was selected by 48% of US travellers and 45% of German travellers. Adjustable shelves and simple interior layouts also rank highly.

Intuitive mini-bar controls and straightforward temperature adjustment

Clear, accessible controls and adjustable temperature matter. 40% of US travellers and 38% of German travellers call out temperature adjustment as important, and guests consistently prefer controls that are easy to reach and simple to understand.

Design integration and access

Restocking expectations differ by segment, with daily restock preferred by German travellers and by many five‑star guests in the US.

Manual payment and clear pricing

Guests want confidence at checkout. The study shows a clear preference for manual payment over automated billing: 70% of US travellers and 61% of German travellers favour declaring consumption to staff rather than sensor‑triggered charges. On pricing, US travellers are split between pricing on each item and a menu card, while 65% of German travellers prefer a menu card with prices.

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Dometic partnered with a global panel provider to survey 2,039 travellers who stayed in a hotel within the past six months, split across the United States and Germany. The online survey captured usage and preference data for in‑room mini-bars and minifridges, including feature trade‑offs, design preferences, payment and pricing formats and restocking methods. Fieldwork and analysis were completed in 2025.