The Most Popular Hotel Room Service Order Is An American Favorite

There you are, in your hotel room, and you're hungry. You've done a lot of demanding things today, exploring this unfamiliar place. You've dealt with new languages, directions, and transport. Maybe you're here on business, and you toured a work site or met with colleagues. Or maybe you're here for pleasure, and you've walked through museums and photographed landmarks. Whatever your reason to travel, now you have a little break. You lie on your bed, pick up the phone, and dial room service. That's when you say it: "Could you send up a hamburger?"

Have no shame, because you're in good company. The booking company Hotels.com published its first-ever Room Service Report in 2023, which gathered data from hotels around the world. This report covered a wide range of on-site food-delivery topics, but one data point stood out: Of the U.S. guests surveyed, 49% said they would order a hamburger. Even among international respondents, burgers still came out on top.

The report was timely; 45% of hotels indicated that room service was on the rise, and roughly a quarter of food-orderers will spend at least $100 on a single meal. Our palates are apparently more diverse than ever, with obscure global foods making the list (though you'll still want to steer clear of hotel eggs). But no matter where you're from or where you're staying, the odds are good that you're ordering a gourmet beef patty with ketchup.

What makes burgers so popular? The room service report offers only statistics, not explanations, but we have a few theories. First, burgers are simple; you know what to expect, you can customize the toppings, and you can eat it with your hands. Burgers are also filling; the classic combination of ground beef, buns, veggies, and condiments should satisfy just about any level of hunger. If you can't finish it in one go, a burger keeps pretty well in a mini-fridge and can easily be heated up in a hotel room's microwave.

As for all those calories and saturated fat — you're traveling! Worry about nutritional blah-blah-blah when you get home. If a burger is enough to make Alexandra Daddario visit McDonald's while traveling, pretty much anyone can justify a quarter-pounder in their room. Plus, some hotels have added meatless burgers to their menus, which is a win for vegan and cholesterol-conscious guests.

Finally, a burger is fairly economical. Room service is generally pricey, and ordering several times over the course of your stay may culminate in an unpleasant tab when you check out. Burgers are a filling alternative to more formal entrées, which may cost a pretty penny. Before you even pick up the phone, consider how much you should really be tipping for room service. After all, half of room service is "service."