While the J.D. Power press release focused on the issue of green practices in hotels, noise was the biggest complaint. Except at luxury hotels.

Since the basics are taken care of at these places, service is the differentiator. We also assume they also spent a tad more on construction, so we can't hear what the people in the neighboring room are arguing about.

And when it comes to service, Ritz-Carlton Hotels beat out the Four Seasons brand which was the 2006 recipient, for overall guest satisfaction. At the bottom of the category? Intercontinental Hotels.

In the upscale category, it was Embassy Suites Hotels (yeah, we didn't know that was upscale either) who beat out Renaissance, Marriott and Omni Hotels this year.

The rest are as followed:
· Hilton Garden Inn (mid-scale full service)
· Drury Inn & Suites (mid-scale limited service)
· Microtel Inns & Suites (economy/budget)
· Homewood Suites (extended stay).

Interesting to note is that Hilton Garden Inn and Microtel "topped their segments for the sixth year in a row." We'd bet it's the free phone calls and free WiFi for the latter that keeps them on top. Take note you nickel and dimers!

Meanwhile, 82 percent of guests prefer smoke-free hotel environments--up from 79 percent last year. And when it comes to amenities, guests across all age groups like their free breakfast, followed by high-speed and Wireless internet, and a TV screen bigger than 27 inches.

The eco-friendly initiative questions predictably came out a muddled mess. Most of us want them, but we have no idea who is doing much to reduce harm to the environment when it comes to hotels.

HotelChatter is doing its best here, but we definitely think hotels should be upfront about their green practices. And this goes beyond leaving those "Conserve Water, Don't Change Your Sheets' notes that are left on the nightstands.

Head over to J.D. Power & Associates for the 2007 North American Hotels Guest Satisfaction Ratings

Related Stories:
· Our Thoughts, Your Thoughts on the Hotel Guest Satisfaction Survey [HotelChatter]
· 2007 North American Guest Satisfaction Survey Study [J.D. Power]