F1 hotel invests $1m to cut noise pollution

The Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi has invested about AED5m ($1.36m) to replace 600 guest-room balcony doors following numerous complaints over excessive noise.

The hotel overlooks the Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island and is located 10 minutes away from Abu Dhabi airport. 

The new doors, being fitted over the next six months, are expected to reduce the level of noise heard from the Formula 1 cars and planes flying overhead by around 30 percent, according to general manager Heiner Werdeling.

"There’s a new airport building nearby while the main building is being built, we know that in two and a half years time there’ll be a new runway which will be away from all the hotels on the island, but currently guest comments tell us we’ve got a big problem with our balcony doors," said Werdeling in comments published by Hotelier Middle East.

One TripAdvisor review in October complained of the noise from "planes landing in the nearby airport", while another dated November 2011 described the roar of the Formula 1 cars as "unbearable". 

"If you are looking for peace and quiet this is not the place for you," said the reviewer going onto describe the noise as "deafening" throughout the property. 

"Our double glazed-balcony door didn't close properly and we had to ask members of staff (who had a special suction tool) to close it for us. It was not much of an improvement," the reviewed continued. 

Werdeling said the issue was a legacy from the opening and something that needed to be addressed.

"This hotel was built in an incredible 18 months so certain things need to be fixed a little later. 

"Every room has a balcony and the doors which were already put in were not suitable for the guest use; they're just not user-friendly," he said, adding that access to the balcony was also an issue.