The evidence
Each criterion with what we found, where we found it and when. Anything we could not confirm says so.
NTH criteria
NTH Framework v1.2. Score 11.9 (raw 9.0 of 100), calibrated so the best hotel in this edition (Santa Monica Proper Hotel) reads 90. Evidence retrieved 2026-10-22.
Sleep0.0 / 24
The room as an instrument for deep, uninterrupted, circadian-aligned rest.
Mattress & sleep system
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 5 pts
Unknown
Bedding & textiles
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 4 pts
Unknown
Sleep programme & pillow menu
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 3 pts
Unknown
Blackout
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Circadian & warm evening lighting
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
In-room red light
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Acoustic quiet
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 4 pts
Unknown
EMF & Wi-Fi-off options
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Air0.0 / 12
What you breathe for eight hours a night: filtered, fresh, smoke-free and unperfumed.
In-room purification
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 5 pts
Unknown
Ventilation & building standard
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 3 pts
Unknown
Smoke-free policy
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Fragrance-free & low-allergen rooms
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Water0.0 / 12
Clean water to drink, and to shower and bathe in.
Filtered drinking water
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 5 pts
Unknown
Shower & bath filtration
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 5 pts
Unknown
Gentler pool & hydrotherapy water
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Nourishment0.0 / 10
Food and drink that heal rather than merely please.
Organic & local sourcing
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 4 pts
Unknown
Clean-ingredient standard
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 3 pts
Unknown
Clean minibar & in-room hydration
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Nutrition guidance
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 1 pts
Unknown
Movement2.0 / 10
The means to train, stretch and move, indoors and out.
Gym completeness
Hotel-reported · across the property
Live Fit Gym; $20/day unless an ALL member.
Classes & studios
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 3 pts
Unknown
Swimming
Not met · across the property
Hotel confirms it does not offer a pool.
Outdoor activity
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Holistic Wellness5.0 / 19
Healing traditions and the recovery technology that complements them.
Spa facility
Hotel-reported · across the property
Chateau de la Beauté and Live Fit wellness spa massage; sauna and steam.
Traditional & integrative modalities
Hotel-reported · across the property
Body gua sha.
Mind & breath
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Heat therapy
Hotel-reported · across the property
Sauna, steam, infrared sauna blanket.
Cold therapy
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Photobiomodulation & PEMF
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Clinical longevity (IV, HBOT, diagnostics)
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 4 pts
Unknown
Materials & Setting2.0 / 13
What touches the skin and surrounds the stay: finishes, products, cleaning, and the landscape beyond the door.
Natural, low-VOC finishes
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 3 pts
Unknown
Clean bath & body amenities
Not yet reviewed · in the best room
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Non-toxic spa & nail products
Hotel-reported · across the property
Dazzle Dry non-toxic polish; waterless manicures.
Non-toxic housekeeping & plastic-free operations
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Green & blue space
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Walkability & low-impact mobility
Not yet reviewed · across the property
Unknown. We have asked the hotel.
0.0 / 2 pts
Unknown
Our review
At a glance
- Fragrance
- 5 not yet reviewed
- Air
- 1 hotel-reported, 4 not yet reviewed
- Cleaning & care
- 4 not yet reviewed
- Sleep & materials
- 5 not yet reviewed
- Water & pools
- 4 not yet reviewed
- Food
- 2 not yet reviewed
- Light & quiet
- 2 not yet reviewed
- Building
- 1 hotel-reported, 2 not yet reviewed
One reported by the hotel; the rest not yet reviewed.
1 hotel-reported24 of 25 not yet reviewed
Counts cover the 25 scored criteria; the other 5 windows are context.
Checked
Read the full profileThe ledger
Fragrance
Added scent is the most common complaint from sensitive guests, and the hardest thing to see on a booking page.
No added fragrance in rooms
Not yet reviewed.
No scent marketing
Not yet reviewed.
Fragrance-free laundry
Not yet reviewed.
Unscented bath products
Not yet reviewed.
Unscented spa options
Not yet reviewed.
Know something about fragrance here that we don’t? Tell us
Air
What you breathe for eight hours a night: smoke history, fresh air, filtration and anything burning in the room.
Smoke-free property
Not yet reviewed.
So far, the hotel says: ‘Smoking is not permitted in guestrooms or indoor areas at any time.’ Designated smoking areas are outside on the Rooftop Terrace or outside the hotel.
Our note. Smoking is allowed in designated outdoor areas, including the Rooftop Terrace, and the policy does not mention suite balconies or terraces, so this falls short of the criterion.
How we know
What we look for. No smoking in any guest room, balcony or indoor space.
Why it matters. Tobacco smoke leaves a residue (thirdhand smoke) on surfaces and in dust. A study of California hotels found that non-smoking rooms in hotels that allow smoking elsewhere did not protect non-smoking guests from it.
Source: Matt et al., Tobacco Control, Thirdhand smoke and exposure in California hotels: non-smoking rooms fail to protect non-smoking hotel guests from tobacco smoke exposure ()
Source 1: Hotel website: FAQsUndated · read 22 Oct 2026
Opening windows
Hotel-reportedonly some rooms or areas
The hotel says: One Bedroom Balcony Suites ‘feature an ornately filigreed terrace’.
Our note. Stated for the balcony suites only. Whether windows open in standard rooms is not stated.
How we know
What we look for. Guest rooms have windows or doors that open to outside air.
Why it matters. The US EPA lists opening windows, when outdoor air allows, as a way to dilute pollutants released indoors. An opening window lets guests air a room themselves when it smells of cleaning products or new furnishings.
Source: US EPA, Improving indoor air quality ()
Source 2: Hotel website: rooms and suitesUndated · read 22 Oct 2026
Filtered fresh air
Not yet reviewed.
In-room air purifier
Not yet reviewed.
No in-room combustion
Not yet reviewed.
Know something about air here that we don’t? Tell us
Cleaning & care
How a room is cleaned, treated and prepared, and whether a request for a gentler clean is actually honored.
Low-chemical housekeeping
Not yet reviewed.
No ozone or biocide treatments
Not yet reviewed.
Low-chemical pest control
Not yet reviewed.
Sensitive-guest preparation
Not yet reviewed.
Know something about cleaning & care here that we don’t? Tell us
Sleep & materials
The textiles, mattress and floor you spend the night closest to, and how allergen-aware the room is.
Tested or organic bed linen
Not yet reviewed.
Mattress materials disclosed
Not yet reviewed.
Hard floors
Not yet reviewed.
Allergy-friendly rooms
Not yet reviewed.
So far, the hotel says: A humidifier or dehumidifier is available on request.
Our note. Barrier covers and feather-free bedding are not described.
How we know
What we look for. Allergen-barrier mattress and pillow covers and feather-free, hot-washable bedding, in all or designated rooms.
Why it matters. For dust-mite allergy, US health guidance is to encase mattresses and pillows in allergen-proof covers and wash bedding weekly in hot water (130–140 °F, about 55–60 °C).
Source: US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Dust mites and cockroaches (undated)
Source 1: Hotel website: FAQsUndated · read 22 Oct 2026
Pet-free rooms
Not yet reviewed.
So far, the hotel says: Pets are welcome, on a leash and for a fee per stay; no pet-free rooms or floors are described.
Our note. If you are allergic, ask for a room that has not recently hosted a pet.
How we know
What we look for. Rooms or floors where animals are never allowed, cleaned to a separate routine.
Why it matters. Pet allergen can stay on carpets and furniture for months and travels on clothing. For allergic guests a room animals never enter matters more than any amenity.
Source: US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Pet allergens (undated)
Source 3: Hotel website: guest servicesUndated · read 22 Oct 2026
Know something about sleep & materials here that we don’t? Tell us
Water & pools
Drinking water, shower water and pool air.
Filtered or tested drinking water
Not yet reviewed.
Water safety plan
Not yet reviewed.
Shower filters
Not yet reviewed.
Shown for information; not scored.
Outdoor or low-chloramine pools
Not yet reviewed.
So far, the hotel says: ‘Please note the hotel does not offer a pool.’
Shown for information; not scored.
How we know
What we look for. Pools are outdoors, or indoor pools have dedicated ventilation and monitored combined chlorine.
Why it matters. Chloramines irritate the skin, eyes and airways, and they build up in the air of indoor pools without enough ventilation. Outdoor pools, and good ventilation for indoor ones, keep levels low.
Source: US CDC, Chloramines and pool operation ()
Source 4: Hotel website: Live Fit Gym & Wellness SpaUndated · read 22 Oct 2026
Context, not scored: almost every pool in this catalog is outdoors, so it says little about one hotel against another.
Know something about water & pools here that we don’t? Tell us
Food
Allergen care first; where the produce comes from second.
Allergen-aware kitchen
Not yet reviewed.
Garden or organic produce
Not yet reviewed.
Shown for information; not scored.
Know something about food here that we don’t? Tell us
Light & quiet
Darkness and silence at night, and radio-quiet options for guests who want them.
Darkness and quiet
Not yet reviewed.
So far, the hotel says: Fairmont Queen rooms, on floors 2 to 6 of the Main Building, are described as ‘cozy and quiet’.
Our note. Stated for one room type only. Blackout shades and sound insulation are not described.
How we know
What we look for. Blackout shades and sound insulation that let the room become properly dark and quiet.
Why it matters. Night-time noise fragments sleep; the WHO’s night noise guidelines set a target of 40 dB outside the bedroom. A dark, quiet room is the simplest sleep aid there is.
Source: WHO Regional Office for Europe, Night noise guidelines for Europe ()
Source 2: Hotel website: rooms and suitesUndated · read 22 Oct 2026
Radio-quiet options
Not yet reviewed.
Shown for information; not scored.
Know something about light & quiet here that we don’t? Tell us
Building
The materials a hotel was built and renovated with, how it handles damp, and what third parties have certified.
Low-emitting materials
Not yet reviewed.
Leak and mold response
Not yet reviewed.
Building certification
Hotel-reportedacross the property
The hotel says: ‘We are Green Key Global certified and currently working for our annual recertification process.’
Our note. Green Key Global is an environmental program, not a health one. No level or year is given, and we have not checked Green Key’s register.
Shown for information; not scored.
How we know
What we look for. A third-party certification such as WELL, LEED or a green business program, recorded with its level, and its year where the certifier gives one.
Why it matters. WELL assesses air, water and light in occupied buildings. LEED and green business programs are mainly environmental, with some indoor-quality elements. A certificate records what was designed or checked at a point in time, not what a room is like today.
Source 1: Hotel website: FAQsUndated · read 22 Oct 2026
Context only. A certificate supports specific criteria only where its scope covers them.
Know something about building here that we don’t? Tell us
Notes & sources
- Hotel website: FAQs, Undated · read 22 Oct 2026
- Hotel website: rooms and suites, Undated · read 22 Oct 2026
- Hotel website: guest services, Undated · read 22 Oct 2026
- Hotel website: Live Fit Gym & Wellness Spa, Undated · read 22 Oct 2026
- Hotel website: Chateau de la Beauté, Undated · read 22 Oct 2026
- Hotel website: stay, Undated · read 22 Oct 2026
- Hotel website: Laurel Court, Undated · read 22 Oct 2026
- Wikipedia: Fairmont San Francisco, Undated · read 22 Oct 2026
Room count: Rooms and suites, per the hotel’s website; Wikipedia gives 591 rooms. Hotel website (opens the hotel’s website)
Photographs: Fairmont San Francisco; Fairmont San Francisco; Fairmont San Francisco; Fairmont San Francisco; Fairmont San Francisco
Profile checked . Report a correction