For what it's worth, I used to have the exact same problem. Was always placed as close to the elevator as possible. One stay I finally asked 'what's up with that?' There was a note in my file, from TEN years ago, that I had requested a room near the elevator. It's true, ten years prior I had indeed requested a room near the elevator of a high-rise Marriott because the hotel had just gone smoke free and I wanted fast access to the lobby and thus the outdoors.

I had the note removed and now also request a room on a mid-high floor midway between the elevator and the exit stairs. Sometimes the stairs are worse than the elevators. And the vending is always worse then both!

JB