In a 2007 survey, Hilton Garden Inn discovered that nearly 65 percent of travellers consider bedding when booking a hotel, and seven out of 10 women take this aspect of a room very seriously. And in its latest sleep survey released last year, Westin Hotels and Resorts noted that lack of sufficient shut-eye has detrimental effects on business performance such as muddling a presentation, getting into a fight with a boss or co-worker or forgetting important events.
Here are five properties that promise guests a good night’s rest:
ANA CROWNE PLAZA, TOKYO
Signature beddings: Sleep Advantage
What is it? ANA Crowne Plaza in Tokyo launched the Sleep Advantage programme two years ago and is now promoting it at all 10 ANA Crowne Plaza hotels throughout Japan.
Stay-in guests are provided with a warmed eye mask, low-caffeine tea, leaflets offering advice for a comfortable night’s sleep, a “Pillow Menu” offering guests six types of pillows varying in thickness and softness for that perfect night’s sleep, plus a range of aromatherapy oils.
Guests can also listen to a series of podcasts by Dr Chris Idzikowski on how to get a good night’s sleep, including how diet and exercise affect sleep and surviving a bad night’s shut eye.
Available in: First established in the US, Crowne Plaza’s Sleep Advantage programme can now be found in Europe, Middle East and Africa
Can I buy it? Yes. ANA Crowne Plaza guests can take home their very own Sleep Advantage amenities such as bath powder, tea bags, disposal eye warmer and aroma diffuser.
Website: www.ichotelsgroup.com
HILTON GARDEN INN
Signature beddings: Garden Sleep System (GSS)
What is it? The GSS bed uses a self-adjusting technology that automatically conforms to an individual’s unique body shape and weight. This feature eases pressure points at the shoulders, hips and thighs, enabling the person to quickly fall into deep sleep.
The bed is encased in crisp linens, and topped by hypoallergenic, down-fill pillows and 100 percent New Zealand virgin wool mattress toppers to help guests sleep deep and wake up refreshed and energised.
Available in: North America and Europe
Can I buy it? Yes
Website: www.HGI.com/GSS
SHANGRI-LA HOTEL TOKYO
Signature beddings: Tailor-made Pillow Menu
What is it? What makes the pillow menu at Shangri-La Tokyo unique is that it features an extensive range of pillows with Japanese cultural flavour.
There is the Japanese Soba pillow, the traditional Japanese pillow filled with buckwheat grains. It breathes well and used commonly in traditional Japanese houses. Igusa pillow is another one that “breathes very well”. It is made from the Igusa plant, the same material used for tatami mattresses.
For those who are allergic of the Soba but prefer its texture, the mini pipe pillow filled plastic pipe is a perfect solution that gives identical comfort. There is also the contour pillow, a memory form latex pillow that provides optimal comfort and balanced head support, neck support and back support.
For people who like to sleep hugging a pillow at their side, there is the hotdog-shaped bolster pillow. And, of course, there is also your traditional cotton pillow.
Pillow menu complements the handcrafted custom-made bed mattress from Stearns and Foster from Sealy Bed, which is a standard feature in all Shangri-La Tokyo guestrooms. For those who prefer harder mattress, the hotel has an alternative bed from Simmons.
Meanwhile, the hotel provides 100 percent cotton soft-woven pyjamas in all guestrooms as well as custom-made Yukata.
Can I buy it? Not for sale at the moment.
Website: www.shangri-la.com
VIE HOTEL BANGKOK
Signature beddings: Deep Sleep
What is it? Accor’s pioneering MGallery hotel, VIE Hotel Bangkok, has launched a new therapy called “Deep Sleep”, which is geared to help guests achieve a great night’s rest.
The holistic approach offers more than just a choice of pillow but involves a methodical plan of activities and elements that are custom designed to ensure that guests feel well through sleeping well.
The Deep Sleep package includes accommodation in Deluxe Suite room including breakfast, personal check-in by one of VIE’s Sleep Consultants at the VIE Suite – a spacious and well appointed room with a relaxed ambience, a selection of relax songs to be played in the guestroom, a selection of herbal teas, dreamy aromatherapy candles/burners, and specialty pillows and pillow mist to choose from.
Also, guests can enjoy a complimentary 45-minute relaxation treatment in the VIE SPA to help relax their body and still the mind, and VIE Bath with relaxing amenities to begin the process of ending the day.
VIE’s Sleep Consultants provide recommendations and advice on the best sleeping position, meditation and muscle relaxation activities, suggestions on sleep-friendly meals and create an environment that soothes the senses of sight, scent, sound, taste and touch for the ultimate sleeping experience.
Can I buy it? Guests can buy products such as burner flake, pillow mist and sensual oil among others from VIE Spa.
Website: www.accorhotels.com
WESTIN HOTELS AND RESORTS
Signature beddings: Westin Heavenly Bed
What is it? Heavenly Bed started the hotel beddings revolution in 1999. The Heavenly Bed includes a 13-inch pillow top mattress with eight ¾-inch box spring, two feather and down pillows, two hypo-allergenic pillows, a boudoir pillow and cover, a duvet cover with an overstuffed polyester insert, a down blanket, a bed skirt, a top sheet, a decorative sheet, a bottom sheet and pillow cases.
Westin has designed every detail – from the crisp, white 250-thread count sheets to custom mattresses.
Furthermore, the signature Heavenly brand has expanded to include the Heavenly Bath, which aims to redefine the shower experience for guests with its exclusive dual showerhead and revolutionary curved shower rod that gives you eight additional inches of elbowroom.
Meanwhile, Westin’s signature spa amenities, Brazilian combed cotton bath sheets and custom-designed velour bathrobes are powerful incentives to lure you out of bed and help you start your day feeling pampered and invigorated.
Available in: Worldwide in every Westin property
Can I buy it? Yes, Heavenly products are available for purchase online.
Website: www.starwoodhotels.com
Joy Zhou
