Why sleep tourism is booming | Tech US News

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(CNN) – Going on vacation might seem like an unconventional way to try to improve your sleep habits.

But sleep tourism has been growing in popularity for several years, with an increasing number of sleep-focused stays popping up in hotels and resorts around the world.

Interest has soared since the pandemic, with a number of high-profile establishments turning their attention to sleep-deprived people.

Over the past 12 months, Park Hyatt New York opened the Bryte Restorative Sleep Suite, a 900-square-foot suite filled with sleep-enhancing amenities, while Rosewood Hotels & Resorts recently launched a collection of retreats called Alchemy of Sleep, which are designed to “promote rest”.

Zedwell, London’s first sleep-focused hotel, featuring rooms equipped with innovative soundproofing, opened in early 2020, and Swedish bed manufacturer Hastens established the world’s first Hästens Sleep Spa Hotel, a 15-room boutique hotel, in Portuguese city of Coimbra. year later

Impact of the pandemic

The Bryte Restorative Sleep Suite, packed with sleep-enhancing amenities, debuted at the Park Hyatt New York in January.

Park Hyatt New York

So why has sleep suddenly become such a big focus for the travel industry?

Dr. Rebecca Robbins, sleep researcher and co-author of the book “Sleep for Success!” believes that this change is long overdue, especially when it comes to hotels.

“When it comes down to it, travelers book hotels for a place to sleep,” he tells CNN Travel, before noting that the hotel industry has mostly focused on things that actually make sleep difficult in the past.

“People tend to associate travel with decadent meals, extending their bedtime, attractions and things you do while traveling, really almost at the expense of sleep,” she adds.

“Now, I think there’s been a huge seismic shift in our collective consciousness and prioritization of wellness and well-being.”

The global pandemic seems to have played a major role in this. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that 40% of the more than 2,500 adults who participated reported a decrease in sleep quality since the start of the pandemic.

“There has been a greater focus on sleep in the age of Covid-19, and probably because so many people have struggled with this. [sleep],” says Dr. Robbins.

Prioritizing sleep

Hypnotherapist, meditation coach and holistic practitioner Malminder Gill has also noticed a change in attitudes towards sleep.

“Everything seems to be moving toward longevity, and I think that’s really fueled things,” Gill tells CNN Travel.

“Because it’s no big surprise that sleep is such an important aspect of our lives. Lack of sleep can cause many different problems in your body and your mental health.

“So anxiety, depression, low mood, mood swings, all kinds of things, plus tiredness.”

Gill has teamed up with the Cadogan, a Belmond hotel in London, to create a special service aimed at guests with sleep problems called Sleep Concierge.

The service includes a sleep-inducing meditation recording, a pillow menu with options to cater for guests who prefer to sleep on their backs or sides, the option of a weighted blanket, a bedtime tea developed specifically for the service and a scented pillow . mist

“Different things work for different people at different stages of their lives,” Gill says of the different items offered within the service.

Practices that induce sleep

Brown's Hotel in Mayfair, London has launched the two-night experience

Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair, London, launched the two-night ‘Forte Winks’ experience in October.

Rocco Forte Hotels

“We try to stack the odds in our favor. If you put all those things together, I’d say there’s a greater chance of better quality sleep. But I don’t think there’s a one-size-fits-all.”

The types of sleep-focused programs and/or retreats offered by hotels and resorts also tend to vary, with different establishments approaching the concept in different ways.

Luxury hotel brand Six Senses offers a variety of comprehensive sleep programs, ranging from three to seven days or longer, at several of its properties, while Brown’s Hotel, a Rocco Forte hotel in Mayfair, London, recently launched, ‘Forte Winks’ a two-night experience specially created to help guests sleep peacefully.

“Sleep is so important and we noticed that there was a trend in sleep tourism and well-being in general, after the lockdowns and Covid,” explains Daniela Moore, Senior Director of Group Public Relations at Rocco Forte Hotels.

“So we wanted to take the opportunity to showcase Brown’s as a hotel that cares about getting the best night’s sleep.”

For Gill, the emergence of more and more of these types of experiences is a sign that the “narrative of being awake to do things” is being challenged and people are beginning to understand more deeply how important sleep is.

Quick fix?

The Sleep Suite at the Park Hyatt New York includes a restorative king bed by Bryte and sleep-enhancing products such as essential oil diffusers, Nollapelli bedding, and sleep masks.

Park Hyatt New York

But can short-term sleep-focused travel experiences really have a long-term impact on a person’s overall sleep?

According to Dr. Robbins, travel experiences that focus on “healthy sleep strategies” that aim to give guests the tools they need to improve their sleep can be very beneficial, as long as a reputable medical or scientific expert is involved in some way to help determine if there might be something else at play.

“If someone goes to one of these retreats and isn’t seeing any progress, it could be because they have an untreated sleep disorder,” she explains, pointing to conditions like sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome or insomnia as potential examples. .

“That’s why it’s vitally important to make sure hotels partner with scientists and medical professionals who can carefully impart these strategies.”

Mandarin Oriental, Geneva has gone a step further by partnering with CENAS, a private medical sleep clinic in Switzerland, to host a three-day program that studies guests’ sleep patterns in order to identify potential sleep disorders.

While most establishments and experiences focused on sleep tend to fall within the luxury travel sector, Dr. Robbins believes that all hotels and resorts should make this a priority.

“There are ways to make it meaningful for every level,” he adds, noting that “it doesn’t hurt to leave a pair of earplugs by the nightstand.”

As sleep tourism continues to grow, Dr. Robbins says she’s looking forward to seeing “who really continues to pioneer and think creatively in this space,” noting that there are countless avenues that have yet to be fully explored when it comes to travel and sleep science. dream.

“The notion of travel that rejuvenates you and allows you to come home refreshed and restored is a really exciting proposition,” he adds.

Top Image Credit: Rocco Forte Hotels

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