SPONSORED CONTENT
Supporting Guests ’ Sleep Health
By Matt Carter
Given the pandemic-induced focus on air quality , social distancing and sanitation – not to mention the regular stresses of modern life – many of us are paying greater attention to our personal health than ever before . While self-care was previously seen as a luxury that involved occasionally indulging oneself as a treat , it ’ s come to be viewed as a daily requirement , essential to both physical and mental health .
Indeed , wellness is now a dominant consumer value around the world – and a key driver for the travel and tourism industry . According to a 2021 report , the Global Wellness Institute expects our increasing emphasis on well-being and work-life balance to power a 21 percent annual growth rate in wellness tourism as we approach 2025 . Hoteliers are responding with an abundance of healthrelated amenities , including on-site experts , meditation classes and personalized spa services . Many are also ramping up offerings related to another key consideration with particular relevance for hotels : sleep .
As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasizes , “ getting enough sleep is not a luxury — it is something people need for good health .” If we ’ re deficient in this regard , it can weaken our immune system , making us more likely to catch a cold . Research also links sleep deprivation with more serious conditions , including type 2 diabetes , high bloodpressure , heart disease , cancer , and obesity . Additionally , lack of quality slumber affects our brains , accelerating aging and increasing risk of dementia , depression , anxiety , and generally ‘ fuzzy thinking .’ Alarmingly , drowsy driving is likely responsible for around 6,000 fatal crashes per year in the United States alone .
Today ’ s health-conscious guests expect their chosen property to provide them with a good night ’ s rest . In fact , a TripAdvisor survey found 55 percent look for reviews that specifically mention sleep quality before they make a reservation . Guests are also increasingly on the lookout for sleep-related amenities , such as tech-free rooms , high-quality mattresses , pillow menus , and even in-room consultations aimed at resetting unhealthy sleep patterns .
Of course , no such offering is complete without addressing noise – a problem with which hoteliers are all too familiar . For decades , it ’ s ranked among the top guest complaints across all property types , and is known to disrupt sleep by preventing onset , prompting shifts to lighter stages , and causing awakenings . However , the solution to this issue might come as a surprise to those unfamiliar with the science of acoustics .
Studies conducted in healthcare , residential and military facilities show the likelihood a noise will disrupt an occupant largely depends on how much change it causes in their room ’ s typical ambient conditions . The greater the change , the harder it is for them to ignore , even while asleep . The ambient level in most guest rooms is often just 28 to 33 A-weighted decibels . In these ‘ pin-drop ’ environments , just about any noise – even normal conversation in the hallway – creates a significant change .
Guests can be made more comfortable by taking a simple step that initially seems to contradict the goal of reducing noise : increase their room ’ s background sound level using masking sound . Although often compared to softly blowing air , the sound produced by a commercial-grade device such as MODIO Guestroom Acoustic Control follows a specific spectrum developed by the National Research Council to balance the need for acoustic control with that of occupant comfort . It covers many noises and reduces the disruptive impact of others , creating a less variable – and , therefore , more comfortable – sleeping environment .
The rapidly-growing demand for such wellness offerings provides abundant opportunities as hotels continue to recover from the pandemic . Equipping your guest rooms with masking will ensure your guests get the ‘ healthy-dose ’ of sleep they need to feel refreshed and rejuvenated – and singing your property ’ s praises , rather than anxiously awaiting their return home .