Sleep tourism is a big revenue opportunity for hotels and resorts. Some examples of innovations in this area.

Sleep is of big concern right now and sleep tourism represents a big potential market, not just for the luxury sector, but for hotels and resorts across the board. According to the Sleep Foundation, one third of Americans don’t get enough sleep, and Google searches for “sleep” hit an all-time high in 2023. Specific searches such as, “Why am I tired all the time” were also common.

This is obviously important, as we know sleep is tied to longevity, health, and wellbeing, while a lack of it is connected with some very bad things, including heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity, and depression. 

Research findings presented in 2023 at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session Together With the World Congress of Cardiology suggest that about eight percent of deaths from any cause can be attributed to poor sleep patterns, and that people who have more beneficial sleep habits are incrementally less likely to die younger. Separate research has found that poor sleep is connected with memory loss and dementia. 

Awareness around the topic has people seeking solutions. According to research on the Sleep Foundation website:

• 37% of U.S. adults say they slept somewhat or much worse in 2023 than in previous years.
• The top sleep hacks people tried in the year prior to the report were showering before bed (45%), using a weighted blanket (26%), and keeping a bedroom window open (26%).
• 27% exercised more to improve sleep, 27% got up earlier, and 25% limited or avoided caffeine, while only 19% turned off their phone at bedtime.
• The most popular products purchased to improve sleep were comfortable pillows (40%), quality sheets (24%), and a new mattress (23%).

The rise of sleep tourism

Sleep tourism, meanwhile, is on the rise, with more hotels and resorts offering sleep-focused rooms, amenities, and programs. Sleep tourism is projected to grow by nearly 8% and over $400 billion between 2023 and 2028, according to an analysis by HTF Market Intelligence as reported by Fortune magazine.

Rebecca Robbins, a sleep researcher and co-author of the book “Sleep for Success!” told CNN in 2022 that it’s about time for this shift. 

“When it comes down to it, travelers book hotels for a place to sleep,” Robbins told CNN Travel. “People often associate travel with decadent meals, extending their bed times, the attractions and the things you do while you’re traveling, really almost at the cost of sleep. Now, I think there’s just been a huge seismic shift in our collective awareness and prioritization on wellness and well being.” 

Trends in wearable and sleep tech

In 2023, the Global Wellness Institute listed sensorial based technology products among its sleep trends: 

“Sensorial-based technology products include smart mattresses that use sensors to monitor sleep patterns and adjust the mattress firmness and temperature accordingly. Additionally, there are smart pillows that track sleep data and provide soothing vibrations to alleviate snoring or provide a more comfortable sleep. These products also offer guided meditation and relaxing music to help people fall asleep faster, creating a more sensorial sleeping experience.” 

Wearables include the Ouoro Ring and the Whoop 4.0.

Hotels and resorts are turning to similar technologies – as well as more natural solutions – to appeal to sleep deprived guests in search of a restful holiday. What distinguishes one from the others will be unique and imaginative sleep program ideas that offer guests experiences unavailable elsewhere.

Some examples of hotels and resorts offering innovative and creative sleep programs include:

Four Seasons Bali at Sayan

One of the sessions in the Life Talks and Meditation series at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan, a breathtaking five-star property in the Sayan Valley, is a sacred nap. For this afternoon “air nap,” guests are suspended from a bamboo ceiling cocooned in an aerial silk hammock. Rocking gently while listening to the sounds of nature in the tranquility of the Sayan Valley and the life story of Buddha as told by Four Seasons Wellness Mentor Ibu Fera, guests are lulled to sleep in tranquil bliss. “Deeply soothing and nurturing, this is a not-to-be-missed relaxation technique that will leave you feeling refreshed and recharged, and planning your next air nap.” 

Park Hyatt New York

At Park Hyatt New York, the luxury five-star urban oasis in the heart of Midtown, Bryte Restorative Sleep Suites are outfitted with Bryte Balance Restorative Beds. These beds offer a multi-sensory relaxation experience that synchronizes calming sleep-inducing sounds with soothing motions to ease the mind into a peaceful state and help guests fall asleep faster. Sleepers can personalize support settings on each side of the bed for tailored comfort, while intelligent cushions continually rebalance to minimize waking episodes. A Silent Wake Assist feature begins gradual movement beneath the sleeper 15 minutes prior to wake time, ensuring a smooth awakening. The suites are also outfitted with sleep-enhancing amenities such as a Vitruvi Essential Diffuser and signature “Sleep” Essential Oil blend, Nollapelli Linens, sleeping masks, and a collection of sleep-related books.

Six Senses Ibiza

Sleep with Six Senses sleep programs were designed to enhance and improve restorative rest and wellbeing in partnership with Sleep Doctor Michael Breus. These programs, which vary across locations, incorporate yoga nidra and meditation, relaxing treatments and amenities, wellness therapies, nutrition advice and low intensity training. The benefits include insight into current sleep patterns through sleep tracking and analysis, boosts in mood and energy levels, strengthening of the immune system, improved memory and learning, and decreased systemic inflammation. At Six Senses Ibiza, programs range from three to seven nights and include wellness screening; private yoga, Pilates, and personal training sessions; meditation/pranayama; a Nottnuit Facial; cryotherapy; and sound healing.

Factors to consider when designing hotel sleep programs

The findings of a 2023 study highlight the value of integrating sleep programs as part of wellness offerings in hospitality and point to five sleep factors that may contribute significantly to longevity. While controlling for other factors, researchers assessed five different sleep-related factors: 

1. Ideal sleep duration of seven to eight hours a night
2. Difficulty falling asleep no more than two times a week
3. Trouble staying asleep no more than two times a week
4. Not using any sleep medication
5. Feeling well rested after waking up at least five days a week

Those who reported having all five quality sleep measures were given a total score of five.  Compared to people with only zero or one positive sleep factors, those with all five had a 30% reduced risk of death from any cause, a 21% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, a 19% decreased risk of dying from cancer, and a 40% reduced likelihood of death from reasons other than heart disease or cancer. These other reasons likely include accidents, infections, and  neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

Image by drobotdean on Freepik

Spa Executive is published by Book4Time, the leader in guest management, revenue and mobile solutions for the most exclusive spas, hotels, and resorts around the globe. Learn more at book4time.com.

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Research findings suggest that sleep detoxes the brain. Here’s how that works and how spa treatments can help people get more sleep.

The question of why we sleep is as old as humankind. Scientists have been exploring it for decades, but it’s still a difficult one to answer. We know we need sleep to survive, that we feel better after we do it, and we can barely function when we don’t get enough of it. We know we dream during sleep and appear to solve problems and solidify learning, and more than a century of research has established the fact that sleep benefits the retention of memory.

Sleep detoxes the brain

We also may be detoxing our brains when we sleep.  

A 2013 study using mice showed that the space between brain cells may increase during sleep, allowing the brain to flush out toxins that build up during waking hours. According to a brief, the results suggested a new role for sleep in health and disease. 

“Sleep changes the cellular structure of the brain. It appears to be a completely different state,” said Maiken Nedergaard, a leader of the study.

The study showed that during sleep a plumbing system called the glymphatic system may open, letting fluid flow rapidly through the brain. The glymphatic system helps control the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a clear liquid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Previous research findings suggest that toxic molecules involved in neurodegenerative disorders accumulate in the space between brain cells.

“It’s as if Dr. Nedergaard and her colleagues have uncovered a network of hidden caves and these exciting results highlight the potential importance of the network in normal brain function,” said Roderick Corriveau, Ph.D., a program director at NINDS.

The results were said to potentially have broad implications for multiple neurological disorders and highlight the importance of sleep.

“We need sleep. It cleans up the brain,” said Dr. Nedergaard.

We also know we need sleep because a lack of it can lead to a host of negative health outcomes. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “some of the most serious potential problems associated with chronic sleep deprivation are high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, heart failure or stroke.” Other potential problems include obesity, depression, and reduced immune system function.

Fortunately, spa treatments, including massage, sauna, and taking warm waters can help improve sleep function – something to communicate to your guests.

Some findings regarding common spa treatments and sleep:

Massage

Postmenopausal women with insomnia undergoing massage therapy experienced improvement in sleep patterns. Patients self reported falling asleep faster, improved quality of sleep, and feeling better upon waking.

Women undergoing massage therapy also experienced a significant decrease in depression, insomnia, and increased quality of life. 

In addition to a decrease in long-term pain, subjects receiving massage experienced improved sleep and an increase in serotonin levels. Results were based on twice-weekly, 30-minute massages for 5 weeks. 

Sauna

Volunteers who took a sauna before bed experienced a significantly increased state of relaxation and improved levels of deep sleep than on nights they did not take a sauna before bed. 

83.5% of 482 respondents to a survey in another study reported sleep benefits after sauna use.

Soaking in warm water

Bathing one to two hours — ideally, 90 minutes — before bed in water at 104 to 109°F (40 to 43°C) helps people get the best quality sleep and to fall asleep an average of 10 minutes faster than normal.

More recent research also found that 7 in 10 Americans do not achieve restorative sleep. 

Many hotels and spas are seeing the potential market here and are creating programs designed to help guests sleep better. These include the Four Seasons Hotel St Louis where the Deep Sleep Restorative Massage with calming aromas of lavender and chamomile concludes with a 20-minute nap under a weighted blanket while delta wave-stimulating melodies play in the background (via Well+Good). Guests are given a pillow mist and eucalyptus salt soak to continue the experience in their rooms, which feature blackout curtains, soundproof windows, and signature Four Seasons mattresses featuring AirCool technology, and crisp linens.

And the Fairmont Century Plaza offers treatments targeting sleep at a cellular level through a combination of infrared technology, compression therapy, and healing sound waves on an anti-gravity bed. Guest rooms feature black-out curtains and plush pillow top mattresses.

Langham Hospitality Group, meanwhile, recently launched Sleep Matters by Chuan, a comprehensive global sleep wellness programme developed in conjunction with the World Sleep Society.

Amy Chan, Assistant Group Director of Spa & Wellness at Langham Hospitality Group, told us, “As sleep plays a vital role in a memorable travel experience, helping travelers enjoy a good night’s rest allows for greater enjoyment of a holiday, higher productivity on a business trip, and is the connective element between a hotel and its guests.”

Exclusive elements include a magazine curated by the World Sleep Society as well as elements based around wellness rituals and offerings from Langham Hospitality Group’s global spa and wellness brand, Chuan Spa.

Every Langham hotel around the world has embraced the program and is offering their own packages and local elements to help guests achieve better rest.

Spa Executive is published by Book4Time, the leader in guest management, revenue and mobile solutions for the most exclusive spas, hotels, and resorts around the globe. Learn more at book4time.com

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Many people don’t get nearly enough sleep, and lack of sleep has a massive impact on body systems, health and wellness, and quality of life. Click here to read about seven terrible effects of insufficient sleep that you might not know about.

If you can help people sleep better, you can change their lives.

For inspiration, here are five examples of spas offering treatments and programs to enhance sleep.

Where: Six Senses

What: Sleep With Six Senses

The recently introduced Sleep With Six Senses program was designed in collaboration with sleep expert Michael J. Breus, to assure better rest while staying with Six Senses, and beyond. The program includes optimal bedding, an assigned “Sleep Ambassador,” a sleep tracking device, and a customized program of spa treatments.

Where: The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley

What: California Dreaming

The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley offers this sleep wellness massage developed in collaboration with “Sleep Guru” Robert Michael deStefano and local skin care line Longeva.

“The innovative new massage incorporates proprietary breath-work, sleep-inducing techniques and a special blend of essential oils designed to relax the mind and body.”

Following the massage guests receive a collection of sleep enhancing aids, including a sleep ritual guide by deStefano; ZBLISS Sleep Music Therapy; and Anoint Trigger Point Sleep Serum (1 oz.) from the Longeva NightSPA.

Where: YeloSpa NYC

What: YeloCab nap

YeloSpa offer the opportunity to nap in comfort at $1.00 a minute. The YeloCab nap is a sleep therapy system that takes place inside of YeloSpa’s patented treatment cabins.

“It may be experienced on its own for rest and rejuvenation or combined with a YeloCab massage to balance, heal and energize your body and mind. Customize your Aromatherapy and Sound settings and recline in our YeloBed for a Zero Gravity experience that will leave you feeling Alive,  Beautiful.”

Research suggests that there are numerous benefits to napping during the day.

Where: Canyon Ranch

What: Sleep Enhancement

Canyon Ranch offers sleep consultations in which a licensed sleep therapist assesses your issues and helps you work through them. The Ranch also offers and a formal All-Night Sleep Study on site which is helpful for assessing multiple awakenings, snoring, possible sleep apnea and unexplained daytime sleepiness.

Where: Celebrity Cruise ships

What: Mindful Dreams

Canyon Ranch has also teamed with Celebrity Cruises to launch Mindful Dreams, a program of four spa treatments using  a variety of products and sleep aids to promote healthy sleep. Among these are Voya’s Mindful Dreams, from the luxury brand’s Tranquil product line.

Spa staff will also offer nutritional seminars on food choices and holistic methods for mindful sleep.

The eponymous 75-minute Mindful Dreams treatment incorporates sleep-inducing massage, meditation and breathing techniques combined with products such as essential oils of lavender and rosemary designed to induce relaxation and sleep.

Other treatments will include a 55-minute lavender and seaweed sugar glow; a 50-minute age-defying restorative facial; and the 45-minute lazy days detox seaweed bath.

Six terrible effects of insufficient sleep

Spa Executive magazine is published by Book4Time, the world’s most innovative spa, salon, wellness, and activity management software. Learn more at Book4Time.com

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