Wellness is such an ambiguous and all-encompassing term that it’s often intimidating, and can lead to "shopper’s paralysis" for hoteliers looking to invest in the space. So let's narrow the field of view to an aspect of wellness where any hotel can gain: sleep.

Specifically for 2023 and the high-tech world we are entering, there are a bevy of sleep technologies that can be deployed to differentiate the guestroom experience, use for marketing campaigns, grow rates, generate ancillary spending or even carve out a wholly new product tier.

For example, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has its Alchemy of Sleep program; Park Hyatt has debuted a "sleep suites" product tier; Six Senses offers multi-night sleep wellness packages; Sonesta is rolling out its Rest & Renew Sleep Program; and Equinox Hotels has its Art + Science of Sleep. Advanced sleep programs that meld traditional amenities with high-tech integrations are becoming a bit of an arms race, but when the end goal is improved guest sleep everyone wins.

Taking a step back from the corrective tech, let’s open up the "why" behind these programs. That is, when someone gets a bad night’s sleep, are they less likely to return and less likely to recommend your hotel to their friends? Invariably yes.

In many cases, it's the hotel’s fault. High-thread-count linens work to trap body heat, while excessive room humidity and poorly ventilated mattresses all work to cause discomfort during the course of the night — what’s known as the "bed microclimate." And often the in-room thermostat and HVAC have no effect; rising temperatures throughout the night inevitably lead to discomfort, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, unconscious awakenings and lower back pain.

Besides temperature, moisture is also a critical concern as it nurtures microbes, dust mites and even bedbugs within the mattress. This not only affects localized air quality but also introduces allergens. Over time, this moisture accelerates mattress deterioration, leading to higher replacement costs. On this note, sleep tech not only helps with higher rates and guest satisfaction, but also capital expenditures.

The general idea behind sleep hygiene is to create the ideal room conditions for the best sleep possible — temperature, moisture, surface firmness, air quality, light exposure, noise exposure, stress levels, satiety, hydration, exercise and many other factors.

To that end, here are some ways that technology can augment sleep hygiene:

• Circadian lighting that can adjust to red-amber hues at night and limit blue light.
• Nighttime motion sensors that activate floor-level soft lighting.
• Blackout curtains with smart room controls for one-touch bedside access.
• Smarter thermostats to help maintain the body at the optimal temperature.
• Vitamin-infused showers and bathroom amenities with sleep-friendly ingredients.
• On-demand access to light stretching, meditation or ambient noise apps to help relax the mind.
• Pillows, sleep masks, sprays and other physical goods requiring nimble inventory management.
• Dedicated apps and wearables that monitor sleep quality, deep sleep and REM.
• Bedding appliances and sleep systems that regulate temperature and moisture levels.

Unlike tracking apps or devices that merely provide sleep data, the latest bedding innovations are designed to enhance sleep quality by regulating the bed microclimate generated by the body's heat that gets trapped between the sheets, comforter and mattress. These cutting-edge sleep systems target factors such as air purity, moisture reduction and temperature control, with the aforementioned benefits to sleep.

We consider sleep systems to be the crown jewel of this emerging tech category because they maximize sleep hygiene in the most effortless way. After all, when you spend eight hours in one place each day, it’s kind of important what you get out of that place or, in this case, bed.

To give you a sense of where this is going, we investigated the RH Guesthouse in New York that has deployed FreshBed, a Dutch manufacturer of sleep systems, wherein the hotel has used the guarantee of a great night’s sleep as part of its strategy to charge rates starting at $2,200 per night. For this, the sleep system includes allergy-friendly features, built-in silent HEPA ventilation, and advanced temperature and humidity controls, as well as an integration with tablet platform providers so that all these controls can be intuitively configured or changed from the bedside table.

Given how important sleep has now been proven to be for one’s health, embracing sleep technology can thus extend profound benefits to any hotel. With the rise of "sleep tourism," many guests are now specifically looking for such guestroom amenities while traveling. For your own longevity and that of your guests, consider enhancing your sleep programs, which applies to any hotel, not just those with spas.

Adam and Larry Mogelonsky are partners of Hotel Mogel Consulting Ltd., a Toronto-based consulting practice. Larry focuses on asset management, sales and operations while Adam specializes in hotel technology and marketing.

The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hotel News Now or CoStar Group and its affiliated companies. Bloggers published on this site are given the freedom to express views that may be controversial, but our goal is to provoke thought and constructive discussion within our reader community. Please feel free to contact an editor with any questions or concern.

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