How does sleep affect a guest’s stay?
A good nights sleep impacts everyone. According to a Trip Advisor survey 55% of travellers said they look for reviews that specifically address sleep quality.
The Power of Sleep
Travel is stressful and disruptive to normal routines, whether from jet lag, packed schedules, travel delays, or navigating new environments. Internal body clocks don’t always coincide with local daytime hours, so it’s important to provide a sleep-conducive environment, regardless of what time the clock displays.
- Lack of sleep impairs a person’s ability to focus efficiently.
- Sleep is necessary to consolidate a memory (make it stick) so that it can be recalled in the future.
As head of the Harris Health Sleep Disorders Center, a nationally certified facility by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Alapat and his staff perform about 1,200 sleep studies a year to evaluate patients for a variety of sleep disorders, including apnea, insomnia, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy and chronic fatigue syndrome.
“Any prolonged sleep deprivation will affect your mood, energy level and ability to focus, concentrate and learn, which directly affects your performance,” Alapat adds.
In her groundbreaking book The Teenage Brain, neuroscientist Dr Frances Jensen explains ‘Bedtime isn’t simply a way for the body to relax and recoup after a hard day working, studying or playing. It’s the glue that allows us not only to recollect our experiences but also to remember everything we’ve learned that day.”
How much sleep do we need?
There is no magic number for exactly how much sleep we need, but the Australian Centre for Education in Sleep (ACES) suggests the following as a guide:
Primary school: 10-12 hours per day
High school adolescents: 8-10 hours per day
Adults: 7-9 hours per day
So what can I do to make my Guest’s sleep experience a good one?
- Firstly, a good mattress is paramount, sourcing a good mattress ensures guests get the quality of sleep they need. A good mattress will be firm yet comfortable so weight is evenly distributed reducing pressure on the body. It will also be made from materials to reduce allergens. For more information on the Aston Mattress Hotel mattress range from Lindsay Wilson Concepts click here
- Adjust Lighting. A dark room is important for good sleep. Luckily, it’s also one of the easiest ways for a hotel to improve sleeping conditions. Black-out curtains and/or darkening shades are only modestly more expensive than standard drapes, making them a great investment for hotels. Installing dimming lights and table lamps are a good way so guests can relax and know it will soon be time to sleep. If you need help with lighting for your student facilities contact one of the Furniture, Fittings & Equipment Concepts & Solutions team here