Redefining Sleep in Travel

19 March 2021

We celebrate the 14th annual World Sleep Day on Friday 19th March. This year’s slogan is ‘Regular Sleep, Healthy Future.’  

Various studies have proven that a regular sleep routine not only contributes to a healthier mind, but also affects our energy to complete our daily tasks. As hoteliers we want to ensure our guests get the best sleep possible – but how easy is this to maintain our routine whilst we are on the road?

Travel can be disruptive to our normal routines whether from flight fatigue, unusual surroundings, or as simple as combating jetlag. The circadian rhythm[i] does not always align with the local daytime hours. While ‘do not disturb’ door tags, thermoregulation and blocking out all distracting noises may contribute to a good night’s sleep, we also recognise the power of comfortable bedding.

According to a sleep study done in 2019, 80% of travellers struggle to sleep when staying away from home.[ii] So, what tactics should we use to reinforce the commitment of a restful stay for our guests?

2021 is a special year for 4C Hotel Group as we open Canopy by Hilton London City and The Westin London City later this year. Whilst the two hotels have a distinct individual ambience and décor, there are some aids that they both use which contribute to providing their guests with quality night’s sleep.

The Canopy by Hilton London City will be providing cutting-edge technology bedding, something that is new in the hospitality space. Apart from high-quality installed blackout curtains, especially designed Canopy eye masks, and many other sleep aids at the guest’s disposal, the Canopy by Hilton London City rooms will have custom-designed Serta beds with Mega Foam technology (Green Foam Technology) and Micro Support Gel. This increases the airflow and whisks heat away from the body. It is 12 times more breathable than ordinary memory foam to create a cooler and more comfortable sleep experience.

In addition to this, the Advanced Comfort Quilt Technology (ACQ) blends in sophisticated convoluted layers of quilting to the mattress, creating specialized comfort zones. This provides additional support to the spine and the layers are unique for the plush, luxurious feeling and breathability.

The Westin London City is also proactively upscaling their sleep experience, with ‘Sleep Well’ being one of the 6 Pillars of the Westin Brand. In order to understand Westin sleep pillars better, we approached Alex Dallocchio, General Manager of Westin London – City who is looking forward to the opening of the hotel later this year, to know how his hotel is using cutting edge technology to achieve their goals.

Westin Hotels have transformed both the sleep experience and the industry with the introduction of the Heavenly Bed which led to the launch of the Heavenly Bath, Heavenly Spa, Heavenly Crib and Heavenly Dog Bed.

‘‘As we know quality sleep is critical for both mental and physical health, each room will have a personalized Sleep Well Lavender Balm, Heavenly Bed, and a Sleep Well menu to aid the best experience. The items on the ‘Westin Sleep Well Menu’ are packed with amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that promote rest and recovery. Guests can eat smart and sleep well with our curated selection of sleep-enhancing foods, available for in-room dining. Guests can roll onto pulse points before bedtime to foster sound sleep. As we are aware that getting a good restful night is not always easy, our entire hotel was built to ensure all our guests can relax. Whether it is with some Westin White Tea bath products, having some herbal tea, using a bit of our lavender balm, or just getting into our Heavenly Beds we want to make sure our guests get the best night’s sleep they have ever experienced in a Hotel.’’

We look forward to you enjoying a soothing sleep experience, at our Canopy by Hilton London City and Westin London City Hotels, both set to open later this Summer.


[i] Circadian rhythm – A circadian rhythm is a person’s internal clock that regulates the sleep–wake cycle and repeats on each rotation of the Earth roughly every 24 hours.

[ii] IHG sleep study 2019.