Best Western Annual Convention, October 21-23, 2024
Join us at the Best Western Annual Convention.
October 21 – 23, 2024, Charlotte, NC.
Event Details
Date:
October 21 – 23, 2024
Location:
Charlotte, NC
4
10, 2024
27
09, 2024
NEWH Seattle, October 22, 2024
Join us at NEWH Seattle Regional Trade Show.
October 22, 2024, Sheraton Grand Seattle, Seattle, WA, Learn more here.
Event Details
Date:
October 22, 2024
Website:
newh.org/events/seattle-newh-regional-tradeshow-2024
Venue:
Sheraton Grand Seattle, Seattle, WA
22
09, 2024
Join Us at BDNY, November 10 – 11, 2024
Event Details
Let’s get together at BDNY!
We’ve got great new sleep innovations for you to experience!
Booth #2205
Register today for a free pass using this code: EXIV161250
Date:
Nov. 10 – 11, 2024
Website:
Venue:
Jacob K Javits Center
New York, NY
23
08, 2024
Global Wellness Institute’s Sleep Initiative & SSB Annual Survey Results
The Global Wellness Institute’s Sleep Initiative Kicks Off Annual Study with Serta Simmons Bedding Hospitality on Travelers and Their Sleep Habits
We recently partnered with the Global Wellness Institute’s Sleep Initiative who conducted an inaugural Road Warrior Sleep Survey to better understand how people who travel frequently are sleeping, as well as some of their most commonly reported sleep disruptors. What they discovered was that travelers aren’t getting the quality of sleep they want and they’re looking for solutions to remedy that.
In fact, high quality sleep is so essential for travelers, 91 percent of survey respondents shared that they are willing to pay more for accommodations that offer sleep-enhancing features. Further, more than 60 percent of guests reported they’re willing to spend up to 10 percent more for a better night’s sleep.
Among the other insights they uncovered:
- Background noise levels were the top reason for disrupted sleep (80%) and included street and traffic noise, sounds from the hallway, elevator and other guests.
- Other top sleep disruptors on the road includes lighting conditions, bedding, and room temperature.
“At SSB Hospitality, our purpose and passion is sleep – and has been for more than a century. We work tirelessly to ensure hotel partners and their guests create truly memorable sleep experiences — every night, every stay. The bed remains the heart of the guest room and investing in a high-quality, comfortable and durable mattress is an important part of delivering on that promise. But what other factors keep guests up at night on the road? By partnering in a Road Warrior Sleep Survey with the Global Wellness Institute’s Sleep Initiative, we gleaned important insights on exactly what keeps them up as well as what hotels can offer to ensure an optimal night’s rest.” – Brian Coughlin, Serta Simmons Bedding (SSB) Hospitality
“We know sleep is critical to good health – research shows a significant correlation between sleep quality and everything from cognitive function and decision-making to mood and creativity. However, despite the essential nature of sleep, the Road Warrior Sleep Survey shows many travelers are simply not getting the sleep they need. By implementing simple modifications to the sleep environment and offering amenities that enhance sleep hygiene, hotels can significantly improve guests’ sleep experiences. When hotels help guests get their best night’s slumber, they build brand loyalty – that’s a win-win.” – JD Velilla, Global Wellness Institute’s Sleep Initiative
The Global Wellness Institute’s (GWI) Sleep Initiative exists to elevate conversation on the importance of sleep and it is through this shared belief of good sleep why we partnered together on this survey. In their first year, the GWI Sleep Initiative will uncover the factors that contribute to restorative sleep and share tips on how to incorporate these into lifestyles, homes and hotels around the world. Looking ahead, they will explore the interplay between sleep and other pillars of wellness, including diet and exercise, and discuss evidence-based categories of products and services to help ensure restorative sleep. You can read more about the GWI’s Sleep Initiative here: https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/initiatives/sleep-initiative/.
Together with hotel companies, SSB Hospitality delivers differentiated bedding options to our clients and an exceptional guest sleep experience. As the sleep architects behind some of hospitality’s most legendary bedtime stories, our goal is to provide unmatched comfort, lasting performance, and durability that leave a lasting impression. We believe a great night’s sleep is the foundation of a great hospitality experience.
For the full survey results, click here and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn for the latest news.
Ready to elevate your guest sleep? Get started here.
18
07, 2024
Improving the Guest Sleep Experience: Tips from a “Sleep Nerd”
Improving the Guest Sleep Experience: Tips from a “Sleep Nerd”
“I believe that restful sleep is the ultimate guest amenity and for hotel brands, that means winning sleep on the first night.” – JD Velilla, Designing Sleep and Global Wellness Institute’s Sleep Initiative
Record-breaking summer travel is underway, and travelers don’t want to sacrifice shut-eye away from home.
At Serta Simmons Bedding (SSB) Hospitality, we’ve been the leading maker of mattresses for the hospitality industry. No other bedding company knows guest sleep better. Delivering innovative technology and design through our Serta and Beautyrest Hospitality mattresses, we aim to give hotel guests what they need most: a comfortable, high-quality mattress for exceptional sleep.
But many guests often leave their stay feeling unrested after a poor night’s sleep. JD Velilla, founder of Designing Sleep and a member of the Global Wellness Institute’s Sleep Initiative (as well as former Head of Sleep Experience at SSB), encourages hoteliers to return to the basics and focus on the most important guestroom touchpoint – the mattress. Investing and leaning in on the sleep experience leaves a lasting impression on guests and increases the likelihood they will return night after night, stay after stay.
In addition to refreshing the mattress, JD also suggests engaging your guests ahead of check-in with helpful sleep tips, including:
- Proactively sharing tips via email or social media on easy-to-pack items such as a sleep mask, a portable white noise machine or their favorite pajamas.
- Details on local or onsite amenities to help guests keep their normal at-home sleep routines.
Ultimately, partnering with the right mattress manufacturer early in the process can help hoteliers choose the best mattress for better guest sleep. Not only do our mattresses exceed current standards, we lead the industry in testing, research and design of the entire sleep system to make sure your guests get their best slumber. After all, a well-rested guest is a happy guest.
Read more tips from JD here and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest news.
Ready to elevate your guest sleep experience? Get in touch with us today!
29
06, 2022
Brian Coughlin Joins Serta Simmons Bedding to Lead Hospitality Division
Doraville, GA (June 29, 2022) – Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC (SSB), one of North America’s largest sleep companies, announced today that Brian Coughlin has joined the company as Vice President and General Manager of Hospitality, reporting to Scott Bolle, Senior Vice President of National Accounts and Hospitality Sales.
“Brian has decades of demonstrated leadership expertise in the hospitality industry and a passion for driving growth,” said Bolle. “I look forward to partnering with Brian to further strengthen Serta Simmons Bedding’s position in this space.”
Coughlin brings more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality and interiors industries to Serta Simmons Bedding, most recently serving as President and Chief Executive Officer at VE Textiles, a manufacturer of high-performance upholstery fabrics. Prior to that, he spent seven years with Warp & Phil, an industry startup he founded, which was ultimately acquired by Kansas City-based Fabri-Quilt, Inc., in 2015. He also held leadership positions with bedding and drapery fabricator Fabtex, Inc. and former textile manufacturer Richmond Textiles. During his tenure at Richmond Textiles, he grew the organization into a hospitality powerhouse specializing in brand standardized room décor programs.
“I’m thrilled to join the Serta Simmons Bedding team and support its iconic mattress brands,” said Coughlin. “I have a deep passion for the hospitality industry and look forward to further strengthening our place in it through our hotel relationships and the guest sleep experiences we will deliver together.”
About Serta Simmons Bedding
Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC, the company behind industry-leading Serta®, Beautyrest® and Simmons® Hospitality brands, is one of the largest manufacturers, marketers, and suppliers of mattresses in North America. Together with hotel companies, SSB Hospitality delivers differentiated bedding options to its clients and an exceptional guest sleep experience. Visit www.sertahospitality.com or www.beautyresthospitality.com to learn more.
29
04, 2021
Beautyrest® Hospitality Elevates the Guest Sleep Experience to New Heights
New product line-up adds recycled fibers and enhanced design aesthetics to its already legendary performance
ATLANTA (April 29, 2021) – Beautyrest Hospitality, a leader in innovative bedding solutions that deliver an exceptional guest sleep experience, today announced the launch of its new hospitality product portfolio, including a refresh of its legendary Simmons brand. All new Beautyrest™ products feature EnviroLux™ Fiber comprised of reclaimed plastic and all lines have a new, modern design aesthetic aligned to meet exacting hotel brand requirements – from economy to luxury.
“We are very excited about the launch of our new Beautyrest™ line and the revolutionary innovation it represents,” said Steve Tipton, vice president of hospitality, Serta Simmons Bedding. “What hasn’t changed is our commitment to innovation as well as all the comfort and performance attributes that remain synonymous with the Beautyrest and Simmons brands.”
The new hospitality lineup also includes the reintroduction of Simmons branded products as an affordable sleep solution designed specifically to meet the needs of hostels, economy brands and extra sleeper accommodations such as roll-aways and Murphy beds.
For complete portfolio details, visit www.beautyresthospitality/products or contact your local Beautyrest Hospitality sales representative.
About Beautyrest Hospitality
Providing distinctive, comfortable bedding solutions to the hospitality industry is what Beautyrest Hospitality Bedding does best. Our long-standing commitment to innovation is reflected in both the comfort and performance of the Beautyrest® Hospitality product line. We help customers fulfill their promise to deliver an exceptional and comfortable night’s sleep to guests – night after night, stay after stay. Visit www.beautyresthospitality.com to learn more.
Hospitality Media Contact:
Lisa DiBenedetto
7
06, 2019
Comfort and Convenience mark the Future in Sleep Innovation
By Abby Elyssa on June 7, 2019.
This article originally appeared on hotelbusiness.com
All guests want a restful, comfortable night’s sleep. And while many can agree that knowing the difference between a good experience and a not so good one is easy to do, knowing exactly why is less clear.
What makes a bed feel comfortable or not? What makes a mattress so supportive, or easy to fall asleep in? Bedding innovations are evolving in the industry, helping guests fall asleep more quickly and giving them an all-around more comfortable sleep.
Some beds are selling points for hotels, a true mark of a brand, while bedding for others is simply an essential feature of a hotel stay—one that, if not chosen properly, could negatively impact the guest experience.
“Better hotels typically pay a lot of attention to a comfortable bed; some hotels promote their beds as an integral part of their quality statement, so we suspect that some hotels focus more on quality bedding than others,” said Philip Shen, CEO of SleepChoices. “But, remember, if guests are not only able to enjoy great customer service from a hotel, but also able to fall in love with the bed that they sleep in, this can easily turn into a customer for life for that brand.”
Shen explained that even if a hotel doesn’t necessarily define itself as a luxury property, guests today still expect a “luxurious sleep experience.”
“The great news is that the market now has more innovative bedding products that can deliver this ultimate sleep experience, but at a very affordable price, so all types of hotels can access these solutions,” he said.
According to Shen, a good bed provides comfort for muscles, conformity (spreading the pressure points) and support (for the body weight while maintaining proper spinal alignment). On the contrary, if a guest is tossing and turning throughout the night, that’s usually the result of pressure points building up, possibly the result of an inadequate top layer. Additionally, sore muscles in the morning may be because of lack of support.
To solve these issues, Shen recommends hybrid beds (with a comfort layer over a support layer of pocket coils), which can replace the older pillow-top approach without body impressions that pillow tops can lead to.
“Hybrid beds have the supportive pocket coil layer below the comfort layers, hence the name ‘hybrid’—part foam and part spring; it’s the best of both worlds,” he said. “It’s also important for hoteliers to consider hybrid bed products that can deliver proper spinal alignment, keep the body cool while sleeping and add comfort while also mitigating pain.”
Keeping cool while sleeping is certainly a hot industry trend—temperature control presents myriad health benefits and adds to comfort, and many companies are catching on.
The emergence of connected sleep could provide the best experience possible for guests.
“The latest innovation in mattress technology is all about temperature management design—from the inside out,” said Kelley Weidner, VP, hospitality, Serta Simmons Bedding.
According to Weidner, it’s all about the layers at Serta Simmons, with fiber technology giving the first layer the power to absorb moisture with antimicrobial silver. Below that, foam can help circulate air, keep heat out and provide additional comfort.
For SleepChoices, innovations include seven-point zoning technology that features a zoned comfort (pressure reduction at shoulder and hip) in its latex-like (for resiliency and rebound) first layer.
“This insulates the sleeper from the memory foam layer and it provides grooved ventilation, a charcoal-infused memory foam layer to provide comfort and conformity, as well as to keep away moisture and keep the body cool with an antimicrobial knit cover,” Shen said.
Shen said the zone concept is not a new concept, but it is new to the hospitality industry. SleepChoices is currently working with Airbnb to begin introducing these types of mattresses.
Also new is incorporating more technology into bedding, allowing guests to control in-room functions via their bed—but that’s just where it begins.
“Connected sleep and all its potential benefits is certainly on the horizon and squarely in our sights,” Weidner said. “Given the amount of time a person spends asleep—a third of your life—imagine what a connected bed could do and learn about you? One that adapts to you and your sleep environment, whether you’re at home or in a hotel of your choice, and works in harmony with other connected devices to deliver the best sleep and recovery possible.”
These types of systems would be hidden and could track how guests sleep, their heart rates and potentially other biomarkers, Weidner said.
Other trends are more convenience-oriented, allowing guests to adjust mattresses, in-room temperature, lighting and sound. Shen said that massage beds are also on the rise, which are usually lower in price given their popularity, but he advises hoteliers to research and survey guests before incorporating these innovations.
“Hotels have to consistently evaluate the market for the best bedding solutions to ensure that they stay on top of the latest mattress innovations and sleep solutions in the marketplace,” Shen said. “This can set them apart from other brands in the industry.”
1
02, 2019
Q&A with JD Velilla Director of Emerging Technology, Serta Simmons Bedding
Describe your business in one sentence.
We help hospitality brands fulfill their promise to deliver an exceptional and comfortable night’s sleep to guests – night after night, stay afterer stay.
How was your business changed in the face of hospitality. Sleep is our business – and has been for more than 143 years. We view hospitality as an extension of our brand. We understand its very exacting requirements and work hard to exceed them every day.
Tell us about new products/innovations you’re introducing.
We have a long-standing passion for innovation. At its heart, our Beautyrest® brand stands for breakthrough sleep innovations that optimize performance. From expert craftmanship, luxurious materials and industry-leading temperature management design — to our proprietary Pocketed Coil® Technology — we consistently deliver sleep solutions aligned to our customers’ requirements – and exceed guest expectations.
How is technology playing a role in product development?
We constantly seek out the latest technologies and challenge ourselves to build better products that assure an even better night’s sleep. Our research center, and the sleep scientists leading it, work tirelessly to develop and deliver world-leading innovations. Take the state-of-the-art Sleeptracker® app. Paired with Simmons’ SmartMotion™ adjustable base systems, it tracks sleep patterns and provides tips for improving them, even playing soothing sounds for a more tranquil sleep experience.
Why is collaborating important to your company? Tell us about some of your product collaborations.
Collaboration and strategic partnerships play a huge role in how we develop and deliver gamechanging technology. Whether it’s working with world class universities and research facilities or manufacturers of products that enable our sleep technology, collaboration is the one of the most effective tools in delivering exceptional sleep products.
What trends are you seeing in the industry? How will you incorporate them in your products?
The biggest emerging trends we see involve wellness and connected sleep. With advancements in technology and sleep science, we are finding new and innovative ways to enhance sleep health and recovery, all while remaining hidden or unobtrusive to the guest (sleeper).
21
12, 2018
Designing The Ultimate Guest Sleep Experience
I should begin by coming clean. I am a self-proclaimed sleep snob. In the last few years, I transformed the bedroom of my house into a dedicated recovery room. The only technology allowed? Those items that promote transformative sleep – sound machines on each side of the bed that envelope it in white noise to block out all other sleep disturbing sound; lighting that self-adjusts from calming, dim light prior to sleep to lights that mimic daylight and slowly illuminate at dawn to rouse me from sleep. There’s also high quality, comfortable linens that sit atop an innovative Beautyrest Black® bed, the foundation of my nightly sleep experience. No alarm required. Ever. I wake up every morning, refreshed and ready to take on the day. At home, I sleep like a baby.
On the road, however, it’s a whole different ballgame. Given the time and detail I’ve invested in creating the ultimate sleep experience, this isn’t really a surprise. However, it does pose very real challenges for me that can be frustrating – and of course, others. As I see it, it also affords a real opportunity for hotels to step up their game to elevate the quality of the guest sleep experience they deliver. At a time when guest satisfaction – or not – can immediately trigger reviews, it’s certainly should be a defining priority for many.
CREATING A RECOVERY ROOM
Guest wellness continues to be a hot trend in the hospitality industry – and sleep is certainly a big factor in that equation. Experts continue to stress the importance of getting the required amount of sleep in order to avoid serious health issues down the road. But nowhere is the need for a good night’s sleep more important than when you’re a business traveler. Your work performance suffers when sleep suffers. Period.
Certainly, given the number of factors outside of a hotel’s control, designing a guest room that rivals a home bedroom is a challenging proposition. However, there are a number of details – many fairly cost-effective – that could go a long way to ensuring guests have a restful, comfortable night’s sleep when they are away from home. Here are a few ideas:
THE BED
The bed remains the heart of the guestroom and a key investment toward achieving your guest sleep experience goals. Hospitality sleep solutions are different by design because they have to be. They have to stand up to years of guest use – and abuse. At Serta Simmons Bedding, our sleep technologies are designed to be commercial-grade, so they provide reliable performance and durability. They also include exceptional warranties and are backed by responsive customer service to minimize business disruptions. Bedding technology continues to evolve. The latest innovation in mattress technology is all about temperature management design – from the inside out. For example, our Beautyrest® Hospitality lineup features exclusive DualCool™ fiber technology, providing the first layer of temperature control with antimicrobial silver, to absorb and wick away moisture. Below that, AirCool® foams allow for the circulation of air, keeping heat from accumulating in the mattress. Coupled with the support and motion control delivered by our exclusive Beautyrest® Pocketed Coil®, all of this technology keeps the bed cooler, ensures lasting performance and allows guests to sleep cooler and more comfortably.
ROOM LIGHTING
The effects of too much screen time on sleep are well documented. And while that’s not something a hotel can hope to impact, they can look at creating smart room solutions that improve the guest experience. For example, sensor-based technology can be used to immediately dim lights when a guest uses their keycard to access their room, establishing a calming, tranquil environment. The same system can also light a guest’s way in the dark to the bathroom and simulate sunrise in the morning to allow him or her to awaken refreshed and ready to take on the day. Why is lighting important? As it pertains to sleep, our body’s physical, mental and behavioral changes are regulated by our Circadian rhythm. The daily changing of light (day to night) heavily influences circadian rhythms and smart lighting can play a huge role in helping a person fall asleep, regulate sleep/mood and even wake up.
NOISE REDUCTION
While not all sources of noise are within a hotel’s control, many are. Leaky faucets, buzzing light fixtures,
and loud HVAC equipment should be addressed immediately before guests have the opportunity to complain. Your housekeeping staff is often your first line of defense here. Adding potential sources of noise to the room checklist allows maintenance to resolve any identified issues immediately. The best time to address soundproofing, of course, is when a property is being built or remodeled. Short of that, there are a number of ways to mask or muffle noise. Here’s a quick overview of what hotel properties have done to keep the noise level down in and around guest rooms and increase guest satisfaction.
- Eliminate connecting doors between adjoining guest rooms
- Create quiet zones during specific hours to accommodate different classes of guests – families with small children, daytime sleepers like airplane crews, etc. Housekeeping won’t vacuum carpets during these established timeframes and bellman will carry bags by hand
- Install soundproof windows
- Install soundproofing technology to soundproof walls, floors, and ceilings in high-traffic public areas like restaurants, bars, and ballrooms
- Install carpet over wood or tiled floors and use sound-absorbing panels in public areas
- Sound masking systems can be installed in guest rooms, creating pleasurable white noise
- Install thicker doors with a door sweep at the bottom to seal out hallway noise
Building a quieter hotel – or making soundproofing enhancements to an existing one – does require additional investment. But losing guests because they had a horrible night sleep could prove costly in the long run.
CONNECTED SLEEP
Connected sleep and all its potential benefits is certainly on the horizon and squarely in our sights as an industry leading sleep solutions company. Given the amount of time a person spends asleep – a third of your life! – imagine what a connected bed could do and learn about you? One that adapts to you, your sleep environment – whether at home or in a hotel of your choice – and works in harmony with other connected devices to deliver the best sleep and recovery possible. A connected sleep system could track not only how you sleep, but also your heart rate and potentially other biomarkers, all while remaining hidden (no device to wear). The sensor technology exists now for hotels to create a truly personalized, innovative guest sleep experience. Are you ready to take yours to the next level?