International Survey Compares Travel-Related Sleep Habits of U.S., Japanese, British and German Business Travelers

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Oct. 21, 1997 - If business travelers were to be graded on their travel-related sleep habits, there would be no "A" students in the class. In fact, only business travelers from Germany would receive a "B" average -- that is, of course, if they were graded on a curve. U.S. business travelers would have to settle for a "C," while British and Japanese business travelers would face disciplinary measures for their nearly failing grade -- a "D."

As part of its ongoing Sleep and The Traveler program this year, Hilton Hotels Corporation, in cooperation with the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), surveyed more than 1,000 business travelers from Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States to learn more about sleep as it relates to travel. Robert E. Dirks, senior vice president-marketing for Hilton, said the survey is part of the company's continuing efforts to help travelers get the best night's sleep possible when on the road.

"Nearly 5O percent of people suffer from sleeplessness when traveling," said Dirks. "As a leading international hotel company, we believe it makes sense to learn how to help people sleep better when away from home. That was one of the inspirations behind our Sleep-Tight Rooms." Hilton currently has 35 Sleep-Tight Rooms(TM) at seven U.S. Hilton hotels. Designed in cooperation with the NSF, each room is equipped with special mattresses, sound machines, circadian light boxes and other products and services designed to help guests sleep better.

Eat, Drink and Be Weary

One of the most revealing survey findings is just how little business travelers know about combating jet lag and other travel-related sleep disorders. It appears business travelers either don't know how to or don't really care to make the necessary behavioral adjustments to minimize the effects of sleep difficulties when traveling.

"We know consuming alcohol, caffeine and heavy meals late at night can disrupt sleep. Unfortunately, that's what many business travelers are doing," said Tom Roth, Ph.D., Health and Scientific Advisor at the NSF and chief sleep expert for the Sleep and The Traveler program. According to Dr. Roth, half of American and British business travelers (50 percent and 53 percent, respectively) eat more when away on business. And 39 percent of Japanese and a little more than a quarter (28 percent) of German travelers admit to eating more on business trips.

As for drinking more, however, the Japanese (67 percent) are by far the most likely to have a few extra sleep-busting cocktails. In fact, they are three times as likely as German business travelers (20 percent) to have an extra nightcap or two, and more than twice as likely as U.S. business travelers (26 percent). Only the British came close to drinking as much as the Japanese, with nearly half of them (46 percent) saying they consume more alcohol on business trips. "Many people make the mistake of thinking alcohol is a sleep-inducer because it may initially make you feel drowsy or put you to sleep," said Roth. "But the fact is it actually disrupts the most important, deeper levels of the sleep cycle."

Jet Lag Lesson

One of the survey findings most disturbing to sleep experts is that a persistent jet lag myth still remains. According to the survey, most business travelers incorrectly view jet lag as a mental, rather than a physical condition. On average, almost half of business travelers (46 percent) think jet lag is either entirely or partly mental. German business travelers are the most likely (61 percent) to agree with that notion. Only in the U.S. did a majority of the respondents (52 percent) correctly identify jet lag as a physical ailment.

"As long as travelers continue to think of jet lag as a mental condition, they will fail to follow the proper behavioral steps -- such as getting the necessary amount of sunlight at the right time of the day -- that can help them minimize its effects," said Roth.

Things That Go Bump

Once in bed, the biggest sleep impediment for business travelers is "outside noise" or "noise from neighbors." Nearly all British business travelers (97 percent) agreed that noise is the top sleep bandit. Eight out of 10 Germans (84 percent) and more than two thirds of U.S. respondents (69 percent) agreed.

Interestingly, although noise ranked as the primary sleep-disrupter among U.S., German and British business travelers, the Japanese failed to mention it. Instead, room temperature ranked as their number one sleep problem (28 percent). (Less than 14 percent of U.S. and 16 percent of British travelers agreed. German business travelers did not mention temperature at all.) Perhaps the most interesting finding is that a full one-third of the Japanese (33 percent) claim that nothing disturbs their sleep. Only 14 percent of German business travelers and 12 percent of British travelers said the same. U.S. business travelers appear to be the most restless, with just 5 percent saying nothing disturbs their sleep.

The Jet Lag Strategy -- Surrender!

When it comes to fighting jet lag, it appears German and U.S. travelers have, the same strategy -- do nothing. Half of German business travelers (50 percent) and more than half of American business travelers (53 percent) say they haven't tried anything to help them sleep better when on the road- Forty-two percent of British business travelers agreed.

"It appears some travelers have given up hope when it comes to fighting jet," said Dirks. "We think Hilton Sleep-Tight Rooms offer one of the best weapons for travelers against sleeplessness. According to our survey, business travelers (57 percent) said they would be willing to try a hotel room with better sleep features. Our guest surveys show that 90 percent of the people who stay in our Sleep-Tight Rooms say they sleep better."

Paying For Sleep Debt

Probably the most affected by sleeplessness are the British and Japanese. If you're conducting business with a British or Japanese business traveler, there's a better than a one-third chance (37 percent and 35 percent) that he or she just might doze off if bored. The chances of this are much less with a German or U.S. business traveler (20 percent and 16 percent).

Hand in hand with "the fog" created by a lack of sleep comes memory loss. That means there is a good chance of miscommunications occurring between German and British business negotiators. According to the survey, British business travelers are, more than four times as likely to forget something as German business travelers (34 percent vs. 8 percent), and three times as likely to doze off during the day (16 percent vs. 3 percent).

In 1994, Hilton Hotels, in cooperation with the National Sleep Foundation, established the "Sleep and The Traveler Program," a cooperative research effort dedicated to improving the quality of life for millions of people who suffer from travel-related and other sleep disorders.

A brochure on common sleep problems and potential remedies is available by writing to "Sleep and The Traveler" c/o DCG, 7758 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046; faxing (213) 845-0189; or emailing douglas [email protected].

The NSF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote public understanding of sleep and sleep disorders and to support sleep-related education, research and advocacy to improve public health and safety. The NSF serves as a national referral service for the dissemination of sleep information, and can be reached at 729 15th Street, NW., 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20005, via e-mail at [email protected], or on the World Wide Web at www.sleepfoundation.org.

Hilton Hotels is recognized internationally as the preeminent gaining and hospitality company. The company develops, owns, manages and franchises hotel-casinos, resorts, vacation ownership and hotel properties. Reservations can be made at more than 400 Hilton, Flamingo, Bally's, Conrad International and Vista hotels worldwide online at www.hilton.com, or through a professional travel agent, or by contacting Hilton Reservations Worldwide at 1-800-HILTONS in the U.S. Outside the U.S., reservations, can be made by calling the nearest Hilton Reservations Worldwide office.

Contact:

Jeanne Datz, Director of Communications, [email protected] or Iga Gaj, Director of International Communications, [email protected], 310-205-4545, both of Hilton Hotels Corporation; or Jeremy Baka of Douglas Consulting Group, 213-845-0140 or [email protected]/ /Web site: www.hilton.com.