The study found that travelers experience physical effects like sleep deprivation (55%), and sleep disruption or insomnia (22%), and psychological effects like feeling their lives are in the hands of others (77%), and loneliness (34%). Despite the negatives, the news about traveling isn�t all bad. Surprisingly, nearly half of the study�s respondents feel rejuvenated by flying, and many even report feeling more spiritual and �closer to God� when above the clouds (42%). 

�Westin commissioned this study to better understand what we can do to create a renewing environment, designed to alleviate our guests� stress and discomfort,� said Sue Brush, Senior Vice President, Westin Hotels & Resorts. �The study�s results demonstrate that there is much we can and should do to make our guests feel their best away from home.� 

Among the study�s key findings: 

Travel takes a toll on the body. 

• Nearly one in four frequent business travelers experiences physical stress while flying. 
• 79% of frequent travelers have taken flights while feeling sick, and nearly one-third regret their decision. Up to 5% have actually required emergency medical care at their final destinations. 
• 71% of respondents believe that the average traveler is dehydrated, and 45% of frequent business travelers claim to feel dehydrated after a flight. 
• One-fifth of those who have traveled sick report that their flight exacerbated their symptoms. 
• 33% report having an acute illness diagnosed by a doctor which requires ongoing care, such as diabetes, asthma or depression. 
• 934 Westin guests each month contact the hotel staff to seek medical attention. 
• One in ten respondents has developed a musculo-skeletal injury while traveling (such as one caused by tripping in the aisle or falling baggage). 

• 55% of frequent travelers experience significant shifts in their sleep habits away from home. 
• Sleep disruption affects travelers well into their trips, for at least 2 days after a long flight for over 60% of respondents. This pattern remains strong even among those who fall asleep easily at home. 
• More than 9 in 10 respondents believe that the average traveler is jet-lagged. 

• Loneliness is a common emotional response to traveling. 
• About one-third of travelers report feeling more lonely while traveling, while only 8% feel less lonely. 
• Men (36%) are more likely than women (29%) to experience loneliness on the road, and married travelers (39%) feel lonely more often than their single counterparts (19%). 
• Management-level executives (43%) feel more lonely than travelers at other occupation levels. 

• Over three-fourths of respondents feel that their lives rest in the hands of others when traveling. 
• 57% of frequent travelers feel trapped or restricted while flying. 
• Just over one quarter of respondents report worrying about being less organized. 
• 16% worry about their home finances in the air. 
• Senior executives report being much more worried about �falling behind in office work� than other respondents (58% vs. 38%). 
• Two-thirds of respondents do something to alleviate their sense of lost control or stress while traveling. Women are much more likely to turn to food than men, with 11% of female respondents eating snacks to regain a sense of control. 
• Conversely, travelers feel soothed by more stringent security measures. Only 22% of respondents are annoyed by more time-consuming security procedures, while 44% find them comforting. 

• Nearly half of respondents feel rejuvenated by flying. 
• Many travelers view travel as an escape from their routines, both at home (47%) and at the office (55%). 
• Over half of respondents see time away from their normal daily routines as one of the key benefits of business trips. 
• Over three-quarters of respondents report feeling serene and relaxed while flying, and 61% report feeling a sense of freedom. 
• 42% of frequent travelers feel closer to God while traveling, because they are above the clouds. 
• 54% of respondents are able to think more clearly in the air. 
• 54% percent of frequent travelers are open to meeting new people on a flight. 

In response to the study�s results, Westin will pilot a three-pronged Travelers� Renewal program in more than 20 hotels worldwide, which will feature a Travelers� Renewal Menu, Station and Kit. The menu will offer remedies for common travel ailments developed with input from editors at Prevention magazine, such as green tea to reenergize, aloe and pineapple sorbet to sooth sore throats and hot chicken soup to quell stomach upset. Travelers� Renewal Stations will provide fruit, hand purifier and water in Westin�s lobbies to help keep guests hydrated and healthy when they arrive and when they leave the hotel�s doors. The Travelers� Renewal Kit will be available for purchase, offering tools to make traveling easier, offering everything from a refreshing hand purifier to mind-sharpening Sudoku games. For more information on the Travelers� Renewal products visit www.westin.com/travelersrenewal. 

In response to the study�s findings on travelers� loneliness, Westin is unveiling Unwind, an evening event where guests can socialize and learn about their destinations. The Unwind ritual is designed to minimize loneliness and emotional discomfort for guests while they are away from home. Local flavor and interactive activities will be key parts of the Unwind experience, from indulging in oysters and champagne at the Westin Dragonara Resort in Malta to teaching guests how to pour the perfect pint of Guinness at the Westin Dublin. 
 

Methodology

The survey instrument was designed by ICR in cooperation with Westin Hotels & Resorts. A sample of business travelers was provided by Survey Sampling International and was screened randomly by ICR. Interviews averaged 20 minutes in length and were completed from December 7 to December 30, 2005. The analysis of the data took several additional months. The margin of error on the totals was plus or minus 4.36%. Subgroups had a larger margin of error. Telephone interviews were completed by ICR with 505 business travelers, of whom 302 were male and 203 female. Participants were screened to ensure recent and frequent travel by air. The average number of domestic trips taken in the past two years by survey participants was 21, and the average number of international trips in the same period was 3. 
Westin Hotels & Resorts, with 127 hotels and resorts in 31 countries and territories, is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 850 properties in more than 95 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood® Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, Sheraton®, Westin®, Four Points® by Sheraton, W®, Le Méridien® and the recently announced AloftSM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. 

(Note: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and involve risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated at the time the forward-looking statements are made. 

Westin Hotels & Resorts
Gena Egelston, 415-774-0118
Marketing & Communications Manager
[email protected]