WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - A great night�s sleep trumps great sex according
to more than half (51%) of the U.S. respondents to a new global survey
of sleeping habits conducted by Westin Hotels & Resorts. Just how desperate
are we for sleep? Well, 42% said they�d rather have a sleeping pill on
their hotel pillow than the ubiquitous chocolate, and 62% take a relaxant,
sleep or stress medication when traveling overnight.
Today,
Westin Hotels unveils the results of a new global sleep study of more than
12,500 frequent travelers in ten countries - a follow-up to a sleep
study the hotel giant conducted a decade ago when it launched its now
iconic Heavenly Bed. When Westin debuted its revolutionary all-white bed,
it spurred a global hotel bedding war that instantly made Earth tone polyester
bedspreads and foam mattresses relics of old. Millions of travelers have
benefited, and today 43% of frequent travelers say the quality of sleep
on the road has gotten better, 25% of Road Warriors said they�d pay $100
more for a hotel with a great bed, and more than half would go out of their
way to stay in a hotel with their favorite bed.
Forget the Boogie Man, it�s Mortgages, Marriage and Blackberry PDA�s
That Keep Us Up at Night
While good beds on the road may be easier to find, sleep itself can
be elusive and our round-the-clock work life, today�s economic woes and
good old fashioned relationship problems often get in the way of a good
night�s sleep. To wit:
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56% of U.S. respondents said that with our 24/7 lifestyles, a good night�s
sleep is more important than ever, though unfortunately 61% believe that
today�s technology and constant connectivity impairs sleep. And our beloved
Blackberry�s make for dreadful sleep companions.
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60% said their PDAs have prevented them from getting shut eye.
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58% of respondents said the biggest worry keeping them up at night is bills
and paying the mortgage. Another key culprit that keeps people tossing
and turning is problems with their spouse or partner (25%).
Honey, I have a headache said HE � the Sex vs. Sleep Gender Debate
In the 10 years since the Westin brand conducted its original sleep
study, our desire for sleep has increased, and our sex lives have suffered.
Today 51% of frequent travelers in the U.S. prefer a great night�s sleep
to great sex, compared to just 31% who chose sleep over sex 10 years ago.
Contrary to conventional wisdom, it�s men who are more likely than women
to take sleep over sex, with the majority of women saying they prefer sex
to snoozing. And Americans are not alone � in nine of 10 countries surveyed,
sleep beats sex � only the Canadians prefer seduction vs. slumber.
Other key findings include:
Hotel Beds in a Post-Heavenly Bed Era
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More than half (57%) found that a great hotel bed provides a better sleep
experience than at home, and more than one in four strongly agreed that
sleeping in a hotel bed while on a business trip is a �luxury��a significant
change from 10 years ago, when 82% of travelers found something to complain
about hotel beds.
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The majority of those surveyed like the hotel mattress (59%) and pillows
(54%) better than their bed at home.
Sleep Woes Take Their Toll
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57% of respondents say a bad night�s sleep has hurt their business performance.
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The most common side effects of a bad night�s sleep? Getting in a fight
with a boss or co-worker (29%) or a spouse or partner (25%).
A Good Night�s Sleep is a Phone Call Away�
Westin Hotels & Resorts and National Sleep Foundation Launch Free
Sleep Hotline
A good night�s sleep is just a phone call away thanks to Westin Hotels
& Resorts. A decade ago, the Westin brand transformed the sleep experience
for travelers around the world with the introduction of the now iconic
Heavenly® Bed. Today, Westin celebrates this important milestone and
its commitment to wellness by teaming with renowned sleep experts at the
National Sleep Foundation (NSF) to help make a perfect night�s sleep a
reality for the sleep deprived. The National Sleep Foundation Hotline brought
to you by Westin Hotels will debut on August 17th at 6:00 p.m. and, for
30 days, will help callers identify and troubleshoot common sleep issues.
The hotline, (888) TIME-4-SLEEP, will be staffed by NSF sleep center
members, medically trained sleep professionals who will offer tailored
solutions to callers with common sleep problems and will be open until
September 15, Monday through Friday, 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
The sleep hotline�s hours of operation were specifically chosen to coincide
with the peak hours when people are getting ready for bed or experiencing
problems sleeping.
�Many people have questions about what normal sleep is,� said David
M. Cloud, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation. �We hope that the hotline
will encourage people to take more of an active interest in their sleep,
and if we can answer a question for someone who needs help, we will have
provided a real benefit. The National Sleep Foundation is thrilled to partner
with the Westin to provide this public service.�
Sleep professionals will provide screening for common sleep disorders
and offer healthy sleep tips such as:
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Do not eat for two hours before bed
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Sleep in complete darkness in a cool environment
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Exercise regularly, but don�t exercise for at least 3 hours before bedtime
� a workout after that time may actually keep you awake because your body
has not had a chance to cool down
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Don�t smoke or drink alcohol or caffeinated beverages before bedtime
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If you�re lying in bed for more than 15 minutes, get up and do something
relaxing, like taking a warm bath, reading or meditating. Try to clear
your mind; don�t use this time to solve your daily problems.
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When staying in a hotel, ask for a room with eastern or southern exposure
for more morning sun to help reset your clock to new time zones
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When traveling, bring a nightlight or penlight if you get up at night to
avoid disturbing the body's circadian clock
NSF call-center associates will also recommend helpful sleep resources
and refer callers to their physicians for medical advice. |
Study Methodology
This study is based on a survey conducted by StudyLogic, LLC via telephone
through RDD of adults who are executives, professionally employed, and
with an average of 2+ business and leisure trips per year. Study results
are representative of each country�s population of Executives. Twelve countries
were surveyed: Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy,
Japan, Mexico, Spain, the United States, and the United Arab Emigrates.
There were approximately 1,000 people surveyed in each country, with the
exception of the United States, which had approximately 1,500 people. Combined
percentage breakdowns for all twelve countries based on various categories
are available at the end of the report. The survey consisted of thirty-three
questions, some of which contained multiple parts. Due to cultural reasons,
certain questions were modified or omitted for Japan and the United Arab
Emigrates, and any change or omission is indicated in the following report.
Interviews were conducted between June 15th and July 15th, 2009. The survey
averaged 18 minutes in length and contains a margin of error in the totals
of +/-3%.
About Westin Hotels & Resorts
Westin Hotels & Resorts, with 169 hotels and resorts in more than
31 countries and territories, is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT). Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 960
properties in 97 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed
properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor
of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned
brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®,
Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and
the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM. Starwood Hotels also
owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and
operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more
information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
About the National Sleep Foundation
The National Sleep Foundation is dedicated to improving sleep health
and safety through education, public awareness, and advocacy. It is well-known
for its annual Sleep in AmericaTM poll. The Foundation is a charitable,
educational and scientific not-for-profit organization located in Washington,
DC. Its membership includes researchers and clinicians focused on sleep
medicine, professionals in the health, medical and science fields, individuals,
patients, people affected by drowsy driving and more than 900 healthcare
facilities throughout North America. For more information about the National
Sleep Foundation and a directory of its sleep center members, please visit
sleepfoundation.org. |