More than half of business
travelers say they don’t get enough sleep on the road, according to the
2003 National Business Travel Monitor survey. To help alleviate this
mounting sleep debt, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts today unveiled an
industry-leading approach to ensure that business travelers—and all
guests—experience a good night’s sleep. The hotel brand’s new Sleep Advantage encompasses the entire sleep
experience, from training staff on how to create and maintain a restful
environment to providing innovative products and services. Program
components include new bedding, guaranteed wake-up calls, designated quiet
zones, night lights, drape clips, sleep CDs, sleep tips and amenities such
as eye masks, ear plugs and lavender spray. The Sleep Advantage is
available at all Crowne Plaza hotels in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

“We understand that it takes more than a comfortable bed to get a great
night’s sleep,” said Kevin Kowalski, vice president of brand management
for Crowne Plaza. “Our aim is to help business travelers perform their
best when away from home.”

Effects of Sleep Deprivation

Forty percent of adults report that they are so sleepy during the day that
it interferes with their daily activities, costing $45 billion a year in
lost productivity, increased healthcare bills, and expenses related to
traffic accidents(1). The Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage is designed to
address sleep deprivation by creating an environment conducive to
consistent sound sleep. The result of more than 12 months of planning and
study, Crowne Plaza interviewed guests and business travelers and
collaborated with Dr. Michael Breus Ph. D. One of the nation’s foremost
sleep-disorder experts, Breus is a diplomate of the American Board of
Medicine and co-founder of Sound Sleep, LLC.

“Crowne Plaza is the only hotel brand taking a holistic approach to
address the entire sleep environment, from bedding and night lights to
wake up calls and quiet zones,” said Breus, the ‘Sleep Expert’ on WebMD.
“It is amazing that the impact of sleep disorders on our health, wellness,
performance, productivity and safety goes unrecognized.”

Through the Sleep Advantage, Crowne Plaza recognizes two important travel-
related stress conditions. The “First Night Effect” occurs when trying to
sleep in an unfamiliar environment and the “On-Call Effect” is caused by
the constant worry that something is destined to disturb sleep (anxiety
over wake- up call, hallway noise).

Crowne Plaza addresses the “First Night Effect” by creating the most
comfortable and relaxing environment possible, starting with the bedding.
The new bedding consists of natural-colored duvets, mattress toppers,
cotton blankets and plush pillows. Guests will also find an in-room drape
clip for that distracting sliver of sunlight that peeks through the window
in the morning. A night light provides soft lighting and helps guests
navigate an unfamiliar room during the night, and a sleep kit complete
with ear plugs, an eye mask and lavender spray is also available for
guests.

Crowne Plaza also has taken steps to reduce the “On-Call Effect” by
offering a guaranteed wake-up call and “quiet zones.” Under the guaranteed
wake-up call, if guests do not receive a requested call, then their night
is free (room and tax). Additionally, each hotel now designates at least
one floor a “Quiet Zone” on Sunday through Thursday nights—prime time
for business travelers who do not want to be disturbed with unwanted noise.

Crowne Plaza hotels provide quality fitness facilities, exceptional room
accommodations and upscale dining. With more than 200 hotels in 49
countries, Crowne Plaza hotels are located in major urban centers, gateway
cities and resort destinations worldwide. For reservations, call
1-800-2-CROWNE or visit http://www.crowneplaza.com/ .
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