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.
——-