Holiday Inn launches the first human bed warming service as more snow is forecast

As the big freeze envelops Britain, and the MET office forecast more snow for this week, Holiday Inn has taken the unprecedented step of introducing human bed warmers into its hotels, helping guests get a great night’s sleep and keep the cold at bay.

With temperatures plummeting as low as -17 degrees Celsius in the UK, Holiday Inn has teamed up with renowned sleep psychologist Dr Chris Idzikowski and a dedicated team of bed warmers to heat up guests’ beds.  Dressed in all in one sleeper suits, the bed warmers will work as human electric blankets, bringing the bed temperature up before guests climb in so guests can be toasty warm from the moment their heads hit the pillow.

As Dr Chris Idzikowski, director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre explains: “There’s plenty of scientific evidence to show that sleep starts at the beginning of the night when body temperature starts to drop. The decline occurs partly because the blood vessels of the hands, face and feet open up and release heat.

“A warm bed – approximately 20 to 24 degrees Celsius – is a good way to start this process whereas a cold bed would inhibit sleep.  Holiday Inn’s new bed warmers service should help people achieve a good night’s sleep especially as it’s taking much longer for them to warm up when they come in from the snow.

Jane Bednall, spokesperson for Holiday Inn said: “People want to leave the cold outside and climb into a warm bed.  The new Holiday Inn bed warmers service is a bit like having a giant hot water bottle in your bed, warming it up before guests climb in to give them a great night’s sleep away from the cold.  And of course they jump out before you jump in!”

The bed warmers toasting suits (pictured) were specially designed to maximise sheet heating efficiency.  The complimentary five minute bed warming service will trial at Holiday Inn London Kensington Forum, Holiday Inn Kingston South and Holiday Inn Manchester Central Park.  Sessions should be booked to take place between 21.00 and 23.00, from 18 to 25 January 2010.