Global hotel brand Sofitel has partnered with researchers at Paris City University to gain deeper insights into how people sleep when staying away from home.

Sleep, a crucial pillar of health and wellbeing, has become a top priority for wellness-focused consumers, with the Global Wellness Institute reporting that the sleep market contributes US$77.3 billion to the US$5.6 trillion global wellness economy.

Compared to previous years, consumers now have access to a diverse range of products aimed at enhancing sleep quality, including wearables, smart mattresses, and supplements. As a result, many spas, wellness destinations and hotels are embracing this trend by rolling out programmes and retreats designed to improve guests' sleep.

Sofitel's new study, published in the Journal of Sleep Disorders and Therapy*, specifically looked at what conditions help travellers to minimise the ‘first-night effect’.

The first-night effect occurs when people go to bed in an unfamiliar place for the first time and their brains display heightened activity even after they close their eyes. Sofitel identified this as a widespread issue, given that 45 per cent of its guests only stayed for one night last year.

Special sleep room

The sleep quality of 49 participants – based on duration, depth, regularity, interruptions, time to fall asleep and the wake-up phase – was first measured at home using a sensor under the mattress. Respiratory and cardiac rhythms were also recorded.

The same metrics were then observed for one night in a specially fitted-out room at Sofitel Paris Arc de Triomphe. The experience included a box spring mattress, topper, comforter and extensive selection of pillows – features that Sofitel has been offering in its MyBed experience since 2003.

On top of this, it took into account a host of other variables, including: • A food menu with meals that avoid excess fat, salt, sugar and spice.

• A pre-sleep meditation session and herbal tea.• Essential oil pillow spray.

• Lip balm.• Warm socks.

• A silk sleep mask to provide total darkness.• Calming white and pink noise generators during the process of falling asleep.

• An optimal room temperature of 18˚C.• Silicone earplugs.

Extra shut-eye

On average, the participant’s sleep quality in the hotel room was 13.7 per cent higher than at home. They had 65 minutes extra shut-eye and 64 per cent fell asleep within 30 minutes.

Drawing on the study findings, Sofitel started phasing in new sleep rituals in its 120-plus hotels globally in July.

The offerings include light meals formulated to help guests fall asleep quicker, bespoke treatment protocols to improve sleep quality, relaxing playlists curated specially for the brand’s hotels and precise lighting and temperature adjustments.

*Alkobtawi, M et al. Enhancing First-Night Sleep Quality in Hotels: A Preliminary Study Utilizing Withings to Measure Sleep Patterns at Home and in Hotel Settings. Journal of Sleep Disorders & Therapy. Issue 1, 2024.