{"id":2881,"date":"2022-10-14T17:07:42","date_gmt":"2022-10-14T09:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2881"},"modified":"2022-10-18T17:19:14","modified_gmt":"2022-10-18T09:19:14","slug":"why-sleep-tourism-is-blooming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.co.uk\/blog\/why-sleep-tourism-is-blooming\/","title":{"rendered":"Why sleep tourism is blooming"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you go on a foreign trip, what are you exactly after? Local attractions? Cuisines? Cultural experiences? One of these days, you may want to add \u201cbetter sleep\u201d to the list.<\/p>\n

Make no mistake, currently sleep tourism represents only a small part of the global tourism industry, but it\u2019s on the rise. In this Pacific Prime UK<\/a> article, we\u2019ll look at what sleep tourism is, how it came about, what benefits you can expect out of it, and where it is heading.<\/p>\n\n

So what is sleep tourism?<\/h2>\n

At a most basic level, sleep tourism is about hotels going the extra mile, using sleep-enhancing amenities, and installing innovative soundproofing systems, to create an environment to help customers get better sleep during their stay. But some hotels have gone farther.<\/p>\n

For example, Cadogan (a Belmond Hotel in London) has partnered with Malminder Gill (a hypnotherapist, meditation, and holistic coach) to provide a service for guests with sleep issues. Named the Sleep Concierge<\/a>, this service includes a meditation recording to help the listener fall asleep, a pillow that can cater to guests whether they sleep on the back or on the side, a specifically developed bedtime tea, and a scented pillow mist. Guests who believe it may help may further opt for a weighted blanket.<\/p>\n

Mandarin Oriental of Geneva<\/a> has gone a step further – they are working with CENAS, a private medical sleeping clinic in Switzerland, to introduce a three-day program. What is hoped is that potential sleeping disorders of guests can be identified by looking into their sleeping patterns.<\/p>\n

More and more, sleep tourism is employing science to help guests sleep better, and this trend is expected to continue. “If someone comes to one of these retreats, and isn’t seeing any progress, it could be because they have an untreated sleep disorder,” Dr. Rebecca Robbins, a sleep researcher and co-author of the book “Sleep for Success!”, explains. “That’s why it’s vitally important to make sure that hotels are partnering with scientists and medical professionals that can impart these strategies carefully.”<\/p>\n

How sleep tourism came about<\/h2>\n

In reality, sleep tourism is not new – what is new is people\u2019s heightened awareness of the importance of sleep to their health.<\/p>\n

Oddly enough, we can thank the pandemic for this new focus on sleep. In one study by the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 40% of 2,500 adults surveyed reported a decline in sleep quality since the pandemic began. It is probable that so many people are paying more attention to sleep, exactly because many had problems getting enough of it at the height of the pandemic.<\/p>\n

And if you think fatigue is all there is to worry about, maybe it\u2019s time to think again. Lack of quality sleep is linked to a whole host of health problems, both physical and mental. These include anxiety, depression, mood swings, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, heart attack, and stroke.<\/p>\n

Recent research has also indicated that the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, may be increased with long-term sleep deprivation. The brain waves generated during deep sleep appear to trigger a mechanism that clears toxins in the brain, protecting it against Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What are the benefits?<\/h2>\n

Alright, you may think, the idea sounds good enough, but can a brief hotel stay really help those having problems getting enough quality sleep?<\/p>\n

“Different things work for different people at different stages of their life,” Gill says of the different items offered by the Sleep Concierge. “We’ve tried to stack the odds in our favor. If you combine all of those things, I would say there’s a higher chance of better quality sleep. But I don’t think there’s a one size fits all.”<\/p>\n

The truth of the matter is, sometimes you can improve your sleep quality by trial and error – perhaps a contour pillow of a specific design helps? Maybe a certain scent or ambiance is the key? Or how about you put on some soothing music at bedtime? And that\u2019s exactly what many \u201csleep tourists\u201d are looking for – an inspiration for what they can do in their own homes.<\/p>\n

Naturally, not every sleep issue can be resolved in that fashion. Oftentimes the underlying cause is an untreated sleep disorder such as sleep apnea, insomnia, or restless leg syndrome. Here, sleep tourism can be hugely beneficial, provided medical or scientific expertise is involved in some way to help determine whether a deeper probe is in order.<\/p>\n

At the end of the day, sleep tourism (even one where medical expertise is involved) is not sleep therapy, but it can help people decide what to do next – sometimes it is a visit to a sleep therapist or specialist.<\/p>\n

Ahh\u2026did we mention a few good nights\u2019 sleep in a cozy setting?<\/p>\n

What the future holds<\/h2>\n

At present, luxury hotels offer the majority of sleep-themed stays. If the past is any guide, sleep tourism will become more common on the mainstream level. “It doesn’t cost much at all to leave a pair of earplugs next to the nightstand.” Dr. Robbins comments.<\/p>\n

Given people\u2019s heightened awareness of the importance of sleep, it\u2019s likely that more hotels will get creative in the realm of sleep tourism, and partner with universities and sleep clinics in their offerings.<\/p>\n

So next time when somebody tells you they slept a lot on their trip, don\u2019t think they have wasted the trip – that might just be the whole point!<\/p>\n

Further reading<\/strong>:<\/p>\n