How important is sleep to you when you’re travelling or on holiday? For some people, sleeping in is time lost checking out the local sights of your destination. For others, it’s time to catch up on some sorely needed shuteye.
However you view the importance of the quantity of sleep you get while travelling, most of us would agree on the value of good quality sleep when we’re away.
But a new Australian study has revealed just how much we value a solid slumber – and the results are eye-opening.
In the study, which was commissioned by Hilton Australasia, most Aussies (62 per cent) ranked a good night’s sleep as one of the top three requirements for an enjoyable hotel stay – and this was pitting sleep against big drawcards like location, ambience, service and health and wellness facilities.
Polling over 1,000 Australian adults, the study revealed that nearly half (44 per cent) of all respondents said they had chosen to stay at a particular hotel based on the quality of their mattresses, bedding and linens.
Meanwhile, almost a quarter (22 per cent) said they seek blackout curtains and soundproofing when booking a room, while a similar number (20 per cent) request rooms away from elevators, on a high floor or request sleep accessories from reception such as eye masks or earplugs.
What’s almost unanimous (90 per cent) is the view that the environment of a hotel room – that is, its furnishings, temperature, noise levels etc – has a big impact on sleep. And poor sleep, for nearly everyone (93 per cent), makes it tough to get through the next day, and for most (68 per cent) causes stress which leads to more bad sleep.
So for travel advisors, finding hotels that facilitate better sleep – taking into account considerations like bed quality, noise levels and yes, even curtains – should be paramount.
“Our research has shown us both globally and now here in Australia that sleep has become such a rare commodity for many of us, that we’re consciously investing in our sleep and prioritising it whether at home or travelling,” Hilton Area Vice President and Head of Australasia Paul Hutton said.
“Increasingly, we’re seeing that guests are selecting hotels based on the environment of the hotel room, from the soft furnishings to the temperature and noise levels, which we know has a large impact on quality of sleep.”
Around the world
Conducted by Lonergan Research, the study follows Hilton’s 2024 Trends Report, which flagged a rise in sleep tourism. With two in five (39 per cent) Aussies polled admitting to not getting enough sleep at home (six hours or less each night), it’s little wonder this priority is rising.
According to the 2024 Trends Report, which polled more than 10,000 travellers from nine countries (including Australia), Gen Z travellers are the most intentional about winding down, with a quarter (25 per cent) avoiding alcohol before bedtime and an almost equal number (21 per cent) regulating their workout routine.
In the Asia Pacific region, respondents ranked listening to music or podcasts (33 per cent) and choosing a trusted hotel brand with consistent mattress quality (27 per cent) as their top sleep considerations.
“Our research has found most people have specific bedtime routines and rituals to wind down and elevate their sleep quality,” Hutton said.
“Whether it’s by regulating workout routines, avoiding alcohol, caffeine or devices before bed, taking hot baths or showers, drinking herbal teas or listening to music or white noise, it matters where you stay, and we’re focused on ensuring we deliver an exceptional experience that is reliable and friendly to every guest.”
Earlier this year, Hilton and Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) signed a strategic partnership that will see Hilton guests welcomed to SLH properties around the world.
