A new trend around the world… Sleep tourism

Would you go on vacation just to sleep? Millions are doing so, flocking to the increasing number of specialized “sleep hotels” around the world after the pandemic. According to experts, “Healthy living and spa tourism” is being replaced by “sleep tourism.” It is expected that the volume of this new trend will increase by 8% by 2028, reaching $400 billion.

Imagine a hotel room: No TV. Curtains closed, no light. Absolutely quiet. Thanks to insulation, no sound comes from the hallway or neighboring rooms. After a massage, you curl up in a soft bed, rest your head on a feather pillow, and drift into a deep sleep. You’ve just read about the new passion that has emerged for millions worldwide post-pandemic: “Sleep tourism.”

According to Fortune magazine, the global market for “healthy living and spa tourism,” totaling $814 billion, has transformed after the pandemic. The new trend is called “sleep tourism,” or “slow travel,” where there’s no rush. Some hotels undergo program and architectural changes to ensure customers sleep well, while some entrepreneurs have started opening “sleep hotels” that promise only “Good nights” to their customers.

“Demand for sleep tourism will increase by 8% by 2028”

According to HTF Market Research, a US-based analysis firm, demand for sleep tourism will increase by 8% by 2028, and the market size will reach $400 billion. What does Rebecca Robbins, a sleep expert from Harvard University, say about this new trend? “The era when vacationers returned home tired from vacation is over. Now, when they go on vacation, they also want a good night’s sleep.” Robbins noted that some hotels have changed tactics, saying, “Sleeping while traveling is an important indicator of a guest’s likelihood to return.”

One of those hotels is Hilton… Amanda el-Masri, Vice President of Healthy Living for the chain, highlights that in some locations, they offer customers temperature-controlled beds and dim lighting settings. At Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria in Rome, customers choose their pillows from the menu; Conrad Bali offers 60-minute sleep therapies. And what about an AI-powered bed that adjusts bed pressure in a room at Park Hyatt New York? Six Senses offers sleep therapy for a thousand dollars in all of its hotels.

Here are some sleep hotels from around the world:

BLESS Hotel Madrid: A 5-star hotel in the capital of Spain that utilizes science and technology for guests to sleep. The hotel’s special rooms feature “renewing your body while you sleep” special beds. The bed made of patented silver and graphite mesh is said to provide protection against electromagnetic pollution and eliminate radiation accumulated in the body. Result: Strong immune system and increased melatonin levels.

ITC Hotel, India: This hotel chain, spread across India, offers rooms with soundproof walls, blackout curtains, and motion-activated floor lighting to help you fall into a deep sleep and wake up refreshed and ready.

Equinox, New York: The hotel’s motto: “Sleep System.” Luxury bed linens, handmade mattresses… The temperatures of the sheets are adjusted according to the season! Soundproof walls and blackout curtains are among the other features in the rooms…

Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, Oman: Located away from city life, at the foot of the Hajar Mountains, the hotel offers the “Sleep Guru” program, which includes massage packages in fragrant rose-scented baths…. and MANY MORE.