Growing Sleep Tourism Popularity Post

Have you ever booked a vacation to boost your quality of sleep? As strange as it sounds, people are taking more and more vacations to find a cure for sleep deprivation. It seems like a counter-intuitive approach to getting more sleep.

But there has been a surge in sleep tourism over the years. The interest in sleep-focused travel accommodations has catapulted since the COVID-19 pandemic. Let's explore this hot new trend and find out why it's becoming so popular.

 

What Exactly is Sleep Tourism?

Sleep tourism focuses on travel lodgings and resorts that center around alleviating the problem of sleep deprivation. Such kind of tourism includes sleep retreats, sleep programs like sleep-inducing meditation, and other restorative sleep technologies. In short, the goal is to cater to the clients' need for rest and sleep.

 

Bryte Restorative Sleep Suite 

Park Hyatt New York launched the Bryte Restorative Sleep Suite earlier this year. Dedicated to providing a personalized sleep experience, this 900-square-foot residential-style suite offers sleep-enhancing services. Their amenities include an AI-powered custom bed dubbed The Restorative Bed catering to the specific needs of the guests.

 

(Photo via @parkhyattny / Instagram)

 

Alchemy of Sleep

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts introduced a collection of immersive getaways known as the Alchemy of Sleep to improve the quality of sleep. With the help of their expert consultants, sleep-inducing remedies, and other amenities, Rosewood tries to establish lasting sleep habits and fix the sleeping patterns of their clients.

Zedwell

London in early 2020 saw its first sleep-centric hotel, Zedwell. This resort is furnished with sound-proof rooms and other technology focused on improving sleep and well-being. They also make sure there are no distractions like TV and other electronics that have a detrimental effect on sleeping patterns.

(Photo via @zedwellpiccadilly / Instagram)

Hästens Sleep Spa Hotel

A year after the sleep-centric hotel Zedwell was constructed, Hästens Sleep Spa Hotel was launched in the Portuguese city of Coimbra. This 15-room boutique hotel offers special sleep-inducing services.

 

Why is Sleep Tourism Becoming So Popular?

Sleep tourism became popular, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. That explains the travel industry's ever-growing interest in providing sleep-focused staycations. The hotels and resorts mentioned earlier in this article launched their sleep programs and amenities after the Coronavirus pandemic. So what change did the pandemic bring to people's lives that focused their attention on getting more sleep?

 

The Effect of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Sleep

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine aimed to investigate the change in sleep cycles amid the pandemic. Over 2500 adults took part in this study. The highlight of the experiment was that 40% of total responders reported an increase in sleep disturbances after the pandemic. The reliance on consuming sleeping pills for rest increased by 20%.

 

(Photo via Daniel Reche / Pexels)

A sleep specialist and co-author of the book “Sleep for Success!”, Dr. Rebecca Robbins talked to CNN Travel regarding the cause of the surge in sleep-focused hotels and resorts. She says, “People often associate travel with decadent meals, extending their bed times, the attractions and the things you do while you're traveling, really almost at the cost of sleep. Now, I think there's just been a huge seismic shift in our collective awareness and prioritization on wellness and well being."

Dr. Robbins highlights that this interest in sleep-focused staycations has increased post-pandemic. Regarding this issue, she says, "There has been heightened attention to sleep in the Covid-19 era, and likely, because so many people have struggled with this [sleep].”

The Effect of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Mental Health

This ever-increasing decline in sleep quality can be attributed to the decline in mental health amid the pandemic. Earlier this year, the World Health Organization reported a post-pandemic global increase in mental health problems like depression and anxiety by 25%. Regarding this issue and the resulting growth in sleep tourism popularity, Viceroy Los Cabos Spa and Wellness Director Vanessa Infante told Coveteur, “During the pandemic, all of our natural cycles changed. We started seeing more cases of mental health issues, depression, and anxiety. And with all of this, sleep patterns changed too. Now that we are coming back to normal life, people are looking for experiences that help them resolve their sleeping patterns, eat healthier, and exercise.”

The Close Connection Between Mental Heath and Sleep

As reported by Harvard Health, sleep and mental health have a direct effect on each other. Mental health can decline due to constant sleep deprivation. And people diagnosed with mental health problems like depression and anxiety are more likely to report sleep disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea.

Conclusion

Getting a good night's sleep is crucial to one's physical health and well-being, not just mental health. This is the reason why hotels and resorts dedicated to fixing sleep issues with their special amenities are popping up all over the world. The ever-growing popularity of sleep tourism post-pandemic hints at the alarming surge in sleep deprivation and sleep disorders all over the world.