NEW YORK—Whether fitness equipment, healthy juices or curated athletic activities, hotels are looking for ways to appeal to the health-conscious guest. And it’s no wonder, considering the global wellness economy is now at $3.7 trillion. But the newest offering for hotels in the health & wellness space isn’t food, drink or gym equipment—it’s bedding.
First presented during New York Spring Textiles Market Week this past March, international textile company Welspun has introduced a new bedding option that will be incorporated into Delos’ Stay Well suites.
The Stay Well Collection of bedding linens, which use performance technologies, will be used in Delos’ Stay Well suites.
“Stay Well hotel rooms incorporate state-of-the-art wellness technologies to help improve indoor air and water quality, nutrition, sleep patterns and physical comfort, as well as reduce exposure to germs and allergens,” said Paul Scialla, founder and CEO of Delos, a health and wellness company.
“Now, more than ever, health and wellness have become top priorities in all facets of our lives. Guests are increasingly looking for ways to maintain their healthy lifestyles while on the road, and we continue to see a growing demand for healthy travel accommodations, features, amenities and wellness programming,” he added.
These suites can be found in a number of hotel properties, including MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where the concept first debuted in 2012. Following the success there, in 2015 and 2016, certain Marriott properties seized the opportunity to add a little something extra, including Richmond Marriott Short Pump in Virginia, Courtyard Orlando & Residence Inn Lake Nona in Florida, Atlanta Marriott Marquis and Tampa Marriott Waterside & Marina in Florida.
Connie Steinwart, sales director for Courtyard by Marriott and Residence Inn by Marriott Orlando Lake Nona said that guests do enjoy all the benefits of the Stay Well room. “With the Stay Well rooms, they’re getting the benefit of the air quality in addition to the bedding, and I think anything that is more ‘pure’ for our guests—whether bedding or toiletry—is more to their advantage,” she explained. At the Orlando hotel, Stay Well rooms are typically $10 to $20 more than the standard. Steinwart is looking forward to the bedding that participating hotels will receive later this summer citing, “Bedding determines the type of sleep the guests will receive when they come into the hotel.”
The Stay Well line currently consists of many different products including advanced air purification, circadian lighting and the branded Stay Well mattress, which provides deep pressure relief that will adjust to the body of any guest. Other amenities include a dawn simulator and energizing light. Stay Well guests also have exclusive access to a jetlag tool, as well as sleep, nutrition and stress management programs developed by Cleveland Clinic. So why bedding? Sleep is one of the most important aspects of a guest’s in-room stay.
“Recognizing the public’s increasing demand for wellness products, Welspun and Delos have partnered to launch a new generation of wellness bedding products under the Stay Well Collection,” said Scialla. “These bedding products utilize innovative performance technologies such as Dreamskin and Protx2 to offer a wellness-inspired sleep environment. Our common goal is to enhance sleep and rest via technological innovations added into the fabrics themselves.”
Dreamskin has a chemical finish that hydrates the skin. “With this hydration, you wake up feeling more refreshed, and you don’t feel that lack of energy you do when using traditional bedding,” explained Abhijit Datar, head of operations for Welspun. Dreamskin-treated linens are combined with Welspun’s own patented Hygrocotton technology. This way, your skin is hydrated and hotel sheets remain dry and static free, he said.
Protx2 gives the bedding an antimicrobial finish. It is a treatment you can integrate into any kind of chemical. It has the highest effectiveness on killing bacteria even after multiple commercial washing and launderings, according to the company. “The Protx2 is very effective against the H1N1 virus as well,” said Datar.
Currently, the effectiveness of the sheets and how they combat different kinds of bacteria are being tested in labs in Canada and China. So far, according to Datar, the product has performed well. He noted it’s important to test new products in a lab with active users, so the company can further capture the response of the body to the sheets. “Welspun has always been very focused on consumer research and feedback. We have a lot of experience from the retail side—so we want to hear from the people who stay in hotels. Everyone wants a good quality, healthy sleep,” he said.
Furthermore, Welspun is excited about this venture with Delos and its part in adding more to the health and wellness sector within the hospitality industry. “We see a big opportunity for Welspun’s partnership with Delos in the United States, as well as international markets. The wellness industry is growing very rapidly and a lot of Welspun’s hospitality customers are looking for products that improve the quality of sleep and the experience for guests in their hotels. We expect that the Stay Well brand will have a big presence in the hospitality segment over the next few years,” said Datar.
And, in turn, Delos exhibits the same excitement as the textile brand. “Our sleep is greatly affected by our sleeping conditions—from the temperature of the room to lighting and, of course, bedding. By making certain adjustments to our bedding and choosing the right mattress, we can greatly improve conditions that will ensure a good night’s rest,” said Scialla. “With the right bedding—such as what we’ve created with Welspun—we are able to provide the right comfort level to support a good night of sleep through things like temperature control, moisture retention and fabric softness.” HB
