Hotel Mattresses:
Why Sleep Position Matters for Hotels?
The quality of sleep plays a crucial role in keeping guests happy in the hospitality world. One key factor influencing sleep quality is the mattress, and a major consideration in selecting the right mattress is understanding the most popular sleep position. Knowing which sleep positions are most common can help hotel owners make informed decisions about their mattress investments, ensuring they cater to their guests’ preferences and improve overall comfort. By selecting the right mattresses based on popular sleep positions, you can not only enhance guest contentment but also significantly reduce complaints about uncomfortable mattresses. This approach helps create a more pleasant stay and ensures that your hotel meets the diverse needs of your guests. This article will take a closer look at the different sleep positions, discuss how they affect mattress choices, and offer practical tips for hotel owners to improve their guests’ sleep experience.
Understanding Popular Sleep Positions
Back Sleeping
Back sleeping is a position where individuals lie flat on their backs with their arms at their sides or resting on their chest. This position is beneficial for maintaining spinal alignment and can reduce pressure on the spine when the mattress provides adequate support. The key to a good back-sleeping experience is a mattress that offers a balance of support and comfort. A medium-firm mattress is often recommended for back sleepers, as it supports the natural curvature of the spine while preventing sagging.
In this position, the mattress should maintain its shape and provide even support to avoid any discomfort or misalignment. For hotel owners, this means investing in high-quality mattresses that offer consistent support and can maintain their shape over time. Back sleepers may also benefit from additional lumbar support features in the mattress, which can be a valuable selling point.
Side Sleeping
Side sleeping involves lying on one’s side with legs slightly bent and arms in various positions. This is the most popular sleep position, favored for its potential benefits such as reducing snoring and mitigating acid reflux. However, side sleepers require a mattress that offers ample pressure relief, especially around the shoulders and hips, to prevent discomfort and maintain proper spinal alignment.
A mattress that is too firm can lead to pressure points, while one that is too soft can cause the body to sink too deeply, leading to misalignment. Memory foam and hybrid mattresses are often recommended for side sleepers because they contour to the body’s curves and provide the necessary pressure relief. For hotels, choosing a mattress that offers these features can enhance visitor contentment and cater to the majority of guests who prefer side sleeping.
Stomach Sleeping
Stomach sleeping is characterized by lying stomach down with arms positioned around the pillow or stretched out. This position is less common and can pose challenges for spinal alignment, often leading to neck and back pain. For stomach sleepers, a firmer mattress is typically recommended to prevent excessive sinking and maintain proper spinal alignment.
Hotels may find it beneficial to offer a range of mattress options, including firmer models, to accommodate stomach sleepers. Additionally, providing adjustable options, a dual firmness double-sided mattress, or mattress toppers can give guests the flexibility to customize their sleeping experience based on their preferred position.
Side Sleeping: The Most Popular Sleep Position
Studies often show that side sleeping is the most prevalent position among adults, with a significant percentage of people choosing this position for its comfort and health benefits.
For example, a study published in Nature and Science of Sleep [1] found that most adults sleep on their side about 54% of the time, on their back about 38% of the time, and on their stomach just 7% of the time. Similarly, The National Sleep Foundation [2] found that more than 60% of people sleep on their side. Another study from the National Council on Aging (NCOA) [3] showed that about 50% of adults prefer to sleep on their side, 17.33% on their back, and 13.67% on their stomach. These studies highlight the importance of catering to side sleepers in hotel mattress selections.
Demographic variations can also influence sleep positions. For instance, older adults may be more inclined to sleep on their backs to avoid pressure points, while younger individuals might prefer side sleeping for its comfort. By understanding guests’ sleep position preference, hotel owners can make strategic decisions about the types of mattresses they invest in, ensuring they meet the needs of their diverse guest base.
How Understanding Guest Sleep Positions Can Guide Hotel Mattress Selection
Back Sleepers
Hotels with back sleeper demographics should consider investing in high-quality innerspring or hybrid mattresses that offer consistent support and resilience. Mattresses that contain high density foam and premium pocketed coils can be beneficial for accommodating varying guest preferences.
Side Sleepers
Side sleepers require a mattress that offers pressure relief and contouring to accommodate the body’s curves. Memory foam and hybrid mattresses are ideal choices because they provide the necessary cushioning around the shoulders and hips.
Hotels should prioritize mattresses that offer excellent pressure relief and support for side sleepers, as this position is the most popular among guests. Consider mattresses with additional features such as advanced foam technology to enhance comfort.
Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleepers need a firmer mattress to prevent excessive sinking and maintain proper spinal alignment. Innerspring mattresses with higher firmness levels or hybrid models that offer a firm surface are suitable options.
A Versatile Mattress to Accommodate Various Sleeping Positions
Hotels may also consider offering mattress toppers or dual-firmness mattresses (where the mattress is firmer on one side and softer on the other side) to provide guests with the flexibility to modify the mattress to their preferred firmness level. A double-sided, dual firmness mattress offers a firmer surface on one side to suit guests who prefer a more supportive sleep experience, which is particularly beneficial for those with back issues or those who sleep on their stomachs. When flipped, the softer side can provide a plush, cushioned feel that appeals to guests who favor a more comfortable, enveloping sensation, such as those who sleep on their sides or enjoy a softer feel. Firmness options can be particularly useful for accommodating guests who sleep in various positions.
Practical Considerations for Hotel Owners
Versatility and Flexibility
Investing in versatile and flexible mattresses is essential for hotels to cater to different sleep positions. Mattresses that offer adjustable firmness or dual-sided options can provide guests with the ability to customize their sleeping experience.
Consideration should be given to the durability and maintenance of these mattresses, as they need to withstand frequent use and maintain their performance over time.
Guest Contentment
Understanding guest preferences for sleep positions can significantly impact overall satisfaction. To better understand guests’ preferences, hotels can implement feedback mechanisms, such as surveys or comment cards, to gather insights into mattress comfort and preferences. The insight gathered from guests can guide future mattress purchases and improve guest experiences.
Cost and Maintenance
While high-quality mattresses may come with a higher initial investment, their durability and versatility can lead to long-term cost savings. Consider the potential for fewer replacements and reduced maintenance costs by investing in durable, versatile mattresses that cater to a wide range of sleep positions.
Recommendations for Mattress Selection
Overall Comfort and Support
When selecting mattresses for a hotel, prioritize comfort and support that cater to the most popular sleep positions. A medium-firm mattress provides a balance of firmness and pressure relief that is crucial to accommodate a diverse range of guests. For more information in choosing the right firmness for your hotel mattresses, please see our blog “Top 5 Tips for Choosing the Right Hotel Mattress Firmness”.
Types of Mattresses to Consider
Memory foam, innerspring, hybrid, and double-sided dual-firmness mattresses each offer unique benefits. Memory foam provides excellent pressure relief, innerspring offers consistent support, hybrid combines the best of both, and double-sided dual-firmness mattresses provide the flexibility of two firmnesses in one mattress.
Hotels should carefully evaluate the features of each type to ensure they meet the needs of their guests and enhance overall satisfaction.
Final Recommendation
Aligning mattress choices with the most popular sleep positions is crucial for enhancing guest contentment and operational efficiency. By understanding sleep position trends and investing in versatile, high-quality mattresses, hotel owners can provide a comfortable and personalized sleep experience for their guests.
Incorporating guest feedback mechanisms and considering the long-term benefits of different mattress types can help hotels make informed decisions and optimize their mattress selections to cater to the majority of their guests’ sleep preferences.
We hope that this article was informative and actionable, guiding you in making well-informed decisions about mattress purchases for your properties, based on popular sleep positions.
If you need any help or guidance in choosing the best mattress for your hotel, please feel free to reach out at 1-888-850-1044 or email us at info@hotelmattresses.com. We look forward to hearing from you and being a part of increasing your guests’ sleeping experience.
For additional information, you can download our FREE Hotel Mattress Buying Guide below. In this guide, we included multiple essential considerations for hotel owners and operators before purchasing mattresses for hotels.
Additional Resources
Best seller mattress for side sleepers: Memory Lux Hybrid
Best seller mattress for back sleepers: Hotel Fairmont
References:
Download our Free Hotel Mattress Buying Guide
