Hilton Expands 'Sleep Rooms' Test

<I>Beverly Hills, Calif.</I> - Following a November debut, Hilton Hotels Corp. plans to expand its Sleep Tight rooms test.

The rooms, equipped with devices to lull travelers to sleep, will roll out to three international and two stateside properties early this year. With the help of the National Sleep Foundation, the chain has been testing 25 Sleep Tight rooms in five cities.

By surveying more than 500 U.S. business travelers, Hilton found that 41 percent take time off to recover after a business trip, and about one-third more (32 percent) said they are less productive when returning to the office. One-quarter said they are losing more sleep on business trips than they did two years ago. Less than half (47 percent) do nothing to combat jet lag, and just 17 percent have tried Melatonin. Of those, seven out of 10 said the pills helped.

The chain plans to query Asian and European travelers later this year.

"The typical business traveler ends the evening with a heavy meal and a glass of wine to relax, and that combination and television is the worst thing you can do if you're trying to get a restful night's sleep," said Jeff Diskin, Hilton's vice president of corporate marketing.

The chain's Sleep Tight rooms filter out noise and light via soundproofed windows, white-noise and nature-sound machines, insulated carpet, "door-drop seals" under the door and extra-heavy drapes that attach to the wall with Velcro. A biorhythm light box enables travelers to bask in artificial sunlight, which might help to realign the body's circadian rhythms.

The rooms also stock a variety of blankets and pillows, relaxation audiotapes and, in New York and Los Angeles, Digital Music Express, a 24-hour satellite service that plays continuous music of the guest's choice without commercials.

A modified minibar trades alcohol and caffeine-laden drinks for cheese and crackers, milk, herbal tea, juice and cookies.

Future plans include East and West Coast wings, which would remain on the traveler's original time zone through artificial lighting.

The chain is recruiting long-haul frequent flyers to try the rooms, currently priced at standard-room rates at the Beverly Hilton, Capitol Hilton, Chicago O'Hare Hilton, Hilton Hawaiian Village and New York Hilton & Towers. Sleep experts hosted by the National Sleep Foundation will evaluate the research-and check into the rooms themselves-in May.