Sleep tight: Hotels wanna get you into bed - Biz Travel - hotels upgrading beds - Brief Article

HOTELS ARE UPGRADING THEIR MATTRESSES, PILLOWS and linens in order to lull travelers to sleep-and, hopefully, back for another visit. Westin's "Heavenly Bed," which features a custom-designed pillow-top mattress with 900 individual coils, three sheets, a down blanket and five goose-down pillows, was among the first salvos in what some hospitality insiders are calling the hotel industry's "bed wars."

Not to be outdone, Marriott introduced its "Marriott Bed," which includes a 7-inch custom-designed mattress and amenities similar to Westin's. Even independent hotels have jumped into the fray-and, at times, escalated the conflict. The Benjamin (left), an executive suites hotel in Manhattan, offers not only an upgraded bed, but also a "sleep concierge" who offers advice on how to maximize your rest. Amenities include everything from customized pillows to aromatherapy treatments, and if all else fails, the concierge can always send up a plate of fresh chocolate-chip cookies and a glass of warm milk. "A good night's sleep is your best tool for having a productive day," says the hotel's Mara Begley.

As hotels strive to one-up one another, the upshot of the "bed wars" is that you'll likely find a better bed waiting for you next time you check in.

CHRISTOPHER ELLIOTT is a writer and commentator and the editor of www.elliott.org.

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