Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.
Wake up! With National Sleep Month approaching (May), HiltonHotels may have just what weary travelers need to catch a few morezzz's.
Last October, Hilton, in cooperation with the National SleepFoundation and sleep product manufacturers, debuted Sleep-Tightrooms. The rooms contain sleep-inducing gadgets such as a bedsidesound machine that generates soothing sounds and a "glowlamp" that wakes guests with increasingly brighter light sansthe blaring alarm. Bedtime books, brochures on jet lag and amodified mini-bar with cheese, crackers and milk (which containtryptophan, an amino acid that can cause drowsiness) all work toaid business travelers in their quest to fall fast asleep. Therooms also boast added insulation and a sleep kit complete withface mask and earplugs; some rooms even have sound-proofed windows.Perhaps the best feature, however, is a comfy, adjustable mattressthat feels like you're sleeping on a cloud.
The rooms, which cost the same as comparable standard rooms, areavailable in New York City; Chicago; Oahu, Hawaii; Washington, DC;and Beverly Hills, California. Hilton plans to expand the programto five more locations by year-end and will begin testingSleep-Tight rooms in hotels in Asia and Europe in the comingmonths.
Say, What?
Everyone has a few quirky travel preferences. For instance,maybe you always rent a certain make of car or try to book a roomybulkhead seat on a cross-country flight. But a recent study byRunzheimer International, a Rochester, Wisconsin-based managementconsulting firm, reveals some business travelers have been known togo a bit further by making some rather, well, bizarre travelrequests of their employers.
For example, have you ever had an employee request a seatassignment on the "shady" side of the airplane? Beenasked to buy a bus ticket to Hawaii because the traveler was afraidto fly? Or have an employee ask the company to pay for ahotel's shower door because they fell asleep and broke theglass? Yes, these are actual demands from business travelers.
Should an employee make an odd request--such as asking you toreplace the contents of luggage he or she inadvertently left on thecurb--Runzheimer suggests you begin by empathizing with theperson's situation. After telling them you understand theirconcerns, however, stand firm and tell them that there'snothing you can do but keep the situation in mind when consideringfuture travel policies. As for further explanation of theirsituation, do yourself a favor: Don't ask!
