Four Seasons is introducing The Four Seasons Bed, claiming it is the first fully customizable hotel bed. With a mattress system developed by Four Seasons in partnership with leading bed manufacturer Simmons, each guest can have their bed personalized to their unique preference in minutes. A choice of three different levels of firmness will be offered, along with a variety of pillows and bedside amenities for customized comfort.
Sleep survey highlights
The bed launch follows on a new survey of travellers for Four Seasons by Ipsos in late 2013 that revealed secrets to a good night's sleep. It was conducted among travellers from the US, Great Britain, Russia and China who stayed in any hotel, not just a Four Seasons. The survey highlights include:
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92% of respondents expressed distinct preferences on the firmness of a bed. Only 7% of respondents had no opinion on the firmness of the mattress, with 50% saying they like medium, followed by 28% preferring firm and 14% soft.
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30% said they have requested a room change or taken other action – a handful even opting to sleep on the floor or in the bathtub! – when their hotel bed didn't suit their needs. In general, travellers under 35 are the most likely to speak up, indicating an increasing demand for customization in the future.
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44% said they wished they could make their bed at home the same way it's made in a hotel, and 31% have wanted to take home the bed or linens – a desire that Four Seasons will happily arrange upon request.
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Pre-bedtime rituals also varied widely, with Russians and Chinese favouring a hot shower or bath, the British tucking in to bed with a good book, and more than half of Americans saying they like to watch TV before sleeping.
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From a list of a dozen nighttime amenities, the favourites were bath salts and oils (23%), room scents (22%) and herbal tea (21%); desired bedside conveniences ranged from electrical outlets for personal devices and smart phones (56%) to a master switch for the window blinds (13%). Younger travellers were most likely to want an iPod dock.
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The one thing just about everybody has in common? 72% said they like to sleep on the same side of the bed they are used to at home.
For complete survey results, including what travellers like to have at bedside and what they like to do most before tucking in for the night, and a closer look at interesting regional variations, click here.
The bed is just the beginning
Survey respondents also indicated that bedding was just one factor in creating their idea of a perfect night's sleep. Noise levels, the ability to adjust temperature, the availability of fresh air, the need to create a completely dark environment at any time of day, and the inevitable jet lag play key roles that vary by nationality, gender and age.
"One of the interesting findings in the survey is that the younger the traveller, the more likely they are to have specific preferences, and to say so," says Dana Kalczak, Four Seasons Vice President, Design. "As we create new hotels and continually review all our properties, we have a detailed checklist that includes everything from headboard placement to technologies that are intuitive and easy to figure out, silent light switches, and sealing doors to block light and noise from the hallway."
Kalczak, who is also a trained architect and interior designer, notes that the development of every new Four Seasons hotel includes creation of an offsite model guest room early in the process, and every possible scenario is tested to anticipate guests' every need.
"We lie on the bed to make sure it's in the best position to enjoy views and watch tv; that there's good light for reading; and that everything a guest might need is within easy reach," she says. "Frankly, we are obsessed."
Features of the new Four Seasons Bed include:
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A system of revolutionary mattress toppers engineered specifically for Four Seasons that offers guests three choices to customize their bed: Signature, Signature Firm, and Signature Plush.
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A topper that can be switched in minutes; those returning to a Four Seasons location will find their favourite topper already in place when they arrive.
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Gel Touch Foam Center technology that absorbs extra heat, ensuring maximum comfort throughout the sleep.
The Four Seasons Bed is already in place in several locations in the US, and will replace beds at all Four Seasons locations over the next few years as part of the normal course of upgrade. The Four Seasons Bed will also be available for purchase along with a full array of pillows and bed linens through local Four Seasons locations as they are installed in each hotel and resort.
