Don’t Sleep On The Hotel Sleep Retreat Trend

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efore-bed bathing rituals, lavender-scented eye masks, and using dedicated apps like Calm and Sleep Reset, there are plenty of hacks when it comes to catching those all-important Zs. While studies show that our sleep quality has been declining for decades (many of us sleep less than six hours a night), ­it’s no secret the pandemic caused stress levels to soar and our quality of sleep to decline even further as a result.

Alongside nutrition and exercise, sleep is considered the third pillar of health, so it’s perhaps no surprise sleep has become the next big thing in wellness travel. Luxury hotel brands from Amangiri to Rosewood have tapped into the trend collaborating with experts on workshops and programming to help guests improve sleep health and designing dedicated sleep suites.

“In our connected, ‘always on’ world, it is harder than ever to prioritize sleep health,” shares Dr. Rebecca Robbins, Ph.D. at Brigham and Women’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School.

Photography by @thenomadicpeople

Specializing in the field of sleep medicine for over a decade, Robbins says changes to sleep habits can yield a significant positive impact in many areas of our lives, from professional performance and how we treat loved ones to managing our mood and weight.

In her book, Sleep for Success! Everything You Must Know About Sleep but Are too Tired to Ask, Robbins recommends adding relaxing pre-bed activities to daily routines such as meditation to help manage stress. Circadian rhythms – following the body’s 24-hour “internal clock” and going to bed when it’s dark and waking up with the sun – are crucial, too, the science of which she’ll be diving into during the first-ever immersive sleep retreat at Castle Hot Springs in Arizona.

Designed to reform sleep through group discussions and strategy sessions on circadian science and the connection between nutrition and sleep, Robbins says the four-day program will also include private wellness sessions, circadian-boosting hikes and yoga.

Sleep meditations, a gong bath sound ceremony, plus plenty of time to soak in the resort’s famous mineral-rich hot springs, should also tempt guests.

“With sleep issues rising, a sleep-focused retreat is an exciting way to help people struggling to hit reset or start healthy new patterns. So, I was delighted to hear from Castle Hot Springs with an invitation to host this novel retreat,” she says. 

Amy Mc Donald, principal and CEO of Under a Tree, a consulting agency specializing in destination spas, integrated wellness and health facilities, echoes this sentiment. “The more properties can see the value of sleep programs and retreats, such as our client Castle Hot Springs, the better we will all be.” 

Less than two hours away in northern Tucson, voguish wellness resort Miraval Arizona has partnered with local sleep and dream specialist Leah Ann Bolen to create its own set of unique workshops. Awakening The Dream and Rituals for Better Rest, plus a private Dream Discovery session, any of which can be added to Miraval’s Journeys with Intention stays or day packages.

“When Awakening the Dream debuted in September 2020, it coincided with a worldwide increase in dream recall and interest about the subject, with Google reporting a major uptick in searches about bizarre dreams,” explains Bolen. “Dreaming is the special part of sleep that we have a chance to consciously recall. I love teaching guests about the value of paying attention to their dreams and inspiring them to approach their sleep as a sacred practice.”

Another luxury hotel and resort brand that understands the importance of sleep is Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, which debuted its Alchemy of Sleep program in January - a global collection of retreats are available to book across 20 of its properties. Two standout destination-exclusive experiences are the Sleep Transformation and Dreamscape programs at Rosewood Miramar Beach in California’s exclusive oceanfront community of Montecito. 

Karina Chung, Rosewood Miramar Beach’s Area Director of Wellness, Spa & Beauty, believes restlessness and anxiety caused by the uncertainty of the past two years have been detrimental to sleep and helped drive the trend for sleep-focused retreats. “More people are exploring ways to sleep better and healthier - through retreats, digital sleep tracking devices, journaling, mindful movement sessions, and CBD products. The Rosewood brand launched its Alchemy of Sleep retreats for people looking to make that profound change in their health and well-being.”

Included as part of the two-night Sleep Transformation, guests can schedule a 60-minute spa treatment and movement session with options tailored accordingly — like a Dreamscape massage or Sleep Release meditation. And in keeping with Rosewood’s Sense of Place ethos, Rosewood Miramar Beach worked with California-based skin and body care company Kerstin Florian on several of its Sleep Box specialty amenities. In addition, a CBD cranberry hibiscus tea by WELL and a CBD body oil and VitaDreams sleep chews from Medicine Women (both local California companies) are also featured. 

Chung shares that the campaign has received the most click-throughs to the Rosewood website since launching just two months ago. “Our guests are curious about sleep retreats and continue to inquire about these offerings – from the most sleep-deprived guest booking both packages to those who prefer to mix and match our a la carte offerings.”

Some luxury hotels are taking a slightly different approach when it comes to providing guests a good night’s sleep by partnering with tech-forward companies like Bryte, whose artificial intelligence-powered Restorative Bed is said to maximize sleep potential and feels like “Seventh Heaven.” 

Peter Roth, area vice president and general manager of Park Hyatt New York, says that after learning more travelers’ desired wellness-focused experiences, the hotel sought to partner with a company focused on elevating health, which led them to Bryte. “Sleep is arguably just as important as staying properly hydrated and nourished, so it made sense for us to introduce the Bryte Restorative Sleep Suites to help our guests better their sleep while working on well-being.”

On the West Coast, Hotel Figueroa in Downtown Los Angeles also offers guests a similar experience with its fitness and relaxation “Zen den,” the Rest & Recovery Suite. Luxury wellness amenities - from an Eight Sleep smart temperature adjustable mattress and customizable Pluto Pillow (the latter ordered a week before arrival) to a FORME personal fitness mirror - can help with everything from beating jet lag to recovering from a big night. The suite also comes stocked with beam supplements (from the brand’s ‘elevate’ family for post-workout recovery) and a deep tissue percussion massage gun by Hyperice. 

Being in the business of sleep, Roth says it’s only natural for luxury hotels like Park Hyatt New York to provide discerning guests with innovative and personalized travel experiences. For Dr. Robbins, it’s also about providing tools to take home. “Sleep is such an integral part of our lives and has a direct correlation with our well-being, so even small changes to routines can go a long way toward improving mental and physical health. Even better if you can take that first step somewhere beautiful like Castle Hot Springs.”