Sleep Science Meets Luxury at Equinox Hotels
The luxury hotelier has dreamed up the perfect destination for sleep tourists and jet lag-weary travelers, enlisting sleep scientist Dr. Matthew Walker
Amid a rising interest in sleep tourism and all things wellness, Equinox Hotels is advancing its efforts to become the ultimate purveyor of sleep.
The luxury hotelier has partnered with Dr. Matthew Walker, a sleep scientist and professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, a move that deepens its sleep-focused initiative, benefiting guests’ health and performance.
One Gallup poll last year called attention to the growing desire for adequate sleep, with a majority of U.S. adults (57%) reporting they would feel better if they got more rest. With more than half of American adults struggling to get enough sleep, it’s no surprise that sleep tourism has become an increasingly popular travel trend.
Enter Equinox.
Sleep health is an area the luxury brand has heavily invested in, with its partnership with Dr. Walker building on its existing Art + Science of Sleep program, which offers a two-night stay in a room designed to deliver optimal sleep. The stay includes Equinox’s AM + PM Rituals, providing guests with sound, movement and breathwork techniques to regulate the circadian rhythm. Special amenities are also offered to promote wakefulness in the morning and restful sleep in the evening, including a Spa Wave Table, cryotherapy treatments, access to hot and cold plunges, and food and beverages that naturally enhance melatonin production.
Now, even more initiatives are underway, according to the global luxury hospitality brand—one of which involves an immersive living experiment at Equinox Hotel New York, where guests will engage with cutting-edge sleep technology and participate in studies led by Dr. Walker.
“Sleep is the foundation for everything we do—as expressed in one of the four pillars of Equinox Hotels,” Dr. Walker said. “I’m thrilled to partner with Equinox Hotels to develop innovative sleep solutions that will revolutionize the guest experience in hospitality and empower travelers to achieve their full potential.”
Another aspect of the project involves Dr. Walker lending his expertise to the development of future Equinox Hotels and Resorts guest rooms that will be optimized for sleep. Weary travelers crossing time zones may be pleased to learn that the luxury hotelier will also introduce “Jet Lag Reset,” a digital offering providing Equinox Hotels guests with personalized strategies to reduce the pain points of jet lag.
Equinox Hotels CEO Chris Norton tells Athletech News that the initiative will be a defining feature at all new Equinox Hotels properties.
“Our mission has always been to redefine luxury hospitality by seamlessly integrating health and performance into every aspect of the guest experience,” Norton tells ATN. “Sleep, as the foundation of overall well-being, has been a core pillar of our brand since its inception. Partnering with Dr. Matthew Walker, a globally recognized leader in sleep science, was a natural evolution of this philosophy. Dr. Walker’s expertise and shared dedication to applying cutting-edge research and technology to enhance human performance make him the perfect collaborator to advance our transformative sleep programs.”
Dr. Walker is set to attend the second annual Equinox Hotels Global Sleep Symposium on May 1. The event offers attendees an opportunity to explore the Equinox Hotels Sleep Lab and other sleep-enhancing programs
Sleep-loving guests and fans of Equinox Hotels can also peruse the hotelier’s range of high-end products through its Sleep Shop, which includes its signature Equinox mattresses, linens and robes.