Radisson, Hampton Inn and Suites and Spartanburg-based
Extended Stay Hotels are among the brands investing in new mattresses and/or
bedding in an effort to improve their customers' experience.
By July, half of the rooms at the Radisson Hotel and
Suites on
Sleep Number beds have adjustable settings so each sleeper
can adjust his or her side of the bed to the desired firmness.
"It's the No.1 reason people stay in a hotel, is to
sleep," said the Radisson's General Manager, Marshall Tullos.
"The more comfortable we can make the beds, the
better their satisfaction will be."
Along with the new beds, Radisson is also adding a new
all-white bedding package with down pillows, comforter and duvet covers.
The message behind the white bedding is simple, Tullos
said.
"White represents clean."
Total investment in the new beds and bedding is $375,000,
Tullos said.
Hampton Inn and Suites, in the Summit Pointe development
on Spartanburg's
west side, is also preparing to switch to a new all-white bedding package.
By May 1, all 126 rooms at the hotel should have the new
bedding, which will include padded and fitted mattress pads, comforters and
duvet covers, both feather and foam pillows and a special firm lumbar pillow.
Cost for the bedding program, called Cloud Nine, will be
$250 per bed.
Because of the color, the duvet covers will be washed
along with the sheets after each guest checks out. The hotel now washes its
colored bedspreads only when needed.
Housekeeping supervisor Belinda Meadows said the white
linens would leave no doubt as to the cleanliness of the bed.
"Now yo•know. Yo•can relax even better."
Spartanburg-based
Extended Stay Hotels is also upgrading bedding at some of its properties.
Extended Stay is installing pillowtop mattresses at 65
Extended Stay Deluxe properties. The deluxe brand, which launched last fall,
features more upscale amenities for a higher room rate.
Bedding improvements are just part of an overall trend as
hotels try to upgrade their offerings to meet guest expectations, according to
one tourism expert.
"The industry has always wanted to portray itself as
a home away from home," said Rich Harrill, director of the International
Tourism Research Institute at the
Especially as the baby boomer generation begins to retire
and spend more time traveling, the travel and tourism sector will continue to
grow, and with that growth will come increased competition, Harrill said.
In response, hotels in all price ranges are making
improvements to everything from breakfast to business amenities, he said.
"Twenty years ago, in the morning yo•could get orange
juice and a doughnut. Now, a pretty full, hot breakfast is available,"
Harrill said.
"It's amazing what yo•can get from the mid-range
hotels."
The Radisson's Tullos agreed that customers' expectations
are rising.
"Nowadays, they're looking for the bedding packages,
the entertainment centers in their rooms," he said.
"It's no longer the old roadside bed and basic
TV."
Susan Orr can be reached at 562-7270 or susan.orr@shj.com.