Spa directors discuss the sleep-enhancing offerings available for their guests.
Jacqueline Berry, Director of Spa and Wellbeing, Miraval Resorts & Spas (multiple locations)
There is a growing awareness of sleep as a foundational pillar of wellbeing. People increasingly understand how quality rest supports mental clarity, emotional balance, and overall vitality. As our lives become more digitally connected and mentally demanding, there’s a renewed desire for experiences that help us unplug, slow down, and support natural rhythms, especially when it comes to rest and recovery.
Offerings: At Miraval Resorts & Spas, we take a more holistic approach by thoughtfully weaving rest-supportive elements throughout the entire guest experience. Our rooms are designed with intention—signature bedding, calming color palettes, blackout curtains, and device-free mindfulness prompts all contribute to an environment that encourages stillness and ease. Guests are invited to unplug through our digital device-free approach, helping them create healthy boundaries with technology and reclaim time for rest and reflection. Throughout the day, guests can choose from a variety of experiences that gently support natural rest rhythms like mindful movement, time spent in nature, nourishing meals, and guided meditation or breathing. Miraval Arizona also offers a variety of sleep-specific Sleep Well: Rituals for Rest, which feature tools to encourage relaxation in evening routines. At its Life in Balance Spa, several offerings are designed to calm the nervous system and prepare the body for deeper rest, including the Peaceful Sleep and Sweet Slumber massage. Miraval Resorts allows for small, meaningful shifts that, together, support a more restful and balanced state of being.
Nichole Hester, Director of Spa, The Spa at Pelican Hill (Newport Coast, CA)
Rest has become a foundational element of wellness, especially in a world that rarely slows down. Guests are increasingly aware of how essential quality sleep is, not just for physical recovery, but for positive energy, creativity, and emotional wellbeing. As sleep tourism continues to gain momentum, people are looking for special offerings that go beyond just a good night’s rest, choosing experiences that leave them feeling deeply restored and equipped with tools that help them maintain that sense of calm long after they return home. For guests, sleep programs offer the opportunity to reset—physically, mentally, and emotionally. These experiences create space for meaningful restoration, allowing the body, especially the central nervous system, to experience a state of calm, free from devices and stimulation. For resorts and spas, thoughtful sleep offerings foster a deeper connection with guests by addressing a universal need and creating transformative moments.
Offerings: We often hear from guests that they sleep exceptionally well at The Resort at Pelican Hill. That organic tranquility inspired us to create the Buona Notte Nighttime Rituals series, a spa-specific experience designed to amplify the resort’s natural serenity and pair it with a usable self-care routine. Each Buona Notte session features a master class element where guests engage in hands-on expert self-care, along with components that induce profound relaxation, all while reflecting on our larger philosophy of Benessere, which means to be well in your body and mind; and focused, present, and ready to enjoy the moment.
Vera Becattini, Spa Manager, Tschuggen Bergoase Spa at Tschuggen Grand Hotel (Arosa, Switzerland)
In our fast-paced, hyperconnected world, quality sleep has become a rare luxury. Many people suffer from sleep disturbances due to stress, screen time, or travel-related disruptions like jet lag. As wellness becomes more holistic, sleep is increasingly recognized as a crucial component of health—on par with nutrition and fitness. Resorts and spas are responding to this demand by offering dedicated sleep programs that help guests truly rest, reset, and restore. For guests, sleep programs offer a rare opportunity to truly disconnect and focus on rest, which leads to better mental clarity, improved mood, and deeper physical recovery. For resorts and spas, these offerings enhance the overall guest experience and differentiate the property in an increasingly competitive wellness tourism market. Sleep programs also encourage longer stays and repeat visits, especially when combined with other wellness services.
Offerings: Our sleep program is designed to engage all the senses and create a calming, sleep-conducive environment. On our spa menu, we offer the Dream Butler arrangement. It starts at check-in, where our guests can choose their favorite pillow from our pillow menu, which will be prepared in their room later during turndown service. Next is the relaxing Dream Butler treatment at the spa, followed by a calming welcome drink with lavender in the relaxation area. Guests then return to their room accompanied by their Dream Butler. Already prepared in the room, the guest also finds their previously selected meal followed by a goodnight tea, which contributes to an optimal sleep. Our Dream Butler provides the guest with helpful tips and insights for a restful night’s sleep—from effective breathing exercises to recommendations like avoiding smartphones and television before bedtime. In addition, we recommend guests enjoy a sunset yoga flow or a guided meditation.
Jeffrey Felshaw, General Manager, Park Terrace Hotel (New York, NY)
The overall approach to wellness has become so holistic and intrinsic, with more and more travelers sporting Apple watches and Oura rings. Our guests have become more in tune with how their sleep impacts their day-to-day and that is even more significant when traveling for business and working through different time zones.
Offerings: Our Park Terrace Hotel’s Hypnotherapy Wellness Package allows guests to choose from a 90-minute in-room or virtual hypnotherapy session and leave feeling more confident and grounded. This also includes 24/7 access to the hotel’s state-of-the-art fitness center and sauna. We always say, New York City never sleeps, but the guests at Park Terrace Hotel sleep very well. Hypnotherapy is a type of mind-body medicine commonly used for stress reduction, relaxation, sleep improvement, and performance enhancement, and our in-house certified
hypnotherapist, Ginger Gibson, is able to guide guests into a deep state of focus and relaxation with verbal cues, repetition, and imagery, entering an intense level of concentration that creates a more open mind.
Ara Patterson, Vice President of Food and Beverage and Spa, The Spa at Equinox Hotels (New York City)
We’re living in a time when people are finally recognizing sleep as foundational to their life, not just a pillar of wellness, but the base it’s built on. As the conversation around longevity and burnout intensifies, sleep has emerged as a non-negotiable. For our guests, rest isn’t a luxury; it’s a key part of their routine. It’s how they reset, recharge, and stay at the top of their game. From sleep-optimizing tech to environments designed for deep, uninterrupted rest, the rise in demand reflects something bigger: a cultural shift toward living better by recovering smarter.
Offerings: For guests, sleep is a critical part of the hospitality experience. At Equinox Hotels, we created The Art + Science of Sleep by Equinox Hotels to solve a very real problem: sleep is often the first thing to suffer when traveling. Our program gives guests the tools, technology, and environment to get their best night of sleep, whether that’s an in-room wind-down ritual designed to realign their circadian rhythm, or sipping a Dark Tart Cherry Juice from the Sleep Well menu. Guests can also enjoy a Spa Wave Table session that delivers the equivalent of three hours of sleep in 30 minutes, or cryotherapy to regulate and promote deeper rest. The benefits are immediate; guests feel more energized, even while traveling, and ultimately, get more out of their stay. As feeling your best becomes a must, travelers are actively seeking out properties that prioritize sleep. It’s a major point of differentiation—and loyalty. Our program doesn’t just enhance the guest experience; it deepens the relationship with the guest. Because when someone sleeps that well, they remember it.