Business travelers are sleep deprived

Central Penn Business Journal, Aug 20, 2004 by Disylvester, Brianne

Ken Uhlman is no stranger to traveling. As a regional director of sales for On-Q Home, Uhlman travels the East Coast almost every week. On-Q Home is a manufacturer of home technology products located in Lower Swatara Township, Dauphin County Uhlman visits various states between South Carolina and Maine and has traveled on 47 US Airways flights since January. Uhlman has traveled with his job since 1999 and now has it down to a science. "You start to get good at the ins and outs of travel," he said.

Uhlman used to have trouble sleeping when he first started traveling. Uhlman said that he learned to tune out distractions such as noise and other surroundings. "You are in a strange bed with strange surroundings. I would get up and forget where I was," he said.

Uhlman said establishing a routine helped for a better night's sleep. "It is all about staying in a routine," he said.

Due to hectic schedules, business travelers often don't get enough sleep. According to a 2003 National Business Travel Monitor survey, more than half of business travelers say they don't get enough sleep on the road. A tired work force costs companies $100 billion annually in lost productivity due to sleepiness, according to the National Sleep Foundation in Washington, D.C.

Many hotels are noticing the need to keep business travelers comfortable and have developed programs to enhance the business traveler's stay Atlanta-based Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts started a new Sleep Advantage program, which tries to create an environment conducive to sound sleep. The program began in hotels nationwide near the end of July.

The Crowne Plaza teamed up with Michael Breus to conduct a 12-month study on travel and sleep. Breus is the co-founder of Sound Sleep and a diplomat of the American Board of Medicine. Sound Sleep, based in Atlanta, aims to raise awareness of and provide solutions for sleep disorders in the general public, patients and health-care professionals. The study identified two travel-related stress conditions: First-Night Effect is the result of trying to sleep in an unfamiliar environment, and the On-Call Effect is caused by the constant worry that something will interrupt sleep.

To combat these problems, Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts is in the process of outfitting every room with a myriad of new amenities. New bedding, drape clips, soft night lights and sleep kits equipped with an eye mask, ear plugs, lavender spray, a relaxation CD and sleep tips will be placed in every room. The new bedding includes a natural-colored duvet, mattress topper, cotton blankets and plush pillows. The cost for the program varies by the number of rooms each hotel has. The Crowne Plaza in Harrisburg spent about $80,000 for amenities to be added to 261 rooms. The rooms should be outfitted by mid-August.

"We wanted the bedding to be more clean and homey It represents more of what people have in their homes today," said Stephanie Bezner, senior manager for public relations for the Crowne Plaza. Bezner also emphasized the drape clip. "It is such a simple thing, but it prevents that little sliver of light from disturbing you."

Designated quiet floors can prevent the On-Call Effect. The floor is quiet from Sunday through Thursday and has limited housekeeping hours.

With the program still in its early stages, Bezner said she would get consumer feedback. If the demand is there, Bezner said each hotel could decide if more quiet floors will be added. More than 90 percent of Crowne Plazas have the program in place.

Berverly Hills-based Hilton Hotels Corp, also conducted a study last year on how travel impacts job performance. The Hilton found the average executive's productivity and performance drops by 20 percent while traveling, largely due to insufficient sleep. Barry Dively director of sales and marketing for

Hilton Harrisburg and Towers, said the hotel is scheduled to get new mattresses next month.

Brenda Barrick, director of Capital Region Sleep Disorders Centers in Camp Hill, said the bed is important to a good night's sleep. "You have to be comfortable," she said.

Barrick recommends bringing something from home, such as a pillow or blanket. if travelers have trouble sleeping, Barrick suggested reading, listening to soothing music or taking a warm bath. Barrick said television can be too stimulating at times.

Consistency in traveling helps to reduce stress. Uhlman stays at the same hotel and uses the same airlines every time he travels.

Exercise is another sleep helper. According to the Hilton study, travelers who exercised during their trip performed 61 percent better on reaction and alertness tests. Uhlman runs every morning and takes walks to unwind at the end of the day. Barrick said travelers should exercise in the early evenings to leave enough time to wind down.

With long hours and interrupted schedules, many travelers turn to caffeine for that midday pickup. Barrick suggests travelers should avoid caffeine and take a 15to 20-minute nap in the middle of the day, instead. "It is important to get refreshed throughout the day," she said. Although many people may not feel the effects of caffeine, Barrick said it can affect the stages of sleep, which can leave the traveler feeling tired.