Fewer frills sought for trips

Central Penn Business Journal, Aug 20, 2004 by Littleton, Julia

George Belforti follows the call of business wherever it takes him. He visits customers throughout the United States and is not slowed down by travel costs or terrorism alerts.

Activity in the marketplace dictates the amount of time he spends traveling, said Belforti, 55, director of marketing with Mount Joy Wire Corp. The company, based in Mount Joy, sells all grades of carbon steel wire.

"Last year being a pretty austere year, I'd say I traveled less. This being a robust year, I am traveling more," he said.

Workers at companies across Central Pennsylvania said their attitudes toward business travel haven't changed much in the last few years. Travel nationwide dropped precipitously after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, but since then has stabilized. Local travel agents report increased levels of travel overall, fueled mainly by vacation travel.

Business travel declined 2 percent from 2002 to 2003 nationwide, according to figures from the Travel Industry Association of America, an industry group based in Washington, D.C. Locally, many travel agents said business

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. 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.