March is National Sleep Awareness Month and a good time to reflect on the quality of our sleep. Sleep plays a vital role in our daily lives and affects how we feel and function. If a person doesn’t get enough sleep (at least 7 to 9 hours each night), they are more likely to experience an array of side effects such as weakened immunity, poor mood, decreased focus, low energy, and more.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers around the world have documented an increase in sleep disorders. Now that more people are traveling again, many are experiencing sleep issues and fatigue due to stress associated with travel, changing time zones, and being in a new environment.

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To help guests and travelers enjoy a better night’s rest, Langham Hospitality Group recently launched Sleep Matters By Chuan, a comprehensive global sleep wellness program that was developed in conjunction with the World Sleep Society, whose mission is dedicated to advancing sleep health worldwide with sleep medicine and scientific expertise.

The program, which rolled out across the globe in time for World Sleep Day on March 18, is designed to “put sleep wellness at the heart of its mission to help guests rest better in a world where as many as 8 out of 10 people in some global surveys have said they want to improve their sleep.”

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Sleep Matters by Chuan is offered at Langham Hospitality Group’s properties around the world (The Langham Hotels and Resorts, Cordis Hotels and Resorts) and features various exclusive elements including a magazine curated by the World Sleep Society, as well as elements based around wellness rituals and offerings from Langham Hospitality Group’s Chuan Spa. Services and amenities vary by location. Additional offerings include:

• Sleep Matters Turndown Kit with items such as branded ear plugs, cushioned sleep masks and herbal tea

• Sleep Matters Menu that allows guests to order wellness-related items during their stay such as weight blankets, pillow options and white noise sleep machines, and Chuan elemental oils and bath products

• Bedtime reading in the form of a Sleep Matters brochure and a special edition of the World Sleep Society Healthier Sleep Magazine, available in every guest room through a QR code

• Instagram Live sessions with experts from the World Sleep Society sharing hints and tips on achieving better sleep

For the complete list of Sleep Matters by Chuan offerings and locations, click here.

We also chatted with Amy Chan, Langham Hospitality Group’s Corporate Director of Spa, who shared how spa services can improve sleep, benefits of sleep, her favorite sleep tips, and more.

What inspired the creation of Sleep Matters by Chuan?

During the pandemic there has been an increased focus on wellness with more people wanting to improve their health and lifestyle. Sleep was an area we wanted to focus on more to help our guests sleep better when they stay with us. We wanted to offer everything they needed in order to function better, feel more relaxed, and decrease stress so that they could enjoy their travel experience more. Moving forward, we will continue to add new treatments, tips, and offerings both in our spas and in-room wellness amenities. We will also work with a nutritionist to help us create healthier options for our in-room dining menu, because food intake is another element of getting good sleep. We also have a new sleep device coming soon that will launch in our spas as part of our offerings that will also be available for purchase. We want to bring in more aspects related to sleep for our different demographics of guests, and we want our guests to know that they are taken care of from the moment they check in and begin their journey with us.

How can spa treatments help one achieve better sleep?

Getting a spa treatment such as a massage helps to improve circulation, reduce pain, and remove any blockages so that the mind and body feel better and function better. Other benefits include relaxation and reduced stress. If the hotel you’re staying at doesn’t have a spa, I recommend taking a warm bath and adding some element of aromatherapy to help you relax and unwind.

What spa services do you recommend to improve sleep?

Any type of massage that focuses on the entire body is beneficial. I always recommend getting a 90-minute massage with scented oils. Whether you’re stressed from work, celebrating a special occasion or you just need to relax, getting a massage is great because it helps to balance your mind and body.

What are some of the benefits of getting a good night’s sleep?

If you sleep well, you function much better, and when you don’t sleep well, it can impact everything from your immune system and memory to your mood. While you sleep, you're going through a restorative phase where you're giving your body time to regenerate and rebuild. It's like driving a car, you can't run the engine for 24 hours. The body's just like an engine, it will deteriorate if you don’t take proper care of it. Whether you’re traveling for work or pleasure, you need to get a good night’s sleep in order to be more productive and to have energy. If you don't get enough sleep on a regular basis, you are more prone to getting sick as well.

What are some things one can do at home to enhance their sleep?

Enhancing all five senses (touch, visuals, smell, taste, and sound) will help to create a relaxing experience that contributes to better sleep. I think one needs to try different things in order to see what works for them. Some of my favorite tips include:

• Meditating prior to sleeping helps the body and mind disconnect from distractions like technology.

• Set the environment in your room by dimming the lights and adding aromatherapy with a diffuser. If you don't have one, adding a few essential oil drops to a tissue or bowl of water also works.

• Take a warm bath or shower 30 minutes before going to sleep and wrap yourself in a comfy bathrobe after.

• Room temperature is also important, you don’t want it to be too hot or cold. Everyone’s temperature is different, it also depends on your body energy as well.

• Soak your feet in Epsom salt, it’s great to do when you don't have time to get a foot massage. Pampering your feet helps relax your body—our hands, ears and feet have special points that relate to the entire body.

• Have a warm drink before bed. I like to mix milk with cinnamon and honey. Drinking something warm helps to settle and calm the body.

• When you wake up, start your morning with a glass of fresh lemon water to help you feel refreshed throughout the day.

• Try not to consume a heavy meal 3 to 4 hours prior to bed as that impacts sleep since your body will have to work harder to digest your food.

• From a Traditional Chinese Medicine point of view, sleeping before 11 p.m. is preferable. Your liver needs time to restore itself and you want to allow your body sufficient time to detox correctly.

• Use comfortable sheets/bedding/pillows on your bed.

• There are various massage gadgets that are great tools to help stimulate muscle relaxation and you can use them 30 minutes to an hour before bed.

Please share anything else you’d like us to know.

At Langham Hospitality Group, everything that we implement is certified and we partner with experts and professionals to provide our guests with the right information and tools they they need. Last year we held our first Global Wellness Week, which offered complimentary activities throughout the week at our various properties, and we plan to hold another Global Wellness Week this year. We are very excited to be partnering with World Sleep Society for our new Sleep Matters by Chuan program, and we want to continue to help our guests achieve a better lifestyle and well-being by creating the perfect environment that supports their wellness and relaxation when they stay at one of our properties.

For more information about Langham Hospitality Group, visit the website and follow @langhamhotels and @cordishotels on Instagram.

[Photos courtesy of The Langham Hotels & Resorts]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk