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Pillow Talk for the Weary
New York Times ^ | September 17, 2007 | Terry Trucco

Posted on 9/20/2007, 3:49:27 AM by Lorianne

THE Benjamin, a hotel in Manhattan that caters to the stylish business traveler, has introduced its latest amenity: new clothes for the beds.

Out went the Frette sheets and old bedspreads, and in came a sumptuous ensemble in ivory Egyptian cotton from Anichini with matelassé pillow shams, sateen duvet covers and 400-thread-count sheets.

Besides a choice of 12 pillow types — overseen by a sleep concierge ...

Like many hotels these days, from moderate to luxury, the Benjamin is engaged in bed obsession, a trend that is, oddly, relatively recent for an industry that is, after all, in the sleep business. Ever since 1999, when Westin introduced, with much fanfare, its all-white Heavenly Bed, hotels have gone to the mattresses — and pillows and sheets — to please the traveler well versed in once-arcane details like mattress height and thread counts.

Yet another wave of bed amenities is here, with lighter, softer sheets that keep you cool, and thicker mattresses that can feel better than the one you have at home. As for bedspreads, they are disappearing as rapidly as lobby pay phones, making way for washable duvet covers that are changed for each guest and are usually white to signal cleanliness.

“You don’t get the oogie factor, where you worry about who was there before you,” said Steven Samson, the vice president for room operations at Marriott International, which installed new bedding in 628,000 rooms last year.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: travel
Good! They can't get rid of those nasty hotel bedspreads fast enough for me.
1 posted on 9/20/2007, 3:49:29 AM by Lorianne
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To: Lorianne
Great trend.

Don't walk barefoot on the carpet though. Especially just out of the shower.


2 posted on 9/20/2007, 3:54:45 AM by I see my hands (_8(|)
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To: Lorianne

Actually, this trend originated in the Mideast;

it started with the Bedouins...


3 posted on 9/20/2007, 3:58:07 AM by Redbob (WWJBD - "What Would Jack Bauer Do?")
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To: Lorianne
A well designed bed is hard to find. I don't mean a luxury bed but one that supports your body and gives you a great night's sleep.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

4 posted on 9/20/2007, 4:03:51 AM by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: Lorianne

Now all they need is about a 1/4 inch impermeable (but breathable) layer under the sheet isolating me from that nasty mattress — a barrier that is ~new~ for each guest. (A sheet — 400 count or not — just does not satisfy my standoffish temperment.)


5 posted on 9/20/2007, 4:09:02 AM by SergeiRachmaninov
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To: Lorianne

Manhattan.... Soft beds for soft heads.

I hope the pretty Lords and Ladies don’t matte their lovely hair.


6 posted on 9/20/2007, 5:54:24 AM by SteveMcKing
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To: Lorianne

Copying the boutique hotels.


7 posted on 9/20/2007, 5:59:26 AM by durasell (!)
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To: Lorianne
We travel a lot these past few year. We have a standard routine for "disinfecting/decontamination" that we go through on each trip upon arrival. Perhaps not 100% effective but we know we eliminate a lot of the threat level via close inspection of bedding material and portable anti-bacterial/pest control measures.

We always inspect for bedbugs on arrival, they seem to be the primary concern these days (thanks to our anti-hygenic third world pals!) Disney, as a primary family destination has had several outbreaks even in their deluxe accommodations in recent months.

You can never assume even a reputable hotel is "safe".

8 posted on 9/20/2007, 9:24:38 AM by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: Caipirabob
What is your "standard routine"?

I now travel a lot and realize that no matter how clean the room looks, its just a bug away from being an Oceans 13 nightmare.

9 posted on 9/20/2007, 11:44:37 AM by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
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To: Lorianne

I once saw on some Prime Time Live type show that hotels NEVER wash the bed spreads.


10 posted on 9/20/2007, 5:52:22 PM by scan59 (Let consumers dictate market policies. Government just gets in the way.)
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