High-end hotels are focused on getting you a good night’s sleep

By John KellContributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence
John KellContributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence

    John Kell is a contributing writer for Fortune and author of Fortune’s CIO Intelligence newsletter.

    Starwood Hotels Climbs After Earnings Beat Analysts' Estimates
    Signage for the W Hotel New York - Times Square, a Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. property, is displayed in New York, U.S., on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., the owner of the Sheraton and W brands, rose the most in three months after it reported third-quarter earnings that beat estimates and forecast an increase in revenue growth for 2014. Photographer: Craig Warga/Bloomberg via Getty Images
    Photograph by Craig Warga — Bloomberg via Getty Images

    Luxury hotels are quietly working to ensure their guests get the best night sleep possible.

    That’s the takeaway from a New York Times story that focuses on snooze-focused programs implemented by large hotel chains such as Marriott (MAR) and Starwood (HOT), as well as smaller independent resorts. Some of the methods? A spa treatment service aimed at the sleep-deprived, hiring a “sleep consultant,” specialized lighting, and purchasing handmade mattresses.

    At Marriott, for example, there’s a program that was implemented to help guests unwind when they arrive. And Some Starwood hotels have a menu that was specifically created to help guests sleep better, the Times reports.

    All of these efforts are ways for the hotel industry to win a bigger slice of the sector’s $163 billion in annual revenue generated in the U.S. And it isn’t just about helping guests sleep. As other media outlets report, perks are a top focus for high-end hotels that want to stand out from their rivals. Gyms and fitness classes need to be swanky and treats for guests are becoming smaller, but more personalized.