Woh hotel wali neend: Why 'sleep tourism' is becoming a new trend in India

Are you that one person on the friendsrsquo trip whorsquos always mocked for wanting to snooze at the hotel instead of heading out to explore the city or try out adventure sports or shopping Turns out yoursquore not aloneSleep tourism also known as going on a snoozecation is set to be the biggest new travel trend to emerge in India in 2025 forecasts a report by Skyscanner According to the Skyscanner Travel Trends Report 85 per cent of Indian travellers are now more mindful of how much sleep they get on trips Twenty per centmdashor one in five desi travellersmdashplan their vacations entirely around sleep and consider it as one of their main activities during holidaysThe third season of The White Lotusmdashfeaturing a wellness resort in the Thai island of Koh Samui where the entire point of the vacation is to focus on rest and restorationmdashmust also have you thinking of the same Itrsquos all about spa treatments meditation going gadgetfree and getting unbroken sleep through the night In a world of constant hustle when we canrsquot switch off our screens or brain sleep tourism offers a guiltfree chance to hit the snooze button on stressPemiya Gandhi says about 60 per cent of her vacation budget goes towards hotel rooms since she and her husband spend most of their holiday lounging there PicNishad AlamBut why spend tens of thousands to lakhs to go to a new place just to sleep one may wonderFor the newage Indian traveller accommodation is often the biggest vacation expense averaging about Rs 5000 to Rs 10000 per night at midrange hotels and Rs 15000 to Rs 20000 at luxury resorts The best way to get value for their money is to enjoy that cosy room to the fullestldquoLife in general just feels so hectic I feel like we are always so busy When I go on vacation I want it to be about rest and sleeprdquo says Pemiya Gandhi a 30yearold PR professional ldquoThe only vacation planning I do is to find a hotel room with a great bed and bathtub I hate planning activities for vacations if I spend so much energy hopping from one activity to another Irsquoll return feeling drained instead of rejuvenatedrdquoDr HN Mallick and Sharmilee KapurGandhi recently moved from her Wadala home to Delhi but made sure to recharge her battery after the big move with a snoozecation in Gurgaon especially because a huge life change is on the cardsmdashshersquos due to deliver her first baby in a few weeks ldquoIrsquom in my third trimester so we werenrsquot able to travel far but we wanted to do something to mark my babymoon as well as my birthday and our wedding anniversary We soaked in the tub ate good food and nappedrdquo she says adding that it was totally worth the Rs 18000 they spent per night at a fivestarGandhirsquos approach to international trips too is much the same ldquoEveryone talks about exploring the sights but the most we did was to find great places to eat The rest of the time we took long baths and lounged in bedrdquo she says adding ldquoAgain we spent more on the room about Rs 8000 per night On most trips 60 to 70 per cent of our budget goes towards hotel roomsrdquoWorried about FOMO fear of missing out in a new city or country Sayali Angachekar a 40yearold fashion stylist from the city has an easy fix ldquoA year ago I went to Coorg and I wanted to relax a bit but also explore I snoozed through the first two days and then went out and aboutrdquo she saysShe also reserves napcations for solo trips ldquoItrsquos been a decade since I started solo travelrdquo she says ldquoLast year though I did two trips with my friends On both trips I was mentally prepared because I wanted to go out with them and explore the place I only plan group trips with friends to places I am interested in exploring Otherwise I make it a point to book at least one solo trip a year when I can just take it easyrdquoIf one is travelling in a group in order to avoid clashes or disappointment itrsquos best to have a conversation beforehand about what everyone expects from the trip ldquoYoursquore spending hardearned money on vacations No one wants to be cranky once you get thererdquo says AngachekarThe dream tourism trend is not an entirely new concept The Scots have had a term for it since the 1800s hurkle durkle which means to ldquolie in bed or lounge about when one should be up and aboutrdquoThe Ayurvedic practice of Shirodhar is one of many therapies provided at Atmantan Wellness Centre in Pune to boost sleep Pic CourtesyAtmantan Wellness CentreThe idea has however gathered steam in recent years since the COVID19 pandemic when an increasing number of people began to report insomnia and stressLocalCircles a citizen engagement platform last week released its How India Sleeps2025 study ahead of World Sleep Day on March 14 It reveals that nearly 59 per cent of Indians get less than six hours of sleep each night And for many even that is far from uninterrupted This sleep deprivation comes amid rising work stress and calls for up to 90hour work weeks in the countryldquoSleep is an essential biological need just like food and exercise I always say you cannot avoid sleep even on your deathbedrdquo says Dr HN Mallick President Indian Society for Sleep ResearchSleep tourismrsquos appeal possibly lies in the lack of noise or distractions that we face in our homes on a daily basis he says ldquoThey are looking for a better sleep environment In a hotel room you can shut out the world and sleep in solitude Thatrsquos not always possible at home where there are many disturbancesrdquo he addsThe Skyscanner report estimates the global market for sleep tourism at 7454 billion and hotels resorts and wellness retreats are all gearing up to cater to the demandAnother 2025 trends report by the Hilton Group states that one of the top reasons people want to travel is to rest and recharge and that 70 per cent of global luxury travellers choose hotels with sleepcentric amenities Further one in four will book a spa or wellness treatment to enhance their sleep while on vacationPunersquos Atmantan Wellness Centre is one of the early entrants in the field in the country ldquoSince we began in 2016 we have been focusing on sleep and restrdquo says Sharmilee Kapur Founder and Director ldquoAtmantan has six pillars of wellness one of them is sleep If someone is not sleeping well they arenrsquot living well That is one of the things we seek to work on during guestsrsquo stay hererdquoTravellers check in for help with a myriad of health issues such as stress poor gut health or lifestyle diseases like diabetes and polycystic ovarian syndrome PCOS But ldquoone in every three guests come in saying sleep is an issue says Kapur ldquoMost often the reason they cite is stress or emotional fatiguerdquoThe wellness retreat offers several treatments and services to address insomnia in a holistic manner that also takes gut and mental health in account Inhouse doctors recommend diet meditation as well as therapies such as acupuncture and shirodhara ayurvedic treatment in which a gentle stream of warm medicated oil is poured onto the forehead all of which improve sleep Guests are asked to refrain from using their phones except when they are in their rooms in order to regulate stress says KapurHotels too now offer a range of services to cater to sleep tourists right from a sleepboosting dinner menu at ITC hotels to massages and a trademarked special mattress called The Heavenly Bed at Westin propertiesldquoSleep tourism has evolved from a niche wellness trend to a global movement recognising rest as the ultimate luxuryrdquo says Harish Gopalakrishnan General Manager at Westin Goa ldquoAt The Westin Goa we are redefining travel with our signature Heavenly Bed experience curated sleepenhancing amenities and serene environments designed for deep uninterrupted restrdquoItrsquos not just fivestars either Even midrange hotels such as Vile Parlersquos T24 Retro hotel offer services such as a pillow menu from which guests can choose soft or medium firmness or Ushaped pillows for pregnant or sidesleepersldquoSleeping at home just doesnrsquot comparerdquo says Angachekar ldquoI work from home so sometimes there is no separation between my work and living space I might finish work late and go to bed but then will notice a pile of laundry waiting to be washed I also have cats at home who wake me up early in the morning for their meal I just donrsquot get the kind of undisturbed sleep that I do in a hotel I work hard so once in a while I like to treat myself to a sleep vacationrdquo15Proportion of Indians who consider sleep as one of their main holiday activities8537Of Indian travellers are mindful of how much sleep they get on vacation5937Of Indians get less than six hours of sleepSource LocalCircles 2025 studyDid you knowItrsquos not just a fivestar trend Even midrange hotels such as Vile Parlersquos T24 Retro boutique hotel offer services such as a pillow menu from which guests can choose soft or medium firmness or Ushaped pillows for pregnant or sidesleepersDid you knowDream tourism is not an entirely new concept The Scots have had a term for it since the 1800s hurkle durkle which means to ldquolie in bed or lounge about when one should be up and aboutrdquo