Westin and National Sleep Foundation launch Free Sleep Hotline

A decade ago, the Westin brand enhanced the sleep experience at its hotels around the world with the introduction of the Heavenly Bed.

To celebrate this milestone, and its commitment to wellness, Westin has teamed with renowned sleep experts at the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) to help make a perfect night’s sleep a reality for the sleep deprived.

The National Sleep Foundation Hotline brought to you by Westin Hotels is now available for 30 days with the aim of helping callers identify and troubleshoot common sleep issues.

The hotline, (888) TIME-4-SLEEP, will be staffed by NSF sleep center members, medically trained sleep professionals who will offer tailored solutions to callers with common sleep problems and will be open until September 15, Monday through Friday, 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

In a global sleep study of more than 12,500 people, more than half said they would choose a great night’s sleep over great sex. 42% would prefer a sleeping pill on their pillow than chocolate and 60% admitted their Blackberry, PDA or other device has prevented them from catching much needed shut-eye. The findings were striking, pointing to the fact that sleep is more important to travelers than ever and that our 24/7 lifestyles are at odds with a healthy night’s sleep.

“10 years ago Westin Hotels made a commitment to better the hotel sleep experience for millions with the introduction of the Heavenly Bed. Today, we want to build upon this commitment and better the sleep experience for everyone,” said Nancy London, Vice President, Global Brand Management, Westin Hotels & Resorts. “Good sleep habits have such an impact on overall wellness and health and even though we have made great strides in the past ten years, modern pressures and other factors hinder the ability for many to get a good night’s rest. We are proud to partner with the National Sleep Foundation and offer the public a free resource to help them get a good night’s sleep.”

“Many people have questions about what normal sleep is,” said David M. Cloud, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation. “We hope that the hotline will encourage people to take more of an active interest in their sleep, and if we can answer a question for someone who needs help, we will have provided a real benefit. The National Sleep Foundation is thrilled to partner with the Westin to provide this public service.”

The sleep hotline will be staffed by professionals from NSF member sleep centers - individuals proficient in medical issues as well as lifestyle and environmental factors that might hamper a good night’s rest. Sleep professionals will provide screening for common sleep disorders and offer healthy sleep tips such as:

- Do not eat for two hours before bed
- Sleep in complete darkness in a cool environment
- Exercise regularly, but don’t exercise for at least 3 hours before bedtime – a workout after that time may actually keep you awake because your body has not had a chance to cool down
- Don’t smoke or drink alcohol or caffeinated beverages before bedtime
- If you’re lying in bed for more than 15 minutes, get up and do something relaxing, like taking a warm bath, reading or meditating. Try to clear your mind, don’t use this time to solve your daily problems.
- When staying in a hotel, ask for a room with eastern or southern exposure for more morning sun to help reset your clock to new time zones
- When traveling, bring a nightlight or penlight if you get up at night to avoid disturbing the body's circadian clock

NSF call-center associates will also recommend helpful sleep resources and refer callers to their physicians for medical advice.

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