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Designers are often accused of favouring form over function, but nowhere does this impact the end user’s experience more acutely than in the selection of the bed.
When an interior designer thinks of a bed, they think aesthetics. They think in terms of headboards, four posters and side tables. The mattress is often an afterthought,” commented Panicos Panayiotou, president of Cyngbel, the official distributor of Dux beds in the UAE.
Perhaps because they are so uniform in their appearance, or so complicated in their make up, mattresses are seldom paid the attention they deserve – particularly considering their unparallelled importance in ensuring guest satisfaction in a hotel setting. “Generally, interior designers tend to concentrate on the aesthetics of the hotel room within the given budget.
As far as we are concerned, hotel patrons spend most of their time on the hotel bed, so a durable, healthy, comfortable mattress that meets the appropriate standards should be a high priority,” agreed Aly Dhanani, director of Neo Living, the UAE distributor of Magniflex mattresses.
Hotel owners and operators are increasingly aware of the impact that a good night’s sleep can have on both guest satisfaction and loyalty. “At Six Senses we put a lot of thought into bed comfort. We start with a good solid frame and a firm mattress, over which we then put a fluffy mattress topper several centimetres thick. A duna is enveloped in natural cotton, which is also the sheeting material. We use a combination of king-size pillows and regular-sized pillows on each bed, all with natural cotton slips,” said Rochelle Kilgariff, general manager of Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay Oman.
“The importance of a good sleep has lead many hotels to look to similar bedding as created by Six Senses. Firm mattress without toppers are becoming a thing of the past,” Kilgariff continued.
In an attempt to capitalise on this movement, bed manufacturers are designing products that specifically cater to the needs hotels and their increasingly demanding, and discerning, guests.
“Several of our beds have been designed for hotel rooms, from the most luxurious, like the Accademia collection, to the simplest and the easiest to maintain, like Notturno, Peonia and Magnolia, to the design ones by Magistretti, Bellini, Dordoni and Colombo, which have been chosen by interior designers for boutique hotels all over the world,” explained Massimiliano Messina, general director of Flou, the Italian producer of designer beds.
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Springing to life
Increasingly advanced technologies mean interior designers are greeted with a plethora of options when it comes to mattress selection. But matching the right mattress to the right project and budget means wading through a world of orthopaedics, memofoam, polyurethane, interlocking springs and active spinal support.
As an ever-evolving science, mattress technology has been the source of major investment over recent years. The general trend has been towards premium, advanced mattress technologies that combine environmentally-friendly material and generate minimal waste, explained Hassan Al-Hazeem, managing director of Intercoil, the Dubai-based orthopedic sleep products manufacturer and distributor.
The only mattress company in the UAE with ISO 9001 and OHSAS 18001 accreditation, Intercoil operates seven outlets in the country, and recently opened two new stores – in Al Ain Mall and at The Walk, Jumeirah Beach Residences in Dubai.
“Intercoil has been at the forefront in embracing technology and innovating products to world standards. Furthermore, to maintain its cutting edge in quality, durability and cost, it has launched an in-house testing facility and laboratory,” Al-Hazeen said.
Stringent testing is complemented by detailed customer feedback to ensure that Intercoil mattresses are continually being enhanced, and a recent re-engineering of all its products is testament to the company’s commitment to progress. “Customers are approached through an elaborate seven-way communication and feedback programme that provides a clear and precise understanding of each customer and each customer segment,” Al-Hazeen added.
“Thus, each mattress is a result of customer preference and choices, and in the unlikely event of a mattress not coming up to the customer’s expectations, the same will be scrapped by the research and development department.”
Intercoil mattresses are orthopaedic, which essentially means that they adapt to the contours of the sleeper’s body.
“Researchers, orthopaedics and chiropractors around the world have undertaken extensive research on sleep and attest that an othopaedic sleep system provides the right kind of rest,” Al-Hazeen explained.
Meanwhile, Neo Living’s Magniflex collection is made up of spring-free mattresses. “Magniflex produce a range of orthopaedic, latex and memoform foam mattresses. Each product has individual characteristics and provides corrective spinal support and/or adapts to the shape of the body,” explained Dhanani.
“In particular, the advanced memoform mattresses relieve pressure from the body to aid circulation, relaxation and even alleviate aches and pains. In addition, Magniflex was the first to patent its vacuum packing technology to facilitate mass export throughout the world from the factory in Italy.”
Dux beds use a unique, patented technology of interlocking springs. “To make one bed, we use up to 3km of steel wire, which is used to make up to 5,000 springs. It was proven by an independent study that people who sleep on a Dux bed go into deep sleep earlier – and stay there up to one hour more longer – than with other conventional beds,” Panayiotou explained.
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