A good night's sleep: hotel chains getting back to the basics.

• Author: DeBerg, Scott
• Position: ADVICE / BUSINESS TRAVEL

WIRELESS HIGH-SPEED Internet access in rooms and public spaces. Self-serve guest registration kiosks--some even at airports and other locales removed from the building itself. Meeting rooms equipped with all the latest upgrades in technology. Many hotels are realizing that in order to attract the ever-more-savvy business traveler, they must provide the products and ideas that these travelers leave at home or back at the office when they hit the road--they have to provide a home, or office, away from home.

Ironically, the latest "innovation" that most hotel chains are offering to attract the business traveler is the most basic fundamental behind why hotels exist--to provide a good night's sleep. Virtually every national hotel franchise now features the latest in ... bedding, and also sleep programs and the very latest in mattress technology. Quite a concept, getting back to basics.

Starwood Hotels' Westin brand was the first to offer upgraded "sleep" through its Heavenly Bed program. That program became so popular with guests that many Westin Hotels now offer some components of the program, such as bedding, for sale to their guests. Starwood's Sheraton flag has also recently announced its own version of the upgraded bed. Hilton Hotels and Marriott Hotels, just to name a few others, have also announced and implemented upgraded bedding programs.

Intercontinental Hotels Group's Crowne Plaza flag took the concept a step further. Rather than just concentrate on one element of the room--the bed--it actually added a sleep doctor, Dr. Michael Breus, as one of its...