The importance of a hotel's bed system

Often, for work or tourism reasons, we have all found ourselves having to travel and stay in hotels.

When we enter a room, we hope to find a welcoming, clean, and comfortable environment. We hope for a restful sleep, allowing us to recharge our batteries and shake off the day's stresses.

Sleep quality plays a fundamental role in both the perception of a hotel and the evaluation of the overall tourist experience. Guests expect to rest peacefully in a comfortable bed equipped with every amenity.

The bed system is therefore one of the most important parameters for measuring guest satisfaction. However, its management is far from straightforward. To understand the value of the bed system, you need to consider all its components: mattress, pillow, mattress cover, sheets, and pillow.

A good night's sleep is what you need to start your day off right. There's nothing better than a good night's sleep to recharge your batteries and ward off fatigue. Unfortunately, however, not all beds guarantee a restful sleep.

In 2011, the search portal trivago.it conducted a survey of European tourists to understand what factors influence the opinions of guests who decide to stay away from home. Of a sample of 7,561 travelers, 56% stated that they sleep poorly in hotels.

Today we will start from some real reviews, published on Booking and TripAdvisor, to analyze the experience

The mattress that makes the difference

What do guests think about the beds they find in their rooms? How does mattress choice influence tourists' opinions? Let's explore this together!

Marco M. – April 21, 2016

Worst mattress ever… sleepless night

The real problem is the mattress and pillow. A sleepless night! I don't understand the mentality of these hotels, which, strictly speaking, should only guarantee a good night's sleep , which translates to a good mattress and comfortable pillow, yet this is precisely the product they save the most on. Basically, the idea of using a hotel to rest away from home has turned into a sleepless night.

Alberto – Italy, May 15, 2018

The mattress on the bed was exceptional , in few hotels have I slept so comfortably and so soundly all night!

Reading these reviews, we immediately realize one thing: the mattress can really make a difference in the guest experience.

Guests often rate a hotel positively or negatively based on the comfort of its beds. Sleeping well means waking up refreshed and rested, ready to face a new day with energy. Sleeping well means no defective or shabby products.

Effective bed system management requires ongoing maintenance and sanitization . In many cases, the consequences of choices geared toward cost savings or lack of professionalism can be dangerous.

A mattress that's too firm risks forcing the spine, causing serious damage to a person's health. In addition to the classic and annoying back pain, it can also cause problems with peripheral and dorsal blood circulation .

Conversely, a mattress that's too soft , which doesn't provide adequate support, can stiffen muscles and cause neck pain. It's easy to see why an old, soft, and dirty mattress, even with the best sheets and mattress covers, certainly doesn't go unnoticed.

By definition, a hotel cares about the well-being of its guests. And the quality of sleep contributes to that well-being. Offering poor sleep services can be a misstep for any hotel.

For this reason, we at Orio Team are committed to providing certified washing services that meet quality standards while limiting the impact on the environment.

Sweet dreams and comfortable pillows

Among the factors that negatively impact your sleep experience is the quality of your pillow . An uncomfortable, dirty, and flat pillow can be dangerous for both your image and your health. To rest well, you need to promote proper breathing, relax your muscles , and keep your spine in the correct position.

A pillow fulfills its function if it adequately supports the head and neck . And it's no coincidence that the pillow is one of the essential components of the bed system , the parameter through which we can understand the satisfaction level of visitors.

What do guests think about pillow choices ? Is there a gold standard for ensuring quality sleep ? Let's explore it together!

Patrizia – Italy, February 5, 2018

The pillow was awful, all lumpy. The result was a sleepless night.

Giovanni de Luca – January 28, 2013

The spacious and welcoming rooms stand out, with modern furnishings and every comfort, exquisitely appointed with "obiettivo salute" linens, including pillowcases and latex mattresses with anti-mite, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal fabrics. Undoubtedly, in my opinion, this is an admirable and excellent 4-star hotel.

If we read these reviews carefully, we notice how the presence of a comfortable and soft pillow gives a different perception of the entire hotel structure.

Often, a hotel receives positive or negative reviews based not only on its services, but also, and especially, on the materials chosen to furnish its rooms. An old, dirty pillow, full of lumps and bumps, risks compromising the guest's rest and, therefore, the entire tourist experience.

In reality, just a few precautions are enough to avoid headaches, sleepless nights, and muscle tension. For example, respecting the Italian standard size (50 x 80 cm) and opting for fireproof pillows belonging to the 1M class are certainly winning formulas. Providing your guest with an additional pillow, of a different size and/or material, can also be a valid solution.

It's essential to take guests' feedback into account. Any accommodation facility must be ready to accommodate guests' requests, especially if they suffer from neck pain or back problems. When we sleep away from home and carefully select a hotel, we expect a peaceful night's sleep, providing us with a pleasant rest.

In addition to these informed choices, proper maintenance and sanitization of pillows must be added. The condition of a pillow depends both on the investment made in a quality product and on regular inspection and monitoring. Certified cleaning helps keep the pillow in optimal condition and reduce the harmful effects of time.

The hotel industry's mission is to welcome and ensure the well-being of its guests. Working with industry professionals who offer internationally recognized cleanliness guarantees can only enhance the quality of the services offered.

For this reason, we at Orio Team are committed to providing certified laundry services and products that meet quality standards while limiting environmental impact. To discover the world of industrial laundry and learn more about our bed systems, check out our Room Upgrade service by clicking here.

The importance of linen in the bed system

According to Federalberghi , the organization representing Italian hospitality businesses, 3-star hotels should replace pillowcases and sheets at least three times a week and with each new guest. For 4- and 5-star hotels, this should be done almost daily : bed linens should be free of stains and in excellent condition .

If you notice, however, we said "should." The truth is that many Italian hoteliers underestimate the importance of the bedding system and the health of their guests . We may not think about it, but bed linen interacts directly with our bodies. If the material used is poor quality or the washing hasn't been done properly, the consequences can be disastrous.

Allergic contact dermatitis is an inflammatory skin reaction caused by contact with substances capable of causing skin inflammation. Symptoms typically include itching, stinging, and flaking. Furthermore, dermatitis often manifests itself through the sudden formation of bothersome blisters.

Guess what? Among the causes of this condition are dust mites and certain substances contained in cleaning products like soaps and detergents. When it comes to laundry, you can never be too careful: ignoring hygiene rules can not only compromise the hotel's image , but can also cause serious damage to our health.

Candor, order and softness

Which materials are best for optimal sleep ? Does the choice of sheets influence guest reviews? Let's find out together!

Alem74 - August 13, 2015

Very nice hotel where courtesy and details take centre stage, such as, for example, soft sheets and not the usual "cardboard sheets" .

Sandra S – September 21, 2018

[…] The room was of a decent size, with dark wood furniture and crisp white linens, giving a feeling of cleanliness and order.

Looking at these reviews, we immediately realize the feelings tourists have when faced with quality sheets . The concept of cleanliness is inextricably linked with the idea of order and freshness .

The term "bed linens" encompasses several closely related elements: sheets, pillowcases, duvets, top sheets or duvet covers, and mattress protectors. This means we must consider each individual element and avoid, for example, old, worn, or stained fabrics.

Touch plays a fundamental role in the skin-fabric relationship. It's no coincidence that the choice of fiber falls on linen or cotton , materials that guarantee long-lasting comfort, quality, and softness.

Poor or infrequent sheet replacement is one of the factors cited in negative reviews. Many guests are visibly disappointed when they discover that the hotel reuses the same linens for multiple guests. Besides the risk of unpleasant odors , guests often feel like they're just another number.

Giving guests little value is always counterproductive . So is underestimating the choice of linens, both in terms of health and the guest experience. By doing so, rather than optimizing costs, hotel operators jeopardize their credibility and reliability.

For this reason, we at Orio Team are committed to providing certified laundry services and products that meet quality standards while limiting environmental impact. To discover the world of industrial laundry and learn more about bed systems, check out this article: #BodyFriendly

The role of the mattress cover in the bed system

It's true, no mattress is immune to dust . Animal hair, mold, detergent particles, and bacteria try to make their way into our beds, risking compromising the quality of our sleep. However, there is a way to protect ourselves from this problem. A mattress cover is a preventative measure designed to protect our health.

In addition to extending the life of your mattress by protecting it from wear and tear, a mattress protector wicks away body moisture, providing comfort and safety. Once placed between the mattress and the rest of the sheets, this important component of the bed system becomes a valuable ally against dirt.

Because of its less visible position compared to blankets and pillows, mattress covers are often overlooked by hotels, who consider them marginal or secondary. Nothing could be more wrong! Their purpose is to improve the quality of sleep and prevent moisture from penetrating the mattress.

Furthermore, the choice of waterproof, breathable, and natural fiber products is part of a hospitality philosophy focused on personal well-being and environmental protection. Cleanliness, hygiene, and health are key values when offering accommodations in the tourism industry.

The mattress cover: a barrier against dust mites

What do guests do when the mattress protector is missing? Do they tend to complain or just give up?

Fulvior700 – August 25, 2018

A beautiful, stylishly furnished property. Friendly staff. For a five-star hotel, it's lacking in some aspects regarding room maintenance. We had booked a room with a third bed, which was missing upon arrival. I must say they fixed it right away. It's a shame the sheet was directly on the mattress without a mattress protector, which is essential for hygiene in a hotel.

Emanuela C – July 8, 2017

We spent two nights in this hotel, which is hardly a hotel at all. Let's start with the rooms: cleanliness leaves much to be desired. The beds aren't protected by mattress covers, and sheets have holes and hairs.

A simple glance at these reviews helps us answer our questions. Hygiene ranks first , regardless of the hotel in question. People associate a mattress protector with a protective function and view a bed system without one as a negative.

Let's not forget that using anti-mite mattress covers and pillow covers is essential for asthma and allergy sufferers. According to studies by the ASMA Commission of the SIAIP (Italian Society of Allergology and Pediatric Immunology), these two simple items represent an important first barrier against dust mite concentrations.

Dust mites, responsible for severe respiratory inflammatory reactions, love to hide in mattresses , which offer an ideal environment due to their fibrous and cellular structure. Unfortunately, it's impossible to permanently remove these insects, but you can air out the room, choose quality mattresses , and wash mattress covers regularly .

For this reason, we at Orio Team are committed to providing certified washing services that meet quality standards while limiting the impact on the environment.