Loughborough-based Imago Venues is raising awareness of the business benefits offered by a good night’s sleep.
The new Elite Athlete Centre and Hotel at Loughborough University, run by Imago Venues, has been created to maximise performance for any guest. Leading experts from a variety of fields have gathered to provide input on the design of the hotel, ensuring the very best conditions for guests during their stay. Top priority for all guests is having the ability to relax, recover and sleep.
Imago Venues’ head of sales and marketing, Emma Boynton comments: “Being able to sleep well while away is, for some, a difficult and elusive challenge. Despite glossy adverts, sumptuous bedding and the perception that all hotel visitors have restful nights and sweet dreams, the reality can be different with many people suffering poor sleep in hotel environments. We are challenging that through our new accommodation at the EAC as well as improvements to bedrooms in Burleigh Court, which are currently undergoing a £3million refurbishment.”
There can many causes of disturbed or interrupted sleep. The odd night is not necessarily an issue for the recreational or leisure guest; however, business travellers, conference delegates or athletes training or competing away from home need to feel normal wherever they sleep if they are to perform at their best.
Emma concludes: “Optimal sleep on a consistent basis can significantly improve performance and, in a world where such marginal gains are the difference between winning and losing, sleep is a vital part of preparation – whether it be for an important business meeting or competitive match.
Luke Gupta, an expert on sleep and its effect on performance at the English Institute of Sport, offers the following advice to those looking for a good night’s rest. These tips will be used as part of a wider campaign to promote good sleep across the Imago Venues portfolio.
1. Try to maintain your personal sleep routine while you’re away from home as much as possible – this habitual routine will act as an important behavioural cue for sleep to readily occur. 2. Be sure to take the time to unpack, set out your belongings such as your pyjamas, toilet bag, clothes for the next day etc – this can help you feel more settled in an unfamiliar bedroom. 3. Take some time to familiarise yourself with the air-conditioning / heating and lighting in the room and be sure to set these to your preference prior to leaving the room for the evening in preparation for returning to sleep – coming back into a room that is dimly lit and cooler in temperature will help sleep occur more readily 4. Make sure you pack any items like photos, books, blankets, and even consider taking your own pillow, and place these items around the room to help familiarise yourself with your new personal space. 5. The bed in your hotel room should be used for sleeping only. Activities like reading, working, or even eating in bed can make it difficult to sleep because these activities are associated with being awake – instead, use the desk space or a comfortable chair in the room for these activities.
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