A "Heavenly" 10: Count Threads Instead of Sheep

The Heavenly B...zzzzzzzzzz


It takes me a half hour–maybe more–to get to sleep at night. I punch the pillow, squish the pillow, place it here, place it there, take it off, put it back. Pull the covers on. Toss the covers off. It’s a nightmare trying to get to sleep. I don’t suffer from insomnia. My mind just never sleeps. I mean, shut up already! I’m tired. So if my head hits the pillow and I’m out, it means either I’m dead tired or I’m on a really good bed.

When I stayed at the Westin National Harbor recently (see Summers Retreat), I had my first experience with the hotel chain’s signature 10-layer Heavenly Bed. The Heavenly Bed was introduced in 1999, but I don’t remember ever being in one. I’ve been in variations of the bed at other hotels and resorts, but this was the first time I stayed at a Westin and boy, was it hard getting up in the morning!

The Heavenly Bed has triple-sheeted bedding, topped with a down blanket and duvet-enclosed comforter, a cushion mattress and king-size plump goose down and plush feather pillows. The bed is so comfortable, guests started to inquire about buying one for home. Now you can buy a variation of the bed and bedding online. Since then they have extended the Heavenly creations into a lifestyle brand that includes such offerings as a Heavenly Robe, Heavenly bath line, Heavenly shower heads, a Heavenly travel blanket, and I’ll be doggone–a Heavenly dog bed. As the Westin hotel chain celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the celebrated bed, expect more Heavenly product launches and promotions this year.

Another thing I like about Westin is Breathe Westin. More than 82 of the Westin hotels are smoke-free. Through surveys, Westin discovered that 92% of their guests request non-smoking rooms. Eighty-one percent of consumers hate it when they stay in a non-smoking room and it reeks of smoke. Been there. Eighty percent of consumers prefer restaurants and other indoor public spaces to be free of cigarette and cigar smoke.

I get headaches and have trouble breathing when I’m around smokers (no offense to all you smokers out there–but it’s not healthy). So, bravo. A hotel with a heathier environment sounds like heaven to me.

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