The National Sleep Foundation conducts studies on travel-related sleep disorders. Last year, Hilton Hotels published some of the results of several surveys that the foundation has conducted over the past four years. Here are a few excerpts from 1998’s “Sleep and the Traveler II”:
Jet lag: Fifty-two percent of U.S. business travelers correctly view jet lag as a physical phenomenon, while only 27 percent of German business travelers viewed it as such. Sixty-two percent of female travelers identified jet lag as a physical condition, while only 48 percent of male travelers did so.
Age rage: Sixty-six percent of travelers ages 18-44 say they don’t “feel as good as they would like during a business trip,” while only 36 percent of travelers ages 45 and older said the same thing. Twenty-seven percent of travelers in the younger age group say they have trouble staying focused during meetings while on the road, compared to 15 percent of travelers in the older age group.
Getting to bed: Eleven percent of German travelers say they book a “silent room” to get better sleep on business trips. Sixteen percent of Japanese respondents say they read or watch TV to achieve that end. And despite evidence that alcohol disrupts sleep patterns, 7 percent of Germans, 41 percent of Japanese and 15 percent of United Kingdom travelers said they drink to sleep better.
Venus and Mars: Thirty-six percent of women business travelers say they are willing to sleep in, schedule permitting, in order to minimize the effects of jet lag. Only 19 percent of men say they are willing to do so. Twenty-eight percent of women also bring familiar items such as books or pillows (which may increase the chance of a good night’s sleep), while only 15 percent of men do so.
For a free copy of Hilton’s “Sleep and the Traveler II,” write for it in care of DCG, 7758 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046.
