I love learning something new. Or at least thinking about something in a new way.
Over the past year, I noticed an increase in news releases promoting hospitality lines. I suspected it had to do with the softening of the market but this month’s cover article, written by Burt Dellinger, showed me otherwise.
While the industry downturn certainly is a factor, it’s not the whole picture. Some producers have always had a presence in the market, while others have spotted an opportunity to expand into the hospitality sector. During the Covid-19 pandemic with few people traveling, hotels did not spend a lot in mattress replacement or upgrades. Now that people are traveling and eagerly booking hotels and Airbnbs again, those mattresses need to be replaced.
Also, “we’re seeing more hotels and hospitality companies market themselves in different ways to focus on the full guest experience, much of which centers on the mattresses they are putting in their rooms,” said Jared Carlitz, CEO of Bedding Industries of America. “They are touting the quality of their mattresses and a restful night’s sleep to bring guests in the door and encourage people to choose their property over another.”
It’s certainly an area to keep an eye on.
From the article, I also learned about the pain points for the hospitality industry, the challenges for mattress makers to break into the sector and, probably most interesting, what our industry anticipates going forward. Like Gerry Borreggine, president and CEO of Therapedic International, I would love to see adjustable bases become a common amenity for hotel guests.
I was also fascinated by the mattress tape trends Bechik Products reported in this month’s profile. In years past, tape was used to add a bit of pizazz to white or off-white mattresses. Now, tape plays more of a supporting role, complementing decorative ticking and borders. “More and more, customers are requesting solid colors such as gray, navy and black, whether it’s a knit or a woven,” said Bill Simon, president of the Eagan, Minnesota, supplier. Of course, Bechik is happy to oblige.
Next month, we’ll bring you key takeaways from the ISPA Sustainability Conference. There’s always something new to discover there. With that in mind, what have you been learning or seeing in a new light lately? We’d love to hear from you — drop me a line at [email protected].