YOTEL and Hilton took over the city that never sleeps and clocked in a perfect event that put the notion of a good hotel stay to bed.
During a recent pop up at Grand Central in Vanderbilt Hall, Sleep Exchange invited commuters, travelers and visitors to put the previous night’s sleep to the test. Throughout the day, participants shared their sleep scores and habits, revealing how people are thinking about rest and recovery amid travel and busy schedules, changing routines and the demands of everyday life.
(Courtesy YOTEL)
The custom-built space showcased YOTEL’s signature purple, and included a concierge-style Sleep Exchange desk, hotel-inspired decor and a dedicated Sleep Lounge, alongside a creative spin that truly leaned into New York’s reputation as “the city that never sleeps.”
During The Sleep Exchange, visitors checked in and traded in their previous night’s sleep scores for the chance to receive rewards, ranging from sleep-focused products, including sunrise alarm clocks from YOTEL brand partner Lumie, YOTEL stays around the world, complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status and up to 100,000 Hilton Honors Points.
Insights that guests took away were just as beneficial and eye opening. It included how travel isn’t necessarily a sleep disruptor, with 31% of participants saying they sleep better in a hotel than at home.
(Courtesy YOTEL)
Sleep remains an important component of overall well-being, yet balancing quality rest with work, travel and daily responsibilities continues to be a challenge for many. The Sleep Exchange explored how participants assess their sleep, the factors that have the greatest impact on their rest and the areas they most want to improve.
The findings highlight how sleep, travel and wellness increasingly intersect, whether participants were commuting through Grand Central Terminal, heading out of town or simply looking for ways to improve their nightly routines.
Sleep scientist and Sleep for Success! Author, Dr. Rebecca Robbins meet one-on-one with participants as she offered personalized guidance around sleep health, wearable technology, travel, jet lag and everyday sleep habits.
“Sleep is one of the most important parts of our overall health and well-being, yet it’s often one of the first things we compromise when life gets busy,” said Dr. Rebecca Robbins, author of Sleep for Success! “What was especially interesting about meeting visitors throughout the Sleep Exchange was seeing how many different factors can influence our sleep, from stress and screen time to travel and changes in routine. The good news is that small, consistent changes can make a meaningful difference, whether you’re at home or on the road.”
(Courtesy YOTEL)
For YOTEL, the activation brought an existing focus on sleep, rest and recovery beyond its hotels and into one of New York City’s busiest transportation hubs. From its signature SmartBeds™ to spaces designed to support a restful stay, sleep has long been embedded in the YOTEL guest experience.
“Sleep has always been at the heart of the YOTEL experience, and our guests tell us that too, with one in three* saying that they choose YOTEL for the quality of sleep they get when staying with us,” said Olivia Donnan, SVP, Brand, Culture & Growth at YOTEL. “To celebrate YOTEL joining the Hilton portfolio of brands and partners, we wanted to take that focus on rest and reset outside of our hotels and bring it to life in the heart of New York City. The Sleep Exchange was a playful way to get people thinking about their own sleep, while showing how the YOTEL experience and the benefits of Hilton Honors can come together for travelers.” *Based on a 2025 survey of YOTEL Club Members.
The results also reflect a broader shift in how travelers are thinking about well-being. According to Hilton’s 2027 Trends Report, The Great Rebalance, 32% of travelers say spaces designed for deep rest and sleep have a major impact on their decision to book a hotel, underscoring the growing role rest and recovery play in the travel experience.
The one-day experience celebrated YOTEL joining the Hilton portfolio of brands and partners, with 11 bookable hotels featured on Hilton.com, giving Hilton Honors members the ability to earn and redeem Points on eligible stays at participating YOTEL properties around the world. Bookable properties include YOTEL Washington DC, YOTEL New York Times Square, YOTEL Boston, YOTEL Miami, YOTEL San Francisco, YOTEL Glasgow, YOTEL Edinburgh, YOTELPAD London Stratford, YOTEL Amsterdam, YOTEL Geneva Lake and YOTEL Bangkok Sukhumvit.
