SUPPLIER ROUNDTABLE: Best beds in the business

Bed company experts and executive housekeepers share their opinions with Hotelier Middle East on the latest trends and issues in this sector, while also revealing their tips for giving guests a good night’s sleep.

(Click through to the last page for the bios of each Supplier roundtable respondent)

What are the main considerations when designing, or choosing, beds?
Hassan Al-Hazeem, Intercoil International: The main aspects that are always kept in mind while designing our beds and bedding are comfort and durability.

Gopi Joghee, The Address Dubai Marina: The comfort of our guests is the priority. We try the beds for a week before making a purchasing decision. We also evaluate various technical specifications such as coil count, spring type and fabric composition, among others.

Mattresses with box spring help provide support and we prefer them. Also, to meet diverse requirements, we order beds that can be adjusted in terms of hardness and softness. A thick feather top is used to make the bed softer.

Elisabeth Hintermann, Mühldorfer GmbH & Co.KG: Our first and most important aspect is obviously the wellness and good rest of the hotel guests.

But then we look at the cost-performance ratio for the hotel and the hotelier. Finally, we try and provide the best handling for the housekeeping, to make it easier for them.

Nuran Acar, Hilton Abu Dhabi: Certainly we should be looking for two important factors. Support, determined by the coil springs inside the mattress and comfort, from the padding, which serves to cushion your body from the support of the springs and should mould itself to your shape. Most of the orthopaedic experts recommend you sleep on the firmest, most supportive mattress you find comfortable

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How important are aesthetics?
Ali Q. Asaad, Sealy: Aesthetics are important to us. We continually provide new high quality fabrics, labels, new colours and designs in our ticking and quilting.

Sameer Ahmed, Restonic: We find that paying attention to detail in designing the mattress and beds makes a big difference by adding plush quilting designs and using high quality fabric covering.

Sudarshan Rai, Dubai Furniture Manufacturing Co. LLC: In hospitality, the focus should be on functionality; however, we have started launching new mattress grades with due importance given to aesthetics, so that the novelty is maintained.

Kyawasar Tun, Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi: We cannot deny that a bed with aesthetic is visually appealing however, at the end of the day, our guests desire a comfortable bed after a long travel.

What we’d like them to experience is the highest level of comfort without forgoing aesthetic value. The aesthetic value of a bed is really determined by the quality of bed linen and skirt provided for the mattress, thus we make sure that our bed’s aesthetics appeals as much as its comfort does.

Hassan Al-Hazeem: Aesthetics are very important and minute detailing goes into choosing the tone and timber of the fabric; in choosing the designs that would blend perfectly, all the while staying focused on customer needs in terms of comfort, support and durability.

What materials are used in your beds and bedding, and why?
Sameer Ahmed: The materials used in our beds include 100% cotton fabric, high standard steel wire, cotton felt, kiln dried Canadian pine wood. All the components are procured from the leading companies in Europe.

Kyawasar Tun: A major priority for us is for our mattresses to be environmentally friendly. They feature mega foam, manufactured using a vacuum technology that avoids the use of ozone-depleting substances, thus making it environmentally friendly.

All other raw materials are sourced from world-class vendors such as springs from Europe and fabrics from Belgium.

Gopi Joghee: Nowadays most mattress companies care for the environment and have come out with eco-friendly beds with fabric made from bamboo and the springs and the latex can be recycled. Our foundation is a box spring type and our beds are pocketed spring with foam and latex insulation.

The coil count of our beds is more than 300 and each coil is individually pocketed. This gives good support for sleeping on either sides of the bed. The beds must also be fire retardant. Every mattress gives the option of removing the top fabric of the mattress to replace or launder. Also, the top fabric of mattress is made of stain-proof or waterproof material.

Nuran Acar: We use only high-quality materials because they greatly influence the temperature retention as well as the moisture absorption capacity of a mattress. The best and most comfortable insulating materials are natural ones that not only retain body heat, but also absorb and process moisture.

Elisabeth Hintermann: Our products are made of first class quality down and feathers, cleaned in the fresh, soft and calcium-free water of the Bavarian Forest, which guarantees the highest degree of filling volume and long-life cycle.

Ali Q. Asaad: We take pride in our materials and the benefits they give. Our posturepedic innerspring senses an individual’s body weight and responds with the appropriate support.

Latex foam is a breathable, resilient material that conforms to your unique body shape and weight, and memory foam feels completely different from the innerspring mattresses, enveloping you while you sleep. It’s more like sleeping ‘in’ the mattress than ‘on’ it.

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What are the follow-up services you either offer or receive?
Sameer Ahmed: We provide regular calls to follow up after sales and work closely with concerned departments in the hotel.

Nuran Acar: Guarantees given on beds and after-sales services such as quality checks should always be taken into consideration when buying. We always look for repair services and spare parts replacements, such as wheels being provided when necessary.

Kyawasar Tun: They can also advise on the specifications of the bed, keeping in mind the requirements.

Gopi Joghee: We look for their support in setting up the rooms and installing the mattresses. Also, they must be able to help us in replacing the top fabric in case of heavy stains.

Sudarshan Rai: We have the capability to provide all the support to our customers — in the hospitality industry, we conduct training programmes for the house-keeping staff so they are made aware of tips on mattress maintenance.

We also check the condition of mattresses supplied by us at least once a year so potential problems are identified.

Elisabeth Hintermann: We always guarantee our customers a day-exact and hour-exact delivery. Furthermore, we provide a three-year guarantee on prices and quality.

Hassan Al-Hazeem: Our non-flip technology and EverNU technology ensures zero maintenance or follow-up. However, warranty conditions are stipulated and after sales service is ensured, wherever necessary.

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What beds and bedding trends have you seen recently?
Nuran Acar: According to some expert travellers and designers, one of the bedroom trends is platform beds. This style of bed has started to be seen more and more — their lower profile adds a unique design element to any bedroom.

Memory Foam is very popular — it was created by NASA 20 years ago and ended up in mattresses instead of the space programme. They respond to the body’s natural heat, quickly moulding itself to the shape of a warm body.

The Select Comfort Sleep Number bed is rapidly gaining in popularity. It has uniquely designed air chambers which it uses rather than metal and springs to provide a level of support that can be adjusted literally at the touch of a button.

The Firmness Control System is a remote attached to a pump that allows you to select the bed’s firmness level. Even better, the 7000 and 9000 models now come with two remotes that allow each person to select the comfort level for their side of the bed.

Gopi Joghee: Mattress companies are being innovative and bring new concepts to the market regularly — there is the EverNU, where the top fabric of the mattress can be zipped out to launder, as well as the No Turn mattress, which does not need to be flipped.

Sudarshan Rai: Hoteliers seem to be looking at sleep products as a complete package and hence there is a lot of focus on the accessories as well, like pillows and duvets.

To what degree are your beds environmentally friendly?
Sudarshan Rai: We are known in the market for our green initiatives — we produce mega foam, which does not use methylene chloride during its manufacture. Methylene chloride is an ozone depleting substance commonly used by mattress manufacturers to manufacture the cheaper foams.

Sameer Ahmed: We use both organic cotton and natural latex in some of our products.
Hassan Al-Hazeem: We are an ISO 140001 certified company and we are making sure there is less of our mattress deposits going in to overflowing landfills with our new EverNU Technology.

Moreover, all of our steel products are made of recycled steel and wood is sourced from managed forests.

Ali Q. Asaad: We recognise the importance of environmental sustainability and take seriously our corporate responsibility for good stewardship in this effort.

Our lumber resources is certified to SFI and CSA standards, 100% of our steel products come from recycled steel, and 100% of manufacturing scrap from all Sealy’s plants is taken by a third-party company to be recycled for other products.

How have you been affected by the economic situation?
Sudarshan Rai: The economic downturn has had its effects globally and no one is immune to it. As an established company, we are in many different business segments like hospitality, dealer segment as well as company-owned retailing outlets. This has given us the backing and resilience to keep growing even during such economic situations and we have been able to seal some important deals recently.

Ali Q. Asaad: The economic downturn slowed down when new hotels were put on hold, but business for the renovations of existing hotels was still ongoing. The market is increasing now.

Sameer Ahmed: The past few years were challenging and we witnessed a decrease in 2010 due to delay in projects. However, the business started growing in 2011, with the opening of new hotels in the GCC.

Hassan Al-Hazeem: Due to the economic crisis there was a downturn, but looks like it has bottomed out, given the recent renewed activity in the hotel industry in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Muscat and Qatar.

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Getting to know you: Hotelier's expert panel
Hassan Al-Hazeem, managing director, Intercoil International
Hassan Al-Hazeem spearheads the operations at Intercoil International, which incorporates the Intercoil, Simmons and Therapedic brands.

It encompasses mattresses, as well as bedroom furniture, upholstery and sofas. Al-Hazeem previously worked at the Commercial Bank of Dubai [CBD] for four years and holds a MBA degree in International Business Administration from the American University in Dubai.

Sudarshan Rai, marketing manager, Dubai Furniture Manufacturing Co. LLC
Dubai Furniture Manufacturing Co. LLC is the licensed manufacturer and retailer of King Koil and Serta mattresses in the Middle East. King Koil is known for the advanced pressure support system (APS), which provides additional support to the spine region, while Serta has posture spiral technology which provides significant support to the body. Sudarshan Rai has a masters in business management, with specialization in marketing management, and has worked in different segments in the Middle East as well as the Indian subcontinent. His wide experience and knowledge spans sectors such as consumer durables and retailing.

Sameer Ahmed, sales manager, Restonic
Restonic provides mattresses worldwide, with 14 manufacturers outside of the US, where it was founded in 1938, producing its two collections of mattresses – ComfortCare and HealthRest. Having spent a decade in the bedding supply industry, Sameer Ahmed joined the company seven years ago. His previous experience includes four years in the fast-moving consumer goods industry, promoting and distributing personal and homecare products.

Gopi Joghee, director of housekeeping, The Address Dubai Marina
Gopi Joghee started his career as a butler after graduating in hotel management in 1999. He moved to Dubai with One and Only Royal Mirage, relocating to Shangri-La Muscat in 2006. He joined The Address brand in 2008 as an assistant executive housekeeper, and took up his current role in 2010.

Kyawasar Tun, executive housekeeper, Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi
Kyawasar Tun hails from Myanmar, where he began his career over fifteen years ago with Novotel. After just over a year, Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts welcomed him to the housekeeping department of Traders Hotel Yangon, where stayed and worked his way up, before joining Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi, as executive housekeeper in 2008.

Ali Q. Asaad, president Sealy Middle East, Sealy
Operating in more than 50 countries, Sealy sells a bed every three seconds. Sealy Middle East is its licensee, producing Sealy Brands, Sealy Posturepedic and Embody by Sealy. Ali Q. Asaad gained a BS from the University of Southern California and a MBA from Capella University, before spending a decade in the furniture industry as vice president of American Homes Furniture. In 1999 he took up the role of GM and president of Sealy mattress factory, introducing the brand to Saudi Arabia. He has since promoted Sealy throughout the Middle East.

Nuran Acar, executive housekeeper, Hilton Abu Dhabi
Nuran Acar started her Hilton career as the assistant executive housekeeper for the pre-opening team at Istanbul Hilton in 1986. Besides taking care of the hotel, she is substantially involved on a regional level as a trainer in leadership, time and stress management, a regional consultant for training plans, standard operation procedures, case studies and trends.

Elisabeth Hintermann, managing partner, Mühldorfer GmbH & Co.KG
Mühldorfer started in 1920 in Bavaria and now produces down comforters and pillows for as far as the Middle East and Asia, from its Comfort, Premium and non-allergy Imprima collections. Elisabeth Hintermann gained a business administration degree in 1985 from Munich University of Applied Sciences, and started working for Mühldorfer in April 1987 as managing director. Only seven years later she took over the company with her sister.