Get a good night's sleep
A quality bed can make all the difference when it comes to guaranteeing guest satisfaction.
Experts discuss current trends affecting the bedding industry and offer some constructive advice on how to ensure your guests have a fantastic night’s sleep and a comfort-filled stay
DUBAI FURNITURE MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Founded in 1993, Dubai Furniture Manufacturing Company (DFMC) supplies and manufactures two US bedding brands — King Koil and Serta.
Manager marketing Tony Thomas says: “We have a large client base and have supplied mattresses to leading hotels and hospitality chains.
“King Koil enjoys more than 60% of the market share and along with Serta enjoys top-of-the-mind recall in both the hospitality and retail segments.”
In 2001 the company acquired the licence to market and manufacture products by US mattress company Serta in the Middle East.
Thomas cites environment friendly initiatives as being one noticeable trend within the beds and bedding industry.
“We maintain strict standards in this regard,” he asserts. “One such effort by us in this regard is the use of Mega Foam as a raw material in the manufacture of mattresses.
“There are different types of foam available in the market today and during the manufacturing process of some types of foam, harmful agents can be released into the atmosphere that affects the ozone layer,” he explains. “As a result, we use German technology and manufacture Mega Foam, thereby avoiding the use of methylene chloride — an ozone depleting substance.”
Contact: Dubai Furniture Manufacturing Company
Web: www.mattress-leader.com
Product highlights
Best sellers: King Koil and Serta are two of the leading brands within the industry,”says Thomas.
Top tip: Check whether the supplier has a manufacturing facility locally — this will save a lot of time and energy as the buyer can expect faster service.
FRETTE
For the hospitality sector EF Gulf, exclusive distributor of linen manufacturer Frette, has attempted to bridge the gap between supplier and client by developing its Hospitality Linen Solution.
EF Gulf managing partner Malak Loeb comments: “This will constantly ensure the clients know that we offer only the highest quality and production standards within the industry.
“It maintains an open communication system with the clients, giving both sides of the business transaction updated feedback for every inquiry.
“In this process the clients also become a part of the manufacturing process, giving them more confidence and trust in the system,” she explains.
EF Gulf was created by International Guest Supplies (IGS) in 2008 to distribute Frette’s high quality linen products across the GCC.
“We are always looking for new ideas and creating new product ranges,” notes Loeb. “Personally I prefer to customise a different line for each hotel as it gives us the opportunity to be creative and not fall into the routine of supplying the same product with the same specifications in regards to thread counts.
“The most obvious trend that we have noticed recently was our client’s requirement to get value-for-money for the product they are procuring,” she added.
Contact: EF Gulf General Trading
Web: www.efgulf.com
Product highlights
Best-sellers: To commemorate its 150th anniversary, Frette unveiled a contemporary limited edition bed set, which is presented in two models: the Gala and Gioia Collections. These limited edition sets are presented in a special antique ivory coloured box.
Top tip: The most important thing for a hotel procurement manager is to select and recommend a reliable supplier with a reputable name and a strong background.
PACIFIC COAST FEATHER COMPANY
Pacific Coast Feather Company (PCFC) vice president — Asia Pacific Joana Zhang says the latest craze in the hotel industry is to give guests the chance to select their favourite type of pillow.
“Generally speaking, each hotel room is fitted with at least two pairs of pillows with either different density or filling types,” she explains.
“Some hotel guests, however, would prefer to find a perfect pillow match during their stay to enhance bedtime comfort.”
As a result the US-firm has developed its own pillow menu that includes options such as a body pillow, a reading pillow and a baby pillow.
With 126 years of history, PCFC combines a heritage of craftsmanship with leading-edge innovations to create comfortable and beneficial bedding products.
The firm is currently placing more emphasis on the European and Middle East hospitality markets and is working with a range of international hotel groups.
Zhang notes: “We have worked very closely with top international hotels to help them strengthen their brand awareness and improve their guest satisfaction through special sleeping programmes, such as ‘The Brand Bed’ programme for Hyatt, ‘The Revive Bed’ programme for Marriott and ‘The Serenity Bedding’ programme for Hilton.”
Contact: Pacific Coast Feather Company, Asia
Web: www.pacificcoast.com
Product highlights
Bestsellers: Restful Nights basic bedding products have been designed, tested and engineered to withstand the long-term uses of the hospitality environment; PCFC claims the products already feature in one million hotel rooms worldwide.
Top tip: Catering to the pillow preferences of hotel guests could generate more repeat visits.
DUXIANA
Many people mistakenly believe that a hard or firm bed is best suited to the human body, claims Cyngbel president Panicos Panayiotou.
Panayiotou, who runs the company behind Swedish furniture producer Duxiana’s presence in Dubai, says: “This myth appears to be difficult to dispel, which is regrettable, since it keeps many people with back and sleeping problems from experiencing a more comfortable and beneficial night’s sleep.
“Backaches stem from bad posture and we sleep incorrectly if the spine is not levelled horizontally.”
Panayiotou explains that the ideal bed does not have to be soft or hard as the human body is naturally curved.
“It should be pliable, supportive and feel comfortable, while adapting to the natural contours of an individual’s body,” he asserts.
Duxiana has been making beds since 1926 and has a separate product line designed specifically for hotels.
Three basic models make up the line, each available with three different types of top pads that offer a variety of options and combinations.
Duxiana is a strategic partner with organisation The Leading Hotels of the World and stocks available through its Dubai Mall store ensures delivery can take place within 72 hours of ordering.
Contact: Duxiana — Dubai
Web: www.duxiana.com
Product highlights
Best sellers: The most popular model from Duxiana is the DUX 8888, which comes with adjustable lumbar support, while the DUX Delight model is available in a ‘split-able’ version allowing the bed to be converted from one king-size bed to two single beds in 10 minutes.
Top tip: The right bed should be comfortable and allow the muscles to relax to facilitate a deep sleep.
SIGNORIA HOSPITALITY
Despite starting life as a retail product manufacturer for the luxury market, Signoria Hospitality moved into the hospitality segment and began producing products to meet differing demands within the market.
According to GCC sales manager MS Bipin, Signoria understands the diversity in customer tastes and says that the firm currently has a focus on business guests at hotels.
“Business guests are larger in number compared to tourists in the Middle East, and these busy people are more concerned about bedding than other luxury amenities in a hotel,” explains Bipin.
“This situation led the Middle East hoteliers to adopt higher specification beddings; for example many hotel chains upgraded to 300TC bed linen in their Middle East properties when compared to their American and European properties.”
Bipin cites the example of Banyan Tree Al Wadi, which uses 600TC dobby design bed linen.
Contact: Signoria Hospitality
Web: www.tuscanylinen.com
Product highlights
Best sellers: Signoria’s single-pick construction bed linen uses yarns manufactured from long-staple Egyptian cotton, which enables the company to provide a one-year replacement warranty for any manufacturing defects.
Top tip: Selection of any linen or bedding item at a hotel needs proper coordination and consideration from the purchasing manager, the housekeeping manager and the laundry manager.
RESTONIC
Restonic has been supplying mattresses for more than 60 years and the company remains focused on offering quality bedding products, ranging from budget offerings to the latest luxurious creations.
Restonic sales manager Sameer Ahmed says one of the major trends he has witnessed in the past few years is a rise in interest from hotels in investing in high-quality pocket spring beds.
Ahmed says many hotels are opting for these models in order “to differentiate themselves from competitors and because they expect a good return on investment”.
From its state-of-art factory in Jebel Ali, Restonic is able to cater to the growing demand from new hotel developments in the region as well for existing hotels.
“We give our clients a personal touch and work on samples to help them understand the benefits of a good mattress; this generates a sense of confidence in the customer,” explains Ahmed.
“Restonic has a longstanding tradition of research and innovation,” he notes.
“Our emphasis is on delivering high-quality sleep products in the region, engineered to the needs of the customers.
“We have designed mattresses with pocket spring, plush top and non flip mattress, memory foam and latex combinations,” concludes Ahmed.
Contact: Restonic
Web: www.restonic.ae
Product highlights
Best-sellers: Loveland Pillowtop non-flip mattress and Crystal, which both feature quality pocket spring units.
Top tip: Hotels should ensure high-quality beds offer comfort, durability and an extended warranty of up to 10 years, for a reasonable return on investment and value for money.
DELBANCO MEYER
Through the knowledge it has gained in its 70 years of supplying high-end linen and bedding, British-based Delbanco Meyer (DMC) is out to dispel a few bedding-related myths.
Available to Middle East customers through RWN Trading, its duvets and pillows are 100% natural and allow the skin to breathe for added comfort.
DMC has worked to dispel what RWN Trading marketing director Carol Prince describes as “a few myths regarding care and washability of feather quilts and duvets”.
Prince notes: “It is a mistaken belief that, while synthetic quilts are washable, natural quills are not.
“Ducks and geese spend most of their life on water and any natural quilt can be washed, but it has to be properly dried.
“Because ducks and geese are designed to get wet on a regular basis washing is a process in which their feathers and down are ideally suited — if a natural quilt is dried properly it can be washed time and time again without ill effect,” advises Prince.
Contact: RWN Trading
Web: www.rwntrading.com
Product highlights
Best-sellers: Goose Down Surround pillows provide the luxury and softness of a goose down pillow, but with the added benefit of support from a core of feathers.
Top tip: The most important part of caring for a natural quilt is regular and thorough airing.