Money has been made available for the investment of new beds in your hotel. A hefty investment, but probably necessary. How and on based what criteria are you going to select the new bed?

The perfect hotel bed does not exist, because every hotel guest has their own preferences. The trick therefore is  to select a bed for which a guest would return, which is in any case better than the bed at home. Important aspects here are sufficient support and comfort. We are happy to help you with the below knowledge.

The construction of a boxspring bed

A complete boxspring bed usually consists of a boxspring with a mattress and a topper on top. Below these elements are explained with the help of an image:

1. The boxspring is the lower part of the bed and is supported by legs (also referred to as bed base).You still have choices to make for this base, covering and legs.
2. The mattress lies on top of the boxspring and is the most known part of a bed. The mattress is available in various types. This will be discussed in more detail later.
3. The topper (also called top mattress or mattress topper) is the top layer of the bed and therefore lies on top of the mattress. A topper is not always present with a box spring.

The boxspring

The boxspring is the ‘easiest’ part in the selection of a boxspring bed. Questions you can ask yourself during the selection are; what will be the width, length and height of the bed and what color should the upholstery fabric be. The boxspring often consists of a combination of a wooden frame with a sound-absorbing layer (foam) and inner springs. The boxspring is finished with a layer of upholstery fabric. The type and color of the fabric can  be chosen or supplied by third parties for specific wishes. The base is supported by legs that are available in various colors and designs.

The mattress

The selection of the mattress is a lot more specific. The mattress is available in various materials and thicknesses. In almost all cases, a mattressconsists of several materials. The type of material, the thickness and the order of layers determine the degree to which a mattress supports, ventilates and feels comfortable. The properties of materials can influence each other. Below we will discuss the most suitable mattresses for hotels:

• Bonell springs: these are loose metal springs in hourglass shape that are mutually connected by means of a spiral spring. Because the springs are connected to each other, this type of mattress is not good at providing zones and the mattress moves longer when you turn on the mattress. The shape of the spring ensures that more counter pressure is applied to points that are subject to pressure. Bonell springs are more interesting from a cost point of view than pocket springs.

• Pocket springs: these are loose, metal springs, each individually packed in its own bag. Because these are packed separately, the springs also work separately from each other, so that there is a good zone distribution. A mattress core consists of many of these individual springs with sometimes several layers of springs on top of each other. A difference in the comfort of a pocket spring mattress can be made by the thickness of steel wire, number of turns and height of the spring.

  

When using a mattress topper, both mattresses can be provided with a cover in an upholstery fabric that is also used for the boxspring. Only the topper is then made up with bed linen. When you choose for imitation leather upholstery, covering the mattress is an extra hygiene measure, since the mattress cover can cleaned easily and is resistant to, for example, bed bugs.

The topper

A topper is an extra layer of comfort on top of the mattress. Besides it being more luxurious, it is an easy way to reduce the consumption impact of the mattress and thus increase its lifespan and durability. With a topper, you easily add about eight centimeters to the total bed height and the sleeping comfort is increased.

A big advantage of a topper is that two single mattresses can be made into a double bed. The seam between the two mattresses disappears.

In addition, it is a nice extra for the housekeeping team, as this involves a less heavy layer when changing and maintaining the bed.

A topper is available in various materials. The most common materials are explained below:

• Cold foam: this is a resilient material that provides good body support and feels medium soft. The open cell structure makes it ventilating and has excellent moisture and heat regulation.
• Memory foam: this pressure-relieving material molds to your body and offers optimal support. It feels soft. Memory foam has a denser cell structure than cold foam, which means that it ventilates less and has a more moderate temperature and moisture regulation.
• Latex: a resilient material that molds to the body and feels soft. It is anti-allergic and antibacterial, but does not have optimal moisture and temperature regulation.

Hotel bed trends

Beds previously had a standard length of 200 cm, this has been shifted to 210 cm if there is room for it. Quite logical when you consider that people are getting taller. In addition to the length, a major change can also be seen in the height. A hotel bed used to have an average of 45 cm high, which is now around 63 cm and even higher in America.

More often, the ‘Scandinavian arrangement’ of a box spring combination is chosen, which means that the box spring and the mattress are upholstered and the topper is made up with linen. This is an advantage for housekeeping, as making the bed becomes less heavier. Do take into account any adjustment of the linen compared to the classic arrangement, in which the mattress or topper and the mattress are made up.

In addition, the bed is and will always be the key item in the room. We notice that we are looking at ‘extras’ that are incorporated in the hotel beds. Think of lighting under the bed when movement is detected, a sound system or, for example, adding a seating function.

Maintenance and lifespan

The lifespan of a bed is inherent to the maintenance that is carried out. The most important thing of maintenance is to regularly turn the top layer (s) of the bed. This refers to the mattress topper and mattress. Keep in mind that this must be done both horizontally and vertically. It is also very important to regularly air the beds in connection with the absorption of moisture. In addition, cleaning the upholstery is also important, which can be done with a handheld steam cleaner, for example. Finally, when using a topper, it is important to ‘knock it regularly when it is turned over, so that it retains its resilience.

In general, we can adhere the following with regard to the lifespan of a bed. Of course, keep in mind that quality and maintenance can influence this! A box spring can last up to 25 years, with a mattress having an average lifespan of ten years. A topper should be replaced every five years.

 

Do you have any further questions about the box spring beds or associated products or would you like to receive a quote for a bed? Please feel free to contact us at +31 (0)85 0210900 or by e-mail at info@hotel-supply.com. We are happy to help you!