Summary: Equinox Hotels has unveiled “The Sleep Lab” at its New York property—four luxury rooms designed with neuroscientist Matthew Walker, PhD, that automate sleep hygiene rituals, use technology to track sleep, and claim to optimize circadian rhythms.

Key takeaways:

• Equinox’s Sleep Lab rooms incorporate adaptive mattresses, circadian lighting, audio-visual breathwork, steam and ice showers, and carefully timed soundscapes to influence sleep and waking.
• The program is branded as both a luxury wellness experience and a scientific effort to “validate” sleep optimization approaches in hospitality.
• The initiative highlights the growing market for “sleep tourism,” blending upscale accommodations with consumer sleep tech and biohacking trends.

This month, Equinox Hotels revealed four hotel rooms it has designed in collaboration with neuroscientist-sleep influencer Matthew Walker, PhD, that, for $1,700 and up per night (+ taxes with a 2-night minimum), will automate travelers’ sleep hygiene practices and track their sleep.

Dubbed “The Sleep Lab” at Equinox Hotel New York, these special rooms blend sensory environments, sleep technology, and AM + PM Rituals intended to align the circadian rhythms of those staying within them. Every element—from lighting and temperature to sound—was engineered for deep, restorative sleep,  according to a release.

“The Sleep Lab is not just an evolution of our commitment to sleep—it is the future of high-performance regeneration,” says Chris Norton, CEO of Equinox Hotels, in a release. “We have designed a first-of-its-kind experience that merges science and luxury, enabling our guests to achieve peak recovery and performance through optimized sleep.”

Sensory innovation studio White Mirror Studio developed the in-room rituals to enhance sleep and waking experiences, including audio and audio-visual guided breath work. These rituals are designed to support guests’ circadian rhythms, incorporating the calming effects of red and orange light.

“Our shared mission is to deliver rituals that facilitate deeper, more restorative sleep and smooth transitions from sleep to wakefulness, addressing the global sleep problem that affects a third of adults,” says Tom Middleton, co-founder of White Mirror Studio, in a release.

One of the innovations is the development of a gentle wake-up soundscape. This unique audio ritual gradually eases guests from sleep to alertness, avoiding the disruptive shock of traditional alarm sounds.

The Sleep Lab’s four Premier King rooms with river views are outfitted with:

• Adaptive Mattress Technology: Personalized temperature control enables precise sleep-stage monitoring to optimize for comfort and quality sleep. Dual-zone settings accommodate individualized preferences for couples.
• Personalized Sleep & Wake Automation: The Intelligent + Personalized AM + PM room features automatically adjust the temperature, lighting, sound, and ambiance based on the guest’s selected sleep and wake-up times. 30 minutes before sleep, the room gradually transitions to the optimal sleep environment. Similarly, 30 minutes before the wake-up time, the room gently eases the guest into wakefulness, utilizing carefully curated soundscapes grounded in music psychology, promoting a smooth and natural transition from rest to wakefulness.
• Contrast Therapy Shower:
  • Steam Room: With the touch of a button, the shower transforms into a steam shower that utilizes the therapeutic effects of heat to enhance blood circulation, promote detoxification, lower cortisol levels, and reduce muscle tension to prepare the body for restorative sleep, according to the hotel.
  • Ice Shower: While water typically hovers between 50-55°F, Equinox Hotels’ Ice Shower drops to a refreshing 46-50°F year-round. The Ice Shower reduces inflammation, enhances circulation, flushes out metabolic waste by constricting blood vessels, and promotes deeper, restorative sleep,  according to the hotel..
• Circadian Color Meditation: This visually guided breathwork experience gently slows the heart rate and breath rate through passive rhythmic entrainment through a pulsing red glow on the screen to help unwind before sleep
• AM + PM Soundscapes: A sensory ritual grounded in neuroscience and music psychology that supports natural wakefulness in the morning and down-regulation and preparation for sleep in the evening.
• Sleep Lab AM & PM Rituals: The PM Ritual is designed to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress and guiding the body into a restorative sleep state. The AM Ritual optimizes natural wakefulness through precise movement, breathwork, light, sound, and temperature adjustments, gradually energizing the body for a refreshed, energized start to the day.
• Travel Sleep Kit: Featuring research-backed tools for sleep enhancement while traveling: High-Performance Eye Mask, Magnesium Sleep Patch, proprietary Equinox Hotels Sleep Tea
• Sleep Assessment: Allows guests to view their sleep stages and quality each morning from their bedside device, and participate in the Walker-led sleep studies.

Additional sleep-enhancing add-ons guests can experience include the sleep circuit and techno therapies at The Spa by Equinox Hotels and Sleep-Well Menu from in-room dining, offering foods and beverages purported to facilitate sleep.

“Our objective is to bring the rigor of sleep science into the hospitality space, offering an experience that is not only luxurious but also scientifically validated,” Walker says in a release. “Sleep is the foundation of human performance, and The Sleep Lab offers guests an unparalleled opportunity to enhance their health, cognition, and overall well-being.”