It’s been praised as a good idea for sleeplessness but so far, at least, no one seems to be emulating a Holiday Inn that provided a free, five-minute human bed warming service.
"Like having a giant hot water bottle in your bed" is how Holiday Inn spokeswoman Jane Bednall described the idea to Sky News.
Dr Chris Idzikowski, director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre, said the idea actually could help people drop off to sleep.
"There’s plenty of scientific evidence to show that sleep starts at the beginning of the night when body temperature starts to drop,” he said.
He added a warm bed — approximately 20 to 24C — is a good way to start this process whereas a cold bed would inhibit sleep.
With the service, on request a willing member of the hotel staff jumped into guest beds — dressed head to foot in all-in-one sleeper suits.
By David Wilkening
