While the gentle waves of Baa Atoll – a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives – cradle The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort, contributor Katha Nauriyal checks in to rest well – and sleep even better…
Sleep tourism has been one of the biggest travel trends in recent times. According to travel trends forecaster Skift, Gen Z travellers pioneered the trend and others followed suit. Publications across the board have reported multiple articles on tourists going on holiday to sleep. Global Wellness Institute also found that over 90% of travellers wouldn’t mind paying up to 10% more for hotels promising better sleep.
In today’s hyper-stimulated world with nonstop screen time, it seems like sleep is no longer just a global health concern; it’s a sought-after luxury. Sleep tourism has thus emerged as the perfect antidote, with hotels like The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort transforming sleep into an experience in its own right.
But what goes into designing a hotel for better sleep?
Image credit: Marriott International
The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort is part of the Westin Hotels & Resorts chain and the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. It features 69 eco-friendly pool villas with Italian design, private decks and grand ocean views. For more than a decade, Westin Hotels & Resorts has remained a global leader in wellness with three core pillars: Eat Well, Move Well – and interestingly, Sleep Well.
“The Sleep Well philosophy is supported through a design approach that prioritises comfort, calm, and connection to nature,” said Vijay Kumar, General Manager, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort. Designed by PEIA Associati, the property takes inspiration from its natural surroundings, with interiors that reflect hues and textures of Baa Atoll’s serene marine life.
Image credit: Marriott International
Stepping in, you find the villa airy and unhurried. Organic forms and an understated palette create an ambience that helps guests gently transition into a state of rest. In the evenings, the atmosphere is reinforced through warm, softer lighting and natural, brown-toned wood finishes for a calmer mood. The goal is to curate a psychologically soothing, barefoot environment that helps you to decompress.
“The design also emphasises environmental sustainability and discreet technologies, which help keep the setting visually quiet and naturally grounded. In practical comfort terms, a key architectural strategy is the resort-wide use of a double-roof system that promotes continuous natural ventilation and improves comfort in the tropical climate, reducing the feeling of sealed, over-conditioned interiors and helping guests sleep more comfortably,” Kumar added.
That said, the Heavenly Bed remains the star of the show. As the centerpiece of the property’s Sleep Well philosophy, it’s complemented by The Westin’s signature Sleep Well programs: that include Sleep Well Lavender Balm and Sleep Well Menu.
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- Image credit: Marriott International
The room is kitted with The Sleep Well Lavender Balm placed as a bedside amenity. Infused with lavender oil along with chamomile (which is traditionally used as a calming herb), it’s formulated to help guests gently wind down. “You can rub the balm on your temples or wrists at bedtime. It’ll melt your tensions away and ease your senses,” a staff member explains to me as he gives me a tour of the room. The Sleep Well Menu, on the other hand, offers a curated selection of sleep-enhancing superfoods available through in-room dining.
Moreover, the hotel design is intended to work in tandem with the island’s geography and natural light, so guests feel naturally connected to the rhythm of the day. In other words, the resort’s architecture is designed to reflect the surrounding seascape. For instance, “the planning of overwater and beach villas creates strong proximity to the lagoon and ocean, making the natural soundscape part of the experience. Additionally, the villa’s architecture is intended to reduce the separation between indoors and outdoors, so that restful natural inputs, such as views, breezes and ocean sounds, feel present and soothing rather than distant,” Kumar shared.
Image credit: Marriott International
This idea extends to the spa, where the roof shell shields a glazed volume while maintaining permeability between inside and outsiden – reinforcing a tranquil, nature-led sensory ambiance. The overwater Heavenly Spa by Westin also offers an array of treatments.
Beyond the spa, four dining outlets serve diverse cuisines. For fitness enthusiasts, the WestinWorkout Fitness Studio and the multi-function recreation ground offer ample space to work up a sweat.
The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort is an oasis of calm, where thoughtful touches and the hum of the ocean will lull you to sleep.
Main image credit: Marriott International
