How Well Did The City That Never Sleeps Actually Sleep? Yotel X Hilton Explores New York’s Sleep Habits
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NEW YORK – October 12, 2026 – New York may be known as the city that never sleeps, and new findings from YOTEL and Hilton suggest that nearly 59% get six hours of sleep or less on weeknights. Additionally, 42% of participants identified stress and anxiety as their biggest sleep disruptors and 46% reporting just five to six hours of sleep per night.
These insights and more were uncovered on October 8, when YOTEL and Hilton took over Vanderbilt Hall® at Grand Central Terminal, creating the first Sleep Exchange, inviting commuters, travelers and visitors to put the previous night’s sleep to the test. Throughout the day, participants shared their sleep scores and habits, revealing how people are thinking about rest and recovery amid travel and busy schedules, changing routines and the demands of everyday life. Insights included how travel isn’t necessarily a sleep disruptor, with 31% of participants saying they sleep better in a hotel than at home.
Sleep remains an important component of overall well-being, yet balancing quality rest with work, travel and daily responsibilities continues to be a challenge for many. The Sleep Exchange explored how participants assess their sleep, the factors that have the greatest impact on their rest and the areas they most want to improve.
Among participants that voluntarily shared their sleep scores from their personal devices:
- Only 23% of people surveyed said that they have good sleep, averaging from 70-79 as their sleep score out of 100.
- 58% said that it takes them less than 30 minutes to fall asleep
- Nearly half (46%) sleep as little as 5 and 6 hours each night, with 13% getting less than 5 hours of sleep each night
- 100% of participants above 55+ reported sleeping less than 5 hours of sleep
- (42%) Stress and anxiety are the biggest sleep disruptors
- Short sleep is most common among suburban respondents
- 60% – suburbs reported 5-6 hours of sleep
- 46% – in NYC reported 5-6 hours of sleep
The findings highlight how sleep, travel and wellness increasingly intersect, whether participants were commuting through Grand Central Terminal, heading out of town or simply looking for ways to improve their nightly routines.
The results also reflect a broader shift in how travelers are thinking about well-being. According to Hilton’s 2027 Trends Report, The Great Rebalance, 32% of travelers say spaces designed for deep rest and sleep have a major impact on their decision to book a hotel, underscoring the growing role rest and recovery play in the travel experience.
Over the course of the day, visitors participated in The Sleep Exchange, trading in their previous night’s sleep scores for the chance to receive rewards, ranging from sleep-focused products, including sunrise alarm clocks from YOTEL brand partner Lumie, YOTEL stays around the world, complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status and up to 100,000 Hilton Honors Points. The activation turned an everyday measure of rest into an interactive way to experience the benefits of the YOTEL x Hilton collaboration.
The custom-built space in Vanderbilt Hall® leaned into YOTEL’s signature purple, and included a concierge-style Sleep Exchange desk, hotel-inspired decor and a dedicated Sleep Lounge, alongside a creative spin that truly leaned into New York’s reputation as “the city that never sleeps.”
Sleep scientist and Sleep for Success! Author, Dr. Rebecca Robbins, was also on-site in the Sleep Lounge, meeting one-on-one with participants and offering personalized guidance around sleep health, wearable technology, travel, jet lag and everyday sleep habits.
“Sleep is one of the most important parts of our overall health and well-being, yet it’s often one of the first things we compromise when life gets busy,” said Dr. Rebecca Robbins, author of Sleep for Success! “What was especially interesting about meeting visitors throughout the Sleep Exchange was seeing how many different factors can influence our sleep, from stress and screen time to travel and changes in routine. The good news is that small, consistent changes can make a meaningful difference, whether you’re at home or on the road.”
For YOTEL, the activation brought an existing focus on sleep, rest and recovery beyond its hotels and into one of New York City’s busiest transportation hubs. From its signature SmartBeds™ to spaces designed to support a restful stay, sleep has long been embedded in the YOTEL guest experience.
“Sleep has always been at the heart of the YOTEL experience, and our guests tell us that too, with one in three* saying that they choose YOTEL for the quality of sleep they get when staying with us,” said Olivia Donnan, SVP, Brand, Culture & Growth at YOTEL. “To celebrate YOTEL joining the Hilton portfolio of brands and partners, we wanted to take that focus on rest and reset outside of our hotels and bring it to life in the heart of New York City. The Sleep Exchange was a playful way to get people thinking about their own sleep, while showing how the YOTEL experience and the benefits of Hilton Honors can come together for travelers.” *Based on a 2025 survey of YOTEL Club Members.
The one-day experience celebrated YOTEL joining the Hilton portfolio of brands and partners, with 11 bookable hotels featured on Hilton.com, giving Hilton Honors members the ability to earn and redeem Points on eligible stays at participating YOTEL properties around the world. Bookable properties include YOTEL Washington DC, YOTEL New York Times Square, YOTEL Boston, YOTEL Miami, YOTEL San Francisco, YOTEL Glasgow, YOTEL Edinburgh, YOTELPAD London Stratford, YOTEL Amsterdam, YOTEL Geneva Lake and YOTEL Bangkok Sukhumvit.
About YOTEL
YOTEL is a global hotel group with 24 properties in sought-after locations. YOTEL exists so guests sleep better, move faster and enjoy the destination more. From buzzing cities to bustling airports, YOTELpromises the luxury of time, the access of brilliant locations and the fun of discovery. Every stay.
Headquartered in London, the group’s portfolio consists of three brands: YOTEL (city centre hotels), YOTELPAD (extended stay option) and YOTELAIR (airport hotels). YOTEL is in cities across the world, including Amsterdam, Bangkok, Boston, Edinburgh, Geneva, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Miami, New York, Porto, San Francisco, Singapore, Tokyo and Washington DC, and at London Gatwick, Amsterdam Schiphol, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Istanbul, and Singapore Changi airports.
Upcoming openings include Kuala Lumpur (2027), Athens (2027), Belfast (2028), Lisbon (2028) and NEOM (2029).
YOTEL’s major shareholders include the Talal Jassim Al-Bahar Group, United Investment Portugal, and Kuwait Real Estate Company (AQARAT).
YOTEL was originally created by YO! founder Simon Woodroffe OBE, who took inspiration from the experience of first-class travel and translated that ethos, language and design into small but beautifully designed rooms. www.yo.co.uk
About Hilton
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 28 world-class brands comprising more than 9,400 properties and nearly 1.4 million rooms, in 144 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed over 4 billion guests in its more than 100-year history. Named as the No. 1 World’s Best Workplace by Great Place to Work and Fortune, Hilton aims to create the best culture for its 500,000 team members around the world. Hilton has introduced industry-leading technology enhancements to improve the guest experience, including Digital Key Share, automated complimentary room upgrades and the ability to book confirmed connecting rooms. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the more than 260 million Hilton Honors members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can’t buy. With the free Hilton Honors app, guests can book their stay, select their room, check in, unlock their door with a Digital Key and check out, all from their smartphone. Visit stories.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
