Best Western Plus Big America Makes Commitment to Sustainability and Reduces Overhead with Sterling Sleep Systems’ Fully Interchangeable Mattresses

Santa Maria, CA – May 14, 2015 – In 2010, Sterling Sleep Systems, a leader in the development of sustainable bedding solutions for the hospitality industry, was selected by the Best Western Plus Big America in Santa Maria, California to place their award winning fully interchangeable mattresses in all 106 guestrooms.

"Sterling Sustainable Mattresses was selected by our owner to align with our commitment to creating a sustainable hotel," said General Manager Max Tucker. "Since we began using them, we have substantially reduced our overhead costs for bedding replacement which ultimately adds significant savings to our bottom line."

Sterling's mattresses offer a concept unique to the hospitality industry and are designed to allow for components to be fully removable and interchangeable. As a result, should any part become damaged or soiled, it can be easily removed and replaced, without the need to replace the entire bed.

"Sterling mattresses are designed with hotel wear and tear in mind, and use components that are more durable for the way guests typically use their beds. Guests tend to sit on the edge of the mattress, leading them to become worn around the edges. By removing the metal wire that frames most beds and replacing it with foam, Sterling mattresses eliminate this issue. In the five years using the mattress, not one has needed replacement of the foam component," continues. Tucker.

Sterling mattresses are designed to ensure a more sustainable approach to hotel mattress replacement, which is more cost effective for the hotel property and reduces the number of mattresses sent to recyclers or land fills. Old mattresses are not easily disposed of, since they are bulky, generally not reusable, and require a great deal of energy to recycle. Putting them in landfills is also not a good alternative. According to the mattress industry, an estimated 700,000 mattresses are discarded each year in the United States, occupying as much as 60 cubic feet of landfill space for a typical two bed hotel room. It is estimated that over 30 million cubic feet of solid waste from hotel mattresses will be disposed of in landfills in 2015 alone. Sterling mattresses offer hotels a responsible sustainable solution at prices that are competitive with similar quality disposable mattresses from the major suppliers. In addition, sustainable beds deliver twice the service life or more, cutting the true cost of bed ownership per room night in half. The key is to extend "end of life" by two or three times by replacing only the components like foam and cover systems that wear out far ahead of quality spring systems. There are other cost considerations also such as when a complete mattress needs to be replaced due to a soiled cover the shipping costs for a single mattress can cost 35% of the cost of the mattress itself. When you add sales tax, labor for in-room installation, old bed removal and disposal, along with room down time expense, the costs expand exponentially. The labor it takes one housekeeper to replace an interchangeable mattress cover panel in the room in under an hour makes replacing individual components a simple cost-effective alternative to replacing complete bed systems.

"Only Sterling's truly sustainable mattress can provide this level of cost savings, convenience, guest comfort and environmental responsibility. Quality control is front and center when a manufacturer sets out to build truly sustainable mattresses.

Tight quality control is necessary to ensure that interchangeable parts built today fit mattress built five years ago, and that they will fit the mattresses built in the future.

"This level of quality assurance is what makes for a great sustainable mattress program. I am dedicated to ensuring that every mattress we build is one I'd personally sleep on myself," said Tony Hochschild, President of Sterling Sleep Systems. "Our successful seven-year relationship with the owners of the Best Western Plus Big America began two years earlier when we sold her sister property, the historic Santa Maria Inn Sterling Imperial, mattresses for every room at the property in one continuous delivery. During the following two years, good reviews by management and guests alike led to placement at Best Western Plus Big America. A year later, the continuing success of our fully foam encased pocketed coil Imperial mattresses led to two more placements at properties owned by the same owners, the Edgewater Inn, Pismo Beach and the Radisson Hotel Santa Maria. The guests like our mattresses, which increases occupancy rates. These results speak volumes for our product."

The Best Western Plus Big America hotel is rated three diamonds by AAA, and three stars by Mobile. Offering a variety of room options including spacious one king bed or two queen beds rooms, family suites, with two queen beds and a sleeper sofa, the property also boasts free wireless internet, a heated pool/spa and onsite restaurant. The property is currently undergoing renovations that will enhance the travel experience of their guests. These include a remodeled lobby, updated guest rooms, fresh landscaping and the addition of a fitness room. The property will continue to use their Sterling Sleep Systems sustainable mattresses in an effort to keep costs down, provide a comfortable night's sleep and maintain the beautiful California environment that guests have come to enjoy.

For more information, please visit www.sterlingsleephospitality.com.