Source: Hilton
Hilton garden Inn

This November, Hilton Garden Inn is launching an Ironing Club for guests, in response to two-thirds of Brits opting for ironing over yoga or meditation in a bid to relax.

Hilton Garden Inn (which welcomes guests at over 800 midscale hotels around the world) investigated Brits' simple pleasures and was surprised to discover ironing amongst the top. So much so, that over a third of those polled? (37 percent) are spending up to two hours a week at the ironing board, with 70 percent wishing they could spend more time to maximise the benefits.

Whilst some may regard it as a dreaded chore, 72 percent of Brits say ironing is their greatest simple pleasure, citing its strangely therapeutic qualities. Almost half (44 percent) say it's the satisfying smoothing of creases, whilst 43 percent say it's the permission to stand still for a while, coupled with the repetitive motion of the iron. Meanwhile, 40 percent say the soothing sound of the steam is what really does it for them.

In response to this, Hilton Garden Inn has launched a special Ironing Club, designed to help guests use their stay to decompress, whilst handily ironing out their packed clothes in the process. Hilton Garden Inn will be launching its first session at Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow Airport as a pilot ahead of a wider UK rollout.

The Ironing Club will be led by Relaxation Expert Emma Wells, who will be leading a series of ironing moves, all of which have been trialled amongst staff to assess their effectiveness. These include breathing in time with the iron, gliding it in slow-motion, inhaling the smell of fresh laundry and ironing in sync, to smooth out particularly deep creases.

The first 30-minute session will be held on Sunday 18th November at 11.30am, perfectly timed to set attendees up for a stress-free week. Guests are encouraged to wear loose, comfortable clothing, and pyjamas are welcome. Soothing music will be played throughout and lunch will be laid on for when they're finished - the perfect antidote to a busy week.

Tal Shefer, Brand Head, Hilton Garden Inn, EMEA, says, "We know that today's modern travellers are looking for unique ways to unwind. Our research reveals that ironing is one of the nation's top simple pleasures, alongside enjoying freshly-brewed coffee and a lie-in. At Hilton Garden Inn, we're happy to say we've got guests covered for delivering on life's most simple pleasures."

Hilton Garden Inn Heathrow's Ironing Club is free and open to the public, and a slot can be booked via Eventbrite. For further information, email [email protected].

The top five surprising simple pleasures were ranked as follows:

1. Ironing - 72 percent

2. Folding towels - 56 percent

3. Pairing socks - 48 percent

4. Packing/unpacking clothes - 43 percent

5. Tidying - 33 percent

About Hilton

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 18 world-class brands comprising more than 6,800 properties and more than 1 million rooms, in 122 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed more than 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, earned a top spot on the 2021 World's Best Workplaces list and been recognized as a global leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for five consecutive years. In 2021, in addition to opening more than one hotel a day, Hilton introduced several 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 nearly 128 million 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 newsroom.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.