Thu, July 08, 2010
Reviving the Latin American tradition of the afternoon siesta, a hotel in Argentina brings siesta to the corporate workforce
Once a staple in Latin America, the afternoon siesta's popularity has steadily dwindled in the region's business centres.
But in the Argentinean capital Buenos Aires, a new kind of hotel aims to revive the tradition: it caters exclusively to power nappers.
At the Selfishness Hotel, clients are encouraged to drift off for up to 45 minutes before returning to their jobs.
According to Selfishness' director Viviana Vega, power naps can be very beneficial:
"Power naps are siestas which are short and which have objectives and timings different to just any siesta, which is usually taken after lunch. [Power naps are aimed at] avoiding tiring during the work day, increasing your productivity and your performance, and they also can reduce stress and promote optimum cardiovascular performance. The person becomes more alert than the person who is drowsy and who is slow to react."
Vega seems to be on to something. Her clients swear by their new routine.
Rodrigo Rocco, public relations manager and power napper:
"Since I start this healthy practice I realized that I am performing better at work, that I have time to realize more events or more productions for the magazine and I think it really works for me."
But the cost of sleep doesn't come cheap: one visit to Selfishness costs 100 pesos, around $30, a pretty penny for an average Argentinian.
Travis Brecher, Reuters
