Thousands of damp, hurried travelers undressed through security and rushed through Terminal B in the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, only to find that all flights were delayed at the end of this work week. With patience short and rudeness high, we were herded from gate to gate as the blue and white screen shouted “Cancelled” or “Delayed” due to the heavy rains throughout the East. The scattered Delta Sky Clubs were filled to capacity and declined even the privileged guests while all of the airport restaurants were standing room only. Hurdling over travelers without chairs, I bumped into young troops wearing Army fatigues who cheered when their flight was delayed as if onlookers should decipher a hidden message. As common as this scene is to frequent travelers, it usually ruins a Friday night.
While trying to decide between beer or ice cream, I stumbled upon my own private cloud in Concourse B, next to Gate B15 while waiting for my flight. Like a tranquil haven, a small business called Minute Suites welcomed me into their silent sanctuary. Minute Suites offer private, 7 ft. by 8 ft. rooms that can be used to nap, relax, or work. In less than a minute, the friendly staff sold me a one-hour timeslot. Once inside my private suite, with self-controlled temperature adjustments, I cozied into a comfortable daybed for an energizing nap with a real pillow and comforter (both freshly cleaned). With the door closed, the chaos of Terminal B ceased. My short powernap was enhanced by their NAP26 audio that uses binaurual beats to train the brain to relax and to awaken without the risk of grogginess. After about 30 minutes, I gradually awoke to a gentle hush and envisioned a secluded beach and gentle waves. I finally sat up, turned up the dimmed lights and checked my flight status using Minute Suite’s high speed Internet access and computer. Even the message stating that my flight had been delayed another two hours didn’t bother me now. With a renewed energy after a nap and some total silence, I gave the remote control a spin through the hundreds of satellite TV stations to find some news. While airline clubs offer comfortable seating, business services and snacks, they don’t provide private beds, pillows, TVs and silence that are sometimes desperately needed.
Designed by physicians and healthcare professionals, Minute Suites offer a secure, dark and quite environment to encourage napping and the use of binaural beat audio technology as a sleep aid for travelers. The Atlanta facility, opened in November 2009, is the first of its kind in the United States. Similar private spaces are available in international airports. At $30 for the first hour, it was worth every dollar after experiencing a busy week, a long day and numerous flight delays. For those who want a private, small meeting facility, Minute Suites provides additional chairs that can be added to the suite.
When my hour at Minute Suites ended, I reentered the swarm of smelly, frustrated travelers with a renewed vigor as if I had changed into army fatigues and was off to conquer my path back to Newark.
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Debi has the following designations:
· Wharton Aresty Executive Education/National Business Travel Association (NBTA) Global Leadership Professional (GLP)
· Meeting Professionals International Certificate in Meetings Management (CMM)
· Convention Industry Council Certified Meeting Professional (CMP)
· NBTA Corporate Travel Expert (CTE)
· Six Sigma Green Belt
· Chauncey Certified Technical Trainer (CTT)
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