The “pillow menu” is considered a sign of luxury in many hotels. However, while traditional hotels often use memory foam (a polyurethane-based chemical mixture) or other synthetic materials, eco-friendly hotels are consciously taking a different approach. Hotels in the Green Pearls® network opt for natural materials, regional manufacturers, and genuine individuality when it comes to pillows.

We asked around our network to find out: What kind of pillows are discerning guests sleeping on today—and how are sustainable hotels addressing this issue?

What is a pillow menu, and is it necessary for a hotel to have one?

A pillow menu (i.e., the option to choose different types of pillows) is not mandatory. According to the Hotelstars Union’s criteria catalog, it is considered an “extended service.” For three-star hotels it can be considered a comfort feature. For those with four stars or more, options for individualization are increasingly expected. In practice, however, it is often sustainable hotels that voluntarily offer a wider selection of pillows — not for prestige, but for their guests’ comfort.

Sleep your way at the Green City Hotel Vauban, Freiburg

At the Green City Hotel Vauban, they believe that sleep is a deeply personal matter. Hotel manager Johannes Staub and receptionist Kristine Staub sum it up:

“Pillows are very personal; every guest has their own preferences, so we decided to offer a wide selection of specialty pillows.”Gäste können zwischen verschiedenen Varianten wählen – darunter Nackenkissen,

Neck rolls, side sleeper pillows, and classic feather pillows. In true host fashion, the Staubs explain:

„For our regular guests, we put their preferred pillows in their rooms before they arrive.“ – Green City Hotel Vauban

A pillow menu with bedtime treats at the Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten

At the Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten on the Moselle, sleep is approached with warmth and a sense of humor. Each room comes standard with one 40×80 cm pillow and two 40×40 cm pillows per person. If you want more, you can choose from a selection of additional pillows — from neck supports and ergonomic pillows to allergy-friendly pillows.

One particularly charming feature is the option to order a cherry pit pillow that is warmed up for you before bedtime. “Please don’t laugh,” says Tina Meier, the resident manager who has worked at the hotel for over 13 years. “We usually warm up the cherry pit pillows in our wood-fired sauna.” As an added bonus: after your stay, you can take the cherry pit pillow home with you.

Another luxury is the “Betthupferl,” a bedtime treat. The term is deeply rooted in Bavarian-Austrian culture and traditionally refers to a small gift given before bedtime. Tina explains what it means in the Moselle region:

„A “Betthupferle” is a small, sweet treat, such as a gummy bear or a piece of chocolate.” – Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten
 

Natural pillows with character at Hotel Luise, Erlangen

At the Hotel Luise, the pillow menu is an integral part of the service—and greatly appreciated by guests. The selection is consistently sustainable. Among other options, the hotel offers spelt pillows from certified organic cultivation, relaxation pillows filled with millet husks and wild herbs, seaweed pillows, and combination pillows made with wool balls and millet husks.

Many of the pillows are from the speltex® brand, whose natural fillings are popular with guests:

„People often ask us where they can purchase the pillows.“ – Hotel Luise

A nice compliment—and a sign that people like to bring the comforts of a hotel home with them.

Pillows made from certified materials

In addition to these three examples, the Green Pearls® network offers a wide variety of sustainable pillow concepts:

• Naturresort Gerbehof — Organic Hotel on Lake Constance
  Here, guests can choose from spelt, Swiss stone pine, herbal, and energy pillows. The pillows are sourced from Himmelgrün in Vorarlberg — regional, transparent, and with a clear focus on natural materials.
• Hotel Bella Vista, Zermatt
  This sustainable boutique hotel in Switzerland offers minimalist, high-quality, milled, spelt and hypoallergenic pillows that are perfectly suited to the alpine surroundings. And if you stay in the Sky Lounge, you’ll sleep under a skylight with a view of the Matterhorn.
• STURM, Mellrichstadt (Rhön)
  Guests sleep on down bedding from the Seibersdorfer brand, which has been awarded the „Glückliche Gänse“ (Happy Geese) guarantee. There is no live plucking, and the animals are raised in a way that is appropriate for their species. Thanks to the NOMITE seal, the bedding is also suitable for people with dust mite allergies.
• SANDnature, Timmendorfer Strand
  Just a few meters from the beach of the Baltic Sea, the hotel relies on COCO-MAT. The basic setup includes the “Morfeas” pillow, and additional options can be easily ordered via app — modern yet consistently natural.

When choosing a pillow becomes a little ritual: Hotel Das Rübezahl in the Allgäu region

At the Hotel Das Rübezahl, the pillow menu is an invitation to take a moment to relax. Sitting on the bed, perhaps with twilight already falling over the Allgäu Mountains outside, you read through the selection:

Would I like something supportive today? Something fragrant? Something that helps me relax? (A look at the pillow menu at Hotel Das Rübezahl)

The decision is not an easy one. There are millet pillows filled with lavender and hops; Swiss stone pine pillows, which, according to old folk wisdom, are said to promote deeper sleep; and herbal pillows filled with mint, mountain herbs, and spelt husks. Each pillow telling a story—about plants, scents, and regeneration.

All pillows are made by Himmelgrün, a manufacturer. Guests particularly appreciate their quality and pleasant scent, which subtly accompanies sleep.

Good sleep requires more than just a pillow: My Arbor, South Tyrol

Finally, let’s take a look at the adults-only Hotel My Arbor, which makes one thing clear: a pillow menu is important, but it should never be viewed in isolation. Here, too, guests can choose from down, hypoallergenic, and neck support pillows. However, the overall concept is what matters most.

Guests sleep on high-quality box-spring beds with Simmons mattresses complemented by fine bed linens cared for with a special, skin-friendly detergent. Everything works together — from the pillow to the mattress and from the scent to the feel of the fabric.

„Our concern is not only with comfort, but also with genuine regeneration.“ – My Arbor

It’s a statement we can only agree with. To learn more about this holistic approach, read our article on sleeping comfort in green hotels and vacation homes.

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