Up and Running Blog

Here's a Startup Idea–Sleeping in Airports

by Tim Berry on July 16, 2008

Today’s New York Times includes a story by Sharon McDonnell called “Snoozing at the Terminal”:

“Sleeping overnight in [the] airport has become enough of a phenomenon that it has inspired one recent novel, Dear American Airlines. The author, Jonathan Miles, said he was spurred to write the book after an unscheduled overnight stay at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.

An unscheduled overnight stay at a German airport inspired one business traveler, Frank Giotto, the president of Fiber Instrument Sales in Oriskany, New York, to create the Mini Motel, a one-person tent complete with air mattress, pillow, reading light, alarm clock and pillow (which he now sells for $39.95).

Asked what airports would think of a tent city of his Mini Motels, Mr. Giotto expressed confidence.

‘People sleeping in chairs don’t seem to bother them,’ he said. ‘We could be forcing the airports to come up with a solution to respond to the tremendous need.’”

About Tim Berry

Tim Berry

Tim Berry is the founder of Palo Alto Software, a co-founder of Borland International, and a recognized expert in business planning. Tim is the originator of plan-as-you-go business planning. He has an MBA from Stanford and degrees with honors from the University of Oregon and the University of Notre Dame. Today, Tim dedicates most of his time to blogging, teaching, and evangelizing for business planning. His full biography is available on his blog.

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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }

Frank Newcomb July 25, 2008 at 3:07 pm

Where can you find the airport sleeping tent by Fiber Instrument Sales? I always sleep in airports when I travel. I’ve tried their web site and everywhere else. I can’t find where I can buy one. Help.

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