Next Stop: Wellness
“Hi! I just checked in and I want to feel worse after I leave.” Said no hotel guest ever.
In fact, the pendulum keeps swinging way over in the other direction and sticking there. Guests are not just looking for a clean, comfortable place to stay with restaurant options and proximity to destinations, they are actively seeking hotels with wellness programs.
Their goal? To partner a vacation or work obligation with a built-in regiment that makes them feel better while they’re there. And it’s all about personalizing the options.
Holistic Fitness
Some hotels, like EVEN, offer a fitness area in each room. Many others, like Hilton, partner with nearby providers to point their guests in the direction of dozens of choices for yoga, barre classes, or outdoor adventures. Some hotels, like the Westin, will maximize unused spaces—like a rooftop, spare room, or terrace—and bring in a schedule of wellness activities.
“Freer” Freebies
Wellness-themed hotel rooms, equipped with yoga mats and fitness channels on the TV are also on the rise. Lotions, shampoos, and soaps: Please make way for some new finds on the countertop. This changing landscape of hospitality spa products is focusing on natural elements and sustainability. Water bottles, healthy snacks, and on-site bike racks abound.
Air Quality
In a recent article in U.S. News and World Report, hotels that are LEED-certified (that use less water and energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions) often address air quality, too—a big bonus for health-conscious guests. Smart-glass windows can be used to tint based on weather. And at the MGM Grand “wake-up light therapy exposes guests to short periods of blue-shaded lighting to both increase energy and help reduce the effects of jetlag, along with LED nightlights that provide light without disturbing melatonin levels.” Talk about a sleep-conscious hotel.
Curious to explore more? This recent article in the LA Times details some hotel wellness programs near and far. Bottom line—it’s a wide, wide world, and there are more and more ways to make a guest’s stay well-balanced. Here at Distinguished, we’re watching hotels combine personal wellness choices while implementing on-site sustainability, and it’s a good sign of the times.
