Recently, Globe and Mail – a Canadian publication, published a list of the Top 10 Healthy Trends of Hotels. If you’ve stayed at a Westin recently, you may have noticed their “running buddy” program and their 3- and 5- mile running course cards in the lobby. Yet, Westin isn’t the only brand getting on the healthy band-wagon: The hospitality industry continues to make improvements in healthy offerings for frequent travelers.
Although many properties have a long way to go in making travel a healthy experience, it is good to know that the industry is making it a priority. Here are Globe and Mail’s top 10 healthy hotel trends that we can look forward to in the New Year:
- Rockstar Hours, Star Trainers: Hotels are now offering 24 hour fitness options and “always-on-cal” private training sessions.
- Branded Spas: Spas, such a Americspa, ESPA and Exhale are expanding into the hospitality market and setting up shop in various properties, including Fairmont Battery Wharf in Boston and Kimpton’s Epic Hotel in Miami.
- Healing Focus: Hotels are also looking at providing healing and wellness programs that go beyond the traditional pampering. Services include acupuncture and hypno-therapy.
- Medicinal Meals: Organic food is one thing, but hotels are becoming more attuned to travelers with health issues. They are customizing menus to address digestive problems, diabetes, cardiac disease and hypertension.
- Faster Fitness and “Spa Tapas”: Business travelers don’t have much time, and so, hotels are creating express spa and fitness offerings to help business travelers maximize their down-time.
- Hypoallergenic Rooms: Hotels are creating “hypoallergenic” rooms for those with especially sensitive systems. Plus, freshstay.com tracks those properties that are smoke-free.
- Saltwater Swimming: Hotels are going chlorine-free and implementing saltwater pools which are not only therapeutic, but much less harsh on skin and hair.
- Bicycles: In lieu of loaning cars to guests, hotels are offering bicycles as a way to get around town.
- Tech-Assisted Sweat: Workouts are getting high-tech with fully-loaded media options on cardio equipment, including personal TVs and iPod Docks. Further, hotels are providing new high-tech equipment, such as the Power Plate at Sheraton, which gives guests the option of a sweat-free workout.
- Full Service: Whether you’ve forgotten your sneakers or are in desperate need of a gym-clothes wash, hotels are providing services to guests to make their workouts stress-free. Further, some properties are providing “private workout rooms” to allow guests to exercise in private.
What healthy travel services have you seen hotels offering? Any that you’d like to share?
Source: Globe and Mail
