BETHESDA, Md.—Element Hotels, part of Marriott International, is refreshing its Bikes to Borrow program by partnering with Priority Bicycles, a New York City-based company known for its high-quality, low maintenance bicycles. Custom-branded Element Priority Bicycles and safety helmets will be available for guest use free of charge in all 25 Element Hotels across the United States beginning in February.
Both Priority Bicycles and Element Hotels promote accessible wellness and fitness. The partnership aims to make a healthy, balanced lifestyle more achievable for travelers. “Our properties allow guests to continue to live well while they’re on the road, and our Bikes to Borrow program has always been a big part of that,” says Marlon Whyte, senior global brand director, Element Hotels. “Working with like-minded brands such as Priority Bicycles is very important to Element Hotels, and we’re excited to be able to offer guests a refresh to this amenity that helps them both stay fit and do their bit for the environment.”
Element Hotels’ custom-branded fleet is made up of signature Element green-colored Priority Classic Plus NeverFlat bikes with custom decals, an ultralight rustproof aluminum frame, grease-free belt drive in place of a standard chain, and completely airless tires. The comfort-oriented, low-maintenance design ensures the bicycles are always ready to ride for Element guests and makes the experience of borrowing bikes hassle-free for both riders and hotel staff.
As a part of a suite of fitness facilities on site at Element Hotels, such as saline swimming pools and the brand’s Motion Fitness Centers, this new collaboration will provide Element Hotels guests with another way to maintain their fitness regime while also getting around their destination city with a lower carbon footprint.
“Being away from home can disrupt healthy routines, so our team is excited to be a part of the Element Hotels experience that’s focused on making wellness accessible,” says David Weiner, founder and CEO of Priority Bicycles. “We’ve developed a custom model specifically for this partnership, the Classic Plus NeverFlat, that allows guests to get some exercise, explore the city while on vacation, or grab a quick relaxing ride between meetings.”
To mark the collaboration, NYC lifestyle and fitness blogger Christine Bibbo will be custom-curating a bike map for her home base, New York City. The map will include Christine’s favorite wellness spots that are bike-accessible so that guests can explore the city in a healthy and sustainable way. Resident fitness gurus will also be curating localized maps for some of the other U.S. cities where Element Hotels are located, such as Seattle and Austin. The maps will be available for guests to download from the Element Hotels website to their mobile devices in an effort to reduce paper use, making it easy to navigate the route on the move. Christine’s map will be available beginning in February.
“At the start of a New Year, there’s never been a better time to get out on your bike and experience all New York City has to offer in a healthy and sustainable way,” says Christine Bibbo. “I’m super excited to be curating the first of Element Hotels’ wellness bike routes, which will make it easy and fun for guests to stick to their health and fitness regime even while they’re on the road.”
