A recent study by Cornell Center for Hospitality Research found that even though 46 percent of U.S. travelers intend to hit the hotel fitness center when they book their stay, only 22 percent actually do so. At most luxurious hotels, the disparity tends to be greater—more than half plan to use the gym and just 20 percent follow through.
While the study doesn’t provide an explanation of the disconnect, it’s possible that once travelers leave their homes behind, it becomes tempting to ditch their home routines as well. Below are a few of the ways that hotels and resorts are incorporating technology and innovative fitness trends to keep travelers on track to accomplish their everyday fitness goals.
Charging ahead with stationary kinetic bikes. Guests can literally get a charge out of their exercise routine at Element Boston Seaport by using a stationary kinetic bike in the fitness center that powers their personal electronics while they pedal. The hotel also provides a virtual personal trainer via the Your Trainer app, with three Element-branded workouts: Circuit: Whole Body Blast; Yoga: Rise & Yoga; and Strength: Energized by Element.
Yoga fusion in the desert. Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa in Paradise Valley, Ariz., has recently added new classes to its yoga lineup that combine various disciplines. Vinyasa Reformer combines yoga and pilates to challenge the core and improve balance, coordination, and posture through movements that flow and are synchronized to each breath. Restorative Yoga with Live Music is led by professional musician and yoga instructor Jason Graves. Graves’ soft melodies soothe and ease the mind, while light stretching increases flexibility and circulation. TRX Yoga fuses yoga with TRX training, challenging gravity through downward yoga poses with arms and legs suspended. The class is designed to increase focus, balance, flexibility, strength, and proprioception.
Spiraling into control with Pacific Ocean views. Fitness-minded guests of Pebble Beach Resorts in California can participate in a fitness program at The Studio at The Beach & Tennis Club that combines classic pilates and the Gyrotonic Expansion System. While Pilates promotes joint stability and core strength through controlled linear movements, the Gyrotonic system employs special apparatus to improve strength, flexibility, and posture, and enhance mental awareness through rotation and spiraling movements. The program adds views of the Pacific Ocean to enhance the experience.
A gym to launch 1,000 workouts. Travelers can try a new workout every day of their stay at Marriott Syracuse Downtown through a partnership with Fitness on Demand, the new Marriott hotel that opened in a landmark 1924 building in 2016. The program offers guests a state-of-the-art fitness experience with an interactive library of more than 1,000 solo and group classes that they can call up 24 hours a day. The classes are projected onto a 65” screen and include dancing workouts, zumba, and meditation, among others. The hotel also offers equipment by Life Fitness, a SYNRGY 360 cross-training outlet, and downtown views from the top-floor fitness center.
Photo by Scott Campbell.
