The Grand Hyatt San Francisco started its wellness concierge program in June as a way to connect guests to their favorite (or a new) workout while on the road. “The concierges are already offering tips and coordination for everything from seeing a musical to touring Alcatraz, so it was a natural fit to start assisting guests in seeking out physical activities,” explains Anne Sullivan, chief concierge. “We can schedule a class at SoulCycle, direct guests to the nearest CrossFit, or book a session with a private trainer.”
Why is it important for a property to have a wellness concierge on staff? We began to notice that it’s increasingly important for guests to incorporate some kind of physical activity into their stay, whether it’s for business or for pleasure. Guests coming from out of town look to the concierge to help them navigate all the different options in the city, and we’re happy to help them figure out what will be the best fit.
What key qualities and experience should the concierge have? First and foremost, an intimate knowledge of the city is a must. From how to get there to what to wear, it’s important to be informed on the unique intricacies of each activity. A passion for understanding our guests’ needs is important as well. Everyone is different, and the concierge really must dig deep to determine what will make the guest feel the most fulfilled.
What are the most common requests from guests? It varies depending on the workout trends of the moment, but we’ve seen everything from bootcamp to Bikram yoga. Commonly guests want to know what kind of workout they can do for free, so we give them a few different hiking options. A more unique request came from a guest looking to try his hand at open water swimming in the bay, so we sent him to an instructional clinic in Aquatic Park.
How can you cater to today’s millennial guests who may be pushing the envelope with fitness? We love getting out-of-the-box requests. Younger guests especially like to seek out fitness activities that are a little bit more challenging and unusual, so we make sure that we’re prepared to offer them some of the city’s most up-and-coming workouts. That can be a surfboard yoga class or an old-school hip-hop class—anything that keeps them interested and active.
