Getting Fit on the Road Just Got Even Easier

If you love to work out regularly but are often on the road for business, you know how tough it can be to sneak in your routine workouts. Well the hospitality industry has finally received the hint and is taking action to make your life healthier and easier when traveling.

This realization sparked the launch last summer of EVEN, a wellness-focused hotel chain owned by the InterContinental Hotels Group. These types of fitness and wellness hotels are more than just the latest trend to hit the industry; they’re becoming a necessity for hotels to stay relevant and competitive.. After all, traveling creates higher stress and fatigue when ones mental and physical fitness for successful business related activities is most important.

EVEN isn’t the only hotel chain to notice this need. Multiple hotel chains have started to accommodate fitness-oriented travelers: TRYP by Wyndham (part of Wyndham Worldwide Corp.) has provided guests with fitness rooms since 2010. The Westin brand (owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.) launched runWESTIN . This is a program that provides individual and group guests with a concierge who leads local three to five mile run routes. Recently runWestin partnered with New Balance for a workout gear, thus sidestepping guests resistance to working out if they forgot their required gear..

And now that the buzz is catching on, new players are entering the hospitality industry. Upscale fitness companies like Equinox and Soul Cycle are taking their programs to hotels around the country. According to Travel and Leisure, Soul Cycle is opening a 2,600-square-foot facility in the brand new “1” Hotel South Beach in Miami Beach. The facility will include a 54-bike studio, locker rooms, and an apparel boutique.

Equinox is going a step further. The company plans to launch a luxury hotel brand, where each hotel will have its own Equinox club. Designed by Yabu Pushelberg, Equinox will provide guests with everything from personalized one-on-one in-room training, to a restaurant serving nutritionist-approved options, juice bars, and even apparel. The Wall Street Journal reported that the company expects to open its flagship hotel in 2018 in New York City at Hudson Yards. Future locations will include Los Angeles, London, and Miami.

But these hotels won’t simply be about providing gym access to guests. Instead, they’re planning to offer full wellness experiences that will include massage, yoga, meditation and healthy eating programs and offerings.

The trend is building because the demand is louder than ever – so what’s your favorite on-the-go fitness routine or program? Share your findings with us on Twitter @SmartCars1 using hashtag #roadwarrior. To your health!