Forget what you think you know about hotel gyms. Hotels and resorts around the world are creating high-end fitness centers and programs to answer the demands of travelers who want to maintain, and even improve, their fitness while on the road.
Recently, there has been a paradigm shift in the wellness industry. Just a few years ago, wellness might have referred solely to nutrition or relaxation. But today it means a myriad of components, encompassing healthy foods, workouts, digital detoxing and even sustainable practices, all under one umbrella. And we don’t just care about wellness at home; global wellness tourism is a booming market that, in 2017 (according to the Global Wellness Institute) generated $639.4 billion and is projected to reach $919.4 billion by 2022.
Not only has our approach to wellness changed, but it has changed the way hotels approach their amenities. Enter the hotel gym. Gone are the days of a small room with a treadmill and free weights; hotels and resorts are now attracting the health-focused traveler with sprawling fitness centers featuring personal trainers who can create robust itineraries at the snap of a finger, top-of-the-line equipment and hundreds of fitness classes. With this unique access, hotels are becoming a destination within a destination.
Aria Casino & Resort in Las Vegas has one of the most comprehensive fitness programs in the country. The resort enlisted the help of Italian technology-driven gym-equipment brand, Technogym, to outfit the hotel’s fitness center. Included in the new gym are the brand’s newest, most innovative offerings, including its smart-connected technology. The 6,000-sq-ft fitness center is appointed with Technogym’s sleek contemporary equipment, ambient lighting and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the pool area.
“Fitness is becoming a huge consumer trend,” Nerio Alessandri, founder and CEO of Technogym, exclusively tells Elite Traveler. “When it comes to fitness, people, especially the more sophisticated population of travelers staying at luxury hotels, are becoming more demanding. That’s why a quality hotel needs to offer state-of-the-art equipment both in terms of technology and style — the same kind of equipment people expect to find in the best fitness and sports centers.”
Hike at Red Rock Canyon, less than 30 minutes from Las Vegas
Technogym (which has been the official supplier of the Olympic Games since 2000) was one of the first gym companies in the world to digitize the fitness experience through its connected ecosystems of products, devices and apps, including the proprietary Mywellness app. The app is available to anyone who works out on Technogym equipment, and it allows you to sync your profile with any machine to track your progress, including your biometric data. Even those new to training can learn how to properly do exercises by watching demos on each machine’s HD LED screen. When you enter your personal data and fitness goals, the program will suggest how many reps to do and transfer that information to the app.
To give guests the most in-depth Technogym experience possible, a personal trainer at Aria will set up a customized workout plan for you using the app for the duration of your stay and beyond — meaning that your trainer doesn’t have to physically be with you to help you increase your level of fitness. Outside the confines of a gym, fitness can encourage you to explore, whether it’s a beach workout, run on the Thames or hiking Red Rock Canyon.
“Technogym really changes wellness on the road: While staying at hotels, users can keep up with their training programs, stay connected with their personal trainers, and take part in specific programs promoted by the hotel,” Alessandri says. “Thanks to Technogym, users can connect from the hotel gym — while they are on holiday or traveling for business — to their personal training program from their gym at home, or they can replicate on the treadmill their favorite outdoor run.”
Today, people are traveling more than ever before and are also more health-conscious. With hotels investing in enhanced fitness programs and amenities, it can be almost effortless to stay in shape while on the go.
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