Bulgari Hotels in Milan and London, for example, offer one-on-one fitness workshops, including assisted stretch therapy. ESPA Life at The Corinthia offers ‘Brain Power Packages’ comprising neuroscientist-designed bedrooms, menus and spa treatments to boost brain performance.
At Miraval Resorts, wellness programs include regenerative treatments such as group-healing sound bath sessions and massages by suspended silk ropes. Luxury resort group Six Senses offers a holistic wellness plan that begins with guests receiving a biometric analysis with suggestions for lifestyle changes and resort facilities to try. Rooms are designed with a sleep doctor to provide the perfect night’s rest, including an upgrade to consult with a ‘sleep ambassador’ who can additionally personalise the room to its occupant’s needs.
Other hotels focus on offering medical assessments followed by bespoke culinary and fitness regimes to improve their results. “Wellness facilities, whether it’s a yoga class or more medically-focused therapy, enhances the overall experience of a hotel and makes for a more memorable stay,” Vucinic says. And what’s more, investing in stylish facilities can pay off; the GWI estimates that wellness travellers spend 130 percent more than typical guests.
Right now it’s mainly upscale and luxury hotel groups that are offering therapeutic experiences but even mid-range hotels are beginning to offer in-room wellness amenities such as vitamin C-infused showers and dawn-simulation lighting.
According to Vucinic “it’s all about implementing a little more of a health program. It doesn’t have to be a huge, expensive redesign but there is a need for trained staff to conduct classes or to consult with guests.” Hyatt Hotels, for example, recently brought some of that knowledge base in-house by acquiring the spa brand Exhale in order to enhance its wellness offering.
Well-planned wellness services can be the defining features that set some hotels apart from their competitors. “In addition to physical features and overall service levels, luxury hotels used to stand out by enhancing their food and beverage offerings but they’re now looking to also upgrade other amenities, including spa and wellness facilities, where they see good opportunities to differentiate themselves,” Vucinic concludes. And with a boom in wellness tourism on the horizon and evidence that wellness travellers will pay a lot more than the average Joe, what on earth have hoteliers got to lose?