There’s no question about it: wellness travel is a booming industry. Over 17 million travellers identify with being health and wellbeing focused, and around 40% of these people frequently travel.
With this hyper-focus on health and wellbeing, it’s no surprise that the travel industry has begun taking notice and is working to update their offerings to promote wellness travel.
Why is traveller wellbeing so important you might ask? Last week, we highlighted the risks that business travel can have on employees. Frequent travel is linked to early ageing, lower immune systems, higher mental health problems, and more. However, these threats can be avoided by implementing a travel program that is more wellness travel-centric.
Now, uncover the North American hotels with the best rooms, gyms and spas. These hotels are guaranteed to relax, reenergize and revitalize even the most frequent of travellers. Be sure to check out these spots if ever you’re travelling in the area!
Relax: Restful Accommodations
It all starts with a soothing night of sleep. From mattresses and pillows, to blackout curtains and peaceful music, a good night’s sleep is the best way to recharge for the following day’s business meeting.
The Four Seasons Hotel, across the U.S.
The Four Seasons Hotel now has heat-absorbing mattresses that remain still even when guests toss and turn in their sleep. The rooms are completely soundproof, ensuring that guests won’t be interrupted by loud neighbours. The staff also have a special technique for sheet folding which allows guests to easily move their feet and never feel too constricted in their sheets.
MGM Grand Hotel, Nevada
Talk about wellness travel!
MGM’s Stay Well rooms boast air purification, Vitamin C infused showers, healthy menus, and soft lighting to minimize disruptions to guests’ circadian rhythms. These rooms also feature subtle red lighting in the evening so as to maintain melatonin levels, as well as dawn simulators to gently wake guests up in the morning.
Ritz-Carlton Toronto, Ontario
The rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Toronto feature humidifiers, blackout curtains, 400-thread count Italian linens, and a pillow menu. Yes, that’s right…a pillow menu! Options include shock-absorbing memory foam pillows, anti-allergen pillows, full body pillows, gel pillows, and neck rolls. And if you happen to fall in love with any of their mattresses and bedding, you’re able to purchase them online and continue the wellness experience in your own home.
Lorien Hotel & Spa, Virginia
The Lorien Hotel & Spa will make all your dreams come true. Literally. Guests will find a “Dream Button” on their hotel room phone which allows them to select from the Dream Service menu. The menu features essential oil diffusers to alleviate tension, calming bedtime books, and sleep masks to block out any disruptions. Bonus: the Lorien Hotel also has an extensive pillow menu!
Hotel Arts, Calgary
The rooms at the Hotel Arts are designed to ensure an easy sleep. All bedding is washed in hypoallergenic detergent, and rooms come equipped with high-quality duvets, individual temperature controls, blackout curtains and firm-soft pillows. We actually mean a double ended pillow, with a firm end and a soft end, saving guests from having to choose between the two.
Reenergize: Decked Out Gyms
Exercise promotes fantastic physical and mental health and is key to wellness travel. That’s why a fully equipped hotel gym is an absolute necessity when frequently travelling and ensures that travellers can maintain their health routine while on the road.
The Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa, Texas
The Houstonian Hotel’s main purpose is offering guests a unique health and fitness facility with programs and services that promote personal, physical and professional renewal. The club has over 30 personal trainers to assists guests, as well as a pool, and multiple indoor tracks and tennis courts. Also, the facility has more than 300 cardio and weight machines and aquatics classes.
Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver
The Shangri-La Hotel has a 5,000 square-foot fitness center which is open 24/7. The fitness center is equipped with cardio and strength-training equipment. And for those not into using fitness machinery, the center also has free weights, exercise balls and yoga mats. They even have a separate yoga, Pilates and aerobics studio.
Hilton Anatole Verandah Club, Texas
The Verandah Club is an award-winning fitness center –and for good reason.
Travellers can truly find it all in this facility: an indoor lap pool; outdoor pool, strength training room; cardio machines; basketball, squash and racquetball courts; boxing gym; kinesis training studio, and an indoor cycling studio. Fitness-enthusiasts are guaranteed to have the ultimate wellness travel experience at the Verandah Club!
Four Seasons Hotel, Toronto
This state-of-the-art fitness center is open and accessible 24/7 for hotel guests. The center is fully stocked with cardio and strength-training equipment as well as free weights. Bonus: if guests need to take a quick break and recharge, there is complimentary fruit and flavoured water on-site.
Wedgewood Hotel & Spa, Vancouver
Much like the other centers, The Wedgewood Hotel & Spa fitness facility houses cardio and strength-training equipment, as well as free weights. However, this facility also has an amazing eucalyptus steam room, perfect for relaxing and unwinding after an intense workout.
Revitalize: Ultra-Relaxing Spas
After a long day of travelling and meeting with clients, some time spent at the hotel spa is the ultimate way to reduce stress and focus on one’s physical and mental wellbeing.
Equinox Resort & Spa, Vermont
The Equinox Resort & Spa is known for their signature treatment: The Equinox Legend. This treatment is comprised of a skin analysis and facia, as well as a healing body wrap. These treatments are personalized with particular muds, seaweeds, salts, sugars, and fragrance oils based on the guest’s specific skin type.
Fairmont Banff Springs, Alberta
The Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Banff Springs is an award-winning facility and amazing promoter of wellness travel –and it’s easy to see why! Their treatments are inspired by natural elements, like the surrounding mineral springs that have attracted travellers to the area for a century. The spa’s treatments include personalized massages, facial and body treatments, as well as salon services. Guests can also access saunas and steam rooms to sit and sweat their worries away.
Regis Resort, Colorado
The St. Regis Resort located in Aspen, Colorado offers a luxurious spa experience. Their Remède Spa mixes science and nature to create a personalized treatment dedicated to guests’ minds and bodies. They also offer customized massages focused on overall relief. And, if you happen to travel internationally, check out their Iridium Spas, which are notorious for their tea ritual intended to bring peace and balance.
Four Seasons Resort Aviara, California
The Four Seasons Resort Aviara has the ultimate calming spa experience. Guests are able to select from an array of services, such as: massages, body treatments, facials and nail care. The best part? Their services combine organic and natural products with targeted treatment and therapy focused products. They even have a Hydrating Avocado Body Wrap, meant to strengthen skin and reduce signs of ageing.
The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto
Inspired by European techniques, the Ritz-Carlton’s Toronto Spa, Spa My Blend by Clarins, overlooks the Toronto skyline from the hotel’s fifth floor. The facility features personalized skin analysis services as well as custom product creation services. They also have an array of massage, facial and body treatments, on top of salon services.
At the end of the day, wellness travel is about making time to relax and take care of one’s mind and body. Booking accommodations that incorporate health and wellbeing into their offerings is just one of the many great ways to take care while on the road.
Let us know your favourite way to take care while travelling for business!
Sources:
- https://blog.sodexoengage.com/eight-statistics-that-define-the-state-of-wellness-tourism
- https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/best-hotels-for-sleep-in-the-us_us_561d44b2e4b050c6c4a3018b
- https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/11/06/best-hotels-for-sleep-canada_n_8490452.html
- https://www.fourseasons.com/toronto/services_and_amenities/fitness_facilities/
- https://travel.usnews.com/Hotels/review-Wedgewood_Hotel_Spa-Vancouver-Canada-13035/#fitness-headinghttps://www.theactivetimes.com/travel/us/best-hotel-gyms-us
- http://www.starwoodhotels.com/stregis/about/experiences-spa.html
- https://www.fourseasons.com/northsandiego/spa/
- http://www.travelandleisure.com/slideshows/top-25-us-canada-spas#19
- https://travel.usnews.com/Hotels/review-The_Ritz_Carlton_Toronto-Toronto-Canada-104757/
