We believe in creating a culture of wellness and cultivating positive, permanent lifestyle changes. That's why we were beyond thrilled to hear that one of our longtime clients, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), was launching the new EVEN™ Hotels, a brand that offers wellness-minded travelers a destination where they can maintain their healthy lifestyles when they're on the road. Whether they're on a work trip or enjoying a bit of PTO, these hotels are built with the guests' health in mind.
EVEN™ is based on four pillars of wellness: Eating Well, Resting Easy, Keeping Active and Accomplishing More. Each one of these components is addressed by wellness solutions within the hotel. In terms of nutrition, the hotel restaurants will offer healthy options like protein smoothies and quinoa wraps. Resting Easy really will be easy with "eucalyptus linens" and LED mood lighting to improve patrons' sleep. Keeping Active is one of the most obvious focuses; guests will walk into the hotel and see a 1,200-square-foot (or more) athletic studio covered in frosted glass so they can run and lift weights without worrying that they're putting on a show. It will be divided into three specialized zones for cardio, strength training and mat exercises. In addition to the public facilities, each room will feature a "training zone" and fitness kit to accommodate guests that prefer private workouts. As for Accomplishing More, EVEN™ will offer standing work surfaces, space in the rooms to stretch and exercise, and free high-speed Wi-Fi everywhere from their room to outdoors.
The driving force behind these new developments is based on market research, which demonstrated that 17 million wellness-minded U.S. travelers feel they "fall off the wagon" when they travel. From a corporate wellness perspective, it can be extraordinarily difficult to engage those employees that are on the road. A recent study from the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that from roughly 13,000 workers, those who traveled more than 20 nights a month were 2.61 times more likely to report they were in poor or fair health than those on the road one to six days a month. They were also 1.92 times as likely to be obese, a condition that can lead to diabetes and heart disease. It makes sense; for travelers, it's difficult to eat healthy when the available options are at airports or rest stops, and many hotels don't have a very high-quality fitness facility. Paired with the stress of long drives, late flights and constant exposure to new environments, it's no surprise that travel takes a toll on their health. With an EVEN™ hotel, employees will finally be able to travel and maintain healthy habits.
The first EVEN™ hotels are set to open this month in Norwalk, Conn., and Rockville, Maryland. Two more are set to open in midtown Manhattan next year.
Would you be willing to stay in an EVEN™ hotel? Comment below!
