For those guests who would rather do the workout routines in the comfort of their guestrooms rather than the fitness center, Hilton has created the Five Feet to Fitness program where fitness equipment is brought into the guestroom.
The program is part of the company’s focus on wellness, which has been heightened by the pandemic.
“As we continue facing the implications of the pandemic, one thing is clear: it has never been more important to care for yourself and those around you,” said Dino Michael, SVP and global category head, luxury brands at Hilton, who called Five Feet to Fitness “the biggest change in the fitness hospitality space in 20 years,” adding, “At Hilton, we want every visit to be suited for our guests’ wellness journey. That’s why, whether it be through spa and fitness amenities, food and beverage offerings or our overall hotel design, we’ve leaned into a holistic approach to better address the needs of our evolving world.”
The idea for the program, he noted, came from feedback from guests who wanted a more convenient wellness solution. “This type of room category makes it easier than ever for our road warriors, exercise enthusiasts and others to maintain their fitness routines while staying with us,” he said. “It allows our guests to pursue fitness using more than 11 different pieces of equipment and accessory options within only five feet from their bed—hence the name Five Feet to Fitness.”
The Five Feet to Fitness offerings, besides the equipment and accessories, include sports performance materials and a kiosk with a touch-screen display which offers training and tutorials on how to use each piece of equipment.
“We have created more than 200 bespoke guided fitness videos and exercise tutorials and more than 25 classes in categories ranging from cardio, cycling, endurance, strength, HIIT [high-intensity interval training], yoga, stretch and recovery, among others, to motivate guests through their workout,” said Michael.
There is also a Gym Rax storage bay in each room offering an array of fitness accessories, as well as the TRX workout system, which leverages gravity and bodyweight to perform hundreds of workouts, Michael noted, adding, “We also know indoor cycling appeals to a wide range of users and abilities, and the provided equipment delivers a distinctive feel of riding a road bike.”
Finally, there is a floor meditation chair which, Michael pointed out, “offers the perfect spot to get comfortable, breathe deeply and relax.”
Five Feet to Fitness rooms—which are offered at hotels such as the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner in McLean, VA; Parc 55 San Francisco – a Hilton Hotel; Hilton Anatole in Dallas; and Hilton Garden Inn Memphis Downtown—can be selected during the booking process or check-in based on availability.
Besides the in-room fitness program, Michael noted that Hilton has prioritized wellness in other areas.
“When it comes to hotel design, for example, we found that the overall aspect of biophilia (connecting with nature, natural materials and light) is incredibly important and helps to fight bacteria, as it blurs the lines of indoor and outdoor space,” he said. “We’ve also been introducing new menu items that highlight our chef’s ingenuity and expertise, while also solving for public health safety concerns and focusing on locally sourced and seasonal ingredients.”
