Stay Healthy on the Road - Hotels Respond to Travelers' Demand

President Obama was caught on tape working out in a hotel during a trip to Poland. Leaving politics aside, this video shows Obama is just like many other travelers: They all work out in a hotel gym.

According to a 2012 survey conducted by TripAdvisor with over 1,400 U.S. travelers, healthy eating and exercise have played an important role in Americans' vacation. Sixty-nine (69) percent mentioned healthy eating is important during vacation, and 53 percent said they always or often do exercise while they travel.

I am glad to see the industry is responding to what travelers want. Many hotel brands have already updated their workout facilities through renovations and/or re-branding. Today, travelers can easily find up-to-date equipment in a large workout room in hotels. There are also websites that are specifically developed for hotel gym reviews (e.g., HotelGymReview.com). My recent stay at the Hilton Portland and Executive Tower was a great example.

So, what should hotels do to respond to travelers' demand for healthy lifestyle? I made the following suggestions on MultiBriefs.com:

Make sure all existing machines, equipment and swimming pools are working properly. Because travelers are more likely to use the workout facilities in hotels now, any problem would trigger complaints or dissatisfaction.
Purchase small equipment that is designed for in-guestroom workout activities, together with a training kit (or DVD/app) for those exercises, both of which can be checked out by hotel guests.
Renovate the old workout facilities if budget allows.
Research the neighborhood and provide directions to hiking and jogging trails, as well as walking and biking tours.
Partner with a local gym to provide additional full-service workout service.
When marketing a hotel, highlight a property's state-of-art workout facilities if applicable.

What else should be included in the list?

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