To be competitive today, a property must flex its muscles and invest in gym equipment — items that will pay back the investment with long-term reliability and customer satisfaction
A decade ago, a comprehensive gym in a hotel may have been viewed as a luxury — or even excess.
But as consumers around the world have become more demanding, so hotels have had to step up their product; today, a fitness centre is an imperative part of the hospitality experience.
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Le Méridien Al Aqah assistant recreation manager Kasun Kannangara points out that, in an age where health and wellness has become a hot topic, it’s “essential for a world-class resort to have a gym that reflects its standards”.
And with a modern focus on health as well as wealth, the business traveller will end up using the gym just as much as a leisure guest would do.
Pullman Dubai Mall of the Emirates spa manager Malvina Moula expands: “Business travellers are always on the road. They are a new generation who equate being healthy with being successful”.
And for hotels that wish to attract a slice of this market, it’s essential to provide the right facilities for this generation of hotel guests to use.
Furthermore, for many properties in the Middle East, it’s not just about in-house guests: Mövenpick Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel assistant front office manager Mohamed Hemmid points out that many hotels have a significant number of local resident members, as well.
The result is that the time when a hotel gym involving a treadmill and some weights is long gone.
Now, new technology and classic service are ensuring the best hotels boast gyms that often compete with standalone fitness centres.
As Four Seasons Beirut spa supervisor Charbel Watfa explains: “A gym’s range and standard of equipment plays a very big role in attracting users; ultimately, every person that goes there expects to find all equipment they need”.
And Jacques Reynders, recreation manager at Al Bustan Rotana Dubai, notes that it’s a highly competitive market.
“You need to be up-to-date not only with fitness trends and classes, but also with the equipment you provide,” he says.
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