How Certifying a Hotel’s Wellness Bonafides Could Shake Up the Industry

As more and more hotels begin to offer wellness perks to guests, it’s becoming harder to stand out from the pack.

All the wellness claims can be a pain point for some hotels, especially those properties undergoing multimillion dollar renovations to appeal to health-oriented travelers. After all, adding more green spaces, high-end air purifiers, and Peloton bikes comes at a price. Other hotels, meanwhile, may offer a one-off wellness bonus, like an essential oil at check-in, and declare themselves a wellness property.

So, to get credit for a big wellness investment, some hotels are now looking into the WELL Building Standard certification, as Skift contributor Laura Powell reports below. The question now is whether enough hotels will get on board — and pay up — to make the certification meaningful. The other big question: Will customers actually care? Some may appreciate the added layer of legitimacy and be more inclined to book with such properties. Others may not even notice — which is where good marketing must come in.

Speaking of hotel wellness perks, Hyatt is announcing an exclusive partnership with Headspace, giving guests access to meditation and mindfulness content via in-room TVs. We’re watching as Hyatt and other companies pile on wellness perks for travelers — and waiting to see which go through with the certification process. Will the WELL Building Standard have the potential to impact wellness travel in a big way? We’re leaning toward yes.

For feedback or news tips, reach out via email at [email protected] or tweet me @lesliebarrie.

— Leslie Barrie, Luxury & Wellness Editor

Six looks at luxury & wellness

Are Hotels Ready for Wellness Certification? As the new decade begins, it’s becoming more apparent to the travel industry that the well-being of the individual is intrinsically tied to the well-being of the environment. That’s why we are starting to see hospitality companies looking into getting certified for wellness.

Hyatt’s Partnership With Headspace Elevates Wellness Strategy: Hyatt Hotels is teaming up with meditation and wellness company Headspace to help its guests and employees lead healthier lives while traveling and working. Is this the way to gain their hearts and minds?

A Wish List for Hospitality and Travel in 2020: In 2020, the stakes for innovation and being customer-centric are higher than ever. Here are some gaps, opportunities, and much-needed prescriptions to improve travel and hospitality.

Instagram and Google Maps Contribute to Hawaii Tourists Behaving Badly: Hawaii, with its isolated location, fragile ecosystem, and deep-rooted local culture, faces even more problems with overtourism than most popular destinations do. Tourism marketers are looking at ways to manage the situation, but it’s a huge challenge.

MGM Resorts Enters Deal With Private Equity Giant Blackstone Over Las Vegas Properties: MGM Resorts has agreed to sell two of its most notable Las Vegas properties, MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay, to a joint venture including real estate giant Blackstone. The company is going asset-light following its sale of the Bellagio last year.

Carbon Footprint Impact Extends Way Beyond Flights Across All of a Vacation: New Study: It’s a very small sample size at a very small travel company, but this study points to a possible way forward for the travel industry. If consumers can get a better idea of the environmental impact of their vacations, they can then make more informed decisions.

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Leslie Barrie [[email protected]] curates the Skift Luxury & Wellness Travel Report. Skift emails the newsletter every Thursday.