Westin Hotels & Resorts continues its Westin Well-being Movement with the launch of Westin Wellness Escapes last month. Westin Wellness Escapes is an ongoing well-being series led by experts in the fields such as mindfulness meditation, nutrition, yoga and running at various properties throughout North America before being launched internationally.Â
The first of the series was hosted by health and fitness personality Holly Perkins, who was recently named the brand’s move well advocate. The inaugural event, Women’s Strength Nation LIVEretreat, was held at The Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter Hotel, April 10-12. The weekend-long event included tutorials, exercises and activities designed to help participants. The second event will be held at the soon-to-open The Westin Jekyll Island, May 16-17. runWESTIN Concierge Chris Heuisler will host a 24-hour triathlon recovery retreat for those participating in the Jekyll Island Turtle Crawl Triathlon. Participants will learn the importance of proper recovery following a race as well as participate in recovery activities and educational talks.Â
Westin will announce additional Westin Wellness Escapes throughout the year. Meeting planners can opt to bring attendees to one of the events, or they can work with Westin to organize their own wellness activities. Prevue spoke with Brian Povinelli, global brand leader for Westin, about the new wellness program and how groups staying at Westin properties can benefit from it.
Will meeting planners be able to work with Holly Perkins on organizing wellness programs at Westin properties?
Povinelli: Meeting planners can take advantage of Westin’s in-room fitness programming that Holly Perkins developed specifically for the brand as part of her role as our Well-being Council’s move well advocate. Available at the majority of hotels in our North American division, the 4.5-minute, strength-training workout videos consist of exclusive and engaging content focusing on tips and tricks for staying fit while traveling. The videos provide a comprehensive, equipment-free, 20-minute workout, which can easily be done individually or in a group setting. The videos are complimentary on-demand in hotel guest rooms in 80-plus hotels across the country as well as on Westin’s YouTube channels and westin.com/hollyperkins.
How do these Westin wellness programs stand out for groups compared to programs offered by other hotel brands?
When developing Westin Wellness Escapes, we found that travelers are increasingly seeking quick and effective wellness breaks instead of extended holidays for mind and body reboots, choosing more accessible options that offer a brief change of scenery, the chance to relax, and health-conscious activities. This applies to solo travelers as well as groups, who prefer to travel together for either business or pleasure. Westin is capitalizing on this growing trend with Westin Wellness Escapes to offer concise, thoughtfully organized itineraries for discerning, wellness-minded travelers. The new series is advantageous for corporate groups who might want to take advantage of this programming as each retreat is complete with teambuilding exercises, interactive workshops and group workouts that offer a quick and beneficial break from business.
How will these specific wellness programs offer teambuilding for groups?
Each Westin Wellness Escapes experience embraces a theme: the fields of mindfulness meditation, strength training, nutrition or running. Led by various experts and innovators, this range of variety appeals to the interests of all kinds of travelers and groups. Across the board, Westin Wellness Escapes is specially curated and designed to inspire healthy living and help attendees pursue well-being through collaborative workshops and robust itineraries of group wellness activities, including fitness classes, healthy cooking courses, panel discussions, seminars and other wellness activities.
What are some examples of brand-wide wellness activities available for groups?
From nutrition to fitness, meeting planners can offer attendees everything from the SuperFoodsRx reinvigorating menus and meeting break snacks to guided 5k morning runs with the property’s running concierge. To further facilitate fitness on the road, Westin’s Gear Lending program in partnership with New Balance allows guests to pack light and work out by borrowing New Balance workout gear—tops, pants, socks and shoes (with new insoles)—for only $5.
