If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that wellbeing is very important. By taking the commute out of the equation, many of us have been able to reconnect with our hobbies and dedicate ourselves a little more to caring for our wellbeing. As lockdowns and travel restrictions lift, we’re noticing a strong desire to travel more and to focus on wellbeing in all its facets.
Perhaps as a result of this situation, the Global Wellness Institute’s forecasts point to a much faster recovery of the wellbeing sector than expected, with growth forecasts of 4.4% in 2022. According to Lululemon’s “Global Wellbeing Report”, there is a growing interest in the three pillars of wellbeing – physical, mental and social – with a special emphasis on the first.
Wellbeing is an aspect that is clearly on the rise among tourists, so it is essential that it is on your priority list. These five points will help you put wellbeing first: know your guests well, stay on top of key trends, be acutely aware of your guests’ journey, and ensure that every aspect of your organisation revolves around wellbeing.
KNOW YOUR GUESTS WELL
Gathering and analysing information about your guests is essential for several reasons.
It helps you predict room availability and cancellation probabilities
It allows you to understand who your guests are and how to categorise them
It gives you insight into what guests value most
It allows you to identify areas for improvement that impact revenue and operational efficiency
It helps you make more informed decisions about potential investments
So it’s essential to know the profile of your guests in detail, and part of that means understanding (and respecting) their expectations regarding privacy and the information they prefer to receive. Examples of this are the growing interest in knowing the disinfection policies of centres and the increased demand for private training areas. As a result, it’s a good idea to consider individual workout zones and in-room fitness solutions.
STAY UP TO DATE WITH TOP WELLNESS TRENDS IN HOTELS
We can’t forget that during the pandemic, fitness needs have changed dramatically. For example, the ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) highlights wearable technology, home workouts, outdoor activities, weight-based strength training, and weight-loss exercise as the top five trends for 2022. Data from Strava’s study reveals that, for obvious reasons, walking was a popular activity in 2021, so guests might be just as interested in learning about local hiking trails as they are in hotel fitness facilities.
To directly address travelers’ needs, it’s essential to stay up to date with these changing trends.
THE GUEST JOURNEY
In the wake of the pandemic, the customer journey has become even more relevant in all aspects of life. Consumers have become more demanding and less tolerant of obstacles, which is why it is important to have a wellness plan. But how do you ensure that your guests have a pleasant experience and want to come back? Are there any obstacles you can remove or any extras you can add?
MAKE WELLNESS A PRIORITY ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION
In order for your guests to believe in your proposition, wellness must become the common thread throughout the organization. Make sure your hotel is well organized before designing a wellness plan for your visitors.
EXPAND YOUR OFFERING
Having a gym in your hotel can impact the guest experience and be a determining factor when it comes to securing a reservation. Before deciding which elements to invest in, ask yourself the following:
Are you taking into account the latest wellness trends when choosing the equipment?
Are you quick to adapt?
Do you know if the equipment can be easily moved or changed?
Is the gym open to external users or is it exclusively for hotel guests?
Is it possible to integrate it into the rooms?
If you don’t have a dedicated fitness space in your facility, transforming two rooms into a small gym is a cost-effective way to improve the offering.
In order to offer a quality wellness experience, you will need to integrate these aspects into all areas of the organization and implement them as part of the hotel policy.