Westin Hotels & Resorts announced the expansion of its Run Concierge program in North America. Many Westin concierges will also now provide expert insights into surfing, skiing, hiking and cycling.
"In three years, we have grown the number of Run Concierges at our hotels from 30 to 200 globally," said Bob Jacobs, vice president, brand management, Westin Hotels & Resorts. "With the program's success, we know that today's travelers are more active and more socially-connected than ever before but with much less free time, so the way they engage with hotel concierges has evolved. Expanding our concierges' expertise to offer diverse active experiences feels like a natural extension.”
Among the active concierges rolling out around the country, Westin's first-ever Tennis Concierge will debuted to coincide with the start of the 2016 U.S. Open. Based at The Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort & Spa outside of Vancouver, the hotel's Tennis Concierge helps guests improve their game from their footwork to footwear; perfecting their backhand and restringing their racket.
Not only making active arrangements for guests, this new crop of concierges often leads workouts and attends excursions to provide expert insight on improving performance.
In addition to its Hike Concierge, who invites guests to explore the destination with a four-mile hike to the Sonoran Desert, The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa offers a dedicated Golf Concierge, giving golfers personalized instruction as well as a fitness option: seven-gear mountain bikes with wide tires designed for turf riding. Each bicycle is also outfitted to carry the rider's set of clubs while pedaling the course.
With growing global demand for wellness, Westin's airport hotels are converting once-dreaded layovers into memorable experiences in new destinations led by the hotel's new concierges. After seeing a spike in millennial travelers meeting in Silicon Beach, one of the world's fastest-growing tech hubs just two miles from beach, The Westin Los Angeles Airport appointed a dedicated Surf Concierge giving guests the chance to catch waves between business pitches and during meeting breaks.
Introduced this summer, the Surf Concierge experience has also become popular for guests with long layovers who are eager to get in a workout in a way that is authentic to their layover destination. Guests of all skill levels can book a Surf Concierge session with a one night stay, and the hotel will provide transportation to and from the beach along with a surfboard and wetsuit for each surfer. Sessions last 1.5 hours and are led in partnership with Los Angeles’ Campsurf at El Porto in Manhattan Beach.
Catering to business travelers who want to keep their fitness routine on the road, The Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport and The Westin Denver International Airport offer the brand's signature wellness experiences, including access to the WestinWORKOUT fitness studio, which features state-of-the-art exercise equipment from world-class brands in open, airy and well-designed spaces open 24/7. Through the concierge, travelers with layovers or delays at the airport in Detroit can even buy a day pass.
Today, Westin boasts nearly 200 Run Concierges globally, who host group runs for guests and encourage runners of all levels to grab a runWESTIN map with scenic routes through cities, along beachfronts and amid rural landscapes. This is complemented by the brand's Gear Lending program, which allows guests to pack light and stay fit with New Balance shoes and clothing for guests to use during their stay.
Learn more about Westin’s wellness offerings, including its six pillars of wellness, on its website.
