“Can you tell me what floor the fitness center is on?” It’s one of the first questions I ask, right along with, “Where are the elevators?” The on-the-road fitness regimen is one I have carried with me for as long as I have traveled. For travelers like me, and the scores of others who pack those extra outfits for sweating it out on the road, wellness isn’t just a personal priority, it’s a way of life.
And, if you check out the latest numbers post-pandemic, wellness on the road and wellness destinations are becoming a driving force in the hospitality industry’s business strategy. Look around and you will see that wellness-focused travel is reshaping how hotels, resorts, and mixed-use developments are planned, built and experienced.
According to the Global Wellness Institute, wellness tourism is projected to reach a staggering $1.35 billion by 2028. That makes it one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global wellness economy. The growth is creating a ripple effect across commercial construction as today’s developers rethink spaces to meet this rising demand.
Today’s wellness travelers fall into two categories: Those who want to maintain healthy habits while traveling and those who build their trips entirely around wellness experiences. The smart hospitality brands are targeting both.
Take IHG’s Six Senses, which is expanding in the U.S. by creating destination properties that double as immersive wellness retreats. In addition, SBE’s newly launched The Estate Hotels & Residences is taking it a step further, pairing luxury hospitality with longevity centers that integrate preventative medicine and AI-powered health solutions.
For travelers seeking wellness touch points rather than full immersion, hotel brands are making strategic updates. Choice Hotels’ revamped Sleep Inn prototype now includes enhanced fitness centers, hydration stations and dedicated outdoor spaces, while Hilton’s Tempo brand outfits select rooms with Peloton bikes.
Are you up for the challenge Peloton-ers?
Technology also is playing a larger role. From advanced air filtration systems that improve in-room air quality to spa services enhanced by wellness tech, hotels are investing in solutions that align with traveler expectations for health and safety.
And then there’s the sleep tourism trend. Yes, that’s a thing. Hilton projects more than one in four travelers will book spa or wellness treatments specifically to improve their sleep. For developers and designers, that means quiet zones, blackout designs and sleep-enhancing amenities will move from nice-to-have to must-have.
In this evolving market, wellness isn’t a passing trend—it’s a cornerstone of the next generation of hospitality design. So, when you check in, along with locating the elevators, the bar, where to grab your Starbucks in the morning, get the wellness advantage.
There’s plenty of time for all of that other stuff.
Michael J. Pallerino is editor of Commercial Construction & Renovation magazine. Over the past 30-plus years, he has won numerous awards, including the “Jesse H. Neal Editorial Achievement Award,” recognized as the Pulitzer Prize for business-to-business magazines. He can be reached at mikep@ccr-mag.com.
