Business travellers have learned to live in a multitude of time zones, and hotels have long ago adjusted their services to the different body clocks of their customers. With health and wellness such big buzz words in this millennium, hospitality providers have added fitness clubs to the growing list of 24-hour must haves. Here's a sampling:
HONGKONG
Island Shangri-La
Location: 8th floor
Who can use it? In-house guests and members
What’s available after midnight? The gym with all the equipment such as the treadmill, weights etc; “experience shower”, indoor Jacuzzi and the steam room and sauna.
Website: www.shangri-la.com
JW Marriott Hong Kong
Location: Lower Ground level
Who can use it: Hotel guests with room key
What's available after midnight: The fully-equipped gym with weight training and cardiovascular machines are on the guests' disposal after midnight. But to avail of the full health club benefits such as outdoor whirlpool Jacuzzi on Level 7 and sauna/steam room facilities, guests are must come during normal operating hours between 6am and 11pm.
Website: www.marriott.com
JAPAN
Hilton Tokyo
Location: 5th floor
Who can use it: In-house guests
What's available after midnight: All gym equipment are available for use. During the day, the hotel charges a fee of JPY1,500 (US$16) for using its health club - although executive floor guests as well as Hilton Honors silver, gold and diamond card members can go in for free. In the evening, guests get to enjoy complimentary access as the facility is unmanned.
Website: www.hilton.com
SINGAPORE
The Ritz-Carlton Millenia
Location: 1st floor
Who can use it? In-house guests, needing to work off their jetlag, can contact the duty manager who will help them access the gym.
What’s available after midnight? Just the gym, which is equipped with all the cardiovascular and strength training hardware needed.
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com
THAILAND
Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel and Towers
Location: 1st floor
Who can use it: Hotel guests and Sheraton Fitness members
What's available after midnight: Guests can use the equipment outside the normal operating hours, but they have to contact the reception to gain access to the facility. During the day, personal trainers are onsite to assist guests in their workout, and there are also regular special fitness classes and yoga sessions scheduled during the week.
Website: www.royalorchidsheraton.com
US
Grand Hyatt New York
Location: 35th floor, the penthouse level of the hotel.
Who can use it? The gym is unmanned and guests can access it from all guest elevators with the use of their room key.
What’s available after midnight? The facility is equipped with treadmills, LifeCycle Cardio bikes, Stairmasters, StairClimbers – all with built-in TVs – as well as assorted weight training equipment and free weights. Towels and filtered water are available.
Website: www.hyatt.com
...and from the Westin Hotels & Resorts
Westin WORKOUT Rooms which allows guests to maintain their fitness regimen in the privacy of their own rooms. These come with a reebok Tomahawk XL Indoor Cycle of Life Fitness Treadmill, Reebok Pilates/Yoga and Spinning DVDs, custom-designed fitness shelf holding adjustable dumbbells, resistance tubing, stability ball and yoga mat. So no more excuses!
Margie T Logarta and Gigi Onag
