this reliance on the medical system, as it has historically been constructed, may not be the silver bullet to healthier, longer lives. Hotels play a role in helping guests maintain these habits while traveling. At Hilton, we see it as both an economic opportunity and a responsibility— whether someone is staying at a Hampton Inn or a Waldorf Astoria, we make sure that we are delivering experiences, opportunities and options for people to maintain those lifestyles on the road. In the past, vacations or business travel meant throwing all healthy habits out the window. Travelers today are more focused on sustaining their healthy routines rather than abandoning them while away. |
HOTELS: Are travelers really choosing hotels based on wellness offerings? Shea: Absolutely. I hear from people who choose hotels |
based on their fitness centers. Wellness is no longer a niche trend; it’ s an expectation. We’ re creating a framework across our 25 global brands to make wellness accessible at every level.
HOTELS: Sleep is a huge part of wellness. How is Hilton improving the sleep experience? Shea: We’ ve partnered with Harvard sleep expert Dr. Rebecca Robbins to optimize sleep experiences by developing bedding programs and integrating sleep-friendly design in new hotel prototypes— better soundproofing, optimized lighting and HVAC controls. We’ re also hosting sleep retreats where Dr. Robbins educates guests on circadian rhythms, what you should eat and not eat close to bedtime, when you should move, when you should get sunlight, etc. Training
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also plays a role; something as simple as staff awareness about noise levels can make a difference.
HOTELS: What about wearables? Are you incorporating them into the hotel wellness experience? Shea: We look at ways that we can help action the wearable data since it leads to medical information. A lot of it is about stress reduction. When you see the data that the wearables put out, it’ s how do you reduce that anxiety, that constant stress level, all those elevated cortisol levels throughout a person’ s day so that they are able to sleep at night. Bringing that into the hotel experience is our role, our job.
HOTELS: How does the wellness approach change within each Hilton brand? How do you tailor or make programs available
The spa at Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya is guided by traditional Mayan spiritualism.
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May / June 2025 hotelsmag. com 59 |