East West Hospitality

While there are many positives to the digital revolution that we are all experiencing, one major downside is a reduction in human connection and an increase in isolation for many.

As leaders at hotel fitness centers, we have a unique opportunity to bring people back together and create lasting relationships with our guests - while also setting a healthy mindset for our resort employees. This will in turn can help to reduce turnover and inspire our workforce.

We have the power to serve people’s needs by creating unique opportunities for community and wellness, which could be a key differentiator between your organization and other employers.

Located in the heart of Colorado’s Vail Valley, The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa is surrounded by the breathtaking Rocky Mountains. When guests enter our Athletic Club, they are often blown away by our more than 27,000 square feet of wellness facilities, including a state-of-the-art fitness center, four studios for movement, yoga and Pilates classes, an on-site physical therapy clinic and an award-winning spa with 14 treatment rooms.

The one major thing that this facility continues to teach me is that vacationers and employees alike are both yearning for two things: physical vibrancy and community connections.

During the lockdown, current technology was invaluable in allowing the Athletic Club at The Westin stay connected to our more than 700 local members by offering access to exclusive online training and workout videos. We also found different ways to workout - we created a dedicated outdoor gym space on our pool deck and moved as many of our group exercise classes outside as possible so that people could enjoy the fresh mountain air and safely social distance while staying fit.

  ​We have the power to serve people’s needs by creating unique opportunities for community and wellness, which could be a key differentiator between your organization and other employers 

As we have moved out of the pandemic, The Westin Riverfront has increased its commitment to being Colorado’s premiere wellness destination. In 2022, the resort completed a $500,000 upgrade including the addition of an extensive line of TechnoGym strength and cardio equipment. We also transitioned to using the MyWellness mobile app as the most effective tool to communicate with members & hotel guests and allow them to book classes, spa treatments and more.

We also work hard to generate a strong wellness bond with the 500+ employees at The Westin Riverfront. In the hospitality industry, the average worker is part-time and many do not qualify for healthcare benefits. This negatively impacts people’s work-life balance and quality of life, which in turn affects their morale, work performance and contributes to the hospitality industry’s high employee turnover rate.

How can we as leaders show them we care about their wellness and health? I recommend tasking your team to set wellness goals that they can easily track online. Ongoing engagement is also important - our company is constantly using technology to share opportunities on employee biometric screenings, weekly health and recipe tips, quarterly wellness seminars and more.

As an alternative to events centered around eating and drinking, get everyone outdoors by holding a guided hike or run, something that bonds people together and challenges them to escape their comfort zone.

We came up with a program where we host group exercise classes that benefit a different local non-profit each in month - everything from Mountain Pride to the Vail Valley Veterans – as a way to foster strong community ties. We also have partnered with local professional athletes like Olympic ski racer Mikaela Shiffrin, giving them access to train at our facility in exchange for their presence at resort events where they inspire us with their triumphs and challenges, share workout tips and more.

I have personally witnessed how our robust employee wellness program can help people improve their self-esteem, boost discipline and achieve personal growth by meeting defined goals.

A thoughtful wellness program that embraces technology can truly be transformative – helping hotels create more committed employees, satisfied guests and thriving businesses. But even more importantly, we can help each other stay strong & healthy by serving the basic human need of connection, friendship and community.