In the wake of a global pandemic, Americans appear to be making some changes that positively impact their health. A 2022 survey found that over 70% of Americans reported themselves as more health-conscious following the pandemic. But even well before 2020, staying fit and healthy on the go became a huge trend in travel.
In the mid-2010s, major hotel trends started experimenting with various health-focused amenities to cater to a new crop of health-conscious travelers. One of these amenities involved bringing the hotel fitness center or gym to guest rooms.
This hotel-room-as-gym concept appears to have debuted with InterContinental Hotels back in 2015. However, it was Marriott and Hilton that took this concept a step further with the introduction of the increasingly popular Peloton bike. In 2017, Westin introduced hotel rooms equipped with Peloton bikes that guests could book at a premium.
Now, seven years later, hotels have pulled back on fitness equipment in guest rooms. I had assumed this trend died out entirely with the pandemic. So, I was quite surprised to see that I was upgraded to a Peloton room when checking the Marriott app ahead of a recent stay. As I would never pay out of pocket to book one of these fitness-themed hotel rooms, I figured this would be a unique opportunity to give this concept a try.
Here’s what you can expect from one of Marriott’s fitness-themed hotel rooms equipped with a Peloton bike and what other hotels are doing to win over health-conscious travelers.
A Night at the Courtyard Arlington Crystal City/Reagan National Airport
Before I get further into the review, here’s a little background on my stay. I was headed back to New York City from St. Louis and had a few options for flights. One of these options included an overnight layover in Washington D.C. Now, most would avoid an overnight layover however, surprisingly, rates for hotels near Washington Reagan/National Airport were, at the time, quite reasonable. I am still a few nights short of requalifying for Bonvoy Platinum status so, this seemed like a good opportunity to get an elite qualifying night under my belt.
I decided to book the modestly priced Courtyard Arlington Crystal City/Regan National Airport. While certainly not a luxurious hotel, Courtyard properties are consistent and this particular property also featured a complimentary shuttle that ran pretty frequently. Courtyard hotels rarely feature rooms that one could consider an “upgrade.” So, I didn’t expect an upgrade this time which wasn’t a huge deal as I just wanted a comfortable place to sleep and get some work done.
As I rarely get upgrades at full-service Marriott properties I was pleasantly surprised to see in the mobile app that I had received an upgrade. However, this was not an ordinary upgrade. Instead of a corner room or suite, I had been upgraded to a King Peloton Room.
Peloton Room at the Courtyard Arlington
Before my stay at the Courtyard Arlington, I had assumed the only Marriott brands to feature any wellness-themed rooms were Westin, Sheraton, and the flagship Marriott brand. It appears that the majority of Marriott hotel brands participate in the Peloton partnership at least to some extent. There is a dedicated landing page launched by Peloton that lets you find which hotels feature Peloton equipment though, not necessarily in guest rooms. Many of these hotels feature the equipment in the hotel fitness center.
So, what exactly do you get when you book a Peloton room? Of course, you get your own Peloton bike along with a black exercise mat and two very lightweight dumbbells.
As you need more space to accommodate the stationary bike, the room is larger than your standard king room. At this Courtyard property, Peloton rooms are located in corner rooms and the extra space was much appreciated.
In addition to Peloton equipment and more space, I received some complimentary snacks and an extra bottle of water. The snacks came with a placard. On this placard, the snacks were supposedly there to “enhance my wellness experience.” However, I wouldn’t necessarily associate any of the snacks with wellness.
The wellness-enhancing snacks stocked in my room included a brownie-flavored Cliff bar, Tate’s chocolate chip cookies, chocolate-covered almonds, and kettle corn. Don’t get me wrong, I very much enjoyed this assortment of complimentary treats. I just found this assortment to not mesh all that well with the wellness theme.
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Putting The Peloton Bike to the Test
If I had to place stationary bikes on my list of preferred cardio equipment, they would probably rank close to the bottom of this list. I planned on supplementing my normal morning workout with some time on the Peloton bike just to give it a try. At the time, I had never used a Peloton bike and wanted to see why this stationary bike made Peloton a $3 billion company.
First and foremost, to use any Peloton bike, you need to sign up for an account. This wasn’t all that surprising to me as, at the end of the day, Peloton is a software company and wants to get as many individuals registered on their platform as possible. It’s free to sign up for an account but of course, Peloton will try and get you to pay for a paid membership.
Once I signed in, I had a wide range of classes, courses, and other activities to choose from. I picked a game called Lanebreak that reminded me somewhat of the video game Guitar Hero. I’m not going to even try to explain the objective of this interactive workout but, if you’re interested, here’s a video.
About 20 minutes into my ride, I decided to pause my workout to send an email and respond to some texts. When I returned to the bike, it had switched over to standby power mode and as a result, logged me out. This meant I had to log back in and start from square one. I assume this is just a flaw of a shared Peloton device and would not be the case if I had my own bike at home. Nevertheless, having to log back in and reselect my workout was not a very enjoyable experience.
Ultimately, I think I rode the Peloton for about 40 minutes. The verdict? Well, it’s a stationary bike. Again, I have never enjoyed cycling so, I am probably not the target market for Peloton’s flagship product. Overall, it was a unique concept and I did enjoy having the option of skipping the hotel gym to get a workout in.
Would I book a Peloton room and pay out of pocket for this amenity? Definitely not. I can say with 100% certainty that I would not pay more just to have a stationary bike in my room. This particular Courtyard property offers this room for an additional $39 a night which just doesn’t seem worth it when you consider the fact that there is a fitness center that features similar equipment just 5 minutes from your room.
However, there are a number of more upscale hotels that take wellness and guest health to a new level.
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The Future of Health Hotels and Wellness Tourism
While I wouldn’t pay more for a Peloton bike in my hotel room, there are certainly other wellness-focused and health-centered amenities for which I would pay a premium. I am pretty sure I am not alone in being willing to pay more for these amenities.
Hotel guests who seek out wellness-focused experiences and amenities reportedly spend 177% more than an average guest. Additionally, a 2023 survey found that 73% of respondents planned on taking a trip to boost their physical or mental wellness. With many travelers seeking out wellness and health-focused experiences, it’s no surprise that wellness tourism is projected to become a segment valued at over $1 trillion as early as next year.
However, it’s not Peloton bikes in basic hotel rooms that are likely to wow health-conscious guests. Instead, hotels and fitness brands have started to build hotel stays around wellness. This newer concept of wellness hospitality isn’t cheap either. Here are just a few examples of how hotels are trying to gain the attention of health and longevity-focused travelers and how much you’ll have to pay a night:
- Equinox Hotels New York City: Equinox, known for its pricey fitness clubs, ventured into hotels back in 2019 with its first hotel, the Equinox Hotel New York. The hotel puts a strong emphasis on health, wellness, and rejuvenation. It features an on-site spa and restaurant and gives guests access to its flagship Equinox Club in New York City. Nightly rates start at a whopping $850 without taxes and fees. See photos of the Equinox Hotel NYC here.
- The Westgate Hotel San Diego: The Westgate Hotel is home to AquaVie which features 40,000 square feet of top-of-the-line fitness equipment. Additionally, hotel guests can participate in group fitness classes including those hosted at the rooftop pool. The AuqaVie is a full-service spa and features a steam room and sauna available to guests. Rates start at just under $200 a night. See photos of The Westgate here.
- SHA Wellness Clinic Mexico: For travelers looking to go all out on wellness, the SHA Wellness Clinic in Cancun offers guests a number of wellness programs including a program designed for “leaders” who live “under demanding conditions.” These wellness programs are pretty intensive and include nutrition, fitness, and even medical services. These programs start at $2,600 for a 4-day program but rooms can be booked from around $550 a night. See photos of the SHA Wellness Clinic Mexico here.
- W Bali – Seminyak: This W Hotel located in Bali is particularly unique with a 24-hour spa. The 24-hour AWAY Spa not only features your typical spa treatments but also group fitness classes and yoga. In addition to the AWAY Spa, the W Bali – Seminyak features a full-service gym and 24-hour outdoor pool. A night at this hotel starts at around $350. See photos of this W Hotel here.
- JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge: Pickleball seems to be everywhere lately including luxury hotels. This JW Marriott property near Phoenix features typical resort amenities like multiple outdoor pools, a waterpark, and a golf course. However, it also features 16 pickleball courts. Nightly rates start at around $300 per night. See photos of the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge here.
Given the prices of these hotels and programs, many travelers, myself included, will have to settle for an in-room Peloton bike, at least for now.
The Bottom Line
Staying in a Peloton room at the Courtyard Arlington Crystal City near Reagan National Airport was a unique experience. While I appreciated the chance to have a private in-room workout without needing to visit the hotel gym, it’s hard to justify the additional cost of a stationary bike, especially with a fully equipped fitness center nearby. However, this in-room fitness trend points to a broader move where hotels are increasingly catering to health-conscious guests seeking to maintain their fitness routines on the go.
For travelers who value convenience and privacy in their workouts, a Peloton room could be worth exploring—particularly if it comes as a complimentary upgrade. Many hotels are taking fitness amenities to the next level like the Equinox Hotel in New York. Still, it will be interesting to see just how far this wellness trend goes and if travelers are actually willing to spend more for amenities like Peloton bikes and on-site group fitness classes.
Have you ever encountered fitness equipment in your hotel rooms? Would you pay more for wellness and health-focused amenities?
