Why this hotel is putting wellness first

By laurencroft

You know the story: work out four times a week, eat your greens, get up at the crack of dawn for those yoga classes.

And then after coming back from holiday you feel like a giant blob incapable of consuming anything but fries and cocktails, let alone doing a headstand at sunrise.

Well, not anymore, because New Zealand is scoring the first dedicated wellness hotel in Australasia.

EVEN Hotel Auckland is due to open in 2020, and is the first of the brand to be placed outside of North America.

The EVEN brand is part of the global company InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), and is the first and only global hotel brand centred around the wellness of its guests.

IHG Asia Middle East & Africa CEO, Jan Smits, is confident the hotel will become a cornerstone in the wellness market for New Zealand and Australia.

“Some brands know what they’re made of, we know who we’re made for. Wellness travel is a global phenomenon and a $563 billion industry today and, with EVEN Hotels, we have a created a brand that will deliver a local wellness experience to travellers for whom health and wellbeing is so important.

“I firmly believe that the EVEN Hotels brand will be a key driver in market share growth in New Zealand and Australia,” she said.

And wellness travel is on the rise; with more and more people wanting to keep up their healthy, balanced lifestyles whilst on holidays or business trips.

Qantas recently partnered with Sydney University’s Charles Perkins Centre, strategising to counteract jetlag, get passengers moving inflight and improve cabin environments with lighting and temperature.

EVEN Hotels Auckland Signing_Food

And according to travel website promorati.com, an estimated 17 million travellers identify themselves as being focused on health and wellbeing – and 40 per cent of those travel regularly.

Results from the Global Wellness Tourism Economy Report (GWTER) also indicate staggering growth in wellness travel around the world, showing that wellness tourism is projected to grow over nine per cent through 2017 – almost 50 per cent faster than the rest of global tourism.

But really, it’s no surprise – wellness travel reduces stress, keeps you fit and healthy, and is good for mental health. It also leaves you more recharged and refreshed than a french-fry-fuelled holiday will.

So what’s the difference? EVEN hotels feature exercise areas in every room, world-class fitness facilities, only organic foods, as well as plush bedding and aromatherapy amenities. Combine that with lighting profiles that energise and relax and you’ll be recharged before you know it.

Nutritionally-designed menus and quality, ethically-sourced food will be supplied by THR1VE, the food experts who are focused on extraordinary health, deliciously simple.

Fitness facilities will include a state-of-the-art, multi-functional zoned gym and flex space for small group fitness classes, and in-room fitness elements.

Located in the very heart of Auckland’s centre, at the corner of Albert and Wyndham Street, the 200-room EVEN Hotel Auckland will not only look different, but will also have a distinctive vibe.

It will feature fresh, natural and modern design; bringing the outdoors inside and offering playful and energising workspaces, dining and social areas, natural outdoor spaces.

It will also feature design and technology elements to enable guests to maintain the balance they desire on a daily basis.

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

EVEN Hotels intercontinental hotels group Wellness travel