Fitness-themed hotels coming soon

Major hotel chains have long tried to appeal to health-conscious travellers by putting fruit and bran muffins in the breakfast buffet, handing out maps to nearby walking paths or offering access to a hotel gym, among other tactics.

Intercontinental Hotels Group, one of the world’s largest hotel companies, is going a step further by investing at least $150 million to launch a chain of hotels aimed at fitness-minded travellers. Among other things, the hotels plan to put exercise equipment in each room — including a coat rack that doubles as a pull-up bar — and offer hotel gyms with group exercise classes.

The new inns, dubbed Even hotels, will also serve “natural, fresh, fit and energizing meals,” including mini-smoothies in the morning, says the company.

The group hopes to open 100 hotels in the next five years.

And how much will travellers pay to stay at an Even hotel?

Hempell declined to disclose rates, but said they would be comparable to those at Courtyard or Hampton Inn hotels, whose rates range from $119 to almost $300, depending on the location and room amenities.

Intercontinental plans to convert existing, independent hotels into Even hotels, but won’t announce the locations until later this year.

Still, Hempell said he is sure the new chain will open several hotels in such fitness-minded cities as San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles.