Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a global shift to virtual fitness, but it wasn’t a new concept; virtual fitness classes have been gaining popularity over the last decade. The question is how can hotels benefit by offering virtual fitness?
Leveraging virtual fitness at your hotel is a fantastic and surprisingly economical way to offer your guests a modern fitness package. Read on to find out why you should be investing in virtual fitness at your hotel sooner rather than later.
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Some venues opt for a scheduled timetable of classes that members can sign up to, while others offer on-demand services that let members work out when is convenient for them.
A range of technology solutions go into making virtual fitness work. Visual, audio and computing hardware are all required. Read on for more on these solutions below.
There was a recorded 67% increase in fitness app installs in March 2020*. And though the return to gyms has been more or less fully reinstated, fitness app sessions have increased 31% YoY, showing that users are sticking with apps in addition to heading back to the gym.
In terms of physical gyms, according to Phillip Mills** (Executive Director of Les Mills), 72% of global operators offer on-demand and live-stream workouts for members (up from just 25 per cent in 2019).
All this goes to show that the world has made a shift to digital fitness, making it even more pertinent that hotels get on the virtual wave.
*Source: Adjust Blog, Health & fitness apps continue to trend upwards in 2021 **Source: HCM Handbook 2021, pg 68
The good news for hotels is that investing in a virtual fitness offering costs a fraction of a traditional gym upgrade. In fact, a virtual studio can come in around the cost of a single treadmill.
Virtual fitness and wellness classes are an innovative and easy way to upgrade the guest experience in any hotel. Offering your guests a fitness option in a time and place that suits them, adds to the overall stay and makes it more likely for them to turn into repeat guests.
Hotels looking for additional revenue streams can also consider opening their virtual offering and physical gym to the public. Running pre-scheduled virtual classes can provide great additional income for a hotel without having to invest more in instructors.
There are many ways to offer virtual fitness, so you can fine-tune your offering to be on-brand and best suited to your clientele. The three main methods are in a virtual studio, in their hotel room, or via a bespoke app.
Studios can be set up to run classes on a schedule or in an on-demand format, or a combination of the two. The latter will require a method for guests to select and start classes from your catalogue. These are typically in the form of an intuitive touchscreen tablet that guests can operate by themselves.
A studio set-up will normally combine a dedicated room, large screen, audio equipment and the software and hardware to run the classes (more on this below). The audio-visual elements can be scaled up or down to match your hotel’s brand and budget perfectly.
The room’s TV is hooked up to a central class selection software that lets guests view the class library directly to find and start classes. Alternatively, if the TV is smart it can use a bespoke app to display classes.
Or you can give them access ahead and after their stay, enhancing their wellness journey beyond their visit. Alternatively, you can make access to the classes a premium feature, only available to VIP guests via a loyalty programme.
You could use any one of these options, or a combination of all three, depending on your space and budget available.
Now, this might all seem like a lot to manage. While setting up a virtual fitness offering at your hotel is not as complicated as it might seem at first, getting it spot on requires some experience. This type of set up is our bread and butter, so talk to our team today if you're looking for a truly engaging guest experience.
You might be wondering what actually goes into making a virtual studio work...
Considering how immersive an experience they provide, the basic setup for a virtual studio is actually straightforward. You will need to consider the visuals, audio and class scheduling hardware and software.
Learn more about how to use digital signage in our Digital Signage Buying Guide.
You will also need a PC or laptop to run the scheduling software that manages the player. Our team can advise on the best overall solution for the job.
If you’re looking at ways to introduce virtual fitness in your hotel or hospitality space, get in touch with our expert team today. We have decades of experience in delivering technology to big hospitality names like Malmaison, the Fairmont and The Old Course Hotel and would love to talk to you about your project.