ROAD Warriors:
Hotels are catering to the health-conscious client

by Scott Hoover

I have a confession. I am a writer who regularly travels for business and more often than not, eats out. I am not a fitness fanatic; however, I enjoy working out and running three to four times a week. I also enjoy sitting on the couch Thursday nights and watching ER, but that is another story.

What I am trying to say is that I am a typical twentysomething male who continues to eat healthy and stay in shape despite the rigors of a hectic work schedule. And now, with the help of savvy hotels nationwide, you can do the same.

For many years, people on the road for work or vacation had limited--if any--choices but to eat high-fat foods and, when not working, vegetate. Those days are long gone. As more and more baby boomers continue to age and the generation Xers become more entrenched in today's changing workforce, fitness and wellness are becoming buzzwords. Gone are the days of traveling and not having the resources to continue your regular workout or eat in a healthy manner.

Examples are all around us. Just take a look at your parents. Most of them are in their early 50s or 60s and experiencing all the effects upon their health and lifestyles. Their hair might be thinning (although dad will never admit it), their skin may be sagging and showing wear and their joints may be starting to ache a little more.

Simultaneously, increased competition, pressure to be more productive and increasingly sophisticated technology have increased the amount of time everyone has to spend at work. On the upside, the number of Americans staying healthy continues to increase.

For example, a 1998 American Sports Data, Inc. (ASD) survey reports that 27 percent of Americans used cardio fitness equipment in 1998. Treadmill exercise grew by 88 percent in that year. ASD further reports that membership at commercial health clubs grew approximately 70 percent in the 11 years from 1987 to 1998. The fastest growing age group--age 55 and over--grew 217 percent.

A recent USA Today study shows that the cost of inactivity also can be very high. The first study to tally the health-care costs that result from inactivity estimates the national bill conservatively at $24.3 billion. And all of those costs could be avoided if people who are inactive now did the minimum recommended by the federal government--30 minutes of moderate activity on most days of the week.

Face it, most Americans need and want to exercise and are starting to indulge in that habit in ever-increasing numbers, during a significant part of their leisure time. It is for this reason that properties of all makes and sizes (from bed and breakfasts to five-star resorts) have turned to exercise rooms, pool programs and even fully outfitted gyms to keep their guests happy.

The Road Less Traveled

Okay, so your idea of releasing stress while on a business trip doesn't include anything resembling a stair, let alone a Stairmaster. However, it is not just treadmills that guests are utilizing.

The Journal of the American Medical Association reported in 1997 that 42 percent of Americans utilize "alternative medical therapies" (including massage, herbal medicines, megavitamins, etc.). This is up 25 percent from seven years earlier.

The rising cost of health care has forced many employers and HMOs to limit services and/or raise the participant's cost of treatment. Coverage, rates and policies change so quickly that it is difficult for consumers to be knowledgeable about all the benefits that may be available to them. These factors have helped raise America's appreciation for behavior and services that can forestall the need to resort to conventional health-care services. Non-traditional medicine, dietary supplementation, relaxation techniques and dozens of other activities are getting more serious consideration from those who want to play a greater role in their own well-being.

Responding to these trends, hotels have incorporated everything from herbal baths to complete wellness centers. Travelers also can find heart-healthy menu items, accompanied or unaccompanied nature walks and even on-site bicycle rentals at many properties.

Day spas are another way that hotels are trying to meet your needs. I/SPA, the trade association for the spa industry, reports that the number of day spas in the United States grew from 30 to 600 from 1987 to 1997--a 2,000-percent increase. More recently, American Spa magazine reports that there were 2,000 day spas in operation in 1999.

Massage almost always is the introductory experience of choice for new spa-goers. Hotels offer the neophyte a chance to try these new experiences in an atmosphere that they know and trust. In addition, the May 1999 issue of Lodging magazine reports that the No. 1 motivation for men to visit a spa is "rest and relaxation" and the second most frequently sited reason was "exercising and getting fit."

For women "rest and relaxation" was second behind "being pampered". In a similar 1999 study, Martin Akel and Associates found that "relax and unwind" was the No. 1 reason to use spa services for both men and women followed by "treat myself" for women and "overall wellness" for men.

Spa Finders Travel Co. reports that about 75 percent of spa-goers are women but that men's participation grew threefold between 1987 and 1997 and that 40 percent of male spa-goers were accompanying their spouses when they visited. The pace of life in the modern world has created a greater-than-ever appreciation for stress reduction and emotional rejuvenation.

The passive, pampering nature of the spa environment historically has made it somewhat difficult for us men to participate and enjoy its benefits. These traditional barriers are starting to fall and more men are responding to offerings that promise rest, rejuvenation and more energy for the demands of their lives.

Treatments such as "sports massage" repackage the massage experience so that it will be more attractive for men. Spa services included in reward vacations for superior job performance in one's job makes it easier for men to accept these services. Overall, it is becoming easier for men and women to enjoy the many offerings hotels provide.

So remember, if you are on your way out of town for business or play, don't leave your exercise clothes at home. Take time to enjoy the spa or just an herbal bath, continue to eat healthy and have a great trip.

[Eat Out Healthy]

Here are a number of tips to eating out healthy.

• Look for healthy fare, which usually is marked with a little heart on the menu. These items usually contain less than 15 grams of total fat.
• For breakfast, ask if the restaurant serves EggBeaters, high-fiber and vitamin-rich fruit and English muffins.
• For lunch, choose to grill--grilled chicken that is. Order the salad instead of fries and stick to low-fat, non-fat dressings or lemon wedges.
• For dinner opt for the grilled chicken or salmon entrees. Substitute a fiber-rich baked potato for mashed potatoes or fries.
• Looking for a light dessert? Try fat-free frozen yogurt or fresh fruit with non-fat whipped topping.

[Stressed Out?]

Here are five tips to reduce stress when traveling or in your everyday life.

• Worry about one thing at a time. Talking about or writing about what is worrying you also can help.
• Take time to exercise no matter how stressed or busy you are.
• Make sure to get away once a day. Take 10-15 minutes and find a place to do whatever it is that relaxes you. Meditate, read or even take a hot bath.
• Name at least one good thing that happened today.
• Don't be too serious. Remember, laughter not only relieves tension, but actually improves your immune functions.