Travel can play havoc with our mental and physical wellbeing, but increasingly travellers are realigning their priorities to put wellbeing first in today’s over-scheduled, 24-hour-accountable culture. Hotels and airlines are creating exciting new advances to help customers maintain a healthy life balance with ‘wellness travel’.

EVEN Hotel Auckland

IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group) and Pro-invest Group have heralded the ‘age of the healthy traveller’ in Australasia with the first signing of an EVEN Hotels property in New Zealand, the first and only global hotel brand with wellness at its core. 

Signing of EVEN Hotel Auckland, Left: Ronald Barrott Principal of Pro-invest. Right: Jan Smits CEO Asia Middle East & Africa IHG 

It is scheduled to open in 2020 and is the first of the brand to be signed outside of North America. It is also the first in Pro-Invest Group’s portfolio of 10-15 EVEN Hotels across the capital cities and economic hubs in Australia and New Zealand, in partnership with IHG. 

Because of the consumer shift toward holistic travel, the EVEN Hotel Auckland will offer best-in-class fitness facilities, in-room exercise zones and simple, fresh and organic foods as the cornerstones. Beyond food and exercise the brand offers initiatives that build on the bigger wellness picture, such as bedrooms with plush bedding, aromatherapy amenities, intended to encourage a good night’s sleep and lighting profiles that energise and relax. 

IHG has partnered with leaders in the wellness space to deliver the best experience for guests across all EVEN Hotels in Australasia. Nutritionally-designed menus and quality, ethically-sourced food will be supplied by food experts THR1VE. Fitness facilities will include a state-of-the-art, multi-functional zoned gym and flex space for small group fitness classes, plus in-room fitness elements.

Jan Smits, Chief Executive Officer Asia Middle East & Africa, IHG said: "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".

Ronald Barrott, Principal of Pro-invest said: "With more than 3.5 million visitors in 2016 and a naturally adventurous and health-conscious population, New Zealand is a great fit for EVEN Hotels. We are very excited to be opening EVEN Hotel Auckland, the first outside of North America, in partnership with IHG."

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. 

Qantas

The travel experience is set to be reshaped for Qantas passengers as Qantas are developing a new approach to long-haul flights ahead of the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights this year. 

“When Qantas created the Kangaroo Route to London in 1947, it took four days and nine stops. Now it will take just 17 hours from Perth non-stop." My Joyce said about the new 14,498km Perth - London flight that will take approximately 17 hours (slightly more or less depending on winds).

In association with The University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre, researchers will investigate improvement across a variety of fields from nutrition to physical activity, sleep and complex systems modelling. These include strategies to counteract jetlag, onboard exercise and movement, menu design and service timing, pre and post-flight preparation, transit lounge wellness concepts and cabin environment including lighting and temperature.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said “while the Dreamliner aircraft itself is already a step change for passengers with its larger windows, increased cabin humidity and lower cabin altitude, the findings that will come from Charles Perkins Centre researchers will allow Qantas to design and develop a range of new innovations and strategies to complement the Dreamliner experience.

Charles Perkins Centre Academic Director Professor Stephen Simpson, chef and Qantas Creative Director of Food, Beverage and Service Neil Perry, Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce and Vice-Chancellor Dr Michael Spence, with Qantas frequent flyers Ed Jenkins and Jesinta Franklin.

“By taking a holistic view of our customers, our partnership will examine everything from reducing the impact of jetlag through to health, nutrition and sleep through the entire journey experience,” Mr Joyce said.

“We’re all looking at how we can prepare passengers ahead of their long haul flight, and of course on board and when they arrive at their destinations; we want our customers to feel their best at the end of their flight with us.

“The centre’s research has already influenced what meals and beverages we’ll be serving onboard and when, cabin lighting and temperature as well as the airport lounge experience.

“Neil Perry is working with the centre on new menus for the 787 flights so we are excited that one of Australia’s best culinary minds is teaming up with the best scientific minds to design the best possible menu to look after both health and hunger.”

Qantas Creative Director of Food, Beverage and Service Neil Perry

They are also looking at trials involving wearable technology in the measurement of existing biorhythms during travel, enabling future products to be developed and designed with the insight of robust data.

Professor Steve Simpson, Academic Director of the Charles Perkins Centre, said “there is the potential for extraordinary health, science and engineering discoveries and innovations to come out of this research partnership, which will also provide the evidence-base needed for Qantas to implement strategies to further improve how people feel after a long haul flight”.

With the advanced research, technology and implementation currently underway, the entire travel experience from flight through to the accommodation is set to improve remarkably with travellers arriving and staying refreshed and rejuvenated.

See also:

Third Ramada Suites announced for Auckland next year

Tawharanui Lodge north of Auckland for sale

Five-star Pullman Hotel announced for Rotorua