Upmarket hotel operator Swissotel is aiming to meet the growing demand for wellness travel by creating fitness-focused guestrooms for health conscious travellers.

The specialised fitness rooms – expected to be trialled at Swissotel Zurich from Q2 2016 – will feature vertical wall units containing a rower, workout system and a screen for virtual fitness classes. Continuing the theme, the rooms will be supplied with filtered air, functional furniture that can be incorporated into workouts, circadian lighting and an infrared bench in the bathroom designed to replicate the heat of a sauna.

According to Andrew Gibson – VP of spa and wellness for Swissotel’s parent company Fairmont Raffles Hotels International (FRHI) – the move is part of a wider response to the importance travellers are placing on their health.

“There’s a fitness renaissance at the moment, with so many different niches – we want to offer a more comprehensive set of workout options to travellers,” Gibson told Health Club Management.

“We’re also offering pars cours and outdoor running options at Swissotel sites, together with a beefed-up 24-hour gym featuring best-in-class equipment, body analysers and a stronger focus on nutrition.”

Gibson said the average Swissotel guest stays for 1.2 days, so the proposition will largely be aimed at business travellers in city locations looking for convenient ways to stay in shape. He stopped short of saying it would make Swissotel the hotel of choice for fitness fans, but said it would hopefully give the brand a “fitness-edge” over competitors.

“The resurgence of fitness is definitely having an impact on hotels, which is why we’ve created this prototype concept,” added Gibson.

“If it gains traction in Zurich, it’s something we’ll look at rolling out across our 30+ properties worldwide.”