Hilton Helps Travelers Get A Jump On New Year's Resolutions

Hilton Hotels & Resorts just announced it has signed an agreement with Bally Total Fitness to provide hotel guests with access to more than 5,000 certified personal trainers at Hilton or Bally locations in major cities throughout North America. In addition, Hilton’s Personal Performance Program includes enhancements to its in-room exercise options by offering an in-room “mini gym” designed by Bally Total Fitness at properties across the country. The hotel plans to debut these services to hotel guests starting Feb. 1, 2005.

The decision by Hilton to join with Bally Total Fitness in this first-of-its-kind hospitality-fitness alliance stemmed from a scientific study conducted on behalf of Hilton Hotels & Resorts by the former director of NASA’s Fatigue Countermeasures Program. The Personal Performance Study measured the impact of travel on performance and productivity and found that those who exercise while traveling performed 61 percent better than non-exercisers on alertness and reaction tests.

Personal training is one of the fastest growing segments of the fitness industry. According to the American Council on Exercise, the number of personal trainers is expected to double in the next three to five years.

Scheduling a session with a personal trainer is easy. For appointments at participating hotels, guests simply call the desired Hilton hotel and speak to the hotel's Personal Performance Leader to request a session with a personal trainer. The individualized training sessions can take place at one of Bally Total Fitness' 400 locations nationwide, the hotel fitness center or at an appropriate outside area at an hourly rate.

Guests also can opt, at no charge, to checkout a Hilton Travel Fit Kit, a mini gym that includes Bally Total Fitness-branded products such as: a yoga mat, elastic exercise bands, resistance tubing, two sets of hand weights and basic conditioning instructions developed by the Bally Total Fitness head trainer that are easily done in the privacy of a guest room.

The Hilton Travel Fit Kits can be used privately by guests or with a certified Bally Total Fitness personal trainer. In addition, professional-quality treadmills are available for in-room use by Hilton guests in more than 100 participating locations for a nominal fee.

For more information visit www.hilton.com.

Source: Hilton Hotels Corporation