Almost 17 million (40 percent) of US hotel guests seek to maintain a healthy lifestyle while traveling. Global hotel groups, including Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), Kimpton Hotels, MGM Grand Hotel, Trump Wellness Hotels, and Westin, have developed and promoted programs to attract these health-conscious guests.
Programs include healthy menu options, relaxation programs, spa services, and fitness facilities and classes.
As of 2012, over 80 percent of US hotels and over 90 percent of upscale US hotels offered fitness facilities. Internationally, 45 percent of hotel guests indicated that the existence of a hotel spa was an important factor in their booking decision.
Hospitals and medical centers
Hospitals are a significant provider of destination wellness programs. Typical programs emphasize lifestyle improvement, prevention, or health screening. Hospital and hotel partnerships often support these programs.
There is debate over whether wellness tourism can, by definition, involve a visit to a hospital, clinic, or physician's office. Some promoters of wellness tourism define all wellness travel services as delivered outside medical facilities in spas, health promotion or wellness centers, resorts, or hotels.
Resorts and retreats
Wellness resorts and retreats offer short-term, residential programs to address specific health concerns, reduce stress, or support lifestyle improvement.