“Sleep is a non-negotiable,” according to Equinox Hotels’ recent press release announcing the opening of the first Equinox Hotel, in Hudson Yards, New York. The long-time proprietor of upscale gyms is taking a luxury fitness lifestyle approach to the new hotel, aimed at those who “want to rest and play as hard as they train and work.”
“The notion of ‘want it all’ has grounded the Equinox Club offering for 25-plus years, and now we are redefining luxury as the ultimate in experience and travel as a seamless extension of a life well-lived,” said Equinox CEO Chris Norton. “As Equinox consumers look for more, they want a hub and a community where the experience goes beyond a club but taps into a lifestyle that supports all elements of living a high-performance life, from sleep, to food, to creative and the experiential.” Equinox’s club environment will blend with the experience of the hotel, where guests become members during their stay, he said.
A few details:
- The fitness club will total 60,000 square feet, the largest in Equinox’s portfolio, with private and group classes and training services
- E by Equinox will offer holistic health services
- A “performance-driven” spa
- 25-yard indoor salt water pool, hot and cold plunge pools, and outdoor leisure pool and terrace with F&B
- SoulCycle on the ground floor
Why the emphasis on sleep? “Quality sleep happens to be an important component to the regeneration of any individual with a high-performance lifestyle, and therefore is something we want to own like no other brand has before,” Norton said. “Hotels can be extraordinarily tough places to relax and ‘power off,’ so by taking sleep into consideration, and designing our rooms to be dark, quiet and cool, we are creating a sleep experience that is completely unique.”
That means soundproofing and a blackout window system, natural fiber mattresses and two separate duvets. In-room dining focuses on nutrition and sleep-promoting items – and guests can request an IV vitamin drip for “an extra boost of energy or hydration,” according to the press release.
The 212-key hotel’s interior spaces were designed by David Rockwell of Rockwell Group; exteriors were managed by Ken Smith Workshop and Rockwell Group; and building design was led by David Childs of SOM. The Equinox Fitness Club and Spa was designed by Joyce Wang. The company’s pipeline includes properties in Los Angeles and Santa Clara, California; Seattle; Chicago; and Houston.
