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New Norwalk Hotel Helps Travelers Stay Fit While On The Road

NORWALK, Conn. – Norwalk’s newly opened EVEN Hotel offers a unique twist on customer service: It gives guests the opportunity to keep up with their fitness regiments while traveling.

The check-in island at the entrance to EVEN Hotel in Norwalk, where guests are checked in on an iPad before heading to their rooms.

The check-in island at the entrance to EVEN Hotel in Norwalk, where guests are checked in on an iPad before heading to their rooms.

Photo Credit: Casey Donahue
The rooms feature cork floors, exercise space and equipment, and workout programs available On-Demand.

The rooms feature cork floors, exercise space and equipment, and workout programs available On-Demand.

Photo Credit: Casey Donahue
The Cork and Kale Market at EVEN Hotel in Norwalk, where guests can find healthy snacks and meals.

The Cork and Kale Market at EVEN Hotel in Norwalk, where guests can find healthy snacks and meals.

Photo Credit: Casey Donahue
The lounge in EVEN Hotel, where guests can order a signature cocktail, relax or find out about upcoming fitness events on the Wellness Wall.

The lounge in EVEN Hotel, where guests can order a signature cocktail, relax or find out about upcoming fitness events on the Wellness Wall.

Photo Credit: Casey Donahue

“We all know how hard it is to keep up with your balance on the road. We all fall off the wagon, we’re all guilty of it,” said Adam Glickman, head of EVEN Hotels. “We built this brand so that more and more people can feel better and feel like they can go on a business trip or visit friends and family and not come home regretting decisions they made.”

The hotel on Main Avenue in Norwalk is the first EVEN Hotel in the nation opened by Intercontinental Hotels Group, which has also opened an EVEN Hotel in Rockville, Md., and is planning on opening three more in New York next year.

The hotel features a 1,200-square-foot athletic studio, which Glickman says is about three times the size of the average hotel gym. It also has a flex room offering yoga and spin classes, and daily morning runs led by the hotel’s General Manager Dieter Schmitz, who is referred to as the Chief Wellness Officer.

“Our goal is to offer a deviation from the cookie-cutter norm from the moment you enter,” Schmitz said.

Instead of a standard check-in desk, which he said can feel like a barrier, the lobby of the hotel has a check-in island. After check-in, guests are encouraged to take the stairs for a little extra exercise, or they can head to the Cork and Kale Market and Bar, where they’ll find natural and organic foods that are healthier than typical hotel menu options. The food includes low-fat, gluten-free and vegetarian choices, as well as freshly squeezed orange juice, flatbread sandwiches, salads and signature smoothies and cocktails.

“The food really leaves you feeling healthy and energized,” Schmitz said.

The rooms feature training space and equipment for travelers who prefer to work out in privacy. The televisions include several On-Demand workout programs, and guests can also have hotel trainers come and work with them.

“It’s not just one or two things thrown into a building. It’s a service culture and design and a technology platform that all come to life together as one holistic wellness brand,” Glickman said.

Schmitz said the staff is dedicated to helping guests maintain their fitness goals while still enjoying a comfortable stay.

“We’re all in this business to enable guests to have an experience that’s unlike any they’ve ever had before,” he said. “We made sure to hire the right personalities, people who have a passion for wellness and for the mission of the hotel.”

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