The Equinox Takeover – From Fitness to Hospitality
When someone refers to ‘Equinox,’ luxury fitness is usually the first thing that comes to mind. People can’t resist Equinox’s fancy facilities, pristine equipment, chilled Eucalyptus towels, and endless supply of Kiehl’s products. The high-end fitness company dominates the luxury fitness industry, and it’s now expanding to the hospitality industry with the first Equinox Hotel in New York City.
I was privileged to attend an exclusive open-house event for the grand opening of the Equinox Hotel. While I expected the hotel to maintain the Equinox’s dedication to guest experience, the hotel surpassed all my expectations.
Located in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards, the Equinox Hotel features 212 guestrooms that include 48 suites, a 60,000 square foot fitness club with indoor and outdoor pools, a luxurious spa, and a spacious sun deck. With such luxurious accommodations and amenities, Equinox encourages guests to live their happiest and healthiest life during their stay.
When you first check in to the hotel, you automatically become an Equinox Destination member, the highest-level membership, for the duration of your stay. You have the opportunity to experience a variety of fitness classes every day, ranging from bootcamp classes on the famous Vessel to spinning classes at the SoulCycle studio next door.
For the true luxury traveler, I highly recommend booking the 1,200 square foot Presidential Suite, the largest suite in the hotel for the ultimate experience. 1,200 square feet not big enough to accommodate you? Reserve the adjacent connecting room to get an additional 400 square feet of living space. That’s still not the best part. As a guest in the Presidential Suite, you have full access to the property’s helipad! The well-regarded helicopter company, Blade, can transport you from JFK to the hotel in just 5 minutes! Yes, you read that right. 5 minutes of airtime!
If you are not into fitness, do not worry. The Equinox Hotel ensures every guest feels rejuvenated and refreshed in a way that works for them, however that may be. Equinox designed each hotel room with a team of renowned sleep scientists to make sure guests get the best possible night of sleep during their stay.
By now we all know that the Equinox does not cut any corners when it comes to client experience. Every room in the Equinox Hotel has a luxury bed made of all-natural fibers flown in from Greece. The rooms are soundproof and preset to a comfortable 66 degrees, the temperature scientifically proven to be best for sleep. Of course, you can easily adjust the temperature to your liking with your in-room thermostat if you wish.
I am not exaggerating when I say the hotel designers thought of every possible way to enhance your stay. The window shades are fused with the frame of the window to ensure complete blackout capabilities. Every bed has two duvets, so you never have to worry about your bedmate stealing the covers. Whether you choose to heat or cool your room, the fan in the room sustains a constant low hum to provide a relaxing white noise without clicking on and off to disrupt your sleep. On top of that, all of the toiletries are Grown Alchemist products that contain natural ingredients grown on the Highline outside the hotel.
Whether you are flying in from overseas or just exhausted after a long day, the Equinox Hotel has you covered. Every room is stocked with a drawer of travel recovery items, including magnesium supplements and face masks, to alleviate any jet lag or travel fatigue. Other drawers are stocked with healthy food options and exercise equipment, like foam rollers, yoga blocks, and tension release balls. Your TV has AM and PM stretching rituals available to help you wake up or relax before bed. Also, if you want an IV vitamin drip, all you have to do is ask.
If you want to relax even more, you have to head down to the Spa. Equinox Hotel created their own line of nourishing products for their specialty spa treatments. I am so excited to try the spa and book an appointment for the Wave Table, which provides the equivalent of 3 hours of sleep in 30 minutes! I might even try a Cryotherapy session to relieve any lingering aches and pains.
After a relaxing and rejuvenating day at the hotel, wind down with a delicious dinner at Electric Lemon, the in-house restaurant. Part of the Stephen Starr Group, the upscale restaurant serves a farm-to-table menu with the freshest seasonal offerings. The restaurant also provides the food for the hotel’s private dining room on the 25th floor, hotel events, and, of course, room service.
If you enjoy your stay at the first Equinox Hotel in New York City, then I have great news for you. Equinox is planning to open over 30 hotels over the next decade across the United States. Next up…Seattle or Los Angeles!
