Rooms With a View to Health

Once upon a time, TLC from a hotel meant the vodka was chilled, the towels were warmed, and the “Do Not Disturb” sign wasn’t ignored. Now, the Hilton hotel chain is invoking the initials to identify its Travel Lifestyle Centers.

Certain rooms at Hilton Hotels in eight U.S. cities, including San Francisco, Chicago and New York, are equipped with a chair cushion that massages a weary traveler’s back and legs. (Magic fingers--the next generation?) The massage chairs can be found in Stress-Less rooms, which also offer meditation audiotapes, allergy-free pillows, aromatherapy bath products and a yoga video.

Less mellow Hilton guests can opt for Health-Fit rooms, which are stocked with stationary bicycles, exercise tubing, fitness magazines and jogging maps. Maybe the guy who hangs his clothes on the exercise bike in his bedroom feels right at home doing the same at a Hilton.

Because the Health-Fit and Stress-Less rooms are being tested by the hotel chain, there’s no extra charge.

“All our hotels have fitness centers or workout rooms, but a lot of people prefer working out right in their rooms, especially women,” said Senior Vice President of Marketing Robert Dirks. “Our guests tell us they like being able to work out in their rooms, wearing whatever they want. They can watch their own TV programs while they exercise, and they aren’t far away from their phones and computers.”