Hilton is trying to tap into the $639 billion wellness tourism market with a fitness-focused hotel room.

Hilton has an answer for fitness fanatics who can't take a rest day, even on vacation.

For the last five years, some Hilton locations have included Five Feet to Fitness, an "in-room wellness concept" that offers 11 different fitness machines and exercise tools steps from a guest's bed.

The rooms, which are available in Hilton locations in Atlanta, San Francisco, Shanghai, and more, are equipped with an exercise bike, medicine balls, light-weight dumbbells, bands, TRX ropes, yoga blocks, and other supplies. 

The setup includes a giant TV filled with tutorials on how to use all the equipment, and guided workouts for yoga, high-intensity interval training, cycling, boxing, and meditation. 

It's Hilton's answer to the travel industry introducing new features to cash in on the $639 billion "wellness tourism" trend, or wealthy travelers' interest in retreats focused on self-care, health, and spirituality. 

In 2019, the Four Seasons launched Sensei Lanai, a relaxation resort offering wellness consultations and sensory walking meditation. Marriott will offer wellness-focused suites, complete with deep soaking tubs, bath salts, and wood decor, in its renovated Newport Beach location 

I stayed at Hilton's Five Feet to the Fitness room in the DoubleTree at Newark, New Jersey to see how "well" they made me feel. Here's what it was like.

Constant motivation to move

Upon walking in, I was immediately impressed by the selection of different tools. The hotel gyms I've stayed at typically don't have TRX bands and guided training like Five Feet to Fitness rooms do. 

With weights that ranged between 5 and 18 pounds, the setup felt geared more toward light strength training and might not appeal to guests who are used to heavier weights and more intense reps.

Though the setup could be stressful for people who don't want to workout on vacation, I view physical exercise as a mental health treatment. After struggling with depression and anxiety for years, consistently working out has brought me relief that I struggle to break from during long trips. 

Business travelers could further benefit from having exercise equipment so close to them. Frequent business travelers were more likely to report poor self-rated health, no physical activity, and trouble sleeping, according to Harvard Business Review. Five Feet to Fitness rooms can provide a place to workout late at night, when hotel gyms might close. 

Hilton said the Five Feet to Fitness rooms are ideal for "road warriors, exercise enthusiasts and wellness aspirants who want to maintain their fitness regime, even while on the road."