Biohacking in Luxury Hotels: Elevating the Wellness Experience?
Spa Wave Table at Equinox Hotels, part of the Art + Science of Sleep offering
The integration of biohacking technologies in luxury hotels is getting more and more prevalent. As someone who's spent years observing and analysing trends in this space, I've watched with interest as cutting-edge wellness concepts have started to permeate every aspect of the guest experience.
Biohacking, at its core, is about using science and technology to optimise human biology. This translates to a holistic approach to guest wellbeing that extends well beyond the spa and fitness centre to rooms, public spaces, events, restaurants and in-room dining.
The potential benefits are compelling. Imagine a guest experience tailored not just to your preferences, but to your unique biological makeup - personalised room environments, nutrition and fitness programming, sleep optimisation and jet lag measures. The question remains though: are we actually enhancing the guest experience with these?
Consider some real-world examples. The Six Senses Sleep Program is a thoughtful integration of biohacking principles. It combines traditional elements like comfortable beds and blackout curtains with optional high-tech additions such as sleep tracking and personalised recommendations. Similarly, Hyatt has introduced a sleep offering across Australia and New Zealand backed by a world-renowned sleep practitioner. These approaches demonstrate how biohacking can enhance rather than overwhelm the guest experience.
The Sleep at Hyatt Ritual Pack, in collaboration with sleep expert, Nancy H. Rothstein
However, not all biohacking interventions are created equal. Some luxury hotels have rushed to adopt the latest technologies without fully considering their efficacy or integration into the overall guest journey. This can lead to a disjointed experience where the wellbeing offering feels more gimmicky than beneficial.
It can also narrow the audience.
Biohacking is still a very new trend and while it’s growing fast, the vast majority of luxury guests don’t consider wellbeing offerings as the primary driver in selecting accommodation. I often fall into this bucket too - any property with an emphasis on tech-heavy biohacking is immediately off-putting when I’m going to be traveling with my young family. Similarly, the need to relax will often outweigh the desire for personal enhancement, which can make biohacking offerings seem overwhelming.
The safe play here is a good one - add-ons rather than core features. The Hyatt and Six Senses sleep programs fall into that basket. So do the mindfulness offerings, breathwork and jet-lag therapies many luxury hotels have begun experimenting with. Crucially, these offerings appeal to wellness enthusiasts without alienating guests looking for a more traditional luxury experience.
Extending the offering beyond this, the spa and fitness centre probably remain the appropriate sandbox for cutting-edge wellness technologies or advanced health interventions. Infrared saunas, vibroacoustic therapy beds and red light therapies are all growing in popularity as novel wellness offerings at luxury hotels and retreats. When implemented thoughtfully, they can be an important differentiator. Here are some biohacking offerings to check out:
Art + Science of Sleep at Equinox Hotel New York
Next|Health, Longevity Protocol at Four Seasons Maui in Hawaii
Sleep at Hyatt, Australia & New Zealand
The Six Senses Sleep Program at selected Six Senses properties globally