Renowned as an industry innovator with a history of firsts in the wellness space, Westin Hotels & Resorts today announced the global launch of the Westin Well-being Movement, an ambitious $15 million brand-wide campaign designed to enhance the well-being of guests and associates around the world. The year-long initiative will introduce a string of innovative partnerships and programs across Westin’s six brand pillars: Feel Well, Work Well, Move Well, Eat Well, Sleep Well and Play Well. Today’s launch coincides with the International day of Happiness and Well-being and the Spring Equinox – traditionally recognised as the season of renewal.

To celebrate, Westin hotels around the world will open their doors for a well-being open house, where guests, associates and consumers can experience the brand’s signature programs. For the next week nearly 200 hotels and resorts will hold wellness events and programs open to the public including scenic guided 5K runs, Heavenly Spa mini-appointments, SuperfoodsRx Juice Bars, group yoga sessions and more. For more information on open house activity please visit Westin.com.

Mindfulness and Meditation Pioneer Checks-In to Westin Hotels
The Westin Well-being Movement will launch globally with Headspace, a leading force in the field of health and wellbeing. This first new partnership of 2014 is aimed at helping guests “feel well.”
Headspace co-founder and meditation expert, Andy Puddicombe, will lead the charge as the authority for the brand’s “Feel Well” pillar and is the first appointee to the Westin Well-being Council - a diverse advisory board composed of renowned thought leaders, each of whom aligns with a specific wellness brand pillar. This Council will be the cornerstone to the Movement and will guide and inspire new initiatives, leveraging proprietary research to inform and introduce new programs throughout the year.
The Council will be featured on the brand’s new well-being digital hub – an online portal that will serve as a catalyst for a global exchange of new ideas and interpretations of well-being and bring the Movement’s initiatives to life. Additional Council members will be announced throughout the year, featuring a mix of industry innovators, high-profile executives and renowned professionals dedicated to the global pursuit of wellness.

“At Westin, our mission is to be a partner in our guest’s well-being before, during and after their stay and this is the motivation behind this movement,” said Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader for Westin Hotels. “We are proud to partner with some of the world’s premier wellness brands and experts to provide innovative, personalised offerings at our hotels around the world, with the goal of inspiring and empowering our guests and associates. Headspace is a brand who shares our passion for improving the health and well-being of communities around the world and we are thrilled that Andy and his team will be a part of this journey.”

The new partnership with Headspace will encourage guests and associates to look after the health of their minds, with simple guided meditation exercises that help them smile more, listen more, worry less and sleep better.

Westin is the first hotel brand to launch a brand-wide mindfulness and meditation program. The partnership with Headspace will provide guests with customised content through a dedicated space on Westin.com, including videos and audio files. Specifically curated for Westin guests, the program is designed to address the needs of both leisure and business travelers, pre and post-stay and including programs to help guests get ready for their onward journey. Westin will also introduce Headspace modules to help promote wellness in the workplace.

“We are very excited to be the official launch partner for Westin’s Well-being Movement. The health benefits of practicing mindfulness are widely recognised, and this partnership highlights Westin’s commitment to improving the wellbeing of their guests and associates,” said Andy Puddicombe, Co-Founder, Headspace. “We believe that the simple and easy to learn mindfulness techniques we have developed at Headspace will help both guests and associates alike lead happier and healthier lives.”