By: Michelle Wilkos | Jan 4th, 2019

We caught up with Michael Garvey, the founder and president of The Dumbell Man Fitness Equipment. He reviews current trends related to hospitality fitness solutions on the Las Vegas Strip.

 You started in Las Vegas almost 30 years ago, what was that like?

It used to be Simple. There wasn’t a vast number of resort spas, or a wide variety of equipment choices back then. Our first sale was at the Mirage, a set of dumbbells of course. Fitness, like spa was an afterthought.

What is the most dramatic change you see today related to hotel fitness offering?

Much Higher Usage. Business is booming in the exercise, health and wellness industry. The related growth coincides with the institution of the resort fee, visitors to Las Vegas pay more and now expect more.

How are Las Vegas resort fitness centers different?

The entire city is billed as an experience destination. The Las Vegas visitor expects more, than the average traveler, something unique. Each resort creates a unique stay, with amenities that stand out. We now create a “gym” not a fitness center for the Las Vegas resorts. A variety of brands, machines, equipment and accessories now yield the best response and perceived value from the guests.

The Wynn Las Vegas Cardio Room

What challenges are related to higher demand at these spa fitness locations?

The same as in any high use hotel environment. Equipment wear and tear and the need to invest in order to ensure guest satisfaction and safety. We have the experience to help clients make wise financial decisions in respect to spending operating or capital funds.

How has Technology changed in the Fitness Industry?

The challenge is to integrate entertainment into equipment designed to endure the rigors of a fitness environment. Unfortunately, what you see in an Apple store will not hold up in a gym. That can lead to a very poor user experience.

Peloton is a popular example. A retail product that will exercise, motivate and entertain. Now it must be able to withstand a commercial standard. Innovation is coming from the brands we see in health clubs.  We’re excited about Athlios; they are working with partners like TRUE and Woodway to create easy to use entertainment options and cloud-based service tracking. This helps Las Vegas resorts obtain that “wow” factor and helps us maintain their machines.  We’ve also been collaborating with Villency on customization and design as well as  Mirror to enhance in room exercise and reduce fitness center usage.

How do popular “Cross-Fit” and “HIIT” style workouts fit in?

The best facilities invest in popular accessories and free weight space. Guest safety and satisfaction are paramount. We’ve been recommending removing equipment in order to create room for these types of exercises. The new TRX studio line accessories and machines like the SPARC, WaterRower, and HIIT UBE are great examples.

What’s best exercise facility look like?

It looks like a really great boutique gym. The resort fitness offering needs popular trends and timeless traditions, the popular and the proven to appeal to a wide variety of guests.”  I’d invest in the right technology and a variety of equipment, machines and accessories. Leave plenty of open space, and make sure to have a service plan to maintain and keep the equipment clean!