A glorious return

Essence of Singapore

Participants will be invited to write a message to the beneficiaries and get a chance to win a pair of running shoes with the best message.

More than 20 Westin properties in the Asia-Pacific offer a runWESTIN concierge service, and guests will get outdoor running tips and suggestions on how to improve their fitness levels.

There are also fitness ambassadors. For instance, The Westin Singapore is looking for an experienced runner who can represent the hotel in one overseas marathon and two runs in the country.

The RunWESTIN event demonstrates "move well", one of the brand's six pillars of overall well-being - feel well, sleep well, eat well, move well, work well and play well.

For example, "play well" translates to a late checkout on Sundays and extended breakfast hours all weekends, while "feel well" refers to the Heavenly Spa sessions that can leave guests feeling rejuvenated.

Westin will open its 200th hotel worldwide this year, and the Asia Pacific, especially China and India, continues to play an important role in its ambitious expansion.

Asia Pacific has 43 Westin hotels, with another 22 to come in the next two to four years. With 18 hotels in operation, China has 11 properties in the pipeline, including five to open this year.

"China is probably our fastest developing country around the world. It is the key part of our growth strategy," Povinelli says.

According to him, the big investment in China and Asia-Pacific as a whole is mainly due to a huge volume of outbound travelers with the rise of a middle-class with more disposable income.

"If they are familiar with our brand in their own countries, when they travel elsewhere they will be comfortable staying in Westin hotels," he says.

Besides pairing up with New Balance, the Westin brand will soon announce other partners in its wellbeing programs.

"Our focus is on the movement to well-being. It's a huge global trend. We see it as an opportunity to differentiate our brand from the competition," he says.

"I don't think this will slow down any time soon. How people pursue their well-being differs in the world, but it's a theme that is relevant to everybody."

He notes that five years ago, very few Chinese guests used the gym in Westin hotels, but there is an much greater percentage these days because more and more people are taking responsibility for their personal wellness.

"I also believe that the idea of mindfulness, to keep one's mind healthy, is the next trend of well-being. It's different around the world and has become a global topic," he says.