American Express and Calm, the leading mental wellness brand and app for sleep, mediation, and relaxation, have recently come together to redefine the role of an airport lounge in travel. With the Health & Wellness Space, located in the Centurion Lounge at Texas’s George Bush International Airport, the duo have created a wellness- and relaxation-focused space where travelers can take time and decompress during their travels.
On top of offering all the standard amenities of an airport lounge, the new Health & Wellness Space provides complimentary access to Calm content for meditation and relaxation, as well as nutritional food and beverage options. The options range from “Calm Relax Tea” and “Calm Focus Tea” to coconut water and other wellness-themed drinks.
Biophilic elements and privacy-focused seating allows guests to relax and even mediate while on the go. Verdant moss walls and warm, oaken paneling wrap around the calmly lit main area. In the adjoining space, guests can relax in high-back, enveloping lounge chairs adrift in soft, flowing designs inspired by the ocean.
More Travelers Are Demanding a Wellness Experience at the Airport
The space is a part of American Express’s overarching initiative to include more wellness spaces for travelers, which itself was a decision borne out of travelers’ increasing focus on having a wellness-centered travel experience.
According to an Amex Trendex survey conducted in December 2021 that surveyed around 2,000 American Express members, nearly half (46%) of survey respondents agree having a lounge to relax at the airport before their flight helps reduce their stress and improve their well-being and overall improves their travel experience.
The survey also found that personal wellness continued to be at the top of mind as consumers approached the New Year. Almost three-quarters (72%) stated their resolution was to focus on their mental health and wellness. Meanwhile, 49% said they plan to spend more improving their mental health this year.
For many in the study, travel fits perfectly into that expenditure range, with 67% agreeing that having a trip to look forward to makes them happier and less stressed overall. Meanwhile, 48% want to spend more on travel to improve their wellbeing and feel more restored after they have finished traveling.
