FUTURE METROPOLIS | 05.13.2015
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Out Of Town, But Not Out Of Shape: Stay Fit Housing Has Your Healthy Hook-Up BY ALLISON TANENHAUS // PHOTOS BY HAOYUAN REN When you’re a smart traveler with a healthy lifestyle, you’ve got high expectations for out-of-town accommodations. Typically on the hotel docket? Bed. Bathroom. Ice bucket. Mini bar. And maybe—if you’re lucky—a pillow mint. What’s not usually in your suite? A brand spankin’ new yoga mat. A gift basket with goodies…that are actually good for you. A nutritionist on call. But find this you will, if you check into a Stay Fit Housing residence. That’s because Stay Fit Housing (http://www.stayfithousing.com) isn’t a typical hotel—in fact, it’s not a hotel at all.
Stay Fit Housing CEO Dan Corridon and President and COO Dan Hauptman will make sure your healthy routine
doesn't miss a beat.
HEALTHY BEGINNINGS Developed in LA by three close friends with backgrounds in corporate housing, finance, and sports— CEO Dan Corridon, CFO Josh Karotkin, and President and COO Dan Hauptman—Stay Fit Housing offers long-term residences (from 30 days up to a year) with a healthy twist. Massage, meditation, nutritious meals, and nutritional guidance—among other perks—are all part of the package. These perks aren’t just premium afterthoughts, though; they’re central to the company’s mission. Stay Fit Housing’s aim is to not only provide an upscale, fully furnished residence, but to create an environment that comfortably supports a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. WARMING UP Before a guest even arrives, tons of personalized work has already transpired to reach this central goal. Each potential client undergoes an extensive vetting process with a Stay Fit Housing rep to evaluate the client’s needs—from usual considerations like the size and style of the space, to more customized needs like proximity to workplace, pet-friendliness, and fitness (http://www.zipcar.com/ziptopia/around-the-bend/coolest-new-workout-trends-in-2015) objectives. No matter what residence is chosen, every Stay Fit Housing space includes Wi-Fi, full kitchens (with ample silverware), flat screen TVs, plenty of space to entertain and accommodate guests, and modern fitness facilities on site. (In the rare cases when they’re not, Stay Fit facilitates a membership or package at a preferred boutique nearby.) Because of partnerships with trusted realtors in every major city across the country, Stay Fit has a footprint that spans the entire United States. Even better? The cost is 30-50% lower than a stay at a hotel for 30 days or more. You may never leave. (But, you should… Eventually.)
From barre studios to bars with healthy menus, Director of Guest Wellness Jenn Zerling will help you find healthy picks.
PERFECT FIT(NESS) Given the focus on fitness, it makes sense that Stay Fit Housing serves professional athletes (http://www.zipcar.com/ziptopia/around-the-bend/6-reasons-to-love-sports-even-if-youre-notsporty) (hockey, baseball, football, and basketball players, currently). They’ll often hunker down throughout the regular season, as well as for off-season training, when many athletes choose a remote, warm destination to train—sometimes taking their families along. Fortune 1000 executives are also frequent patrons, whether for taking on projects in new cities for several months, or during the transition to full relocation. That said, you don’t need to be a professional athlete or a fast-tracked executive to take advantage of Stay Fit Housing’s offerings. As CEO Dan Corridon explains, “We welcome guests of all different kinds of backgrounds and levels of interest, and each receives custom-tailored recommendations, even if it’s just to facilitate subtle changes. Our mission is to provide our guests with a lifestyle that enables them to optimize their performance in the workplace (http://www.zipcar.com/ziptopia/around-the-bend/nap-rooms-yoga-classes-unlimited-vaycay),
and to feel at home while they’re with us.”
Stay Fit Housing is your strongest candidate for a healthy home away from home.
ALL THE FIXIN’S Certainly, the fitness facilities aid in this overall wellness goal. But Stay Fit Housing takes the extra step. (Actually, several extra steps. Get out the FitBit.) First up, the famous yoga mat available upon arrival, plus an equally appealing gift basket, stuffed full of healthy snacks from partners like NatureBox and Zico. Also on the menu? A freezer stocked with tasty and nutritious prepared meals (aka a dream come true for busy city professionals). “Usually people are unfamiliar with their new environment and find it challenging to locate healthy food and fitness options that are suitable for their needs. They get off a long flight (http://www.zipcar.com/airports), and check into a hotel with a mini bar or into a corporate apartment that will maybe have some unhealthy snacks,” Dan says. “With us, they’re greeted with nutritious foods and drinks they can take advantage of immediately—with all of their dietary constraints in mind—so they can get acclimated (http://www.zipcar.com/ziptopia/around-thebend/travel-better-with-these-life-savers) as quickly as possible.” As an extra, immersive bonus, every Stay Fit guest also nabs access to Director of Guest Wellness Jenn Zerling (and her JZ Fitness Nutrition app (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jz-fitnessnutrition/id886284619?mt=8)), a nutrition expert and personal trainer who assesses each client’s
goals to make recommendations for dining and fitness classes via personal Skype sessions—a perk that guests are welcome to extend after their stay, to continue seeing results.
Dig in with a custom array of healthy snacks curated especially for your dietary preferences.
BUSINESS AND PLEASURE Often, guests with Stay Fit Housing are in a place of transition, either staying for several weeks before settling into a permanent residence while starting a new steady job, or staying on-site for the duration of a months-long project. That’s where Stay Fit’s support shines, as well. “We realize that when our clients move to new cities (http://www.zipcar.com/ziptopia/around-thebend/how-to-fall-in-love-with-your-city-again), they’re also starting over from a social perspective, too. We’re sensitive to that, and have facilitated book clubs for guests, as well as suggested restaurants for dinners with their new colleagues,” Dan says. “It can be lonely when you move somewhere new. Feeling like you’ve established personal relationships and like you’re not a transient hotel visitor—but a resident of a local community—can be just as important as fitness and nutrition.”
At the end of the day, health is all about teamwork, which is why Stay Fit Housing helps you find community near your temporary stay.
GOING LONG It’s this high-touch approach that differentiates Stay Fit Housing, and has led to consistent customer satisfaction. (One guest is settling into her fourth Stay Fit Housing apartment; each has been in a different city.) “There’s so much competition, which is why it’s important for us to offer something really distinct,” Dan says. “I’m sure other companies will create a similar concept—or bigger companies will have a suite or division that focuses on fitness and health—but for now, they can’t say their entire business is built around it.” We’ll om to that.
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