Westin Targets Marathon Travellers with Abbott World Partnership

(11/04/23)  Westin has teamed up with Abbott World Marathon Majors, a series of six marathons held in Germany, Japan, UK and USA, for a multi-year hospitality partnership to champion race travelers, and their supporters, during the event weekends.

The collaboration, activated at select Westin properties in Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York City and Tokyo, will offer tailored experiences to help marathoners of all levels get to the starting line and cross the finish line, as well as offer exclusive perks to celebrate their achievements.

“For decades, travel has been a fundamental part of running, with runners selecting destinations and planning travel around coveted milestone races,” said Catherine Flint, Senior Director, Global Brand Management, Westin Hotels & Resorts, and a new Six Star Finisher, having recently completed the Tokyo Marathon in March. “Our dedicated community of race travelers, and their supporters, can count on Westin for the latest in training and recovery programs, including our reinvigorated WestinWorkout Gear Lending program, in order to help them move and feel their best during these monumental race weekends.”

From Westin hotel guests to local runners and their support teams, the brand is gearing up for complimentary wellness experiences during Abbott World Marathon Majors weekends.

Julius Maisei of Kenya winning Hong Kong Marathon 2013. Picture by Steven Howard of TravelNewsAsia.com

Situated within Westin properties, the Westin Marathon Zone will serve as the heart of the marathon weekend happenings, offering the following:

- Recovery Concierges, who will provide recovery tips using the new signature Gear Lending kits that are available for guests to borrow at Westin properties around the world. The kits feature the latest high-tech recovery and total body strength training equipment from Hyperice and Bala, which are beneficial for recovering from a run, winding down from a day of sightseeing, or looking to improve circulation after a long-haul flight.

- To help runners warm up pre-race and wind down post-race, Westin will offer dedicated training and recovery sessions led by Hyperice and Bala instructors.

- Throughout the weekends, the Westin Marathon Zone will offer lite bites and beverages inspired by the brand’s Eat Well Menu program that focuses on nutritious and well-balanced options for guests to stay on track while on the road. On marathon days, Eat Well Snack Packs will be available for supporters as well as convenient grab-n-go items for runners. Celebratory bites and beverages will be available post-race.

- For supporters, a poster-designing station will be available to create celebratory signage for their loved one as well as branded pom poms and cowbells to cheer them on.

Six Star Finishers

Together, Westin and Abbott World Marathon Majors will honor Six Star Finishers – runners who have completed all six events in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City. To date, only 11,150 Six Star Finishers across 119 nationalities are a part of this admirable circle.

Exclusive perks include:

- On the day before the big race, Westin will host guided pre-race shakeout runs for Six Star Hopefuls to run through the destination together.

- Following the race, Six Star Finishers are invited to enjoy celebratory beverages and Eat Well bites at the Westin Marathon Zone.

- Runners who show their Six Star Finisher bib while staying at Westin during race weekend will be gifted with a complimentary Hyperice Hypersphere Mini and Bala resistance bands (on a first-come, first-serve basis) – two products featured in the brand’s Gear Lending program.

During the Boston Marathon weekend, runners can hear from running and recovery experts at the Boston Expo during a panel session hosted by Westin and Abbott World Marathon Majors to learn more about the importance of recovery, especially when traveling.

“We know that running a marathon is challenging, and participating in a marathon while traveling miles away from your routine requires extra levels of support,” said Dawna Stone, Chief Executive Officer, Abbott World Marathon Majors. “We are thrilled to be joining forces with Westin Hotels & Resorts to enhance the experience of runners competing in the Abbott World Marathon Majors, as well as all race travelers during their training, recovery, and all the moments in between as they pursue their greatest potential.”

Headlines: