Hotel and apartment gyms that residents actually use

Hotel and apartment gyms used to be an afterthought: a treadmill, a rack of dumbbells and a mirror in a leftover room. That's changed. Guests now check the gym before they book. Buyers and tenants compare building amenities, and a well-built gym is something a developer or body corporate can point to with pride.

LUXGYM recently delivered a hotel gym in Brisbane, and we're working with other hotel groups on their training spaces. These are the questions that shape a good result.

Who uses it, and when?

A city business hotel sees early-morning guests who want a quick cardio and strength session. A resort sees longer, more relaxed workouts. An apartment building has the same residents every day, who'll notice if equipment is missing or broken. Start with the users, then choose the equipment.

Equipment that works without a coach

There's no trainer on the floor, so equipment needs to be intuitive and safe to use alone:

• dumbbells in a compact rack
• an adjustable bench
• a functional trainer or cable station
• a quality multi-purpose rack with safeties, where the space allows
• a small, well-chosen cardio line

Selectorised machines suit buildings with a wide range of ages and experience.

Durability and service

Equipment in shared buildings gets used hard and cleaned often. Choose commercial-rated equipment with upholstery and finishes that stand up to daily wipe-downs. Line up service and maintenance from day one. A broken machine left with a sign on it reflects on the whole building.

Noise and vibration

This is the issue that catches most buildings out. Gyms in multi-storey buildings often sit above or beside apartments, rooms, offices or retail. Dropped dumbbells and running on treadmills send impact and vibration through the structure. The flooring build-up has to be specified for that, and early, ideally while the architect is still detailing the room. See Stopping gym noise and vibration in apartments and hotels.

Design that matches the building

A hotel or apartment gym should feel like part of the building, not a different world. Finishes, colours, lighting, audio visual and joinery can all be chosen to match the interior design. We work with the architect or interior designer to make sure the gym holds up to the rest of the project. See our audio visual and lighting and lockers and joinery pages.

Lockers and access

Hotel spas and resident gyms often need lockers. Ojmar electronic locks work with cards and wristbands, so there are no keys to lose. Smart door locks can control who gets into the gym and when. See smart door locks.

Plans and renders

We produce floor plans and 3D renders from the equipment list, so owners, managers and body corporate committees can see the space before they approve it. See For architects and builders.

Planning a hotel or apartment gym? LUXGYM specifies, supplies and installs equipment, flooring, lockers and AV as one project across Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Queensland. See gym fitouts Brisbane or get in touch.