Abstract:
Generally, the current invention is a business method of hotel, resort or other multi-unit dwelling construction and operation centered around a fitness center. The central feature of the invention is a fitness center that is adjacent to, and thus, easily viewed from, both the entrance to the hotel, resort or other multi-unit dwelling lobby and from the reception desk. Said fitness center is behind a glass or otherwise translucent material partition. The fitness center is amenable to any and all regional demands, consumer needs or construction and floor plan restraints.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This is a first patent from the inventor regarding this invention.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
     Field of the Invention  
       [0002]     The current invention is a business method for the hotel, resort and other multi-unit dwellings industry. This unique business method incorporates a highly visible fitness center into both existing and as yet envisioned hotel, resort or other multi-unit dwelling structures.  
         [0003]     The purpose of the present invention is to fulfill a need in the hotel, resort and multi-unit dwelling industry. Current hotel, resort and other multi-unit dwelling fitness centers are underutilized. This business method will benefit both society and hotel developers by overcoming the obstacles of the prior art and increasing utilization of hotel and multi-unit dwelling fitness centers. For hotel, resort or other multi-unit dwelling developers, this business method will provide both financial reward and customer loyalty. Multi-unit dwelling developers will see financial reward not only in an increase of their revenue per unit, because the increased visibility will create a better point of purchase, but also in ancillary income, which may be found in charging admission to the fitness center and/or the optional and additional revenue producing business such as the smoothie bar or the fitness apparel and equipment retail centers. Society will benefit because hotel and multi-unit dwelling consumers will experience increased safety and unique social facilitation, in a design that is not currently available. Additionally, hotel, resort and multi-unit dwelling consumers will now have available a healthier means of travel or living.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention overcomes the inadequacies of current hotel, office building and multi-unit dwelling design. Generally, the present invention is a business method for hotel, resort or other multi-unit dwelling operation which centers hotel, resort or other multi-unit dwelling design, construction and operation around a fitness center. The advantage of such a hotel, resort or other multi-unit dwelling construction and operation is that utilizing this business method will appeal to a particular subset of hotel, resort or other multi-unit dwelling patrons, thus increasing revenue per unit, guest retention and consumer satisfaction.  
         [0005]     As demonstrated herein, the central feature of this business method is a fitness center that is adjacent to, and thus, easily viewed from both the entrance to the hotel, resort or multi-unit dwelling lobby and from the reception desk, said fitness center is behind a glass or otherwise translucent material partition. As described herein, this method of hotel and multi-unit dwelling construction and operation can be achieved in several different formats, each representing a preferred embodiment of the invention. This will make the business method useful to both existing and yet-to-be constructed hotel, resort or other multi-unit dwelling facility. The equipment and layout of the interior of the fitness center itself remains modifiable according to hotel brand, regional demand and consumer needs.  
         [0006]     The predominant feature of this invention is the position of the fitness center, in all its various embodiments, in regards to the lobby and/or entrance to the establishment; and the glass or otherwise translucent material partition between said fitness center and said lobby. The benefit of this feature is that it is amenable to both existing and as-yet constructed hotels or multi-unit dwellings. It is compatible with any hotel design, including without limitation, Doubletree Club, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn and any other variation of hotel or resort chain&#39;s respective floor plans. Further, this feature is equally amenable to custom design for a new hotel or for an existing hotel with special regional, construction or consumer needs.  
         [0007]     As will be immediately apparent to one of skill in the art, the predominant feature may also be incorporated in the design and construction of any multi-unit structure, such as resorts, office buildings and multi-unit long or short term residential structures.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The present invention, as defined in the claims, can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and the invention is not intended to be limited by the measurements or preferred features of these drawings.  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a hotel or multi-unit dwelling lobby utilizing the business method.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a hotel or multi-unit dwelling lobby utilizing the business method.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is an aerial depiction of an embodiment of a hotel or multi-unit dwelling lobby plus fitness center implementing the business method with reference to the optional health food refreshment retail opportunity and optional location for locker rooms and fitness center office.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is an aerial depiction of an embodiment of a hotel or multi-unit dwelling lobby plus fitness center implementing the business method without reference to any retail opportunities.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is an aerial depiction of one way in which a hotel or multi-unit dwelling may implement this business method while considering floor plan and construction restrictions.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is second aerial depiction of one way in which a hotel or multi-unit dwelling may implement this business method while considering floor plan and construction restrictions.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  depicts one example of a hotel or multi-unit dwelling lobby layout optimizing the location of the fitness center, utilizing the business method. The vantage point of the rendering is as one would enter the hotel or multi-unit dwelling lobby. Glass or otherwise translucent material partition  10  is adjacent to, and therefore, easily viewed from both the entrance and reception desk  11 . The multi-unit dwelling may be, for example, but is not limited to, a resort, a vacation time share property, a multi-unit temporary residential structure, a multi-unit long-term residential structure, a multi-unit retirement facility, a multi-unit dwelling structure associated with a large leisure destination or any other multi-unit structure where people reside, long or short-term, or work. Partition  10  is made of glass or an otherwise translucent material in the preferred embodiment; however, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it could be made of any material providing a suitable aesthetic division and sound barrier, including without limitation, plant material, fabric, screens or art.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  depicts another example of a hotel, resort or other multi-unit dwelling lobby layout optimizing the location of the fitness center, utilizing the business method. The vantage point of the rendering is as one would enter the hotel or multi-unit dwelling lobby. Glass or otherwise translucent material partition  10  is easily viewed from both the entrance and reception desk  11 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  depicts an aerial view of a non-exclusive preferred embodiment of the business method. The front entrance  12  leads into lobby  14  in which is located the reception desk  11 . Also in lobby  14 , there is the refreshment retail area  13 . The refreshment retail area  13  may comprise simply a food and beverage bar adjacent to the hotel or multi-unit dwelling lobby and the glass or otherwise translucent material partition  10 . The refreshment retail area  13  may also comprise a smoothie bar adjacent to the hotel or multi-unit dwelling lobby  14  and the glass or otherwise translucent material partition  10 . Also in this depiction are the locker rooms and the fitness center office  18 .  
         [0018]     Each of these elements is optional and may exist elsewhere in the hotel, resort or other multi-unit dwelling construction. The immediate view of the patron is glass or otherwise translucent material partition  10 . The view through the glass or otherwise translucent material partition  10  looks onto an optional running track  15 . This optional running track  15  may be indoors or outside, as the needs of construction or design require. Within the optional running track  15  is an optional basketball court  16 , the space for which may be used as either a basketball court  16 , group exercise area or any other activity of the hotel or multi-unit dwelling&#39;s fitness needs require. This optional basketball court  16  may be located indoors or outside, as the needs of construction or design require. Basketball court  16  may or may not be located within running track  15 . Next to the optional basketball court is a second optional glass or otherwise translucent partition  22 , beyond which is a cardiovascular and strength equipment room  17  possessing cardiovascular and strength training equipment, including, but not limited to, treadmills, recumbent cycles, elliptical trainers, free weights and/or mechanized weight lifting equipment. Beyond the cardiovascular and strength equipment room  17  lies optional group exercise  21  and personal fitness massage areas  19 .  
         [0019]     Elements  21  and  19  are also optional and may exist in a different location so within the fitness center as a hotel, resort or other multi-unit dwelling needs require. The personal fitness massage area  19  is only one example of a “spa facility” that is optional in the inventor&#39;s preferred embodiment. Other examples of a “spa facility” include a sauna, a whirlpool, a steam room, and a shower.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  depicts an aerial view of the fitness center without reference to a health refreshment retail opportunity or the location of the fitness center office and/or restrooms. The core element, glass or otherwise translucent partition  10  facing lobby atrium  14  and exercise opportunities are represented in this figure. The optional running track  15 , optional basketball court  16 , optional second glass or otherwise translucent material partition  22 , cardiovascular and strength equipment room  17 , group exercise  21  and personal fitness and massage  19  are still represented in this figure. Each element is interchangeable, excludable and optional, as long as at least one element remains behind the glass or otherwise translucent material  10  partition facing the lobby atrium.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is an aerial view of the fitness center, as it might exist as a singular element, here, the cardiovascular and strength equipment room  17  behind the glass or otherwise translucent partition  10  facing lobby atrium  14 . The front entrance  12  leads into lobby  14  in which is located the reception desk  11 . This figure is one representation of how a or hotel, resort or other multi-unit dwelling may achieve the fitness center business method described herein while accommodating construction or space requirements. Though not depicted here, a hotel, resort or other multi-unit dwelling may easily replace the cardiovascular and strength equipment room  17  with running track  15  or basketball court  16  or group exercise area  21  or any other fitness opportunity. A hotel, resort or other multi-unit dwelling may also easily add a refreshment retail area  13 . The refreshment retail area  13  may comprise simply a food and beverage bar adjacent to the hotel, resort or other multi-unit dwelling lobby  14  and the glass or otherwise translucent material partition  10 . The refreshment retail area  13  may also comprise a smoothie bar adjacent to the hotel, resort or other multi-unit dwelling lobby  14  and the glass or otherwise translucent material partition  10 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is an example of a singular element, the cardiovascular and strength equipment room  17  behind the glass or otherwise translucent partition  10  facing lobby and atrium  14 . This figure is one representation of how a hotel or multi-unit dwelling may achieve the fitness center business method described herein while accommodating construction or space requirements. Though not depicted here, a hotel, resort or other multi-unit dwelling may easily replace the cardiovascular and strength equipment room  17  with running track  15  or basketball court  16  or group exercise area  21  or any other fitness opportunity.  
         [0023]     As will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, the invention is by no means limited to the particular embodiments that have been discussed above, or even to variations that have been discussed in connection with them. Variations or modifications could be made in accordance with the construction and/or operation of hotel or multi-unit dwelling fitness centers without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is contemplated that this invention covers such variations, modifications and any equivalents of the invention. In short, the present invention is limited in scope only by the claims that now follow.