Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific is one of the best airlines in the world. And they might earn some serious credit with millennials for their latest move: offering dedicated spaces for yoga and meditation inside one of their lounges at Hong Kong (HKG) airport.
Cathay announced it added a spot to one of its lounges called The Sanctuary, in partnership with the company Pure Yoga. This 700-square-foot area recently opened inside The Pier lounge at HKG. The Pier – and all of Cathay's lounges – are widely recognized as among the best airport lounges in the world.
The new space is divided into two sections: The Body Sanctuary, dedicated to yoga, and The Mind Sanctuary, for meditation.
“Wellness is becoming increasingly important to our customers and The Sanctuary by Pure Yoga in our Pier Business Class lounge is the perfect place to relax before a flight. We listen to the needs of our customers and continuously evolve to improve their experience with us,” Cathay Pacific General Manager Customer Experience and Design Vivian Lo said in a statement.
In The Body Sanctuary, Cathay flyers (and others flying Oneworld first or business class who get lounge access) can take a guided class from a yoga instructor – or do yoga on their own. In The Mind Sanctuary, guests can use noise-canceling headphones to decompress while listening to guided meditation courses, among other options.
Bottom Line
In all seriousness, this move is far bigger than just trying to poach some millennials. It's smart to focus on wellness, particularly for travelers who have just stepped off a plane after 10-plus hours in the air. And it's another instance where airlines are upping their game for premium passengers.
I wish more lounges offered workout rooms. A couple treadmills and some free weights don’t take up that much space!