Durham Marriott proposes to forego YMCA, add teeny fitness center to property

Hey fitness fanatics: if you're planning a stay at the Durham Marriott in the not-so-near future, you may be able to enjoy the amenity of an on-site fitness center at your fingertips, without trekking down to the YMCA that's, er, right around the corner.

Currently, if you want to get your fitness on when staying at the downtown hotel/civic center complex, you need to walk the block or so down to the downtown YMCA, which Marriott operator Shaner Hotel Group currently pays for overnight guests to use.

The hotelier has proposed to take over a space on the hotel's first floor near the Chapel Hill St. entrance to create an on-site fitness center instead.

But this ain't going to be some kind of on-site spa-style fitness center with a lap pool. No, we're talking about 250 sq. ft. formerly used as -- we are not making this up -- a coat closet.

Yes, if the city and county both approve the $1 per year lease, Shaner will be able to build a fitness center that's roughly the size of a master bedroom, right on the first floor of the hotel.

In all fairness, one can imagine that the presence of a fitness center on-site is one of those amenities that many travelers are looking for in their travel planning. Still, it's amusing to contemplate what a guest's reaction might be to seeing the... cardio coat closet?

(No word on whether guests will still be able to maneuver a guest pass at the Y, or fight the stringent admissions policy at the Foster St. facility to work their way in.)

Comments

[Jonathan]

I've seen tons of tiny fitness rooms at hotels; they're still better than walking down the street in January in your gym shorts. :]

[TSQ75]

you know what, that's fine. as a member at the downtown Y, i am more than happy for some space to be freed up! it gets packed in there!

[B]

What TSQ said.

Also, there was the time that a bunch of Japanese tourists came through and (I kid you not) took copious videos and pictures in the weight/cardio room (both of each other and of people working out.) I don't know if they were staying at the Marriot, but it seems kinda likely...

[Michael Bacon]

I can't think of a "hotel fitness center" I've ever been to (not that I've been to more than, say, 5) that wasn't a coat closet with an exercise bike, a treadmill or a stairmaster, and maybe a small all-in-one weight machine. The nicer ones had a couple of elliptical machines thrown in.

They're not designed to be first-rate training facilities. They're designed to help you keep from putting on 5 when you're stuck away from you're routine for a week.

[jonn]

Why are the joining fees for the YMCA so high?..over a $100 for a lot of people.