When it comes to combining convenience with a wellness-focused approach, the EVEN Hotel Norwalk, an IHG hotel, excels. The hotel is not just a place to lay your head; it’s an experience designed to cater to travelers keen on maintaining their wellness routines while on the go.
The Concept
The EVEN Hotel brand sets itself apart with its focus on four core aspects: eating well, resting easy, keeping active, and accomplishing more. As soon as you walk into the lobby, you’ll be greeted with a modern design scheme that uses natural elements and earth tones to create a serene environment. Calming music and subtle aromatherapy add to the ambiance.
I hope this is the beginning of a wonderful trend in hospitality – that of the hotel as a gym, health food restaurant, and workout motivator. The EVEN Hotel is all of those things, and as a result, it’s gaining plenty of fans.
EVEN Hotel Norwalk Location
EVEN Hotel Norwalk is not exactly tucked away in some bucolic landscape. The hotel is located across from a corporate park on a busy road in Norwalk, Connecticut. But it is an optimal location for visiting executives, traveling sports teams, and vacationers looking for a novel, healthy way to bunk down for the night.
The hotel is conveniently situated with easy access to the Interstate and is a stone’s throw from various dining and shopping venues. The process is smooth and customer-friendly for those wondering about check-in and check-out times.
Catchphrases and motivational sayings pop up everywhere, beginning over the front door: “(If you’re) Feeling Well – Come (on in).” You will certainly feel well and welcome. Hotel employees seem committed to your happiness with genuinely friendly service.
Automatic glass doors swish open to a “First Hello of Many” mat and a forest of living green walls.
You can walk completely around the oval “welcome island,” where smiling team members hand you a cool face towel and room swipe keys both in card and bracelet form. Start hydrating right away at the “Water Wall” – a selection of infused waters.
Service at EVEN Hotel Norwalk CT
It is readily apparent that service is integral to the EVEN Hotel culture. Staff members wander around, in and out of the gym-like fitness center, inspiring people to stay on track.
In fact, employees have been known to give guests high-fives after completing a circuit or treadmill goal.
The workout room is located right behind Welcome Island rather than down a long dark hallway. As such, it provides a sense of security, especially for women traveling alone.
Guest Rooms at EVEN Hotel Norwalk
All room numbers are even. Cute, right?
Even cuter and more impressive is what’s inside: your own mini-gym, personalized right down to the greeting on the dry-erase board hanging above a stand-up desk. I found the fact that I wasn’t just a number on a reservation sheet especially touching.
In-Room Training Zone
A section of cork flooring designates your “in-room training zone.” It’s stocked with a stability ball, a custom-designed built-in pole with four connection points, resistance bands, a yoga mat, a yoga block, a foam roller, and Clorox Wipes. Small ottomans serve as luggage benches and workout accessories.
The swing-out flat-screen TV is pre-set with dozens of workouts conducted by EVEN Hotel partner and Big Loser trainer Jennifer Widerstrom.
An In-Room Training Guide – compiled by EVEN Hotel consultant Tammy Stokes (of West Coast Workout fame) is also available.
Guest Room Aesthetics
Each guest room is an oasis of calm – no frilly décor or loud colors. I found the high-end Simmons Beauty Rest beds with eucalyptus sheets and king-size pillows difficult to leave in the morning.
But the brightly lit bathroom with glass enclosure, rain head shower, and EO products got me out of bed and on an “even” keel.
While traveling, one of my pet peeves is following electrical cords in hotel rooms to outlets located behind beds or nightstands.
Thankfully, my in-room workout did not require pulling the bed away from the wall to plug in my chargers. Outlets are at an easily accessible torso height near the bed.
I found another room accessory that was less practical but cool. The modish lava-lamp-esque mood light on the nightstand casts the room in relaxing or energetic hues by changing colors from red to blue to yellow at your touch.
Keep in mind that while rooms facing the main road are, as I mentioned, an oasis of calm, they are not silent. You may want to bring earplugs if you are sensitive to traffic noises.
Dining and Drinking at EVEN Hotel Norwalk CT
Seating for the casual in-house restaurant flows throughout the lobby and common areas. Breakfast and dinner offerings skew healthy but are not without indulgences, such as well-crafted cocktails from the bar, small-bite charcuterie boards, and flatbread pizzas for dinner.
Pick up healthy treats, fresh-ground coffee, and artisanal teas in the lobby market.
If your idea of health and wellness involves deciding between Red or White – or sipping Sake infusions and rum concoctions, EVEN Hotel delivers. As the hotel staff understands, everyone relaxes in his or her own way.
Amenities At EVEN Hotel Norwalk CT
There are “filtered water wells” throughout the hotel to fill the complimentary water bottle with the room. Complimentary Wi-Fi is uber-fast. There’s complimentary parking, and the hotel offers free shuttles to South Norwalk.
And an Outdoor Fire Pit makes for a great gathering place.
Frequently Asked Questions: Pets and More
Are you traveling with service animals or just looking for a pet-friendly location? EVEN Hotel Norwalk accommodates service animals and is happy to answer any frequently asked questions about their pet policies.
IHG Hotel Offer: Sustainable Choices
Beyond the attractive nightly price for your stay at EVEN Hotel Norwalk, what sets this IHG hotel apart is its focus on sustainability. They make eco-friendly choices easy, from low-flow faucets and recycling bins in each room to green cleaning products.
Check out time at EVEN Hotel Norwalk may signal the end of your stay, but the invigorating experience and well-rounded services will certainly leave a lasting impression. Book now for an unparalleled wellness stay.
