SAN FRANCISCO—Prior to the events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, BEI San Francisco launched a wellness-driven program designed for both its guests and the surrounding community.
“BEI San Francisco prides itself on redefining what it means to be an urban destination,” said Patrick Dougherty, general manager of the property. “As a new hotel located in the heart of the city, we saw an opportunity to create deeper relationships within our community by offering programming that was available to both locals and visitors. We aim to serve as a hub for residents and returning guests, while also inspiring a balanced approach to work, life and play.”
Developed by Toronto-based fitness consultant Julian Ho, alongside BEI’s Community & Partnerships Curator Lydia Hryshchyshyn, the hotel’s BEI Vita programming aims to encourage a holistic balance of work, life and play through rotating mind and body classes.
The weekly recurring series, led by a team of Bay Area instructors, includes an interactive speaker series highlighting topics like mindfulness, purpose and professional success, along with fitness classes like yoga and Zumba.
“The BEI Speaker Series draws on topics that are of direct interest to our surrounding neighborhood,” Dougherty said. “Past discussions have included BEI Vita instructors speaking on mindfulness and best practices for overall wellness, as well as local organizations partnering with us to talk balancing motherhood and women entrepreneurship.”
When it was active, guests and the local community enjoyed it. “The creation of BEI Vita has provided a new wellness outlet for those seeking a change in their normal routine or those interested in breaking away from a typical gym atmosphere,” said Dougherty. “Our guests have enjoyed receiving a more localized experience during their stay, while our neighbors now become dedicated attendees to their favorite class, whether it be yoga, Zumba or networking at one of our speaker series.”
The programming can also be customized to fit the needs of corporate groups and meetings. Groups can work directly with BEI’s locally based curators to design a one-day wellness retreat that includes a personalized BEI Speaker Series, fitness classes or alternative team exercises supplemented by an activation of the group’s choice.
