Wellness at airports: Frankfurt services best, LAX worst; Hong Kong, Singapore in top five
- Twenty-five international airports were ranked on the quality and availability of stress reduction facilities
- Frankfurt airport was ranked first, followed by Amsterdam and Dubai. Hong Kong came fifth behind Singapore
Hong Kong International Airport’s lack of outdoor and green spaces, or yoga classes, have placed it behind Singapore’s Changi Airport in new research into the best international airports for “wellness”.
A global comparison by Netflights named Frankfurt International Airport in Germany as the best, praising its relaxation areas, calming yoga rooms and massage services. Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam and Dubai International Airport follow Frankfurt, with Singapore’s Changi Airport and Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) in fourth and fifth place, respectively. Also in the top 10 were Vancouver International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, San Francisco International Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Los Angeles International Airport was ranked last out of 25 in Netflights’ overall ranking with a score of zero, while London Gatwick Airport’s focus on first- and business-class passengers left it in 24th position.
What does wellness mean when it comes to airports? “It’s an umbrella term for all kinds of stress reduction – mental, physical, spiritual and environmental – which is obviously pertinent to travel and airports,” says Beth McGroarty, research director at the Miami, Florida-based Global Wellness Institute, which is holding a global wellness summit at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong from October 15 to 17.
Wellness at airports involves everything from spas, health clubs and sleeping pod hotels to beanbags, massage chairs and roof gardens.
