New Balance Athletic Gear Offered at Ten Westin Hotels Around the World

I found this interesting. New Balance and Westin have teamed up to offer guests at designated Westin hotels the opportunity to borrow shoes and workout clothing.

This "Gear Lending" program started up last month at the following Westin Hotels:

• The Westin Beijing Chaoyang
• The Westin Boston Waterfront
• The Westin Michigan Avenue
• The Westin Santa Fe, Mexico City
• The Westin Tokyo
• The Westin San Francisco Airport
• The Westin Jersey City
• The Westin Maui
• The Westin Valencia
• The Westin Grand, Berlin

You can call me old fashioned, but I prefer to bring my own running gear with me when I travel, but it does take extra luggage space and I usually check my baggage in as a result. (As some of you know, I'm an avid runner.)

According to the Westin Gear Lending website, they currently offer up New Balance 759 shoes, running shorts and a "technical" (e.g. non-cotton) t-shirt for men. Women are offered up shoes, shorts, fitness capri and a sports bra. The shoes come with socks and disposable insoles. Now while I cringe at wearing the same running shorts someone else has sweated in, I'm certain they wash the heck out of them, removing all remnants of the prior exerciser.

The program is FREE. You just call up and order your shoes. Then you work out, work up a sweat, and leave the smelly, sweaty items in your room for pickup. OK, that IS certainly a nice benefit...not having to pack your dirty workout gear for the flight home!

According to a New Balance press release, this is an initial pilot program that they and Westin plan to launch to other hotels brand-wide sometime this year.