SXSW or South by SouthWest is one of the world’s largest technology gatherings and this week a new Irish company involved in the fitness business has launched at the event in Austin, Texas.
Sanctifly is the brainchild of entrepreneur Karl Llewellyn, who previously created and sold Interaction. In simple terms it is a travel fitness app that offers the 150 million business travellers in the U.S. access to airport gyms and pools wherever they are.
Llewelyn came up with the idea while waiting for five hours between flights at O’Hare Airport in Chicago.
Access
“I didn’t want to eat. read or shop, just to do some exercise but despite all the hotels on the airport having a gym, I was not staying there so could not gain access,” Llewelyn told Sport for Business before flying out.
“Two years of development later and we are able to launch across the US with 25 airports already on board and ambitious to take this as far as we can.”
Sanctifly is a members’ club that grants access to hotel gyms, pools and spa facilities within a walk or shuttle ride of those 25 airports in the US and UK.
“We are growing at a rate of two new airports every month, a global offering is targeted within 18 months.”
Individual membership starts at $49.00 per annum. Members can select which activity and airport and activity they want, be that gym, swim or a combination.
Partner locations
The App presents the partner locations including Marriott, Hilton, Radisson, Crown Plaza and Langham hotels they are welcome at.
Access passes can then be paid for and downloaded from the app at a price of between €15 and €30.
“Flying is no longer the perceived luxury it once was, Sanctifly aims to fulfil a need for the ‘counting steps generation’ that knows flying is unhealthy for them and want to keep fit while they fly.”
“We went the membership model for two reasons. One is insurance; there is a good reason you can’t just rock up to the Hilton and use the pool. If you’re not a guest, you’re not insured. We carry the global health insurance of our members. Secondly there is security. Given everything we know about airports today; airport hotels are very particular about knowing who is in their hotel, we satisfy this through our member registration and vetting.”
Sanctifly’s business model does not target the end user, but their employer.
Wellness Packages
“We believe that it is incumbent on the employer as part of their duty of care to travelling executives to offer them fitness and health alternatives at airports. We want Sanctifly to become a regular part in every employee’s wellness package.”
The sales team are already in conversations with global benefit management companies like Mercer, AON and Willis Tower Watson as well as a number of Airlines and health insurance firms.
To date over $250,000 has been invested. The company is currently raising a further $750,000 to support network growth.
“We are very ambitious. If in 2016 Airbnb can become the biggest hospitality company in the world and not own a bed, Uber the biggest taxi firm and not own a car – Sanctifly aims to be the biggest leisure club in the world and not own a single bar bell.”
