Case study
YogaAway™ x Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Hyatt Hotels Corporation was among the first global hospitality brands to see wellness not as an amenity, but as a differentiator. As they launched their StayFit@Hyatt™ initiative in the early 2000s, Hyatt recognized the need for integrated programming that addressed more than just fitness—experiences that specifically targeted the recuperative needs of guests.
Wellness at Scale: Bringing Wellbeing to the Guest Experience
YogaAway LLC, the lifestyle company founded and led by BijaB, was built to meet this emerging need. Designed for travelers and busy people on the move, YogaAway connected ancient mind-body practices with modern lifestyle demands—offering an integrated system that could travel, scale and evolve within the hospitality space.
BijaB produced four feature in-room videos—for stress reduction, recovery, mental focus and sleep—along with branded yoga mats, books and CD’s to support the guest experience in all branded Hyatt hotels and resorts.
Early on, Hyatt Hotels Corporation co-branded with YogaAway™ to create YogaAway at Hyatt™.
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The Opportunity
YogaAway at Hyatt was created to enrich the guest experience across hospitality properties by embedding an elevated wellness offering that was adaptable to the diverse needs of both business and leisure travelers seeking to maintain routines and restore balance on the road.
Bija and team recognized the opportunity to create something new: a cross-sector offering that brought together health, hospitality, tech, media and design into one unified experience, including a platform that could flex across property types while delivering consistency and depth.
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The Work
Bija’s role with YogaAway, spanned across modes—as Catalyst, Connector, Curator and Illuminator.
Framed the Vision:
Defined the strategic role wellness could play within hospitality, and positioned yoga not just as exercise, but as an integrated and integral guest experience.
Built the System:
Designed a full suite of wellness experiences, including spa-based classes, in-room programming, branded products and retreats—all delivered through YogaAway-certified instructors.
Scaled the Experience:
Created physical and digital offerings that could be embedded across Hyatt’s global footprint, including in-room videos, branded mats and merch and wellness concierge support.
Told the Story:
Developed messaging, product design and training tools that communicated the spirit and value of the offering across internal teams and external audiences.
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Reach and Resonance
YogaAway at Hyatt became a foundational component of Hyatt’s wellness program, ultimately rolling out to more than 200 Hyatt properties, including more than 90,000 rooms.
At its peak, YogaAway©-trained instructors offered classes 3–5 times daily at select resort spas, and the custom product line was available at domestic and international locations.
Beyond Hyatt Hotels, YogaAway reached travelers through partnerships with leading hospitality brands—including Hilton, Four Seasons, InterContinental, Ritz-Carlton and Starwood—distributed via On Command Video, North America’s premier in-room entertainment platform.
YogaAway made a lasting impact for nearly a decade and remains a case study in cross-pollination—blending wellness and hospitality, ancient and modern, physical and digital. It set the tone for the interdisciplinary, systems-aware, human-centered work BijaB continues today.
