Location: Los Angeles, CA

Visited: July 12-15, 2023

Disclaimer: The hotel did not compensate me for reviewing my stay and experience.

Choosing the right hotel for an out-of-town fitness conference is critical. Location, amenities, and room rate are just some factors considered. Luckily, most events will partner with local hotels, and the IDEA World conference happened to have three near the Los Angeles Convention Center: Courtyard by Marriott, Residence Inn (also a Marriott brand), and the JW Marriott.

As part of my Extended Hotel Fitness Reviews, I will review the hotel I stayed at, the JW Marriott. As a luxury brand, I was shocked when I saw the nightly rate for the conference: $269. In comparison, rates without the conference discount were up to $700 as of this writing, and it was only $20 a night more expensive than the other two options. Along with being the closest in proximity to the convention center, the Welcome Party, and the Opening Ceremonies, this was well worth the price. The latter two were inside the hotel’s main ballroom.

The Hotel

As mentioned, the JW Marriott is less than a five-minute walk to the Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena, home of the NBA Lakers, NHL Kings, and other sports teams. It is a luxury hotel, one step below the Ritz Carlton on the Marriott brand ladder, and has locations in most of the world’s major cities. From the first time you step onto the property, you feel like a VIP checking in and should dress appropriately. As a trainer wearing gym shorts and trainers and a non-celebrity, it was safe to say that I felt out of place upon entering the lobby. 

I don’t want to go into too much detail about my stay since this is a review of the hotel’s fitness offerings, so I’ll keep this section brief. Initially, I purchased a deluxe king room. However, since I could record my Marriott Bonvoy number and as a Gold Elite member, I received an upgrade to a larger king room overlooking the convention center and arena. As expected, the room was comfortable and luxurious, including quality carpeting, relaxing bedding and couch, and a windowed bathroom that overlooks the two venues and marble counters at the sink. 

Food ranged from a California trattoria to a Latin-inspired restaurant overlooking the LA skyline. While most options were over my budget, I was lucky to have a quick opportunity for those early conference mornings with Illy Caffe. Not only was the high-quality coffee the star, but their breakfast options, like the burrito, were solid. Most eateries outside the hotel were closed until lunchtime, but you were within walking distance since Xbox Plaza at LA Live was just out the back entrance.

If you want to read more about my LA Experience at this hotel and IDEA World, click here!

The Fitness Center

At a fitness conference, opportunities to work out are plentiful, mainly HIIT training and group workouts. However, if you are more into strength training and weightlifting, your most affordable option would be going to the hotel fitness center. This specific one should be just as “luxurious” as the hotel’s caliber. Now, that doesn’t mean everything is gold-plated or expensive. I am talking about higher-quality equipment and elevated amenities. 

Due to time constraints, I did not experience the spa or rooftop pool, although it looked fun while looking down from my room! With that said, let’s get down to business!

Cardio - 1/1

I was weighing if this should be either a 0.85 or a 1. There’s plenty of variety, from Technogym ellipticals and treadmills to Peloton and stationary bikes. It was more like if there was enough for everyone. Relatively, there was for the size of the space. Treadmills were plenty and included wide touchscreen monitors.

Weights - 0.85/1

I was surprised to see that dumbbells and kettlebells were limited. During a fitness conference, more people were working out than usual. A second set of dumbbells going up to 70 pounds would have been ideal, as guests were camping out, waiting for the mid-weight pairs to become available. Also, I only spotted four kettlebells present. It would have been great to see either complementary pairs or a couple more above 25 pounds.

Space - 1/1

The layout was spacious, with enough room to walk around and maneuver. A separate space for stretching and core was to the right of the entrance and included a mirrored wall, a television, cold water, and towels with exercise mats and Swiss balls ready to use. You could look out towards the street on the treadmills and ellipticals, and photos of LA sports figures adorn one wall. Looking at Kobe Bryant’s action photo shooting over a Celtics defender was a great way to stay motivated and keep that “Mamba Mentality.”

Amenities - 0.75/1

JW Marriott covered their bases with towels and water. You had the option for a chilled or lukewarm water bottle and a regular or chilled towel inside the fridge, perfect for a hot Summer day in LA. Both “ladies” and “gentlemen” bathrooms and a weight scale between them were available. I do not remember seeing any earbuds available, nor were there other options for fitness. I read that classes were available inside the spa, though.

Other Equipment - 1/1

Numerous Technogym machines, both plate-loaded and cable, were spread out for use. Technogym provided equipment for the past few Olympic games, so expect quality while using them. Smith and leg press machines were also present, and Bosu balls were on shelves below the kettlebells. A couple more benches would have increased this grade, as only three were available for the six of us wanting to use them. Core equipment was plenty in the form of Swiss and medicine balls.

Conclusion

This was a great fitness center, even if you won’t spend time inside while visiting LA. With so much to do and plenty of walking around, you may not need to take advantage of this offering. However, this is perfect for those who want to maintain their routine while on the road. With nightly rates sometimes going for $700, it’s best to utilize this facility instead of paying an extra fee at another local gym (unless you have a Planet Fitness or LA Fitness/Esporta membership). The quality of equipment and spacious setting are worth using.

If you are coming to IDEA World next year, also being held in LA, I highly recommend splurging $20 more per night to stay here, especially if you are not renting a car. Not paying for parking and utilizing rideshare services can build enough savings to justify staying at a high-caliber hotel. You even get more bang for the buck if you have Bonvoy status.

Have you stayed at the JW Marriott LA Live or other locations? What was your experience like? Comment below with your thoughts!

Click here for more information or to book a stay. To experience other Hotel Fitness Center Reviews, follow my Instagram @cp.personaltraining216 and read my previous blogs about staying fit on the road by clicking here.