University campuses are located on some of the most attractive and visually appealing real estate across the U. S. and the world. These campuses serve as a welcoming retreat and provide a large, picturesque landscape, where these natural settings surrounding college campuses may be scarce for private development purposes.

At the same time, Universities and colleges are faced with unprecedented drops in enrollment and the incoming revenue of tuition dollars, which is the life blood of most campuses. The main culprit is declining high school graduates, and competition from businesses willing to hire high school students without necessarily a university diploma.

Therefore, enterprising universities are innovating to fill the void by looking at other means to increase campus revenue. One of the strategic tactics is to attract more adult lifelong learners, with new products such as online certificates and Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) and developing work force community development centers in higher density areas around the state, anchored by the flagship university campus.

Embracing Proactive Health - Wellness Tourism

As the global demand for personalized health and wellness solutions continues to rise, universities are uniquely positioned to transform into vibrant hubs for longevity and wellness innovation. By taking a page from innovators in the space and integrating advanced health solutions with academic and residential environments, these institutions can deliver unparalleled value to students, faculty, and their broader communities.

A prime example of the health and longevity movement is the growing number of lifestyle resorts, an innovative framework to redefine the way we live, learn, and thrive. The Estate is an innovative wellness partnership in progress powered by visionaries Sam Nazarian and Tony Robbins. The Estate is supported by leaders in the wellness space Fountain Life and Clinique La Prairie. This initiative brings cutting-edge longevity solutions directly to consumers in resort amenity centers.

At its core, the lifestyle resort concept offers an integrated approach to living, combining luxury, convenience, and health optimization. Through collaborations with world-class wellness experts, guests will have access to groundbreaking health diagnostics, preventative care, and personalized wellness programming—all within a thoughtfully designed environment that promotes physical and mental well-being. This initiative is designed not just to extend lifespan but to improve healthspan—ensuring that individuals enjoy more vibrant, productive years of life.

This transformative approach extends to residential communities and is exemplified in Fountain Life's partnership with Velvaere in Park City, Utah. Together, they are revolutionizing luxury residential communities by embedding wellness into everyday living. Residents in these communities not only enjoy premium living spaces but also benefit from exclusive Fountain Life memberships, granting access to advanced diagnostics, cutting-edge preventative health services, and a proactive approach to enhancing healthspan. By integrating wellness into daily life, this partnership empowers individuals to optimize their health and longevity while maintaining an elevated quality of life.

There is a broader vision to elevate this concept to urban longevity centers. You will continue to see innovations from the team at Fountain Life as they take bold steps forward in making wellness a central component of everyday life, seamlessly integrating it into places where people live, work, and study.

As Fountain Life continues to expand its partnerships and explore new opportunities, leadership is proud to be at the forefront of this movement, delivering transformative wellness experiences that empower individuals to lead longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives. By embracing this vision, universities and luxury communities alike are not only reshaping consumer education for proactive wellness but also playing a pivotal role in advancing global wellness tourism and extending health span for future generations.

Senior Living and Learning | Opportunities Abound on College Campuses

New innovations with lodging and learning amenities on existing college campuses – is the Active Adult Life Style Campus Residences which are attracting more interest from retirees and non-retired active adults looking for a safe, opportunity rich, and learning/living on campus home, along with resort style living.

This article looks at the intersection of the points stated above of declining tuition dollars with the prospect of growing revenue on campuses from other means, including through strategic alliances and partnerships for developing active adult retirement residences on college and university campuses.

Background

One viable solution would be to consider and promote a Lifestyle Active Adult College Campus model (we will call the “LAACC” or the “LAKE”) that will help fulfill the needs of the increasing number of retiring baby boomers.

The LAKE concept is gaining more popularity to cope with that demand. There are lifestyle needs such as convenient onsite services such as longevity coaching healthcare, wellness, dining, sports such as (e.g., Golf), and advanced learning opportunities with selective course enrollment. They would be also resources for coaching, mentoring, and counseling students on these university campuses as they serve as interns, researchers, and friends of the older residents. They in turn would gain personal benefits by using the skills they developed over decades of professional expertise before their retirement.

These active adults (most )with college degrees, are health-conscious and physically active looking to enjoy life to the fullest with easy access to their daily needs which can be all accommodated in the LAKE setting . Now, it would be mutually beneficial to have a partnership between the nearby University Campus and the active adult residents. This can be accomplished via a third party (a developer or an investor) that purchases the land, develops it, manages the facilities, and coordinates the financial relationship between the LAKE and the University.

Legacy Pointe active adult learners at the University of Central Florida — Photo by The University of Memphis | Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort ManagementLegacy Pointe active adult learners at the University of Central Florida — Photo by The University of Memphis | Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management
Legacy Pointe active adult learners at the University of Central Florida — Photo by The University of Memphis | Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management

This model was found to be financially profitable and beneficial. There are many successful examples across the nation in Arizona, Orlando, Florida, and Georgia for example. They all have various activities such as walking, biking, and outdoor sports. Some of these campus LAKE’s offer a Pet-Friendly campus with virtual tours to active adults.

Examples of activities include, an intergenerational chess program, a youthful vibe for older adults, art and drawing workshop, gardening classes, yoga classes, and the list goes on. This also has been proved to keep the brain functioning well through healthy social and physical activities. The LAKES would provide social support through interactions with friends and other residents and attend common classes and meetings. LAKEs are about enhancing the quality of life of a very vulnerable population the retiring baby boomers.

The LAKE’s have amenities to enjoy that would fulfill their physical and mental well-being needs. For example, on-site healthcare services would be a major item in attracting and maintaining retirees at the LAKE. As the aging population has increased healthcare needs such as primary care, dental services, audiology services, podiatry services, lab services, massage services and even veterinary services for their pets.

The design should be diverse to accommodate the various needs of the studio apartments, two -to three-bedroom bed apartments, villas, homes, memory units etc. Monthly fees for a single person can vary from $4000-$8000 or more depending on the choice of residence

Provided services include:

  1. Living with 24/7. on-site security and 24-hour emergency response system. A flexible dining account is offered.
  2. Learning via events/activities and classes held on campus. Residents can access online classes with scheduled transportation, shopping, banking, prayers, and outdoor dining.
  3. Climate-controlled storage space with assigned parking space or garage).

Amenities

For residents with long-term care, private accommodations in assisted living, and memory care with skilled nursing could be designed and available at the LAKE.

  1. Dining sit-in and takeaway options are available in addition to catering.
  2. Fitness: personal trainers are available on-site to help in the fitness center and indoor lap pools, whirlpools, and lockers. Residents can take scheduled group classes such as tai-chi one-on-one sessions with a personal trainer.
  3. Onsite Bank, ATM, Postal services, and Salon Services.

Creativity

Residents can participate in creative art studios as their engagement in lifelong learning with other activities gives them a sense of fulfillment and value.

One additional aspect of enhancing their lifestyle is for example a healthy heart culinary program that would include healthy choices. Brain boosts to preserve and strengthen cognitive functions. Gluten-free food for those with gluten intolerance. Low Carbohydrate diet for diabetics and a low salt diet for those with high blood pressure. The LAKE would provide peace of mind as residents would love the easy transition into their new enhanced lifestyle living. There is a definite growing need especially in States that have good weather, and outdoor activities that are near to universities which will bring lots of opportunities to developers/investors with benefits to both the University and the LAKE including profitability, job creation, economic boost and most importantly providing enhanced lifestyle quality to the ever-growing number of retirees.

Medical Tourism: Longevity as a Lifestyle

Consumers have access to information about many things with the touch of a few keystrokes, and no longer wait for their annual visit with a physician to address health related questions. Personal, individualized data should drive health decisions certainly not WebMD. While traditional healthcare is positioned to respond after the onset symptoms, healthcare of the future will embrace the convergence of technology and AI to predict disease and intervene before symptoms or catastrophes present.

Fountain Life offers APEX Membership - a comprehensive proactive 12-month health membership, gathering 150GB of data about all systems biology. This is intentionally positioned for those who feel well - to identify and intercept disease at the earliest possible state or prevent disease all together. Fountain Life’s multi-pronged approach of extensive bloodwork, full body and brain imaging, and whole genomic sequencing provides great insight to functional medicine physicians who specialize in determining the root cause of disease instead of working backward from symptoms. This highly personalized, hospitality driven experience gives members a premier health optimization journey. Fountain Life’s longevity physicians benefit from a dashboard of information while considering individual member habits and behaviors to craft a plan to optimize personal health and longevity. Genetics are not destiny. Genetic influence accounts for 20-30%. The expression of our genes through lifestyle habits provides opportunity to live optimized. Fountain Life focuses on prevention of today’s top killers: cancer, metabolic disease, cardiovascular disease, and neurocognitive disease.

Source: The University of Memphis | Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort ManagementSource: The University of Memphis | Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management
Source: The University of Memphis | Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management

APEX Membership is much more than extensive testing. The regular correspondence and high-touch relationship with dedicated longevity physician and care team identifies behaviors and habits that either drive disease or optimize health, with extensive data to support behavior modifications. APEX members have access to advanced diagnostics and therapeutics, with continued care and correspondence from their longevity physician to achieve optimal health.

Source: The University of Memphis | Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort ManagementSource: The University of Memphis | Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management
Source: The University of Memphis | Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management

The Vision of The Estate

Nazarian and Robbins began developing the luxury hotel brand of the future concept pre-pandemic. They resolved to create a new omnichannel approach to longevity, meeting the customer wherever they are rather than being solely a destination offering.

Nazarian explains:

In 2006 I created SLS Hotels, a brand both relevant and disruptive for the emerging lifestyle industry. Then, lifestyle was ‘access,’ now luxury is ‘longevity.’ The Estate will lead with luxury.

We’re not building medical hotels – we are building luxury hotels, residences and urban clinics that are differentiated by a commitment to changing people's lives.

SBE aims to use its expertise in hospitality to reframe the often-intimidating clinical process into a warm, inviting experience. The focus will be on identifying, preventing and treating conditions that reduce lifespan and diminish quality of life.

The Building Pipeline

By 2030, The Estate plans to open 15 hotels and residences alongside 10 urban longevity centres. SBE says each location will open in breathtaking locations and environments with a warm, responsive service ethos.

The first hotels and residences are slated to open in 2026 in St Kitts, the UK, Trento in Northern Italy, and Montreux, Switzerland. Miami and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will follow shortly after. Residential sales for the St Kitts location will begin in Q3 2025.

The first flagship longevity centre will be open by the end of 2024 at Century Plaza in Los Angeles, an expansive development that spans six acres.

About SBE

Established in 2002 by founder and CEO Sam Nazarian, SBE is a privately-held, lifestyle hospitality company that develops, manages and operates high-end hotels, restaurants, lounges and nightclubs.

About Fountain Life

Fountain Life brings together renowned scientists and physicians with advanced, AI-powered diagnostic tools to detect disease ahead of symptoms, boost longevity and performance and put health back in healthcare. Fountain Life currently has 4 US locations: Dallas TX, Naples FL, Lake Nona FL and White Plains NY, with additional locations in development.

The goal of Fountain’s multi-modal diagnostic testing is to answer two key questions: First, is there anything going on in your body that you need to know about immediately? Second, what is likely to happen and how can you optimize your health for the future?

Well beyond the immediate benefit of identifying potentially life-threatening conditions in their early stages, Fountain’s longevity physicians lead a team that includes health coaches and nutritionists continually focused on members’ health indicators and providing the knowledge, coaching and therapeutics that can increase vitality and health span and turn back the clock on aging.

Fountain Life continues to innovate in the health intelligence space, evolving to allow members access to dialogue and discussion even when human support is unavailable. Zora AI is Fountain Life’s technology platform that gives members the ability to ask questions and query within their own health data to generate guidance and recommendations.

Conclusion

A New Model for the Lifestyle Active Adult College Campus (LAKE), establishes Active Adult Learning Campuses as a Center for Longevity, Health, and Well-being could co-exist and have great synergy on university campuses where these new residences will be developed. And university campuses have the infrastructure in place with health centers, wellness facilities, natatoriums, dining, entertainment, enriching classes, the computing power for the health and genomics AI uses, and a young and vibrant community of younger and older generations of learners. For further information please contact [email protected] and [email protected] and visit www.fountainlife.com to learn more.

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    Onsite Medical Clinic: Franchise Model for a Lodging Market Competitive Advantage.
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About Lizanne Brandt, MBA

Lizanne Brandt is a Wellness Strategy and Business Development leader with a passion for transformative wellness solutions. A health and longevity enthusiast, Lizanne serves as a key advisor to top private clubs, overseeing large-scale capital improvement projects, including the construction of state-of-the-art wellness centers. Her expertise spans fitness, spa, recovery, and medical wellness, ensuring facilities offer services that cater to diverse wellness needs.

Lizanne is dedicated to raising awareness and expanding access to advanced medical diagnostics and therapeutics that enhance healthspan—empowering individuals to live longer, healthier lives. She is passionate about educating and inspiring others on the benefits of functional medicine and the convergence of AI, fostering hope through innovation that provides a path for data-driven health decisions long before symptoms of disease arise.

Lizanne is an engaging presenter and advocate for proactive, personalized health solutions that transform lives. Connect with her at [email protected].

Fred DeMicco
Ph.D., RDN, Professor, the W.A. Franke College of Business, the University of Northern Arizona
The University of Memphis | Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management