From Mexico to Tanzania: emerging global wellness trends
The global wellness industry has been going through a profound transformation over the last few years, driven by a renewed focus on holistic health and wellbeing.
The global wellness industry has been going through a profound transformation over the last few years, driven by a renewed focus on holistic health and wellbeing.
Once you go down the wellness rabbit hole, there’s no going back. Living a healthy lifestyle has far too many advantages. You think more clearly; you have more energy; your mood improves; you’re happier; then you end up having better relationships and being more successful overall.
The word ‘optimization’ in today’s world implies the use of data and metrics for continuous business improvement, but it also implies making tradeoffs and devoting limited resources to certain goals ahead of others. For today’s hospitality world, we are confronted by so many data points, so many partners or siloed interests and so many different activities vying for our attention or capital. To make informed, strategic decisions that will unify various operations towards a common objective, hoteliers and owners must carefully pick the key performance indicators (KPIs) that they will optimize and prioritize.
– Hotels with wellness offerings posted healthy TRevPAR growth in 2023, with Minor Wellness properties – those generating less than $1mn or 10% of total revenue from wellness and leisure – standing out with a 26% average increase in average TRevPAR from 2022, hospitality advisor RLA Global said in its latest Wellness Real Estate Report, published in partnership with P&L benchmarking firm HotStats for the fifth consecutive year in 2024.
This is a new benchmark for lifestyle, leisure, better health, and premium hospitality. This article reviews the mounting employee tensions in the hospitality market, specifically regarding service workers and provider orientations in spa and wellness departments. Amid a time of significant global and methodical change, a new generation of hospitality is coming of age. This article examines some of the leading pressure points and the acceleration of the various challenges this market faces today. It also points to actionable solutions, unlaid tactics, and nuance to help motivate changes in this important hospitality personal-care sector.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) and Kiraku, Inc. (“Kiraku”) today announced that ATONA, the modern hot spring ryokan (Japanese-style inn) brand, will open properties in Yufu, Yakushima, and Hakone. The ATONA brand was announced in 2022 under a joint venture between a Hyatt affiliate and Kiraku, a Japanese company dedicated to preserving valuable assets for future generations. The first ATONA ryokans are slated to open in 2026 across some of Japan’s top hot spring destinations and areas of natural beauty.
Even with the economy's ups and downs, travelers are spending more on experiences. They're going for bucket-list adventures that showcase their unique passions. This booming industry is expected to reach $1.6 trillion by the end of 2024! Airbnb is also stepping up its experience game with the announcement of its Summer 2024 Icons Program. This new initiative promises a collection of extraordinary experiences hosted by the biggest names in music, film, TV, art, sports, and much more.
World of Hyatt, Hyatt’s award-winning loyalty program, is teaming up with Peloton (NASDAQ: PTON) to become the first global hospitality loyalty program with plans to reward its loyalty members for doing more of what they love – earning World of Hyatt points when they use Peloton equipment at Hyatt properties in countries where Peloton currently operates. In the future, that will mean more opportunities to earn World of Hyatt points to apply towards future bookings, upgrades and experiences just by investing in their own wellbeing when they travel. The collaboration is set to outfit 800+ Hyatt properties with Peloton equipment and provide access to Peloton classes on guestroom TVs at nearly 400 properties for guest and member enjoyment this year. World of Hyatt will provide more information to members on how they can earn under this collaboration.
In recent years, the topic of well-being has become increasingly ubiquitous. A report by McKinsey (2024) finds, surprisingly, that millennials and Gen Z are spending more on health and wellness than older consumers. According to the Global Wellness Institute (2023), the wellness economy reached $5.6 trillion in 2023 and is forecast to soar to $8.5 trillion by 2027.
According to Hilton's third annual trends report, this year will be marked by a pronounced emphasis on wellness travel, with "rest and relaxation" identified as the pivotal trend shaping the travel landscape for 2024. Beyond the traditional offerings like spas, yoga classes at sunrise, and fitness centers with the latest equipment, the pursuit of personal wellness has undergone a significant transformation. As a result, today's travelers, whether embarking on a business trip or a leisurely vacation with friends or family, are placing a growing emphasis on prioritizing sound sleep and rest.
Wellness may be one of today's hottest topics, and it's certainly a priority for travellers seeking time and space to rest, relax and recharge. But what does a wellness retreat look like for today's traveller?
The word ‘optimization’ implies the use of data and measurements for continuous business improvement, but it also implies making tradeoffs and devoting limited resources to certain tasks ahead of others. For today’s hospitality world, we are confronted by so many data points, so many partners or siloed interests and so many different activities vying for our attention or capital. To make informed, strategic decisions that will unify various operations towards a common objective, hoteliers and owners must carefully pick the key performance indicators (KPIs) that they will optimize and prioritize.
With the Easter break just days away, travellers across the country are set to make last-minute travel plans to avoid the predicted bank holiday wash-out-weather. It comes as independent research released today by YOTEL, the global hospitality group for those on the go, has shown that a third of us (32%) are put off by long haul travel because of the fear of jet lag.
Last week, Sofitel announces the results of a scientific study analyzing travelers sleep to guests’ sleep experience. Guided by this research, Sofitel will be deploying new experience rituals across all its hotels to help guests enjoy blissful nights.
Hilton’s 2024 Trends Report found the No. 1 reason people of all generations want to travel this year is to rest and recharge. In fact, some travelers are even building their entire trip around sleep, which is a trend now known as “sleep tourism.” Sleep tourism first picked up speed in 2023 and has accelerated this year – in its recent report, the Global Wellness Institute cites Wellness Tourism as one of the fastest-growing segments of travel, projected to reach $1.4 Trillion USD by 2027.
Building on Hyatt’s purpose of care and commitment to wellbeing, Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today an exclusive collaboration between the Hyatt Regency brand and Future, a personal training platform that connects users with an ongoing fitness coach to create customized virtual workouts, further complementing World of Hyatt members and guests’ wellbeing journeys.
As the global wellness tourism industry reaches an estimated $1 trillion threshold in 2024, Miraval Resorts & Spas continues pioneering new standards for transformational wellbeing with brand growth, fresh mindfulness resources and purpose-driven collaborations and experiences. Looking across its three full-service resorts, Miraval Arizona, Miraval Austin and Miraval Berkshires; the newly opened Miraval Life in Balance Spa Aviara within Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa, and the forthcoming Miraval The Red Sea, continuous innovation is on the horizon, supporting each guest and colleague in becoming the best version of themselves to foster a life in balance filled with mindfulness, purpose, and inspiration.
As a recognized leader in hospitality wellness, Accor understands the vital role that hospitality plays in enhancing physical and mental well-being. Today, as we embark on a journey of transformative wellness with our guests, we also acknowledge how profoundly wellness initiatives can positively impact business growth for our hotels and owners. Poised to revolutionize the wellbeing journey, our newest well-being concept, The Purist, invites guests to embrace a holistic approach to wellness and discover the profound joy of complete harmony.
The past few years have certainly affected our health and well-being. From somewhat constant concerns about being exposed to and catching COVID ourselves, or having it affect our family members, to long hours working from home offices and worry about childcare, the pandemic left many people feeling depleted and in desperate need of vacations that offer relaxation and recharge.