Market research firm American Lives has conducted a survey on the US wellness community market, and found a growing interest among consumers. Brooke Warrick highlights the key findings
By Brooke Warrick | Published in Spa Business 2017 issue 3
A quarter of those surveyed would like to live in a wellness community / photo: John Dolan
The study In October 2016, our market research firm, American Lives, fielded a nationwide US survey on a range of wellness issues. The study was a probability study of households with incomes over US$75,000 – the top 50 per cent in the US; the survey was completed by 1,000 respondents, aged 25 to 75 years old, which produced a demographically and statistically representative sample.
The goal was to measure the size of the market for wellness services and the likelihood that people would want these services to be available in the community where they lived.
When we divided the survey results into distinct market segments, three core market opportunities emerged. We showed that more than 75 per cent of this population wants these wellness services – and approximately 25 per cent wanted to live in such a community, while 38 per cent were inclined to visit a wellness community and would consider living there part-time.
Core market segments Three key subgroups emerged from the analysis:
Lifestyle Enthusiasts 24.8% of participants. Respondents in this segment strongly endorsed the concept of a “wellness community”, one in which they lived either full- or part-time. Members of this segment viewed their and their neighbours’ health and wellness as a core element of a family living environment.
Modest Committeds 38.8% of participants. This segment expressed an array of health and wellness values parallel to those of the Lifestyle Enthusiasts, but with a lesser level of commitment. This segment was more likely to favour health and wellness as a favourite travel investment, as opposed to a permanent lifestyle, yet at a level of interest to possibly do so through ownership of a second home. The age distribution within this segment was more tilted toward those of retirement age.
Vacation Market 12.8% of participants. Though not as dedicated as the Lifestyle Enthusiasts segment of the market, this segment still more strongly endorsed health and wellness values than the Modest Committeds, but was disinclined to express such values in a community setting. Nonetheless, they showed strong interest in owning a second home in a wellness-oriented development. This segment displayed the least disparity in age distribution within its membership, with a strong bias toward young people.
The remaining 23.6 per cent of the sample were not interested in wellness and would not be considered in the market.
In the survey, we asked a battery of questions known as the Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-Being, a widely tested and accepted series of questions that focuses on measuring multiple dimensions of psychological wellbeing. The Lifestyle Enthusiasts scored much higher on all of the wellbeing dimensions, with Modest Committeds scoring lower, and the Vacation Market somewhat lower again. This suggests that people who are objectively more psychologically healthy want to live in a community that shares and supports those values. They have a deeper understanding of what constitutes a healthy life and personal fulfillment, and they’re seeking ways to improve it; it’s at the core of what is important to them. On the other hand, the Vacation Market is interested in wellness when they have time, but it’s not a core value for them.
Key findings The demand for wellness services indicated in this study was significantly greater than expected, particularly in response to living in a wellness community. Current research by the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) signals that there is a limited supply of these communities. This is not simply an underserved market niche – it is a major market opportunity. Those Lifestyle Enthusiasts who are interested in living in a wellness community rate events and gatherings where they can engage with friends as a top feature they’d look for in a community, but they’re also interested in places for quiet, reflective, relaxing time (see fact box, p 70). Massage therapy came in second on the list of services they would be interested in, suggesting a significant role for spa operators and suppliers in the world of wellness communities.
We also asked people about their attitudes and expectations of wellness services. Overall, “feeling hopeful, joyful, and energised” defines how people feel about wellness, with “living free of illness and chronic pain” a close second (see Graph 1). When correlating this data with previous trends, the desire for wellness services has grown dramatically, in large part because it’s seen as an antidote to an increasingly chaotic world. There was also further statistical evidence that people are taking more personal control of their environment, so the idea of living in a “safe haven” like a wellness community was a key driver of demand.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Promotional feature: Elemis - Deep Benefits
With its market-leading Pro-Collagen skincare products already
a worldwide success, Elemis has further expanded its premium
anti-ageing range with a potent new seaweed-based Marine Oil
Promotional feature: RKF - a touch of luxury
As a global leader in the field of luxury
fabrics for spas and hospitality, RKF
is known for pushing the boundaries
of design and function. We find out
about the company's latest work
Top services for Lifestyle Enthusiasts For Lifestyle Enthusiasts, the following spa and wellness services were the top 10 services they were interested in 1. Events/gatherings where one can laugh and engage with friends
2. Massage therapy and other body treatments
3. Spaces for quiet, reflective time
4. Workshops on relieving stress and calming the mind
5. Access to medical professionals for specialised health programmes
6. Gourmet healthy cooking classes and nutrition classes
7. A health-oriented fine dining restaurant
8. Beauty and skincare treatments
9. A personal trainer for strength, flexibility and aerobic capacity
10. Homeopathic and alternative medicine programmes
Graph 1: Wellness attitudes by segment
Graph 1
Brooke Warrick
Brooke Warrick is president of American Lives, a market research firm that specialises in primary data collection and analyses in proprietary studies
Events to engage with friends was top of the list of services desired
Gourmet healthy cooking and nutrition classes ranked highly as a desired service
The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. [more...]
In today’s premium spa environment, every detail shapes the guest experience – right down to
the softness of towels and the freshness of linens. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Comfort Zone
Comfort Zone’s comprehensive face and body professional and retail range allows clients
to experien [more...]
Oakworks Inc
Oakworks is a US-based FSC-certified manufacturer of spa, massage, and medical equipment. [more...]
Market research firm American Lives has conducted a survey on the US wellness community market, and found a growing interest among consumers. Brooke Warrick highlights the key findings
By Brooke Warrick | Published in Spa Business 2017 issue 3
A quarter of those surveyed would like to live in a wellness community / photo: John Dolan
The study In October 2016, our market research firm, American Lives, fielded a nationwide US survey on a range of wellness issues. The study was a probability study of households with incomes over US$75,000 – the top 50 per cent in the US; the survey was completed by 1,000 respondents, aged 25 to 75 years old, which produced a demographically and statistically representative sample.
The goal was to measure the size of the market for wellness services and the likelihood that people would want these services to be available in the community where they lived.
When we divided the survey results into distinct market segments, three core market opportunities emerged. We showed that more than 75 per cent of this population wants these wellness services – and approximately 25 per cent wanted to live in such a community, while 38 per cent were inclined to visit a wellness community and would consider living there part-time.
Core market segments Three key subgroups emerged from the analysis:
Lifestyle Enthusiasts 24.8% of participants. Respondents in this segment strongly endorsed the concept of a “wellness community”, one in which they lived either full- or part-time. Members of this segment viewed their and their neighbours’ health and wellness as a core element of a family living environment.
Modest Committeds 38.8% of participants. This segment expressed an array of health and wellness values parallel to those of the Lifestyle Enthusiasts, but with a lesser level of commitment. This segment was more likely to favour health and wellness as a favourite travel investment, as opposed to a permanent lifestyle, yet at a level of interest to possibly do so through ownership of a second home. The age distribution within this segment was more tilted toward those of retirement age.
Vacation Market 12.8% of participants. Though not as dedicated as the Lifestyle Enthusiasts segment of the market, this segment still more strongly endorsed health and wellness values than the Modest Committeds, but was disinclined to express such values in a community setting. Nonetheless, they showed strong interest in owning a second home in a wellness-oriented development. This segment displayed the least disparity in age distribution within its membership, with a strong bias toward young people.
The remaining 23.6 per cent of the sample were not interested in wellness and would not be considered in the market.
In the survey, we asked a battery of questions known as the Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-Being, a widely tested and accepted series of questions that focuses on measuring multiple dimensions of psychological wellbeing. The Lifestyle Enthusiasts scored much higher on all of the wellbeing dimensions, with Modest Committeds scoring lower, and the Vacation Market somewhat lower again. This suggests that people who are objectively more psychologically healthy want to live in a community that shares and supports those values. They have a deeper understanding of what constitutes a healthy life and personal fulfillment, and they’re seeking ways to improve it; it’s at the core of what is important to them. On the other hand, the Vacation Market is interested in wellness when they have time, but it’s not a core value for them.
Key findings The demand for wellness services indicated in this study was significantly greater than expected, particularly in response to living in a wellness community. Current research by the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) signals that there is a limited supply of these communities. This is not simply an underserved market niche – it is a major market opportunity. Those Lifestyle Enthusiasts who are interested in living in a wellness community rate events and gatherings where they can engage with friends as a top feature they’d look for in a community, but they’re also interested in places for quiet, reflective, relaxing time (see fact box, p 70). Massage therapy came in second on the list of services they would be interested in, suggesting a significant role for spa operators and suppliers in the world of wellness communities.
We also asked people about their attitudes and expectations of wellness services. Overall, “feeling hopeful, joyful, and energised” defines how people feel about wellness, with “living free of illness and chronic pain” a close second (see Graph 1). When correlating this data with previous trends, the desire for wellness services has grown dramatically, in large part because it’s seen as an antidote to an increasingly chaotic world. There was also further statistical evidence that people are taking more personal control of their environment, so the idea of living in a “safe haven” like a wellness community was a key driver of demand.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Promotional feature: Elemis - Deep Benefits
With its market-leading Pro-Collagen skincare products already
a worldwide success, Elemis has further expanded its premium
anti-ageing range with a potent new seaweed-based Marine Oil
Promotional feature: RKF - a touch of luxury
As a global leader in the field of luxury
fabrics for spas and hospitality, RKF
is known for pushing the boundaries
of design and function. We find out
about the company's latest work
Top services for Lifestyle Enthusiasts For Lifestyle Enthusiasts, the following spa and wellness services were the top 10 services they were interested in 1. Events/gatherings where one can laugh and engage with friends
2. Massage therapy and other body treatments
3. Spaces for quiet, reflective time
4. Workshops on relieving stress and calming the mind
5. Access to medical professionals for specialised health programmes
6. Gourmet healthy cooking classes and nutrition classes
7. A health-oriented fine dining restaurant
8. Beauty and skincare treatments
9. A personal trainer for strength, flexibility and aerobic capacity
10. Homeopathic and alternative medicine programmes
Graph 1: Wellness attitudes by segment
Graph 1
Brooke Warrick
Brooke Warrick is president of American Lives, a market research firm that specialises in primary data collection and analyses in proprietary studies
Events to engage with friends was top of the list of services desired
Gourmet healthy cooking and nutrition classes ranked highly as a desired service
Global Wellness Day (GWD) marked its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its
site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French
West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to
celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-
powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-
focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is
expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and
2029.
The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. [more...]
In today’s premium spa environment, every detail shapes the guest experience – right down to
the softness of towels and the freshness of linens. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Comfort Zone Comfort Zone’s comprehensive face and body professional and retail range allows clients
to experien [more...]
