Floatation therapy is an increasingly popular service / shutterstock/hedgehog94
Touchless wellness refers to any treatment, therapy or experience that delivers a selection of physical, mental and spiritual benefits using a product or service with the intention to benefit the health and wellbeing of an individual – without the need for direct physical touch or a therapist to deliver the experience. Touchless wellness experiences can be curated as stand-alone or as part of a full integration with other treatments or therapies, and as part of a guest journey experience.
Although touchless wellness practices have been around for millennia (think meditation, gong baths, sound healing and energy healing), they are now being reinvented and innovated with the use of technology.
Evolving wellness landscape We are evolving our idea of what is included in the spa offering and how these have been historically delivered. In today’s digital and technologically advanced environment, the wellness space is one that harnesses the power of technology and uses it in tandem with touch therapies such as massage, body scrubs and facials. This not only enriches the service offerings, it elevates the experience.
But with treatments and experiences such as mind/body technologies, salt rooms, contrast therapies, gong baths, music, infrared treatments and therapies and other practices, touch becomes less important. In the context of social wellness and other trends, touchless wellness is at the heart of a rapidly evolving wellness landscape.
Wellness for all In a world where wellness has often been perceived as a luxury accessible only to a privileged few, touchless wellness emerges as a game-changer, with the power to democratise wellbeing for everyone.
The beauty of touchless wellness lies in its accessibility, breaking down barriers that have hindered people from embracing a healthier lifestyle – perhaps most importantly, affordability. New touchless solutions reduce the demand for additional labour, often making holistic wellbeing more economically feasible for a broader demographic. Families also stand to benefit as touchless wellness becomes an inclusive experience that can be enjoyed together, fostering a shared commitment to health and harmony, whereas many spas still have a ‘no children’ policy.
Carving out dedicated hours for self-care can also be challenging for many people, but touchless alternatives provide flexibility, accommodating even the busiest individuals. It’s a revolutionary shift that acknowledges the importance of wellbeing without demanding a significant time investment. Additionally, the ability to stack or layer the therapies offers the ultimate value for the wellness spend – and better wellness gains.
Mental wellness The past three years have also seen a global mental health crisis, with one in eight people worldwide living with a mental illness. Conditions such as anxiety and PTSD can make it incredibly difficult for people to embrace treatments such as massage. Touchless wellness offers a user-friendly way for people to access treatment for these conditions while easing them into touch therapies.
The benefits of touchless therapies include decreasing stress in chronic sufferers. Studies have shown that sensory deprivation and floatation tanks can decrease stress, depression, anxiety and pain, and can increase sleep quality and feelings of optimism.
Efficiency and simplicity Touchless wellness marks a revolutionary shift in the approach to some treatments, offering the advantage of being able to be experienced while fully clothed. These innovative concepts prioritise efficiency and simplicity, eliminating the need for additional logistics and other operational implications and further operating costs since de-robing is unnecessary.
Touchless wellness can offer a wide variety of services while maintaining high-quality experiences, limiting human error and reducing the unpredictability of business models that are heavily based on service providers. Most experiences only require someone to start the equipment initially and do a final check-in at the end of a session. This easier operating model takes stress off of owner/operators while delivering healthy ROIs.
Excerpted from the new white paper, ‘The Landscape of Touchless Wellness’. The full report is available to download in the membership area of the Touchless Wellness Association website. Membership is free.
BENEFITS OF TOUCHLESS WELLNESS EXPERIENCES
Diversified services: Introducing touchless wellness expands the range of services a business can provide, attracting a broader clientele.
Adaptability to preferences: Touchless options cater to individuals who prefer or require treatments without direct physical contact, accommodating a wider spectrum of customer preferences.
Market differentiation: Including touchless wellness sets a business apart in a competitive market.
Increased accessibility: Touchless options make wellness more accessible, breaking down barriers related to location and time constraints.
Cost-efficiency: Offering touchless treatments can be cost-effective in terms of staffing and resource allocation.
Innovation and modernisation: Integrating touchless wellness aligns a business with the latest advancements in the wellness industry.
Appealing to new audiences: Touchless wellness can attract people who may be hesitant or unable to participate in traditional hands-on treatments.
Enhanced customer experience: The convenience and customisation offered by touchless wellness contributes to an improved overall customer experience.
About the author: Erin Lee is Founder of the Touchless Wellness Association. With more than 25 years of experience in construction and wellness, Erin is a global designer specialising in heat experiences and halotherapy rooms.
About the author: Alina Hernandez is a wellness concept creator, advisory board member, award-winning wellness programme designer, Mayo Clinic certified health & wellness coach, author, and industry innovator.
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...]
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Floatation therapy is an increasingly popular service / shutterstock/hedgehog94
Touchless wellness refers to any treatment, therapy or experience that delivers a selection of physical, mental and spiritual benefits using a product or service with the intention to benefit the health and wellbeing of an individual – without the need for direct physical touch or a therapist to deliver the experience. Touchless wellness experiences can be curated as stand-alone or as part of a full integration with other treatments or therapies, and as part of a guest journey experience.
Although touchless wellness practices have been around for millennia (think meditation, gong baths, sound healing and energy healing), they are now being reinvented and innovated with the use of technology.
Evolving wellness landscape We are evolving our idea of what is included in the spa offering and how these have been historically delivered. In today’s digital and technologically advanced environment, the wellness space is one that harnesses the power of technology and uses it in tandem with touch therapies such as massage, body scrubs and facials. This not only enriches the service offerings, it elevates the experience.
But with treatments and experiences such as mind/body technologies, salt rooms, contrast therapies, gong baths, music, infrared treatments and therapies and other practices, touch becomes less important. In the context of social wellness and other trends, touchless wellness is at the heart of a rapidly evolving wellness landscape.
Wellness for all In a world where wellness has often been perceived as a luxury accessible only to a privileged few, touchless wellness emerges as a game-changer, with the power to democratise wellbeing for everyone.
The beauty of touchless wellness lies in its accessibility, breaking down barriers that have hindered people from embracing a healthier lifestyle – perhaps most importantly, affordability. New touchless solutions reduce the demand for additional labour, often making holistic wellbeing more economically feasible for a broader demographic. Families also stand to benefit as touchless wellness becomes an inclusive experience that can be enjoyed together, fostering a shared commitment to health and harmony, whereas many spas still have a ‘no children’ policy.
Carving out dedicated hours for self-care can also be challenging for many people, but touchless alternatives provide flexibility, accommodating even the busiest individuals. It’s a revolutionary shift that acknowledges the importance of wellbeing without demanding a significant time investment. Additionally, the ability to stack or layer the therapies offers the ultimate value for the wellness spend – and better wellness gains.
Mental wellness The past three years have also seen a global mental health crisis, with one in eight people worldwide living with a mental illness. Conditions such as anxiety and PTSD can make it incredibly difficult for people to embrace treatments such as massage. Touchless wellness offers a user-friendly way for people to access treatment for these conditions while easing them into touch therapies.
The benefits of touchless therapies include decreasing stress in chronic sufferers. Studies have shown that sensory deprivation and floatation tanks can decrease stress, depression, anxiety and pain, and can increase sleep quality and feelings of optimism.
Efficiency and simplicity Touchless wellness marks a revolutionary shift in the approach to some treatments, offering the advantage of being able to be experienced while fully clothed. These innovative concepts prioritise efficiency and simplicity, eliminating the need for additional logistics and other operational implications and further operating costs since de-robing is unnecessary.
Touchless wellness can offer a wide variety of services while maintaining high-quality experiences, limiting human error and reducing the unpredictability of business models that are heavily based on service providers. Most experiences only require someone to start the equipment initially and do a final check-in at the end of a session. This easier operating model takes stress off of owner/operators while delivering healthy ROIs.
Excerpted from the new white paper, ‘The Landscape of Touchless Wellness’. The full report is available to download in the membership area of the Touchless Wellness Association website. Membership is free.
BENEFITS OF TOUCHLESS WELLNESS EXPERIENCES
Diversified services: Introducing touchless wellness expands the range of services a business can provide, attracting a broader clientele.
Adaptability to preferences: Touchless options cater to individuals who prefer or require treatments without direct physical contact, accommodating a wider spectrum of customer preferences.
Market differentiation: Including touchless wellness sets a business apart in a competitive market.
Increased accessibility: Touchless options make wellness more accessible, breaking down barriers related to location and time constraints.
Cost-efficiency: Offering touchless treatments can be cost-effective in terms of staffing and resource allocation.
Innovation and modernisation: Integrating touchless wellness aligns a business with the latest advancements in the wellness industry.
Appealing to new audiences: Touchless wellness can attract people who may be hesitant or unable to participate in traditional hands-on treatments.
Enhanced customer experience: The convenience and customisation offered by touchless wellness contributes to an improved overall customer experience.
About the author: Erin Lee is Founder of the Touchless Wellness Association. With more than 25 years of experience in construction and wellness, Erin is a global designer specialising in heat experiences and halotherapy rooms.
About the author: Alina Hernandez is a wellness concept creator, advisory board member, award-winning wellness programme designer, Mayo Clinic certified health & wellness coach, author, and industry innovator.
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day
(GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and shaped by four pillars of Joy – in
alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the 2026 event in
Phuket, Thailand, later this year with the theme: The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness.
Auko, an all-inclusive development, is opening in Phong Nha in Vietnam in Q3 2026, with a
series of 30 tented eco-lodges and wellness hospitality operations by Lumina Wellbeing.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, has opened a 2,800sq m spa called The Sanctuary,
with the design and concept inspired by the Native American people that populated Florida’s
Southwest coast – the Calusa.
Swire Hotels’ luxury hospitality brand Upper House has revealed it will roll out its two-day
House of Healing retreats at its three hotels in Hong Kong, Chengdu and Shanghai.
LVMH-owned beauty house Guerlain will launch up to five spas with partners a year as part of
its plan to expand globally, according to the brand’s international spa and wellness director,
Diane Davody.
A new global study by Kevin Kelly and Peter Yesawich, called WELLSurvey 2.0, has revealed
more than half of consumers in the UK, US and Germany would not choose numerous high-
profile wellness resort brands for a future trip.
Luxury hospitality and wellness pioneer Jeremy McCarthy has launched Leisure Alchemy, a
digital platform that will provide professionals with strategic guidance on how to build
transformational leisure experiences that drive profit.
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
BC Softwear Ltd Established in 2002 by Barbara Cooke, BC SoftWear provides unmatched expertise in the crafting of th [more...]
