Many health problems arise from legacy issues – car-centric urban planning, polluting building materials and lack of awareness of the value of exercise
By Liz Terry | Published in Spa Business 2014 issue 1
Earlier this month, news broke that the UK government is planning to build two new Garden Cities in the south of England to ease a housing shortage.
The original Garden Cities – conceived in 1898 by Sir Ebenezer Howard – were planned, self-contained communities surrounded by green space, containing homes, industry and agriculture. Plans for the new settlements seem likely to be guided by this philosophy.
The Garden Cities movement was inspired by the utopian thinking of the Arts and Crafts movement and the radical novels Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy and Progress and Poverty by Henry George. Two settlements were built – Letchworth Garden City and Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire, UK.
I responded to the proposal with a blog post calling for a more radical new approach and suggesting that instead of looking to the past for inspiration, we need to look to the future and to create the first wellness cities.
In many years of leader-writing for this industry, I’ve never had such a strong and positive response to a suggestion – it’s clear there’s a great deal of interest in redesigning the places we live and work and rethinking their design and function from the ground up.
The vision of building entire cities around wellness is a powerful one which most people can relate to and find compelling and attractive. And the exciting part is that such plans are within our grasp if the will is there.
And although the idea of wellness environments is not new, we’re approaching a time when the concept will reach a tipping point and enter the mainstream, with its own economic models and vernacular.
In this edition of Spa Business, we talk to Paul Scialla from Delos (page 28), which is building wellness accommodation – both domestic and hotel.
Delos has fitted rooms at the MGM Grand Las Vegas and its Stay Well® features have enabled the operator to command a 30 per cent premium on rack rates. Unsurprisingly, more are planned.
So many health problems arise from legacy issues such as car-centric urban planning, polluting building materials, lack of awareness of the value of exercise – that the opportunity to build afresh wherever new communities are needed (whether in the developing or developed world) and to retrofit health-enhancing features, is thrilling.
Liz Terry, editor twitter: @elizterry
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Interview: Paul Scialla
Delos founder talks to Katie Barnes about creating the first set of wellbeing building standards and securing investment from Leonardo DiCaprio
Ask an expert: Detox
Done well, detox presents numerous business opportunities – but what's the best approach to take and what treatments should be avoided?
Business analysis: Spa inclusive
Some resorts are enticing clients with free, daily spa treatments. Neena Dhillon takes a look at the business model
Wellness tourism: Time to shine
Sophie Benge reports on wellness tourism in central and eastern Europe – a market that's ripe for development
Wellness research: Culture king
The Futures Company provides an insightful overview on how different cultures view health and wellbeing
Hotel spa research: Top division
In the hotel sector, spa revenue is growing faster than other revenue streams, according to a new PKF report. Andrea Foster analyses the findings
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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Many health problems arise from legacy issues – car-centric urban planning, polluting building materials and lack of awareness of the value of exercise
By Liz Terry | Published in Spa Business 2014 issue 1
Earlier this month, news broke that the UK government is planning to build two new Garden Cities in the south of England to ease a housing shortage.
The original Garden Cities – conceived in 1898 by Sir Ebenezer Howard – were planned, self-contained communities surrounded by green space, containing homes, industry and agriculture. Plans for the new settlements seem likely to be guided by this philosophy.
The Garden Cities movement was inspired by the utopian thinking of the Arts and Crafts movement and the radical novels Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy and Progress and Poverty by Henry George. Two settlements were built – Letchworth Garden City and Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire, UK.
I responded to the proposal with a blog post calling for a more radical new approach and suggesting that instead of looking to the past for inspiration, we need to look to the future and to create the first wellness cities.
In many years of leader-writing for this industry, I’ve never had such a strong and positive response to a suggestion – it’s clear there’s a great deal of interest in redesigning the places we live and work and rethinking their design and function from the ground up.
The vision of building entire cities around wellness is a powerful one which most people can relate to and find compelling and attractive. And the exciting part is that such plans are within our grasp if the will is there.
And although the idea of wellness environments is not new, we’re approaching a time when the concept will reach a tipping point and enter the mainstream, with its own economic models and vernacular.
In this edition of Spa Business, we talk to Paul Scialla from Delos (page 28), which is building wellness accommodation – both domestic and hotel.
Delos has fitted rooms at the MGM Grand Las Vegas and its Stay Well® features have enabled the operator to command a 30 per cent premium on rack rates. Unsurprisingly, more are planned.
So many health problems arise from legacy issues such as car-centric urban planning, polluting building materials, lack of awareness of the value of exercise – that the opportunity to build afresh wherever new communities are needed (whether in the developing or developed world) and to retrofit health-enhancing features, is thrilling.
Liz Terry, editor twitter: @elizterry
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Interview: Paul Scialla
Delos founder talks to Katie Barnes about creating the first set of wellbeing building standards and securing investment from Leonardo DiCaprio
Ask an expert: Detox
Done well, detox presents numerous business opportunities – but what's the best approach to take and what treatments should be avoided?
Business analysis: Spa inclusive
Some resorts are enticing clients with free, daily spa treatments. Neena Dhillon takes a look at the business model
Wellness tourism: Time to shine
Sophie Benge reports on wellness tourism in central and eastern Europe – a market that's ripe for development
Wellness research: Culture king
The Futures Company provides an insightful overview on how different cultures view health and wellbeing
Hotel spa research: Top division
In the hotel sector, spa revenue is growing faster than other revenue streams, according to a new PKF report. Andrea Foster analyses the findings
Eighty-four per cent of consumers now say wellness is a top priority in their lives, with this
percentage increasing year on year, according to a preview presentation of McKinsey’s Future of
Wellness 2026 research report.
Mass protests have been taking place since Monday 1 June in Albania over the development of
a luxury resort by Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner.
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.
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
Aquaform With a rich heritage in the spa industry, Aquaform offers a diverse array of water wellness experien [more...]
