Waring is the new MD of Sangha Retreat, China’s first wellness community
Industry veteran Jamie Waring has been appointed managing director of Sangha Retreat – one of China’s first wellness communities.
Located west of Shanghai in Suzhou, a water town known as the Venice of the East, everything about the 47-acre retreat is geared towards transformative and holistic health from its At One Clinic medical facility to the 65,000sq ft At One Healing Spa with a 12-stage hydrotherapy circuit.
It was launched by Octave Living, the real-estate division of Asian shipping conglomerate IMC, in 2016 and has been favoured by local and regional markets who stay in one of two hotels or residents of its 100-plus houses. Greeted by a wellness coach, given a medical exam on check in and with access to a whole roster of assessments, nutrition, exercise, mind-body practice, traditional Chinese medicine and healing treatments, guests come in search of self-improvement rather than a holiday.
The retreat is heavily influenced by Confucian thought, including ideas of relationships with the self, community, society, nature which are incorporated in its design.
In a newly created role Waring, who’s been working in spa, wellness and hospitality for 30 years, will oversee the medical clinic, spa and a family learning centre. He’s also been brought in to help raise it’s profile internationally ahead of the retreat’s official ‘launch to the west’ in September. “We are ready to go,” he says.
“Sangha Retreat is completely unique,” he adds. “It delivers a new path to awakening a new consciousness of becoming one with ourselves, each other and our environment. We aim for transformative change by addressing the cause, not the symptom… Guests learn new habits to sustain improved health for the long term.”
Waring spent five years at the helm of Six Senses in Bangkok, overseeing operations of 40-plus resorts and spas. He’s also been a director at GOCO and ran his own consultancy IS Wellness working with clients such as Bali’s Karma Group.
Prior to joining Octave, Waring was COO of Apex Management in Saudi Arabia where he developed, consulted and managed wellness, hospitality and real estate projects in the Middle East.
His business career started in London’s financial district where he was a money broker trading currencies on the international markets.
Octave COO Sook-Yee Tai says: “Jamie’s global experience and proven track record in wellness and hospitality is a strategic addition to our senior management team as we further enhance Octave Institute’s programming and anticipated expansion.”
In a previous interview, upstate New York has been touted as an area for future development.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
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Top team: Rosewood
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Promotional feature: The Madison Collection
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Interview: Markus Engel
The CEO of Asia’s Urban Resort Concepts talks to Spa Business about positive disruption in the hospitality and spa sector
Promotional feature: The Wellness
A beautiful pool can be the standout feature that draws new customers. It can also cut your running costs if it’s designed to be sustainable. Mohammed Ibrahim, CEO of The Wellness, explains
Interview: Davide Bollati
Liz Terry speaks to the founder of Comfort Zone about the group’s new botanical garden and ongoing commitment to environmentalism
Research: Generation gap
A new consumer study by ISPA uncovers spa-goer preferences and habits across different age groups
Promotional feature: Phytomer
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Event Report: APSWC Round Table
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Eco spa: Going green
Joanna Roche and Bonnie Baker share their ambitions for the Green Spa Network
Waring is the new MD of Sangha Retreat, China’s first wellness community
Industry veteran Jamie Waring has been appointed managing director of Sangha Retreat – one of China’s first wellness communities.
Located west of Shanghai in Suzhou, a water town known as the Venice of the East, everything about the 47-acre retreat is geared towards transformative and holistic health from its At One Clinic medical facility to the 65,000sq ft At One Healing Spa with a 12-stage hydrotherapy circuit.
It was launched by Octave Living, the real-estate division of Asian shipping conglomerate IMC, in 2016 and has been favoured by local and regional markets who stay in one of two hotels or residents of its 100-plus houses. Greeted by a wellness coach, given a medical exam on check in and with access to a whole roster of assessments, nutrition, exercise, mind-body practice, traditional Chinese medicine and healing treatments, guests come in search of self-improvement rather than a holiday.
The retreat is heavily influenced by Confucian thought, including ideas of relationships with the self, community, society, nature which are incorporated in its design.
In a newly created role Waring, who’s been working in spa, wellness and hospitality for 30 years, will oversee the medical clinic, spa and a family learning centre. He’s also been brought in to help raise it’s profile internationally ahead of the retreat’s official ‘launch to the west’ in September. “We are ready to go,” he says.
“Sangha Retreat is completely unique,” he adds. “It delivers a new path to awakening a new consciousness of becoming one with ourselves, each other and our environment. We aim for transformative change by addressing the cause, not the symptom… Guests learn new habits to sustain improved health for the long term.”
Waring spent five years at the helm of Six Senses in Bangkok, overseeing operations of 40-plus resorts and spas. He’s also been a director at GOCO and ran his own consultancy IS Wellness working with clients such as Bali’s Karma Group.
Prior to joining Octave, Waring was COO of Apex Management in Saudi Arabia where he developed, consulted and managed wellness, hospitality and real estate projects in the Middle East.
His business career started in London’s financial district where he was a money broker trading currencies on the international markets.
Octave COO Sook-Yee Tai says: “Jamie’s global experience and proven track record in wellness and hospitality is a strategic addition to our senior management team as we further enhance Octave Institute’s programming and anticipated expansion.”
In a previous interview, upstate New York has been touted as an area for future development.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Spa Programmes: On the menu
Energy medicine at Six Senses; aroma retreat on Croatia’s Island of Vitality and menopause programming all feature in our spa menu round-up
Top team: Rosewood
Jane Kitchen talks to the wellness team behind Rosewood, and its forward-thinking spa concepts, as CEO Sonia Cheng leads a vigorous global rollout
Everyone’s talking about: CBD
Are CBD treatments and products an unregulated fad, or a serious business proposition? Spa Business investigates
Promotional feature: The Madison Collection
Innovation of form and function in robes and towels is a vital part of attracting the next generation of wellness consumers. Charmaine T Lang from The Madison Collection explains how her company consistently maintains its successful point of difference
Interview: Markus Engel
The CEO of Asia’s Urban Resort Concepts talks to Spa Business about positive disruption in the hospitality and spa sector
Promotional feature: The Wellness
A beautiful pool can be the standout feature that draws new customers. It can also cut your running costs if it’s designed to be sustainable. Mohammed Ibrahim, CEO of The Wellness, explains
Interview: Davide Bollati
Liz Terry speaks to the founder of Comfort Zone about the group’s new botanical garden and ongoing commitment to environmentalism
Research: Generation gap
A new consumer study by ISPA uncovers spa-goer preferences and habits across different age groups
Promotional feature: Phytomer
Formulating the ultimate universal product to heal and defend the skin has taken three years of R&D for Phytomer, the French luxury marine skincare brand. The company’s scientific director tells Spa Business about the launch of the groundbreaking Prebioforce serum
Event Report: APSWC Round Table
Industry leaders contribute to APSWC’s third white paper at annual gathering. Catharine Nicol reports from Malaysia
Family spa: Play time
Spa Business takes a look at innovative spa programmes for children and families
Eco spa: Going green
Joanna Roche and Bonnie Baker share their ambitions for the Green Spa Network
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.
