Vivianne Garcia-Tunon

While spa and wellness operators the world over contemplate science-based longevity offerings, Auberge has announced a bold new direction by pivoting to ‘joy’.

The fresh concept, called The Joy of Wellbeing, will play out at each of its 27 properties globally in unique ways.

Pillars include Awe, encounters with beauty and nature; Connect, opportunities for guests to come together; Excel, movement sessions and Nurture, ways for guests to care for themselves with intention.

Vivianne Garcia-Tunon, VP of wellbeing, Auberge Collection, says: “We’re reclaiming something essential: the presence, vitality and soul that make us human... Our goal is to create space for people to connect deeply and rediscover the simple wonders that make life truly meaningful.”

Self-help author Gabby Bernstein has created a series of exclusive Joy Experiences focusing on emotional wellbeing at select Auberge properties. She’s also set to host in-person talks and retreats.

Women’s strength, creativity and connection form the basis of Pink Zone Project, a new venture just revealed by Kintsugi Space, a seven-floor wellness club on Abu Dhabi’s Al Reem Island.

A transformative sanctuary for females, Kintsugi Space will offer a year-round calendar of women-only experiences – online and in-person – including talks on emotional wellbeing and self-confidence, beauty and self-care classes, singing and dance sessions and creative workshops and ‘energy boosters’.

Beyond its programmes, the Pink Zone Project also reflects Kintsugi’s people-first culture, uniting women of diverse nationalities and backgrounds in celebration of feminine wisdom.

To read our interview with Patrizia Bortolin, creative director at Kintsugi, visit www.spabusiness.com/kintsugi

Pink Zone Project celebrates feminine power and wisdom Letizia cigliutti

Layan Life, the medical wellness retreat at Anantara Layan Phuket Resort in Thailand, has unveiled a post-stay continuity programme to provide follow-up care for guests on its retreats.

As wellness, spa and medical destinations continue to merge, Spa Business expects to see similar post-stay packages cropping up.

The new Life After Layan programme includes consultations with doctors after a retreat at intervals of one, three and six months.

Guests will also have access to wellness products and supplement subscriptions as part of the aftercare service, in addition to digital newsletters with expert insights and inspiration.

Launched last year, Layan Life is a two-floor, 1,767sq m standalone facility for Anantara focused on Thai traditional medicine, evidence-based holistic therapy and medical science.

Dillip Rajakarier, CEO to Anantara parent company Minor Hotels, recently revealed the group’s plans to roll out the Layan Life concept to Spa Business (see www.spabusiness.com/rajakarier).

Location: Anantara Layan Phuket, Thailand

Duration: Layan Life retreat packages are a minimum of three nights

Cost: Starts at THB 35,000 (US$1,080, €967, £824) per person per night

Follow-ups at one, three and six months are offered Layan Life by Anantara - Minor Hotels

Layan Life, the medical wellness retreat at Anantara Layan Phuket Resort in Thailand Layan Life by Anantara - Minor Hotels

Bodywork, breathwork, mindfulness, movement and nutrition, five elements rooted in the Indian philosophy of pancha kosha, form the basis of a new lifestyle framework for guest experiences by The Oberoi Group.

The ASMI concept has been designed to integrate wellness throughout Oberoi’s 30-plus hotels and resorts, starting in India and rolling out internationally next year.

ASMI means ‘I am’ in Sanskrit and each guest journey will begin with a wellness assessment called I Am Aware to determine how they want to feel in their stay. Their responses will inform personalised plans across the five pillars, including customised in-room wellness cues and rituals.

Vikram Oberoi, CEO of The Oberoi Group, says, “With ASMI, wellness becomes personal and transformative, carrying the authenticity of India while resonating with guests worldwide.”

Location: Oberoi Hotels & Resorts worldwide

The ASMI concept will start in India and roll out wider in 2026 The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur

Clay and thermal waters from one of Europe’s largest natural grottos underpin a new three-night spa break in Italy.

Grotta Giusti Thermal Spa Resort Tuscany, Autograph Collection has introduced The Paths of Thermal Mud programme. Ingredients are sourced from the hotel’s thermal grotto which extends more than 200m underground and features rock vaults filled with steam ranging from 28°C to 34°C. At the bottom of the cave is a crystalline lake of 36˚C waters.

The package includes a 50-minute thermal mud wrap, a purifying face mask and an 80-minute phyto-mud treatment which combines cryotherapy-like cool mud with hay flowers. They’re designed to address fatigue, relax, purify and detox the body.

Access to spa facilities, a cryotherapy session, meals and accommodation are included in the price.

Location: Grotta Giusti Thermal Spa Resort Tuscany, Autograph Collection, Italy

Duration: Three nights

Cost: Starts at €800 (US$888, £681)

Ingredients are sourced from the site’s thermal grotto Grotta Giusti Thermal Spa Resort

Researchers at Ontario Tech University, Canada, have developed an AI-based massage therapy training platform prototype called TheraQuest that simulates real-world therapeutic massage scenarios.

Designed to address communication barriers in multilingual clinical settings, TheraQuest uses large language models to generate diverse virtual patients with realistic symptoms and dialogue. Trainees must ask follow-up questions, choose treatments and adjust pressure levels, receiving instant feedback and expert summaries to refine diagnostic skills.

Gamification is used to motivate continual improvement and deeper engagement. Users earn stars for communication, accuracy and competency, contributing to a global leaderboard. 

TheraQuest generates real-world therapeutic massage scenarios istock: Korrawin