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Richard Gere headlined at the recent wellness real estate symposium in New York, where new research shows the sector is forecast to reach US$913 billion by 2028. Katie Barnes and Megan Whitby delve into the numbers
Richard Gere with Deborah Szekely (left) and GWI’s Susie Ellis / photo: global wellness institute
“Igrew up on a dairy farm in the mountains of Pennsylvania and while I don’t pretend to be a farmer like my dad, I’ve inherited that closeness to nature,” declared Hollywood actor Richard Gere, in his keynote speech at the recent Wellness Real Estate & Communities Symposium.
Hosted by the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) in Manhattan recently, the third edition of the event gave an overview of the global real estate sector, covering topics such as sustainability, healthy buildings and unique business models. More than 200 leaders in the field sat in anticipation of Gere’s words of wisdom.
A star on stage Talking to Amy McDonald – founder of Under a Tree, Wellness Consulting – Gere revealed details about Xala, a 3,000-acre regenerative development he’s been involved with for the last 10 years. Based on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, near Puerto Vallarta, the wellness community comprises 75 villa residences and a Six Senses which is due to open in 2026.
“There’s no one on this planet who doesn’t feel their breath changing and their whole mental outlook altering when they experience untouched, beautiful places,” said Gere. “Xala is all the beauty you’ve ever dreamed about. Five miles of pure land from low mountains, through incredible jungle and dunes to pristine beach.”
The captivating star spoke about how the people behind Xala are looking to create a blueprint for the project that not only restores the environment but also includes local communities.
“The visionary idea is to include local villagers, fishermen and farmers in the process and genuinely listen to them to understand what they want,” he said. “Not to go in as egotistical developers thinking we already know what’s good for them.”
Gere explained how, last year, the team on the project also realised that truly protecting the estuaries and land of Xala meant taking into account – and preserving – a much larger regional ecosystem. He’s now supporting Sierra A Mar (Ridge to Reef), an initiative to create a sustainable and regenerative plan for the 100km coastal stretch surrounding Xala.
“I’m 74 years old and I’ve seen beautiful places destroyed in my lifetime,” he concluded. “My job in this process is to be the conscience of Xala. It’s all about having a sense of humility and knowing you’re a small part of a bigger thing.”
Exciting new research Another highlight of the symposium was the revelation that wellness real estate is by far the fastest-growing segment in the 11-sector global wellness economy.
Findings from Wellness Real Estate: Market Growth (2019-2023) and Future Developments – a new GWI research report released at the event – show wellness real estate surged in value from US$225 billion in 2019 to US$438 billion in 2023.
This represents 18.1 per cent annual growth over the past four years, which is significantly higher than the 5.1 per cent annual growth rate for the overall global construction industry.
“We’re not at all surprised by this finding,” said Katherine Johnston and Ophelia Yeung, GWI’s senior research fellows.
“More than any other wellness sector, wellness real estate embodies the multidimensionality of wellness. When done right, it has the greatest potential within the wellness economy to improve our holistic wellbeing and that of entire communities.
“As more people realise that their biggest investment – their home – is the ‘next frontier of their health’, the demand for wellness real estate will only continue to grow.”
According to the GWI, the pandemic supercharged the market because it dramatically accelerated the understanding among consumers and the building industry about how much external environments impact our physical and mental health.
Now, the GWI forecasts that the sector will grow 15.8 per cent annually from 2023 to 2028, when it will approach the trillion-dollar mark (US$913 billion).
The GWI defines wellness real estate as homes and buildings that are proactively designed, built and operated to support the holistic health of their residents.
The report includes regional and country data and finds that the US (US$181 billion, 41 per cent of the global market), China (US$73 billion) and the UK (US$29 billion) remain the three biggest national markets. It also analyses the biggest drivers and opportunities – as well as the greatest challenges – for wellness real estate in the future.
• To watch the full Wellness Real Estate & Communities Symposium from the Global Wellness Institute on demand, visit www.spabusiness.com/GWIrealestate
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2024 issue 2
Editor's letter: Cool customers
Spas must adapt to unlock new avenues for growth while mitigating the impact of climate change, says Katie Barnes
Top Team: Therme Group
With its focus on affordable wellness, Therme Group is expanding its social spa concept globally. Jane Kitchen speaks to the people behind the brand
Interview: Susie Ellis
The chair of the Global Wellness Summit has been fundamental in defining the industry and continues to drive it forward
Sponsored: Comfort Zone: Powered by nature
B Corp-certified skincare company Comfort Zone has added a new body lotion to its Hydramemory range, which is inspired by the water-retaining powers of desert plants
Interview: Roger Tempest
The owner of Broughton Sanctuary in the UK is transforming the 900-year-old estate into a retreat-based business
Sponsored: Lemi: touched by tech
Italian spa equipment supplier, Lemi, is embracing the trend towards tech-driven wellness treatments, while also driving sustainable industry practices
First person: The real deal?
What’s the value of an authentic treatment? Andrew and Karin Gibson take to the hammams of Istanbul to find out
Wellness: Full recovery
SIRO is staking a claim to be the world’s first fitness and recovery hotel brand and is planning 100 properties. Lisa Starr visits the first site in Dubai
Sponsored: Gharieni: Defining the well universe
The launch of Gharieni’s new touchless technology brand
Metawell is perfectly aligned with the future direction of spa
and wellness, says the company’s CEO, Sammy Gharieni
Software: Member benefits
Up to a third of spa-goers now have a spa membership. What support can software systems offer?
Sponsored: Myrtha: Herbal Sauna
Pools and wellness facilities expert, Myrtha’s new Herbal Sauna, brings an innovative and therapeutic experience to the spa, says Stefano Cattaneo
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...]
Richard Gere headlined at the recent wellness real estate symposium in New York, where new research shows the sector is forecast to reach US$913 billion by 2028. Katie Barnes and Megan Whitby delve into the numbers
Richard Gere with Deborah Szekely (left) and GWI’s Susie Ellis / photo: global wellness institute
“Igrew up on a dairy farm in the mountains of Pennsylvania and while I don’t pretend to be a farmer like my dad, I’ve inherited that closeness to nature,” declared Hollywood actor Richard Gere, in his keynote speech at the recent Wellness Real Estate & Communities Symposium.
Hosted by the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) in Manhattan recently, the third edition of the event gave an overview of the global real estate sector, covering topics such as sustainability, healthy buildings and unique business models. More than 200 leaders in the field sat in anticipation of Gere’s words of wisdom.
A star on stage Talking to Amy McDonald – founder of Under a Tree, Wellness Consulting – Gere revealed details about Xala, a 3,000-acre regenerative development he’s been involved with for the last 10 years. Based on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, near Puerto Vallarta, the wellness community comprises 75 villa residences and a Six Senses which is due to open in 2026.
“There’s no one on this planet who doesn’t feel their breath changing and their whole mental outlook altering when they experience untouched, beautiful places,” said Gere. “Xala is all the beauty you’ve ever dreamed about. Five miles of pure land from low mountains, through incredible jungle and dunes to pristine beach.”
The captivating star spoke about how the people behind Xala are looking to create a blueprint for the project that not only restores the environment but also includes local communities.
“The visionary idea is to include local villagers, fishermen and farmers in the process and genuinely listen to them to understand what they want,” he said. “Not to go in as egotistical developers thinking we already know what’s good for them.”
Gere explained how, last year, the team on the project also realised that truly protecting the estuaries and land of Xala meant taking into account – and preserving – a much larger regional ecosystem. He’s now supporting Sierra A Mar (Ridge to Reef), an initiative to create a sustainable and regenerative plan for the 100km coastal stretch surrounding Xala.
“I’m 74 years old and I’ve seen beautiful places destroyed in my lifetime,” he concluded. “My job in this process is to be the conscience of Xala. It’s all about having a sense of humility and knowing you’re a small part of a bigger thing.”
Exciting new research Another highlight of the symposium was the revelation that wellness real estate is by far the fastest-growing segment in the 11-sector global wellness economy.
Findings from Wellness Real Estate: Market Growth (2019-2023) and Future Developments – a new GWI research report released at the event – show wellness real estate surged in value from US$225 billion in 2019 to US$438 billion in 2023.
This represents 18.1 per cent annual growth over the past four years, which is significantly higher than the 5.1 per cent annual growth rate for the overall global construction industry.
“We’re not at all surprised by this finding,” said Katherine Johnston and Ophelia Yeung, GWI’s senior research fellows.
“More than any other wellness sector, wellness real estate embodies the multidimensionality of wellness. When done right, it has the greatest potential within the wellness economy to improve our holistic wellbeing and that of entire communities.
“As more people realise that their biggest investment – their home – is the ‘next frontier of their health’, the demand for wellness real estate will only continue to grow.”
According to the GWI, the pandemic supercharged the market because it dramatically accelerated the understanding among consumers and the building industry about how much external environments impact our physical and mental health.
Now, the GWI forecasts that the sector will grow 15.8 per cent annually from 2023 to 2028, when it will approach the trillion-dollar mark (US$913 billion).
The GWI defines wellness real estate as homes and buildings that are proactively designed, built and operated to support the holistic health of their residents.
The report includes regional and country data and finds that the US (US$181 billion, 41 per cent of the global market), China (US$73 billion) and the UK (US$29 billion) remain the three biggest national markets. It also analyses the biggest drivers and opportunities – as well as the greatest challenges – for wellness real estate in the future.
• To watch the full Wellness Real Estate & Communities Symposium from the Global Wellness Institute on demand, visit www.spabusiness.com/GWIrealestate
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2024 issue 2
Editor's letter: Cool customers
Spas must adapt to unlock new avenues for growth while mitigating the impact of climate change, says Katie Barnes
Top Team: Therme Group
With its focus on affordable wellness, Therme Group is expanding its social spa concept globally. Jane Kitchen speaks to the people behind the brand
Interview: Susie Ellis
The chair of the Global Wellness Summit has been fundamental in defining the industry and continues to drive it forward
Sponsored: Comfort Zone: Powered by nature
B Corp-certified skincare company Comfort Zone has added a new body lotion to its Hydramemory range, which is inspired by the water-retaining powers of desert plants
Interview: Roger Tempest
The owner of Broughton Sanctuary in the UK is transforming the 900-year-old estate into a retreat-based business
Sponsored: Lemi: touched by tech
Italian spa equipment supplier, Lemi, is embracing the trend towards tech-driven wellness treatments, while also driving sustainable industry practices
First person: The real deal?
What’s the value of an authentic treatment? Andrew and Karin Gibson take to the hammams of Istanbul to find out
Wellness: Full recovery
SIRO is staking a claim to be the world’s first fitness and recovery hotel brand and is planning 100 properties. Lisa Starr visits the first site in Dubai
Sponsored: Gharieni: Defining the well universe
The launch of Gharieni’s new touchless technology brand
Metawell is perfectly aligned with the future direction of spa
and wellness, says the company’s CEO, Sammy Gharieni
Software: Member benefits
Up to a third of spa-goers now have a spa membership. What support can software systems offer?
Sponsored: Myrtha: Herbal Sauna
Pools and wellness facilities expert, Myrtha’s new Herbal Sauna, brings an innovative and therapeutic experience to the spa, says Stefano Cattaneo
A recent survey by the UK Spa Association (UKSA) into the industry’s approach to cancer care
has revealed that almost half of participating respondents (46 per cent) are unaware that
cancer is a disability and guests with a cancer diagnosis must be given
Mexican operator, Solmar Hotels and Resorts, is hosting a series of events in celebration of
Global Wellness Day, including a Temazcal ceremony at its Playa Grande Resort and Spa in Los
Cabos.
Mandarin Oriental has announced a standalone residence brand, Mansions, which will debut at
Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions, Abu Dhabi, in 2029.
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.
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...]
