Brown has previously worked for GOCO and Resense Spas
Emlyn Brown has joined AccorHotels as vice president of wellbeing for its luxury portfolio and will work on spa and overall hotel wellness for brands such as Sofitel, Swissôtel, Fairmont and Raffles, among others. He will be based in Paris.
His role will cover everything from design and concepts to facilities and programming – all with a view to helping guests feel more energised and healthier than when they arrived. This is something the group refers to as ‘imperceptible wellness’. It includes working with Accor’s 250-plus spas globally, as well as having a hand in the design and function of guestrooms, the interaction of food and beverage with spa and fitness and the energy levels in public areas.
Brown joins the team at Accor in place of industry veteran Andrew Gibson, who was vice president of spa and wellness from 2014 to May this year, when he left to join the team at Larry Ellison’s Sensei.
Aldina Duarte Ramos and Lindsay Madden-Nadeau will report into him as directors of wellbeing. Both women have been in the spa industry for a number of years and are well-respected throughout the sector. Duarte Ramos works on wellness for Sofitel, Swissôtel and Pullman, while Madden-Nadeau focuses on Fairmont, Raffles and MGallery.
Before this move, Brown previously spent three years at spa consultancy and management company Resense Spas, where he was managing director of Asia, based in Beijing and then global design director, based in Switzerland.
He also did a five-year stint with GOCO Hospitality as director of spa operations, based in Bangkok.
In welcoming him to the team, Accor’s senior vice president of luxury brands, Rick Harvey Lam, says: “Emlyn will direct our global strategy in the pivotal area of wellbeing, enhancing our luxury offering through transformative guest experiences. His experience, skill set and leadership traits also position him well for future success within the group.”
Brown says: “AccorHotels’ discerning, affluent clientele are well-travelled and increasingly motivated by the opportunity to maintain and even improve their approach to health and wellbeing during their journeys.
“My goal is to surpass the expectations of our guests and to infuse their entire experience with opportunities for transformative, innovative and extraordinary moments of wellbeing.”
AccorHotels acquired FRHI Hotels & Resorts in 2016 for a reported US$2.7bn (€2.4bn, £2.1bn), making it one of the biggest hotel groups in the world. It has around 4,000 properties globally.
In a previous issue of Spa Business, we analysed what the merger and the move to overall wellness meant for group’s spa departments (see SB17/1 p76).
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In today’s premium spa environment, every detail shapes the guest experience – right down to
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Brown has previously worked for GOCO and Resense Spas
Emlyn Brown has joined AccorHotels as vice president of wellbeing for its luxury portfolio and will work on spa and overall hotel wellness for brands such as Sofitel, Swissôtel, Fairmont and Raffles, among others. He will be based in Paris.
His role will cover everything from design and concepts to facilities and programming – all with a view to helping guests feel more energised and healthier than when they arrived. This is something the group refers to as ‘imperceptible wellness’. It includes working with Accor’s 250-plus spas globally, as well as having a hand in the design and function of guestrooms, the interaction of food and beverage with spa and fitness and the energy levels in public areas.
Brown joins the team at Accor in place of industry veteran Andrew Gibson, who was vice president of spa and wellness from 2014 to May this year, when he left to join the team at Larry Ellison’s Sensei.
Aldina Duarte Ramos and Lindsay Madden-Nadeau will report into him as directors of wellbeing. Both women have been in the spa industry for a number of years and are well-respected throughout the sector. Duarte Ramos works on wellness for Sofitel, Swissôtel and Pullman, while Madden-Nadeau focuses on Fairmont, Raffles and MGallery.
Before this move, Brown previously spent three years at spa consultancy and management company Resense Spas, where he was managing director of Asia, based in Beijing and then global design director, based in Switzerland.
He also did a five-year stint with GOCO Hospitality as director of spa operations, based in Bangkok.
In welcoming him to the team, Accor’s senior vice president of luxury brands, Rick Harvey Lam, says: “Emlyn will direct our global strategy in the pivotal area of wellbeing, enhancing our luxury offering through transformative guest experiences. His experience, skill set and leadership traits also position him well for future success within the group.”
Brown says: “AccorHotels’ discerning, affluent clientele are well-travelled and increasingly motivated by the opportunity to maintain and even improve their approach to health and wellbeing during their journeys.
“My goal is to surpass the expectations of our guests and to infuse their entire experience with opportunities for transformative, innovative and extraordinary moments of wellbeing.”
AccorHotels acquired FRHI Hotels & Resorts in 2016 for a reported US$2.7bn (€2.4bn, £2.1bn), making it one of the biggest hotel groups in the world. It has around 4,000 properties globally.
In a previous issue of Spa Business, we analysed what the merger and the move to overall wellness meant for group’s spa departments (see SB17/1 p76).
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Interview: Thomas Klein
Senior living, family resorts and urban retreats are all on the cards for Canyon Ranch says COO and president Thomas Klein. Katie Barnes finds out more
Trends: Spa Foresight™ 2018/19
Spa Business’ predictions for the future include vegan spas, blue light antidotes, home wellness and plastic-free facilities
Interview: Dietmar Mueller-Elmau
The owner of Germany’s Schloss Elmau tells Spa Business why music, culture and spa feed the mind and soul
Promotional feature: Living Earth Crafts
Living Earth Crafts has distinguished itself with furniture for the spa industry that combines high design with seamless functionality. Brian Paris gives us insight into the company’s stylish new introductions
Event report: GWS 2018 - Bella vita
An Italian inspired Global Wellness Summit featured fashion, food, fitness and spa… and cameos from Hugh Jackman and Oprah Winfrey. Spa Business gives its highlights
Research: Growing up
Spa is the fastest growing sector of the US$4.2tn global wellness economy according to the latest GWI research
Event report: WTA Conference
What do wellness travellers want? And what issues need to be addressed as the wellness tourism sector grows? Anne Dimon reports from the inaugural meeting of the Wellness Tourism Association
Fitness: Inhale the future
Ashley Neese tells Spa Business about the possibilities of breathwork and opening up the practice to more people
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.
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...]
