Kyricos will focus on the wellbeing of both Hyatt customers and employees
International hotel group Hyatt Hotels Corporation has appointed Mia Kyricos as its senior vice president, global head of wellbeing.
In this newly-created position, Kyricos will focus on wellbeing not only for customers at Hyatt’s 750 properties worldwide, but also for its 110,000 employees. The two-pronged approach underscores the corporation’s “commitment to care for people so they can be their best”.
She will be responsible for shaping a multidimensional global wellbeing strategy, providing leadership and subject matter expertise to help establish the vision, objectives and strategic priorities for wellbeing at Hyatt.
“This is the first time I’ve seen a company of any kind create a senior leadership position to oversee the global strategy of wellness-related products and services in the marketplace as well as the wellbeing of its employees,” Kyricos tells Spa Business. “In my opinion, it’s a game-changer for both hospitality and big business at large.
“The approach and level of priority that Hyatt is placing on wellbeing is unique. This isn’t just about what happens in a certain segment of its hotel business such as spa, fitness or food and beverage, it’s about realising the corporation’s highest purpose – its raison d’etre – and that is to ‘care for people’.”
Kyricos will report to Mark Vondrasek, Hyatt’s chief commercial officer, who says: “As a pioneer in the business of wellness, Mia is uniquely qualified to further define Hyatt’s wellbeing efforts… She’s a respected leader in the wellbeing industry and her expertise across wellness, hospitality and brand strategy will fervently support and expand Hyatt’s robust wellbeing offering.”
Hyatt has 14 hotel brands in more than 55 countries, including US wellness focused brands Miraval and exhale, which it acquired in 2017.
Kyricos will build on steps Hyatt has already taken on its wellbeing journey, such as investing in the growth of Miraval and exhale, including the renovation of existing sites and the opening of new Miraval resorts in Texas and Massachusetts.
Some of its other wellness initiatives include the World of Hyatt Credit Card, which provides bonus points for spend on fitness, and adding on-demand exhale video content and enhanced fitness and wellbeing environments at Hyatt Place hotels. In addition, Hyatt has curated World of Hyatt member experiences designed to benefit mind, body and spirit.
From a corporate wellness point of view, Hyatt has also raised the bar with its new headquarters in Chicago – a Gensler-designed property that has been created to give employees a taste of its hotel experience.
Kyricos concludes: “This is the first time in over two decades that I haven’t had to chase down the executive team of a company to make the case for wellbeing. Instead, they’ve chased me down with a case prepared. And the significance of this shift, along with Hyatt’s acquisitions of Miraval and exhale, have been industry and personal career milestones that my fellow pioneers of wellness will understand.
“I honestly can’t wait to roll up my sleeves, partner with the team and further help to bring Hyatt’s vision for wellbeing to life.”
Most recently, Kyricos served as president and CEO of Kyricos & Associates, a boutique advisory firm providing guidance to wellness-driven hospitality, tourism and healthy lifestyle companies. Prior to that, she was chief brand officer at Spafinder Wellness, where she co-founded the Wellness Travel Awards programme, which was issued annually across 40 countries at the World Travel Market.
She also held leadership roles at Core Performance, the workplace wellness division of athletes performance firm EXOS and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide where she created six international spa brands and signature wellness experiences (see SB10/3 p24).
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Kyricos will focus on the wellbeing of both Hyatt customers and employees
International hotel group Hyatt Hotels Corporation has appointed Mia Kyricos as its senior vice president, global head of wellbeing.
In this newly-created position, Kyricos will focus on wellbeing not only for customers at Hyatt’s 750 properties worldwide, but also for its 110,000 employees. The two-pronged approach underscores the corporation’s “commitment to care for people so they can be their best”.
She will be responsible for shaping a multidimensional global wellbeing strategy, providing leadership and subject matter expertise to help establish the vision, objectives and strategic priorities for wellbeing at Hyatt.
“This is the first time I’ve seen a company of any kind create a senior leadership position to oversee the global strategy of wellness-related products and services in the marketplace as well as the wellbeing of its employees,” Kyricos tells Spa Business. “In my opinion, it’s a game-changer for both hospitality and big business at large.
“The approach and level of priority that Hyatt is placing on wellbeing is unique. This isn’t just about what happens in a certain segment of its hotel business such as spa, fitness or food and beverage, it’s about realising the corporation’s highest purpose – its raison d’etre – and that is to ‘care for people’.”
Kyricos will report to Mark Vondrasek, Hyatt’s chief commercial officer, who says: “As a pioneer in the business of wellness, Mia is uniquely qualified to further define Hyatt’s wellbeing efforts… She’s a respected leader in the wellbeing industry and her expertise across wellness, hospitality and brand strategy will fervently support and expand Hyatt’s robust wellbeing offering.”
Hyatt has 14 hotel brands in more than 55 countries, including US wellness focused brands Miraval and exhale, which it acquired in 2017.
Kyricos will build on steps Hyatt has already taken on its wellbeing journey, such as investing in the growth of Miraval and exhale, including the renovation of existing sites and the opening of new Miraval resorts in Texas and Massachusetts.
Some of its other wellness initiatives include the World of Hyatt Credit Card, which provides bonus points for spend on fitness, and adding on-demand exhale video content and enhanced fitness and wellbeing environments at Hyatt Place hotels. In addition, Hyatt has curated World of Hyatt member experiences designed to benefit mind, body and spirit.
From a corporate wellness point of view, Hyatt has also raised the bar with its new headquarters in Chicago – a Gensler-designed property that has been created to give employees a taste of its hotel experience.
Kyricos concludes: “This is the first time in over two decades that I haven’t had to chase down the executive team of a company to make the case for wellbeing. Instead, they’ve chased me down with a case prepared. And the significance of this shift, along with Hyatt’s acquisitions of Miraval and exhale, have been industry and personal career milestones that my fellow pioneers of wellness will understand.
“I honestly can’t wait to roll up my sleeves, partner with the team and further help to bring Hyatt’s vision for wellbeing to life.”
Most recently, Kyricos served as president and CEO of Kyricos & Associates, a boutique advisory firm providing guidance to wellness-driven hospitality, tourism and healthy lifestyle companies. Prior to that, she was chief brand officer at Spafinder Wellness, where she co-founded the Wellness Travel Awards programme, which was issued annually across 40 countries at the World Travel Market.
She also held leadership roles at Core Performance, the workplace wellness division of athletes performance firm EXOS and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide where she created six international spa brands and signature wellness experiences (see SB10/3 p24).
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Promotional feature: Terres d’Afrique - Out of Africa
Luxury ethical spa brand Terres d’Afrique has seen rapid expansion in its first years of business. CEO and co-founder Stephan Helary explains how the company has now transitioned to creating bespoke spa experiences from concept to completion
Promotional feature: The Madison Collection - Holistic sustainability
The Madison Collection is committed to creating high-quality hotel and spa linens while at the same time protecting the environment, promoting workplace wellness and supporting clean water rights. Owner Charmaine T Lang and Gilad Lang, vice president of business development, tell us more
Wellness: Staying well
Spa Business takes a look at how some of the world’s biggest hotel operators are addressing the new trend of ‘wellness rooms’
Promotional feature: Biologique Recherche - Pioneering Personalisation
More than 40 years ago, Parisian skincare brand Biologique Recherche was founded, with a focus on research and personalisation. Co-chairs Rupert Schmid and Pierre-Louis Delapalme discuss what’s made the brand so successful – and where the future will take them
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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.
LVMH-owned beauty house Guerlain will launch up to five spas with partners a year as part of
its plan to expand globally, according to the brand’s international spa and wellness director,
Diane Davody.
A new global study by Kevin Kelly and Peter Yesawich, called WELLSurvey 2.0, has revealed
more than half of consumers in the UK, US and Germany would not choose numerous high-
profile wellness resort brands for a future trip.
