Parekh is a former Deutsche Bank executive and COO
for Deepak Chopra
A new type of spa model has arrived. The Well, a modern membership-based wellness club, is opening in the heart of New York City.
Just like destination spas across the world, The Well offers “both the benefits of western medicine and the wisdom of eastern healing”. It has a “science backed ecosystem of wellness” where people have access to doctors, health coaches and 50 practitioners working across a range of modalities – from bodywork, food as medicine and mindful movement to Chinese medicine, ayurveda, vibrational energy healing and emotional wellbeing. Unlike destination spas, however, this is all available in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the world.
The Well is a first of its kind, says co-founder and CEO Rebecca Parekh. “Consumers are becoming more conscientious about their health,” she tells Spa Business, “but with so many different offerings in the health and wellness space, they find themselves running around town and often receiving conflicting advice.” Instead staff at The Well “work together under one roof to build customised plans to suit each member and their goals”.
Parekh is no stranger to the wellness world. She was a COO for Deepak Chopra for five years working to secure federal funding for integrative health research. As a former Deutsche Bank executive, she’s also a shrewd businesswoman.
The Well will help “busy New Yorkers to live healthier, happier, more balanced lives,” she says. And demand is there. Although it’s not due to open until September, there are already 400 members and there’s capacity for 2,000. Each member pays US$375 (€334, £302) a month, plus a registration fee of US$500 (€446, £403).
For this, they get a monthly session with a dedicated health coach, unlimited yoga and meditation classes and are privy to a variety of classroom programmes. They can also access the skilled practitioners, but pay for sessions – a 60 minute massage starts at US$180 (€161, £145) for example.
In addition, they can enjoy amenities at the 13,000sq ft club which include a 10-treatment-room spa with steam and sauna rooms, an organic restaurant and vitamin bar, reflexology lounge, yoga and meditation studios and a private training gym. “We have something for everyone,” concludes Parekh.
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
Parekh is a former Deutsche Bank executive and COO
for Deepak Chopra
A new type of spa model has arrived. The Well, a modern membership-based wellness club, is opening in the heart of New York City.
Just like destination spas across the world, The Well offers “both the benefits of western medicine and the wisdom of eastern healing”. It has a “science backed ecosystem of wellness” where people have access to doctors, health coaches and 50 practitioners working across a range of modalities – from bodywork, food as medicine and mindful movement to Chinese medicine, ayurveda, vibrational energy healing and emotional wellbeing. Unlike destination spas, however, this is all available in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the world.
The Well is a first of its kind, says co-founder and CEO Rebecca Parekh. “Consumers are becoming more conscientious about their health,” she tells Spa Business, “but with so many different offerings in the health and wellness space, they find themselves running around town and often receiving conflicting advice.” Instead staff at The Well “work together under one roof to build customised plans to suit each member and their goals”.
Parekh is no stranger to the wellness world. She was a COO for Deepak Chopra for five years working to secure federal funding for integrative health research. As a former Deutsche Bank executive, she’s also a shrewd businesswoman.
The Well will help “busy New Yorkers to live healthier, happier, more balanced lives,” she says. And demand is there. Although it’s not due to open until September, there are already 400 members and there’s capacity for 2,000. Each member pays US$375 (€334, £302) a month, plus a registration fee of US$500 (€446, £403).
For this, they get a monthly session with a dedicated health coach, unlimited yoga and meditation classes and are privy to a variety of classroom programmes. They can also access the skilled practitioners, but pay for sessions – a 60 minute massage starts at US$180 (€161, £145) for example.
In addition, they can enjoy amenities at the 13,000sq ft club which include a 10-treatment-room spa with steam and sauna rooms, an organic restaurant and vitamin bar, reflexology lounge, yoga and meditation studios and a private training gym. “We have something for everyone,” concludes Parekh.
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
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.
