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A panel discussion with (L-R) Trent Munday, Samantha Arnold, Lisa Starr, Jonas Schuermann and Dr Raleigh Duncan / Spachina
The 2025 China Wellness and Spa Summit was held recently at the Four Seasons Hotel Suzhou. Organised by SpaChina magazine, the three-day agenda comprised two key programmes: the 2025 China Wellness and Spa Summit and the China Wellness and Spa Awards Gala.
The event attracted 348 participants, including professionals from domestic and international hotels, wellness and recreation sectors, wellness and spa experts, spa operators, investors and trainers. Forty-seven brand exhibitors showcased their products, equipment and technologies, with many providing hands-on experiences, including Swissline, Icoone and Lumenis.
A total of 34 expert speakers and panellists shared insightful knowledge, concepts and trends across various industry sectors, offering valuable inspiration and practical insights, with simultaneous Chinese-English interpretation.
State of the industry SpaChina editor and founder, Fifi Kao, kicked things off with her annual report on the state of the Chinese spa industry, which is definitely experiencing some challenges.
Spending on emotional wellness, sports and fitness is on the rise, but the mass market is under pressure amid a drop in the number of middle class consumers and a decline in spending of 5-20 per cent among remaining consumers.
Kao believes that besides economic pressures, these issues have been exacerbated by severe over-capacity, homogenisation of available services and products, plus clients who are more knowledgeable and demanding. The industry has therefore shifted to a focus on higher quality, rather than quantity.
In more positive news, the high-end market remains strong and cross-industry innovation is creating interesting new experiences. These include businesses that blend wellness and light medical aesthetics with coffee/tea culture, art exhibitions and concerts.
Awards ceremony The prestigious China Wellness and Spa Awards recognised outstanding leaders and pioneers in the Chinese spa sector, who are establishing industry standards and communications.
This year’s edition was hosted by Kao and Graham Earnshaw, publisher of SpaChina.
A total of 128 contenders from 27 provinces, administrative regions, municipalities and eight overseas countries vied for one of 41 awards, which promote healthy competition and inspiration within the spa and wellness sector.
The summit provides a high-quality sharing platform for China’s wellness and spa industry, enabling professionals to maximise resource integration and exchange insights into the latest industry trends and refine development strategies.
Award winners for 2025
• Best hotel spa: The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Macau
• Best hot spring resort: Bolian Hot Spring and Spa, Bolian Hotel (Kunming)
• Best day spa: Dual winners: Rubis Spa and Le Château EviDenS de Beauté
• Best wellness and spa club: Love Story Hangzhou
• Best chain spa: The Puri
• Best urban wellness oasis: Dual winners: Chuan Spa, Cordis (Hong Kong) and Mi Xun Spa, The Temple House (Chengdu)
• Best fitness centre and spa: Mi Xun Spa, The Middle House
• Best newly-opened spa: The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Qianmen (Beijing)
Credit: Spachina
"The high-end market remains strong and cross-industry innovation is creating new experiences" –
Lisa Starr, host, StarrCast Podcast and founder, Wynne Business
In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to
our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]
A panel discussion with (L-R) Trent Munday, Samantha Arnold, Lisa Starr, Jonas Schuermann and Dr Raleigh Duncan / Spachina
The 2025 China Wellness and Spa Summit was held recently at the Four Seasons Hotel Suzhou. Organised by SpaChina magazine, the three-day agenda comprised two key programmes: the 2025 China Wellness and Spa Summit and the China Wellness and Spa Awards Gala.
The event attracted 348 participants, including professionals from domestic and international hotels, wellness and recreation sectors, wellness and spa experts, spa operators, investors and trainers. Forty-seven brand exhibitors showcased their products, equipment and technologies, with many providing hands-on experiences, including Swissline, Icoone and Lumenis.
A total of 34 expert speakers and panellists shared insightful knowledge, concepts and trends across various industry sectors, offering valuable inspiration and practical insights, with simultaneous Chinese-English interpretation.
State of the industry SpaChina editor and founder, Fifi Kao, kicked things off with her annual report on the state of the Chinese spa industry, which is definitely experiencing some challenges.
Spending on emotional wellness, sports and fitness is on the rise, but the mass market is under pressure amid a drop in the number of middle class consumers and a decline in spending of 5-20 per cent among remaining consumers.
Kao believes that besides economic pressures, these issues have been exacerbated by severe over-capacity, homogenisation of available services and products, plus clients who are more knowledgeable and demanding. The industry has therefore shifted to a focus on higher quality, rather than quantity.
In more positive news, the high-end market remains strong and cross-industry innovation is creating interesting new experiences. These include businesses that blend wellness and light medical aesthetics with coffee/tea culture, art exhibitions and concerts.
Awards ceremony The prestigious China Wellness and Spa Awards recognised outstanding leaders and pioneers in the Chinese spa sector, who are establishing industry standards and communications.
This year’s edition was hosted by Kao and Graham Earnshaw, publisher of SpaChina.
A total of 128 contenders from 27 provinces, administrative regions, municipalities and eight overseas countries vied for one of 41 awards, which promote healthy competition and inspiration within the spa and wellness sector.
The summit provides a high-quality sharing platform for China’s wellness and spa industry, enabling professionals to maximise resource integration and exchange insights into the latest industry trends and refine development strategies.
Award winners for 2025
• Best hotel spa: The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Macau
• Best hot spring resort: Bolian Hot Spring and Spa, Bolian Hotel (Kunming)
• Best day spa: Dual winners: Rubis Spa and Le Château EviDenS de Beauté
• Best wellness and spa club: Love Story Hangzhou
• Best chain spa: The Puri
• Best urban wellness oasis: Dual winners: Chuan Spa, Cordis (Hong Kong) and Mi Xun Spa, The Temple House (Chengdu)
• Best fitness centre and spa: Mi Xun Spa, The Middle House
• Best newly-opened spa: The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Qianmen (Beijing)
Credit: Spachina
"The high-end market remains strong and cross-industry innovation is creating new experiences" –
Lisa Starr, host, StarrCast Podcast and founder, Wynne Business
Gran Hotel Taoro in northern Tenerife, Spain, has completed the final phase of its three-year
renovation with the debut of its Sandára Wellness Centre.
Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa, the spa business with more than 650 locations across
the US and Canada, has appointed franchise expert Carrie Walsh as CEO as the company plans
to expand.
Synergy – The Retreat Show, the global trade show for retreats, has launched a global research
initiative that will provide insights into the retreat sector from both consumer and industry
perspectives.
The Wellness Tourism Association (WTA) has published a non-regulatory global industry
framework designed to ensure the retreat market offers responsible experiences.
A new survey of UK and international spa practitioners shows that stress, burnout and
wellbeing concerns have caused one in three respondents to consider leaving the industry.
The UK's four Chief Medical Officers have published a refreshed edition of Physical activity
guidelines: UK Chief Medical Officers' report, updating the evidence that underpins the nation's
physical activity recommendations and placing greater emphasis on strength, balance, reducing
sedentary behaviour and, for the first time, supporting people taking weight loss medications.
Anna Bjurstam has left her role as Wellness Pioneer at Six Senses Hotels and Resorts and
launched a new wellness, longevity and “consciousness consultancy” called Wahayla.
Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere, has opened today (10 July) in the Northwest of England
with a
1,715sq m Fairmont Spa that has been designed using a ‘Wellness without Walls’
concept.
In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to
our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]
