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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
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
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.
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.
