What have your career highlights been so far? Getting Hilton’s newly-created role of global vice president of wellness is truly the job of my dreams. However, there’s been an accumulation of skills and experience that brought me to this point.
Being ambitious, there were times I was tempted to shortcut my way to what I perceived were bigger or newer things. But as I knew – or sometimes learned the hard way – there’s no replacement for hard work. While I have no illusions that I still have much to learn, especially in an industry as dynamic and diverse as ours, I’m so proud of what I’ve achieved so far.
How has the industry evolved? Hilton’s 2023 global trends report shows that more than half of the 8,000 people surveyed are looking to engage with wellness experiences when they travel. The audience has become increasingly diverse and their expectations are expanding too.
Most hoteliers now engage with wellness in some way at the full-service and luxury level. However, areas once considered “cutting edge” – luxury spas and well-equipped gyms – are now table stakes. There’s a need to provide a sensible, comprehensive and cross-functional approach to wellness across the entire stay experience and portfolio – from focused service to luxury.
What consumer trends are driving change? Our trends report also showed a hunger for authentic, cultural experiences and our teams are doing a wonderful job creating this programming for guests worldwide. For example, workshops highlighting local healing herbs in Thailand which are then used in treatment compresses, or a wellness wildlife sabbatical in the Galapagos Islands.
Meeting the diverse and ever-changing needs of our guests within this new wellness paradigm means deepening our existing areas of wellness expertise – namely fitness and spa – while we also move into other areas such as sleep, nourishment and mindfulness. But it also requires consistent brand, marketing and communications support to ensure we shine a light on the incredible work happening within our portfolio.
What do you still hope to accomplish? One of the things that attracted me most to my new role at Hilton was how it aligned with my own vision of democratising wellness.
As the wellness consumer diversifies, our goal is to reach as many people as possible – not just guests in our luxury or full-service properties, but across our entire portfolio of 22 brands and 1.1 million guestrooms in 123 countries.
In celebration of Spa Business’ 20th anniversary, industry leaders take a look at how far the sector has come since the magazine’s inception in 2003, share personal career highlights and reveal their plans and ideas for the future.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2023 issue 3
Editor's letter: Reflection point
As Spa Business celebrates its 20th birthday, Katie Barnes pauses for thought and rejoices in the industry’s evolution
Spa People: 20th anniversary issue: Anna Bjurstam
The strategic senior advisor at Six Senses and Raison d'Etre on being initiated as a shaman, why psychedelics are here to stay and her bigger fear for the global spa industry
Promotion: Klafs: Relax into wellbeing
Klafs and Studio F. A. Porsche have combined their design and wellness expertise to create an oasis for total-body relaxation
News report: Eastern promise
Japan’s spa industry is valued at US$4.2 billion and is part of the world's third highest-performing wellness economy
Jeremy McCarthy: Theory of evolution
From spa to wellness and now leisure – Spa Business’ contributing editor looks at where hospitality experiences are heading
Promotion: Lemi: Built to last
Lemi is committed to leading with innovation to create
cutting-edge treatment room solutions that excel
in terms of performance and eco-credentials
Promotion: G.M. COLLIN: Collagen pioneers
GM Collin’s expertise in collagen research and product formulation has resulted in the creation of a new serum that combats age-related skin degeneration
Promotion: Comfort Zone: A brighter future
Consumers are increasingly interested in reducing dark spots and hyperpigmentation and a new line from Comfort Zone has been launched to address this emerging need
Promotion: Art of Cryo: Life changing experience
Vikki and Robbie are often exhausted after work. A visit to the spa to experience
the Art of Cryo Tech-Spa Module is a chance to re-set and rejuvenate together
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...]
What have your career highlights been so far? Getting Hilton’s newly-created role of global vice president of wellness is truly the job of my dreams. However, there’s been an accumulation of skills and experience that brought me to this point.
Being ambitious, there were times I was tempted to shortcut my way to what I perceived were bigger or newer things. But as I knew – or sometimes learned the hard way – there’s no replacement for hard work. While I have no illusions that I still have much to learn, especially in an industry as dynamic and diverse as ours, I’m so proud of what I’ve achieved so far.
How has the industry evolved? Hilton’s 2023 global trends report shows that more than half of the 8,000 people surveyed are looking to engage with wellness experiences when they travel. The audience has become increasingly diverse and their expectations are expanding too.
Most hoteliers now engage with wellness in some way at the full-service and luxury level. However, areas once considered “cutting edge” – luxury spas and well-equipped gyms – are now table stakes. There’s a need to provide a sensible, comprehensive and cross-functional approach to wellness across the entire stay experience and portfolio – from focused service to luxury.
What consumer trends are driving change? Our trends report also showed a hunger for authentic, cultural experiences and our teams are doing a wonderful job creating this programming for guests worldwide. For example, workshops highlighting local healing herbs in Thailand which are then used in treatment compresses, or a wellness wildlife sabbatical in the Galapagos Islands.
Meeting the diverse and ever-changing needs of our guests within this new wellness paradigm means deepening our existing areas of wellness expertise – namely fitness and spa – while we also move into other areas such as sleep, nourishment and mindfulness. But it also requires consistent brand, marketing and communications support to ensure we shine a light on the incredible work happening within our portfolio.
What do you still hope to accomplish? One of the things that attracted me most to my new role at Hilton was how it aligned with my own vision of democratising wellness.
As the wellness consumer diversifies, our goal is to reach as many people as possible – not just guests in our luxury or full-service properties, but across our entire portfolio of 22 brands and 1.1 million guestrooms in 123 countries.
In celebration of Spa Business’ 20th anniversary, industry leaders take a look at how far the sector has come since the magazine’s inception in 2003, share personal career highlights and reveal their plans and ideas for the future.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2023 issue 3
Editor's letter: Reflection point
As Spa Business celebrates its 20th birthday, Katie Barnes pauses for thought and rejoices in the industry’s evolution
Spa People: 20th anniversary issue: Anna Bjurstam
The strategic senior advisor at Six Senses and Raison d'Etre on being initiated as a shaman, why psychedelics are here to stay and her bigger fear for the global spa industry
Promotion: Klafs: Relax into wellbeing
Klafs and Studio F. A. Porsche have combined their design and wellness expertise to create an oasis for total-body relaxation
News report: Eastern promise
Japan’s spa industry is valued at US$4.2 billion and is part of the world's third highest-performing wellness economy
Jeremy McCarthy: Theory of evolution
From spa to wellness and now leisure – Spa Business’ contributing editor looks at where hospitality experiences are heading
Promotion: Lemi: Built to last
Lemi is committed to leading with innovation to create
cutting-edge treatment room solutions that excel
in terms of performance and eco-credentials
Promotion: G.M. COLLIN: Collagen pioneers
GM Collin’s expertise in collagen research and product formulation has resulted in the creation of a new serum that combats age-related skin degeneration
Promotion: Comfort Zone: A brighter future
Consumers are increasingly interested in reducing dark spots and hyperpigmentation and a new line from Comfort Zone has been launched to address this emerging need
Promotion: Art of Cryo: Life changing experience
Vikki and Robbie are often exhausted after work. A visit to the spa to experience
the Art of Cryo Tech-Spa Module is a chance to re-set and rejuvenate together
People taking GLP-1 weight loss medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound
may be losing weight, but they’re also becoming less physically active, according to new
research presented at the ENDO 2026 annual meeting of the Endocrine Society
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Global retreat trade show, Synergy The Retreat Show, has launched a resource called The
Source, which hosts an open-access online Transformation Series programme.
The Standards Authority for Touch in Cancer Care (SATCC) charity has announced its first five-
day Living with Cancer and Beyond retreat, which will be held at Carden Park Hotel and Spa in
Cheshire, UK, between 1 and 5 September.
Patmos Aktis, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, has opened in Greece, with a renovated and
rebranded wellness offering called Ansana Wellness and Spa.
The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, an Autograph Collection property in Hawaii, US, has opened its
22,000 sq ft indoor-outdoor Spa at Mauna Kea as the final step in the property’s overall
renovation, which has cost more than US$180 million (€166 million, £140 mill
The UK spa review and discovery platform for consumers, the Good Spa Guide, has announced
it will host the Good Spa Guide Awards 2026 during an event on 16 November at Sopwell House
Hotel in St Albans, UK.
Eighty-four per cent of consumers now say wellness is a top priority in their lives, with this
percentage increasing year on year, according to a preview presentation of McKinsey’s Future of
Wellness 2026 research report.
Mass protests have been taking place since Monday 1 June in Albania over the development of
a luxury resort by Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner.
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.
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...]
