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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 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...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Bellezi
Founded in 2009 as a Dutch family business, Bellezi brings more than 20 years of experience in treat [more...]
Saskia Spa
Founded in 2014, Saskia Spa continues to evolve as a professional luxury skincare brand. It forms pa [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
TLee Spas and Wellness has revealed the design concept for a high-tech spa with body
mapping scanners to improve public health, for AI company Midjourney.
Ameyalli, the 78-acre wellbeing resort and residential community in Midway in Utah, US, has
broken ground on phase two of the hot spring development – the Ameyalli Resort and Spa –
which is due to open in 2028.
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.
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...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Bellezi Founded in 2009 as a Dutch family business, Bellezi brings more than 20 years of experience in treat [more...]
