Leo Tonkin, Salt Chamber
/ photo: Andrea_Blakesberg_photography
What’s been your most pivotal career moment? After a 35-year consultancy career steeped in organisational culture, strategy and leadership development, I started Salt Chamber at the age of 52. We all have visions, ideas and possibilities … but nothing gets done without action. There’s real power in ‘intentionally choosing’ and making things happen.
What do you still hope to accomplish? To raise awareness about respiratory wellness so individuals, communities and societies take action to impact the quality of the air we breathe and how we affect climate change.
Who will disrupt our industry the most? Technology companies such as Google, Amazon and Apple with their smart devices, wearables and health-focused applications, will have the biggest influence in the spa and wellness space. They’ll drive spas to engage with their guests, track their wellness and deliver personalised recommendations, regardless of their physical location.
Furthermore, advancements in telehealth and telemedicine will enable spas to extend their reach and provide virtual consultations and treatments.
What trends are impacting spas? Conscious consumerism will play a role as spa-goers seek authentic offerings that have integrity and are socially responsible.
There’s an increased focus on self-care and wellbeing, as well as therapies that help mental wellness – intentional music therapy, mindfulness and breathwork rituals and psychedelic retreats.
What radical changes do you foresee? The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) technologies into spa experiences. Biohacking and creating evidence-based multisensory and personalised offerings will be key.
AI will revolutionise the way spas operate. Through machine-learning algorithms, spas will be able to analyse vast amounts of customer data to truly tailor treatments. Meanwhile, AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants will enhance customer service, providing 24/7 support and customised recommendations.
Additionally, VR will play a pivotal role in transforming the spa experience. It can transport guests to breathtaking environments, enabling them to escape from their daily routines and immerse themselves in serene and rejuvenating settings. Customers will have the opportunity to explore virtual worlds and engage in guided meditations, mindfulness exercises and virtual fitness classes, all within the spa environment.
Overall, the spa of the future will be a blend of technology and human touch, offering unparalleled levels of personalisation, convenience and holistic wellness.
More from spa industry leaders...
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
Leo Tonkin, Salt Chamber
/ photo: Andrea_Blakesberg_photography
What’s been your most pivotal career moment? After a 35-year consultancy career steeped in organisational culture, strategy and leadership development, I started Salt Chamber at the age of 52. We all have visions, ideas and possibilities … but nothing gets done without action. There’s real power in ‘intentionally choosing’ and making things happen.
What do you still hope to accomplish? To raise awareness about respiratory wellness so individuals, communities and societies take action to impact the quality of the air we breathe and how we affect climate change.
Who will disrupt our industry the most? Technology companies such as Google, Amazon and Apple with their smart devices, wearables and health-focused applications, will have the biggest influence in the spa and wellness space. They’ll drive spas to engage with their guests, track their wellness and deliver personalised recommendations, regardless of their physical location.
Furthermore, advancements in telehealth and telemedicine will enable spas to extend their reach and provide virtual consultations and treatments.
What trends are impacting spas? Conscious consumerism will play a role as spa-goers seek authentic offerings that have integrity and are socially responsible.
There’s an increased focus on self-care and wellbeing, as well as therapies that help mental wellness – intentional music therapy, mindfulness and breathwork rituals and psychedelic retreats.
What radical changes do you foresee? The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) technologies into spa experiences. Biohacking and creating evidence-based multisensory and personalised offerings will be key.
AI will revolutionise the way spas operate. Through machine-learning algorithms, spas will be able to analyse vast amounts of customer data to truly tailor treatments. Meanwhile, AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants will enhance customer service, providing 24/7 support and customised recommendations.
Additionally, VR will play a pivotal role in transforming the spa experience. It can transport guests to breathtaking environments, enabling them to escape from their daily routines and immerse themselves in serene and rejuvenating settings. Customers will have the opportunity to explore virtual worlds and engage in guided meditations, mindfulness exercises and virtual fitness classes, all within the spa environment.
Overall, the spa of the future will be a blend of technology and human touch, offering unparalleled levels of personalisation, convenience and holistic wellness.
More from spa industry leaders...
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.
