Marc Cohen, Peninsula Hot Springs / photo: marc cohen
What’s been your biggest life lesson? Learning that pivotal moments have occurred when I’ve felt the most in tune with my surroundings and have followed my sense of curiosity and inner compass. For me, this has often happened while bathing and it’s no wonder that my career has led me to explore hot springs and natural medicine.
How has the industry evolved? There’s been an obvious shift from ‘spa’ to ‘wellness’. But it’s also been interesting to see wellness expand from the spa and natural medicine world into the hotel, tourism and property sectors.
I worked with Ingo Schweder in the early 2000s to help Mandarin Oriental become the first hotel group to create a spa concept to lead its portfolio. Now every hospitality chain offers branded spas and wellness has become a major force in the tourism and property sectors.
What do you still hope to accomplish? I want to co-create a culture of wellness that infects the world with good health.
I’m doing this by re-invigorating ancient modalities with modern science and promoting traditional practices such as hot springs and bathing, beautiful waters, the use of herbs, honey, ferments and plant-based medicines, along with a connection to nature.
I’m also very involved in education and research and am working to create qualifications in hydrothermal wellness at Southern Cross University and the Chisholm Institute in Australia.
What do you wish had been invented? I’m still waiting for an augmented space, pod or massage chair, that can manipulate my sensory inputs and external environment using real-time biofeedback. This invention would help overcome past injuries and illnesses and induce a state of relaxation that leaves the user feeling healed, whole and blissful. I’ve been waiting for nearly four decades for an invention like this but I expect I won’t have to wait much longer.
What business models are exciting? I’ve always loved residential retreats and resorts as they offer extended immersive experiences. These can be further enhanced by natural bathing – it’s noteworthy that Japanese onsens/ryokans have been operating this type of business for more than 1,300 years.
What radical changes do you foresee? We’re living in a time when even the best experts cannot predict what will happen in the next five to 10 years and AI and other exponential technologies are likely to fundamentally change what it means to be human. It’s even possible that sometime in the future, wellness will be derived from our interaction with silicon-based technologies rather than water. In the meantime, I will keep exploring real immersive wellness experiences in an increasingly virtual world.
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
Marc Cohen, Peninsula Hot Springs / photo: marc cohen
What’s been your biggest life lesson? Learning that pivotal moments have occurred when I’ve felt the most in tune with my surroundings and have followed my sense of curiosity and inner compass. For me, this has often happened while bathing and it’s no wonder that my career has led me to explore hot springs and natural medicine.
How has the industry evolved? There’s been an obvious shift from ‘spa’ to ‘wellness’. But it’s also been interesting to see wellness expand from the spa and natural medicine world into the hotel, tourism and property sectors.
I worked with Ingo Schweder in the early 2000s to help Mandarin Oriental become the first hotel group to create a spa concept to lead its portfolio. Now every hospitality chain offers branded spas and wellness has become a major force in the tourism and property sectors.
What do you still hope to accomplish? I want to co-create a culture of wellness that infects the world with good health.
I’m doing this by re-invigorating ancient modalities with modern science and promoting traditional practices such as hot springs and bathing, beautiful waters, the use of herbs, honey, ferments and plant-based medicines, along with a connection to nature.
I’m also very involved in education and research and am working to create qualifications in hydrothermal wellness at Southern Cross University and the Chisholm Institute in Australia.
What do you wish had been invented? I’m still waiting for an augmented space, pod or massage chair, that can manipulate my sensory inputs and external environment using real-time biofeedback. This invention would help overcome past injuries and illnesses and induce a state of relaxation that leaves the user feeling healed, whole and blissful. I’ve been waiting for nearly four decades for an invention like this but I expect I won’t have to wait much longer.
What business models are exciting? I’ve always loved residential retreats and resorts as they offer extended immersive experiences. These can be further enhanced by natural bathing – it’s noteworthy that Japanese onsens/ryokans have been operating this type of business for more than 1,300 years.
What radical changes do you foresee? We’re living in a time when even the best experts cannot predict what will happen in the next five to 10 years and AI and other exponential technologies are likely to fundamentally change what it means to be human. It’s even possible that sometime in the future, wellness will be derived from our interaction with silicon-based technologies rather than water. In the meantime, I will keep exploring real immersive wellness experiences in an increasingly virtual world.
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.
