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Mia Kyricos, Kyricos & Associates
/ Photo: Kyricos & Associates
What’s been your career highlight? Being named the first global head of wellbeing of a Fortune 1,000 company – focusing on both the commercial and colleague divisions – was a game-changer for hospitality and big business at large. That was for Hyatt, a US$5 billion (€4.6 billion, £3.9 billion) publicly-traded company and it gave me a front-row seat to what’s possible when a CEO truly prioritises wellbeing as part of a company’s purpose. It further enabled me to legitimise this business of wellness, champion my own very successful advisory business and prove that the world needs more chief wellness and wellbeing officers to achieve business objectives and to make the world a better place.
What are your hopes for spas in the future? If the world were to ever shut down again, I’d like to see spa and wellness centres deemed “essential businesses”. In other words, by 2050, I certainly expect them to take their rightful place at the heart of preventative and restorative medicine.
What’s holding it back? We need to reconsider our compensation model in the US to fully grow. While not easy, we ideally need to offer appropriate salaries and benefits to therapists because caring for people through physical touch is a huge responsibility that should be valued accordingly.
"Spa Business has been a pioneer in educational journalism for our industry. Not only has it shown up for us industry insiders but it’s championed a business that few originally understood and that is now globally recognised. Thank you for telling our stories and advocating for our work"
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
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...]
Contrast therapy, based on the alternation of hot and cold rituals, has become one of the
most valued practices in the fields of wellness and recovery. [more...]
Mia Kyricos, Kyricos & Associates
/ Photo: Kyricos & Associates
What’s been your career highlight? Being named the first global head of wellbeing of a Fortune 1,000 company – focusing on both the commercial and colleague divisions – was a game-changer for hospitality and big business at large. That was for Hyatt, a US$5 billion (€4.6 billion, £3.9 billion) publicly-traded company and it gave me a front-row seat to what’s possible when a CEO truly prioritises wellbeing as part of a company’s purpose. It further enabled me to legitimise this business of wellness, champion my own very successful advisory business and prove that the world needs more chief wellness and wellbeing officers to achieve business objectives and to make the world a better place.
What are your hopes for spas in the future? If the world were to ever shut down again, I’d like to see spa and wellness centres deemed “essential businesses”. In other words, by 2050, I certainly expect them to take their rightful place at the heart of preventative and restorative medicine.
What’s holding it back? We need to reconsider our compensation model in the US to fully grow. While not easy, we ideally need to offer appropriate salaries and benefits to therapists because caring for people through physical touch is a huge responsibility that should be valued accordingly.
"Spa Business has been a pioneer in educational journalism for our industry. Not only has it shown up for us industry insiders but it’s championed a business that few originally understood and that is now globally recognised. Thank you for telling our stories and advocating for our work"
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
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...]
Contrast therapy, based on the alternation of hot and cold rituals, has become one of the
most valued practices in the fields of wellness and recovery. [more...]
