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What’s been your biggest life lesson? At 26 I was a GM in the Seychelles living through a coup d’etat with African mercenaries complaining about the breakfast buffet. I quickly learned to think on my feet.
I had 14 years with Four Seasons in Asia and saw how the extreme power of corporate culture can make magic every day over many years.
Eleven years ago, I had the opportunity to be part of the transformation and growth of Six Senses, working and hanging out with passionate believers and creators in wellness, sustainability and extraordinary experiences.
When diagnosed with bladder cancer (all clear now), my colleague and dear friend Anna Bjurstam sent me to Vaidyagrama, an ayurvedic clinic in Tamil Nadu for five weeks. The wise people I met there reinforced my belief in the ancient healing arts and the power of the universe.
What do you still hope to accomplish? There’s still plenty to do at Six Senses with various brand stretches. We want to become experts in the retreat and festival business, allowing us to spread the word more deeply and fill rooms in less busy periods.
Can the industry as a whole broaden the reach of its programming to a wider audience, who are less able to experience ultra-luxury? Personally, I believe we have an obligation to.
What industry changes have you observed? Finding the right employees is always difficult, but our value set is compelling to many young people joining the industry. What we do is no longer considered ‘woo woo’ and it’s attracting great talent to us.
Secondly, the customer is so much more informed and wellness washing doesn’t work. Providers have made great strides – the modalities they offer are light years ahead of what they were two decades ago. And this is obviously good for the industry as a whole.
What key innovations can you identify? We launch two new initiatives a year and these are overseen by a Wellness Innovation Team. We like to think it keeps us ahead of the curve. At the very least it keeps us honest and focused.
We’ve made countless advances in sleep health and in understanding circadian rhythms, nutrition, longevity, genetics, functional medicine, brain health, mind/body practices and ancient healing arts from China, India and South America which are now all in the West.
The list is endless and it makes the next 20 years look so exciting. And are we talking about AI? Of course we are.
What do you wish had been invented? A cure for cancer and cognitive degradation. Optimal obesity solutions. I’d love to see general lifestyle education become an essential part of the curriculum in schools.
What business models are exciting? We’re finally talking about wellness communities, which have the potential to take our industry into another dimension. Yet this will require professional and innovative real estate developers to work closely alongside a brand. It presents a huge opportunity and is a win-win.
How do you hope the industry will be in 2050? That there’s the same passion, drive and innovation as there is today. And that we continue to do real good for our guests and customers.
What’s holding the industry back? People are sometimes their own worst enemies. Be brave, be curious. Listen to the wise.
"Spa Business is the title I look forward to receiving. Newsy, on top of the trends, well-written and good-looking"
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 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’s been your biggest life lesson? At 26 I was a GM in the Seychelles living through a coup d’etat with African mercenaries complaining about the breakfast buffet. I quickly learned to think on my feet.
I had 14 years with Four Seasons in Asia and saw how the extreme power of corporate culture can make magic every day over many years.
Eleven years ago, I had the opportunity to be part of the transformation and growth of Six Senses, working and hanging out with passionate believers and creators in wellness, sustainability and extraordinary experiences.
When diagnosed with bladder cancer (all clear now), my colleague and dear friend Anna Bjurstam sent me to Vaidyagrama, an ayurvedic clinic in Tamil Nadu for five weeks. The wise people I met there reinforced my belief in the ancient healing arts and the power of the universe.
What do you still hope to accomplish? There’s still plenty to do at Six Senses with various brand stretches. We want to become experts in the retreat and festival business, allowing us to spread the word more deeply and fill rooms in less busy periods.
Can the industry as a whole broaden the reach of its programming to a wider audience, who are less able to experience ultra-luxury? Personally, I believe we have an obligation to.
What industry changes have you observed? Finding the right employees is always difficult, but our value set is compelling to many young people joining the industry. What we do is no longer considered ‘woo woo’ and it’s attracting great talent to us.
Secondly, the customer is so much more informed and wellness washing doesn’t work. Providers have made great strides – the modalities they offer are light years ahead of what they were two decades ago. And this is obviously good for the industry as a whole.
What key innovations can you identify? We launch two new initiatives a year and these are overseen by a Wellness Innovation Team. We like to think it keeps us ahead of the curve. At the very least it keeps us honest and focused.
We’ve made countless advances in sleep health and in understanding circadian rhythms, nutrition, longevity, genetics, functional medicine, brain health, mind/body practices and ancient healing arts from China, India and South America which are now all in the West.
The list is endless and it makes the next 20 years look so exciting. And are we talking about AI? Of course we are.
What do you wish had been invented? A cure for cancer and cognitive degradation. Optimal obesity solutions. I’d love to see general lifestyle education become an essential part of the curriculum in schools.
What business models are exciting? We’re finally talking about wellness communities, which have the potential to take our industry into another dimension. Yet this will require professional and innovative real estate developers to work closely alongside a brand. It presents a huge opportunity and is a win-win.
How do you hope the industry will be in 2050? That there’s the same passion, drive and innovation as there is today. And that we continue to do real good for our guests and customers.
What’s holding the industry back? People are sometimes their own worst enemies. Be brave, be curious. Listen to the wise.
"Spa Business is the title I look forward to receiving. Newsy, on top of the trends, well-written and good-looking"
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.
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...]
