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Sammy Gharieni, Gharieni Group
/ photo: Gharieni Group
What keeps you motivated? I’m inspired by finding solutions and new ways of doing things. If you want to continue to grow, you must innovate and think outside the box.
What’s been your biggest life lesson? Over the years, the main thing I’ve come to realise is that, for me, having a purpose in life and work is completely integrated.
How has the sector evolved? The biggest leap for Gharieni has been introducing technologies into traditional treatment beds – from binaural acoustic and vibrational frequencies and far infrared to chromatherapy and plasma light therapy. Most recently, music and sound systems in treatment tables can now even respond in real time to the position and speed of massage movements.
What trends are impacting spas the most? Today’s spa visitors are now looking for both mental and physical benefits. Pampering is no longer the sole objective. They seek mental fitness, health optimisation and take-home value.
How can the industry realise its potential? Increasingly, consumers are looking for evidence-based claims to ensure value for their wellness spend. Brands need to work harder than ever to deliver reliable information about the promises they make and to balance scrutiny and authenticity.
We’re also in the middle of a convergence of traditional spa and wellness approaches and medical and wellness practices – integrative wellness. This means that the industry must continue to work with the latest science to deliver more targeted and bespoke experiences to educate wellness consumers.
What innovations do you foresee? Treatments which combine high tech and high touch – harnessing the power of technology to augment and accelerate the wellness experience.
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
Sammy Gharieni, Gharieni Group
/ photo: Gharieni Group
What keeps you motivated? I’m inspired by finding solutions and new ways of doing things. If you want to continue to grow, you must innovate and think outside the box.
What’s been your biggest life lesson? Over the years, the main thing I’ve come to realise is that, for me, having a purpose in life and work is completely integrated.
How has the sector evolved? The biggest leap for Gharieni has been introducing technologies into traditional treatment beds – from binaural acoustic and vibrational frequencies and far infrared to chromatherapy and plasma light therapy. Most recently, music and sound systems in treatment tables can now even respond in real time to the position and speed of massage movements.
What trends are impacting spas the most? Today’s spa visitors are now looking for both mental and physical benefits. Pampering is no longer the sole objective. They seek mental fitness, health optimisation and take-home value.
How can the industry realise its potential? Increasingly, consumers are looking for evidence-based claims to ensure value for their wellness spend. Brands need to work harder than ever to deliver reliable information about the promises they make and to balance scrutiny and authenticity.
We’re also in the middle of a convergence of traditional spa and wellness approaches and medical and wellness practices – integrative wellness. This means that the industry must continue to work with the latest science to deliver more targeted and bespoke experiences to educate wellness consumers.
What innovations do you foresee? Treatments which combine high tech and high touch – harnessing the power of technology to augment and accelerate the wellness experience.
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
Anna Bjurstam has left her role as Wellness Pioneer at Six Senses Hotels and Resorts and
launched a new wellness, longevity and “consciousness consultancy” called Wahayla.
Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere, has opened today (10 July) in the Northwest of England with a
1,715sq m Fairmont Spa that has been designed using a ‘Wellness without Walls’ concept.
Wellness hotels generating less than US$1 million (€932,700, £785,200) – or 10 per cent of
total revenue from wellness and leisure – recorded the strongest RevPAR and TRevPAR growth
in 2025 across categories when compared with 2024, according to the latest Wellness Real
Estate Report by RLA Global, produced in partnership with P and L benchmarking firm HotStats.
Lefay Resorts, the portfolio of two luxury wellness properties in Italy, has added emotional
dance classes and group cold plunge sessions in response to market demand for social
connection.
Aditya Saluja, an industry leader in luxury wellness hospitality, has been
appointed as
commercial director of spa and wellness for the spa management division of
Minor Hotels,
MSpa International.
Preidlhof Luxury DolceVita Resort, a destination resort and spa in Naturno, South Tyrol in Italy,
will reveal a new spa in February 2027, which has been designed by wellness expert and
consultant Patrizia Bortolin.
Virgin Active has officially opened its redesigned Mayfair club, unveiling its latest Social Wellness Club and
signalling a significant evolution of its proposition.
