Veronica Schreibeis Smith, Vera Iconica Architecture
/ photo: Dan Krauss Photography
What’s been your biggest life lesson? Learning that design is about people. It’s about the experience the brick creates rather than the brick itself. It’s also about the journey of taking an initial vision that has no shape or form and collaborating with the bigger team – co-creators are crucial – to manifest the project in a way that will have a meaningful impact on people’s lives. This is no small feat and where the joy lies!
What do you still hope to accomplish? We’re expanding the solutions we offer by launching two sister companies that empower people to live optimally.
Vera Iconica Developments will build wellness real estate that creates environments for communities to thrive.
The second company, Vera Iconica Wellness Kitchen®, has reimagined the design and use of kitchens to bring higher nutritional value and mindfulness rituals into daily life.
These companies along with our architecture and interior design firm can operate independently and be vertically integrated to fuel healthier, more conscious behaviours that enhance our quality of life.
What innovations can we expect in the future? Pods and kits, such as a row of saunas, cryotherapy or hyperbaric chambers, which can be personalised according to medical history and biometric data.
What do you wish had been invented? An anti-ageing serum … that works.
What trends are impacting our industry? A search for healthy entertainment which leaves you feeling happier with increased vitality.
How do you hope the industry will look in 2050? We all know we need to exercise. The US Center for Disease Control states that current medical science shows 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity and two days of muscle-strengthening activity result in physical health. In 2050, such general knowledge and advice from expert institutions will give us similar guidelines for self-care in spa-like environments.
What radical changes can you imagine? Focused on connections to the natural world and with a blatant disdain for the superficial and mass-produced, consumers will be free-range humans, wilding communities and urban scapes and adding a ‘Spabucks’ on every corner.
Birthday message to Spa Business
"Spa Business is my navigational beacon, allowing me to keep my finger on the pulse of the industry"
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
The MSpa Oslo series is a perennial bestseller in global markets. With innovative
engineering and premium performance, this completely portable spa line-up is expertly
designed to meet the needs of customers worldwide. [more...]
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Veronica Schreibeis Smith, Vera Iconica Architecture
/ photo: Dan Krauss Photography
What’s been your biggest life lesson? Learning that design is about people. It’s about the experience the brick creates rather than the brick itself. It’s also about the journey of taking an initial vision that has no shape or form and collaborating with the bigger team – co-creators are crucial – to manifest the project in a way that will have a meaningful impact on people’s lives. This is no small feat and where the joy lies!
What do you still hope to accomplish? We’re expanding the solutions we offer by launching two sister companies that empower people to live optimally.
Vera Iconica Developments will build wellness real estate that creates environments for communities to thrive.
The second company, Vera Iconica Wellness Kitchen®, has reimagined the design and use of kitchens to bring higher nutritional value and mindfulness rituals into daily life.
These companies along with our architecture and interior design firm can operate independently and be vertically integrated to fuel healthier, more conscious behaviours that enhance our quality of life.
What innovations can we expect in the future? Pods and kits, such as a row of saunas, cryotherapy or hyperbaric chambers, which can be personalised according to medical history and biometric data.
What do you wish had been invented? An anti-ageing serum … that works.
What trends are impacting our industry? A search for healthy entertainment which leaves you feeling happier with increased vitality.
How do you hope the industry will look in 2050? We all know we need to exercise. The US Center for Disease Control states that current medical science shows 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity and two days of muscle-strengthening activity result in physical health. In 2050, such general knowledge and advice from expert institutions will give us similar guidelines for self-care in spa-like environments.
What radical changes can you imagine? Focused on connections to the natural world and with a blatant disdain for the superficial and mass-produced, consumers will be free-range humans, wilding communities and urban scapes and adding a ‘Spabucks’ on every corner.
Birthday message to Spa Business
"Spa Business is my navigational beacon, allowing me to keep my finger on the pulse of the industry"
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
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.
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.
The MSpa Oslo series is a perennial bestseller in global markets. With innovative
engineering and premium performance, this completely portable spa line-up is expertly
designed to meet the needs of customers worldwide. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
TechnoAlpin Indoor TechnoAlpin is the world leader for snowmaking systems. With the Indoor snow division, TechnoAlpin c [more...]
