Alina Hernandez, Gharieni Group advisory board member, explains how Metawell – its portfolio of tech-forward mind/body technologies – is right on time for the next era of wellness
Metawell is bridging the gap between cutting-edge science and timeless relaxation / photo: Gharieni Group
For more than three decades, spas have focused on relaxation and treatments delivered by therapists. Now, however, we’re in the age of evidence-based wellness, where technology is blending with all things digital and this will have an inevitable impact on the traditional spa environment. This is more than just a trend. It’s a major shift and our industry is ripe for disruption.
Gharieni is leading the charge in this arena with Metawell – a collection of mind/body wellness technology beds, loungers and equipment. The products incorporate innovations such as haptic and augmented technologies, far infrared light, binaural vibro-acoustics, intermittent vacuum therapy and more. As a ‘gold standard’ brand, Gharieni is also delivering real value and quality. But how can spas tap into all of this to differentiate themselves?
Bottom-line impact The mix of advanced technology and mind/body experiences is so new that understanding intended uses and benefits – and how it fits within traditional spas – is a challenge that both operators and consumers face.
For one thing, Metawell products can be used to provide evidence-based solutions as well as to amplify hands-on services in exciting new ways.
They can also be useful tools in navigating operational issues such as staff shortages, absenteeism and presenteeism.
Think about the accelerated benefits of red light or vibro-acoustics and the fact that they can be delivered in protocols lasting 30 minutes or less with minimal staff intervention. Or think about stacking therapist-led services with technologies in the same time slot and charging a premium. We can then see the vast impact this can have on the bottom-line.
Sammy Gharieni, founder and CEO of Gharieni Group, says: “Thanks to Metawell, guests get exponential value for their wellness spend, business owners get higher yields for equipment spend and the industry gets supercharged with continued innovation and evolution.”
New hybrid guest journeys All of this means adopting a new way of thinking in how we design spa services, using mind/body technologies to seamlessly create a journey that is meaningful, engaging and provides high-value spend.
In imagining these new experiences, consider:
✔ What’s the total effect I want to achieve with the journey?
✔ What pain points or problems am I helping the consumer alleviate?
✔ What’s the USP/concept and how will it integrate with my selection of technologies?
✔ How can I be efficient while combining the best of what service providers offer (human touch) with technologies?
✔ Can I cross-pollinate from other industries to get ideas for unique features or innovative approaches?
Operators will be able to “re-imagine the spa experience while creating more relevance, inspiration and delight,” adds Gharieni, “while simultaneously offering megawatt benefits and creating lasting memories for consumers that will have them coming back for more”.
As the spa industry takes a huge leap forward, how we execute mind/body wellness technology experiences will make all the difference to business models and points of differentiation. It will propel businesses into the next iteration of spa and wellness and Gharieni will be there every step of the way.
"We’re in the age of evidence-based wellness, where technology is blending with all things digital and this will have an inevitable impact on the traditional spa environment" – Alina Hernandez
photo: Gharieni Group
"Thanks to Metawell, guests get exponential value for their wellness spend and operators get higher yields for equipment spend" – Sammy Gharieni, founder & CEO, Gharieni Group
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2024 issue 4
Editor's letter: Pleasure time
It’s time to make ‘pleasure health’ the new ‘play’ to realise the true value of the wellness sector, says Katie Barnes
Spa people: Luuk Melisse
Sanctum's co-founder Luuk Melisse on going global with the unique, spiritual workout that originated in Amsterdam
Interview: Dean Kowarski
Virgin Active is transforming its gym business with 230 sites and 1.2 million members into a social wellness brand. The CEO reveals more details to Liz Terry
First person: Steamy situation
Cassandra Cavanah is moved to tears (and also a little nervous) as she joins hundreds of near-naked heat enthusiasts at this year's Aufguss World Championships
Promotion: TechnoAlpin: In touch
Sara Brenninger talks
to wellness expert
Alina Hernandez
about the power of
real snow to create
immersive touchless
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Interview: Fabian Dolman
How can operators make a successful business out of aufguss programmes? Thermen Resort's CEO gives some tips
Sponsored: Best of both
Alina Hernandez, Gharieni Group advisory board member, explains how Metawell – its portfolio of tech-forward mind/body technologies – is right on time for the next era of wellness
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Sponsored: Outstanding in its field
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Promotion: Rest and repeat
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First person: Sparkling Water
Mary Bemis is one of the first to visit the stunning new Sacred River Spa at Four Seasons Bali at Sayan
The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. [more...]
Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly
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Alina Hernandez, Gharieni Group advisory board member, explains how Metawell – its portfolio of tech-forward mind/body technologies – is right on time for the next era of wellness
Metawell is bridging the gap between cutting-edge science and timeless relaxation / photo: Gharieni Group
For more than three decades, spas have focused on relaxation and treatments delivered by therapists. Now, however, we’re in the age of evidence-based wellness, where technology is blending with all things digital and this will have an inevitable impact on the traditional spa environment. This is more than just a trend. It’s a major shift and our industry is ripe for disruption.
Gharieni is leading the charge in this arena with Metawell – a collection of mind/body wellness technology beds, loungers and equipment. The products incorporate innovations such as haptic and augmented technologies, far infrared light, binaural vibro-acoustics, intermittent vacuum therapy and more. As a ‘gold standard’ brand, Gharieni is also delivering real value and quality. But how can spas tap into all of this to differentiate themselves?
Bottom-line impact The mix of advanced technology and mind/body experiences is so new that understanding intended uses and benefits – and how it fits within traditional spas – is a challenge that both operators and consumers face.
For one thing, Metawell products can be used to provide evidence-based solutions as well as to amplify hands-on services in exciting new ways.
They can also be useful tools in navigating operational issues such as staff shortages, absenteeism and presenteeism.
Think about the accelerated benefits of red light or vibro-acoustics and the fact that they can be delivered in protocols lasting 30 minutes or less with minimal staff intervention. Or think about stacking therapist-led services with technologies in the same time slot and charging a premium. We can then see the vast impact this can have on the bottom-line.
Sammy Gharieni, founder and CEO of Gharieni Group, says: “Thanks to Metawell, guests get exponential value for their wellness spend, business owners get higher yields for equipment spend and the industry gets supercharged with continued innovation and evolution.”
New hybrid guest journeys All of this means adopting a new way of thinking in how we design spa services, using mind/body technologies to seamlessly create a journey that is meaningful, engaging and provides high-value spend.
In imagining these new experiences, consider:
✔ What’s the total effect I want to achieve with the journey?
✔ What pain points or problems am I helping the consumer alleviate?
✔ What’s the USP/concept and how will it integrate with my selection of technologies?
✔ How can I be efficient while combining the best of what service providers offer (human touch) with technologies?
✔ Can I cross-pollinate from other industries to get ideas for unique features or innovative approaches?
Operators will be able to “re-imagine the spa experience while creating more relevance, inspiration and delight,” adds Gharieni, “while simultaneously offering megawatt benefits and creating lasting memories for consumers that will have them coming back for more”.
As the spa industry takes a huge leap forward, how we execute mind/body wellness technology experiences will make all the difference to business models and points of differentiation. It will propel businesses into the next iteration of spa and wellness and Gharieni will be there every step of the way.
"We’re in the age of evidence-based wellness, where technology is blending with all things digital and this will have an inevitable impact on the traditional spa environment" – Alina Hernandez
photo: Gharieni Group
"Thanks to Metawell, guests get exponential value for their wellness spend and operators get higher yields for equipment spend" – Sammy Gharieni, founder & CEO, Gharieni Group
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2024 issue 4
Editor's letter: Pleasure time
It’s time to make ‘pleasure health’ the new ‘play’ to realise the true value of the wellness sector, says Katie Barnes
Spa people: Luuk Melisse
Sanctum's co-founder Luuk Melisse on going global with the unique, spiritual workout that originated in Amsterdam
Interview: Dean Kowarski
Virgin Active is transforming its gym business with 230 sites and 1.2 million members into a social wellness brand. The CEO reveals more details to Liz Terry
First person: Steamy situation
Cassandra Cavanah is moved to tears (and also a little nervous) as she joins hundreds of near-naked heat enthusiasts at this year's Aufguss World Championships
Promotion: TechnoAlpin: In touch
Sara Brenninger talks
to wellness expert
Alina Hernandez
about the power of
real snow to create
immersive touchless
wellness experiences
Interview: Fabian Dolman
How can operators make a successful business out of aufguss programmes? Thermen Resort's CEO gives some tips
Sponsored: Best of both
Alina Hernandez, Gharieni Group advisory board member, explains how Metawell – its portfolio of tech-forward mind/body technologies – is right on time for the next era of wellness
Sponsored: Elevate your business with EGYM
Transform your business with fully connected, personalised and data-powered solutions that drive results
for members, trainers and businesses
Sponsored: Outstanding in its field
RKF Luxury Linen has had a stellar year in 2024, hitting new standards of excellence with a raft of certifications
Promotion: Rest and repeat
Starpool is drawing on science, innovation and equilibrium to offer the industry’s leading recovery solutions
Sponsored: Iyashi Dôme's Oteire
Modern consumers demand solutions that blend cutting-edge technology with proven results, and Iyashi Dôme is rising to the challenge by redefining industry standards
First person: Sparkling Water
Mary Bemis is one of the first to visit the stunning new Sacred River Spa at Four Seasons Bali at Sayan
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day
(GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and shaped by four pillars of Joy – in
alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the 2026 event in
Phuket, Thailand, later this year with the theme: The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness.
Auko, an all-inclusive development, is opening in Phong Nha in Vietnam in Q3 2026, with a
series of 30 tented eco-lodges and wellness hospitality operations by Lumina Wellbeing.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, has opened a 2,800sq m spa called The Sanctuary,
with the design and concept inspired by the Native American people that populated Florida’s
Southwest coast – the Calusa.
Swire Hotels’ luxury hospitality brand Upper House has revealed it will roll out its two-day
House of Healing retreats at its three hotels in Hong Kong, Chengdu and Shanghai.
LVMH-owned beauty house Guerlain will launch up to five spas with partners a year as part of
its plan to expand globally, according to the brand’s international spa and wellness director,
Diane Davody.
A new global study by Kevin Kelly and Peter Yesawich, called WELLSurvey 2.0, has revealed
more than half of consumers in the UK, US and Germany would not choose numerous high-
profile wellness resort brands for a future trip.
Luxury hospitality and wellness pioneer Jeremy McCarthy has launched Leisure Alchemy, a
digital platform that will provide professionals with strategic guidance on how to build
transformational leisure experiences that drive profit.
The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. [more...]
Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly
customised approach to designing massage beds and loungers in high-end wellness
environments. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
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Immunocologie Skincare As a cancer survivor, I started Immunocologie to promote skin health, and to do that, I made sure ev [more...]
