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
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Sponsored: Outstanding in its field
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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
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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
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.
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...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
AKT Group AKT Group is the Franco–Italian parent company of SKYY, C.O.D.E. and AKTMe, operating as an integrat [more...]
