Mandarin Oriental has appointed Simone Biles, one of the most decorated gymnasts in the world, as its first-ever ambassador for global wellness in a long-term, purpose-driven collaboration.  

It’s a strategic step for Mandarin Oriental as it looks to cement its position as a global authority in modern, holistic wellbeing. The group believes wellness is the integration of physical strength, mental health, recovery and balance and is evolving its approach to reflect this.

Speaking publicly for the first time about the news, Emlyn Brown, the group’s global director of wellness, told Spa Business that Biles is an ideal fit because “she embodies the values Mandarin Oriental is seeking to express through a new phase of wellbeing”.

Mandarin Oriental is widely known for its spa heritage and is now developing a broader wellness strategy and creating a board of experts across the pathways of lifestyle performance, meditation, movement, nutrition and sleep, Brown said.

Long-term role

As global wellness ambassador, Biles will partner with the board, sharing her insights and perspectives to help shape future programmes and experiences. She will also support and participate in global storytelling, campaign activations and the development of wellness initiatives for Mandarin Oriental.

“I’m excited to partner with Mandarin Oriental because we share the same belief that wellness is about more than physical performance – it’s about taking care of your whole self,” said Biles. “Throughout my career, I’ve learned how important recovery, mental wellbeing and balance are. I’m honoured to work with a brand that truly understands and supports that belief in providing guests with holistic wellness offerings.”

Brown, who joined Mandarin Oriental from Accor last August, said: “This is not a one-off activation, it’s an ongoing relationship.” He revealed that the alliance with the gymnast has been in development for several months.

Brown also links the collaboration to Mandarin Oriental’s famous ‘fan’ campaign. “We talk a lot about fans, not just ambassadors,” he said. “People who genuinely love the brand.” In that context, he said Biles represents something new: “Simone is effectively our first wellness ‘fan’.”

Biles made her debut in the Mandarin Oriental role at the Milan Winter Olympics earlier this week, during her first visit to the city as an international sports fan. To mark the news, its spa in the city is offering two exclusive treatments – a deep, targeted body massage and a high-performance Glass Skin facial – until the end of March.

The partnership also sees Mandarin Oriental and Biles pledging to raise awareness and support the mission of Laureus Sport for Good, a global charity that uses sport to transform the lives of young people.

Mental health and resilience

Holding 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship medals, Biles is widely recognised as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time. She’s also known for her mental strength – a subject that formed the basis of her keynote at the 17th Global Wellness Summit in 2023.  

Addressing a packed room of international spa and wellness leaders, the 28-year-old underlined how resilience has helped her overcome some major challenges in her career, including being a survivor of the 2016 USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal and having to withdraw from the final of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

She also spoke about the importance of self-belief, explaining how she only really began competing to the best of her ability after a sports psychologist taught her to stop self-sabotaging and to believe in herself.