The wellness industry is continuing to boom with consumers looking for and prioritizing experiences and products that improve their health, fitness, nutrition, appearance, sleep, and mindfulness. Yoga retreats, spa experiences, culinary offerings for a vast variety of dietary considerations, and wellness- focused design are becoming more prevalent in destinations around the globe and this is not merely an industry trend, but a new direction for the luxury traveler that promises longevity. 80% of affluent consumers agree that improving their physical and emotional wellbeing is more of a focus than it was three years ago.
Based on our unique insight into the luxury travel industry, we explore what’s trending in wellness in travel for 2023, from preventative health and female focused treatments to recovery and outdoor fitness.
FEMALE FOCUSED The UK healthcare system has been designed around the needs of just half the population. Men have historically been treated as the default patient in clinical practice and medical research, and women’s health and healthcare needs have been marginalized. With this in mind, women are likely to be misdiagnosed or not have access to suitable tests, treatments, and medicines rapidly enough. To lessen the chances of early death in women and improve the quality of life of those affected by menopause-related diseases, companies will need to crate female specific treatments, programs or packages.
Stat: Less than 2.5% of publicly funded research is currently devoted to female health.
Examples: Harley Street based Echelon Health created the Cullinan Assessment, set to revolutionize how we look at female health and menopause. It is designed to highlight the hormonal changes that affect women in the perimenopause and menopause stages and detect the causes of the most common deadly diseases in women. These include lung, breast, and ovarian cancers, osteoporosis, and coronary heart diseases. Last year Fairmont Windsor Park announced its partnership with GenM, becoming a founding member of the menopause revolution, to help support the menopause experience for all women. Offering a unique targeted set of spa treatments – including cryotherapy for hot flushes and AquaVibe for disturbed sleep - a specially designed menu, carefully curated sleep kit, and a two-night stay, all designed to help ease the 48 known symptoms of menopause.
RECOVERY A growing emphasis is being placed on how what you do outside of the gym is just as important as time spent sweating and racking up reps. There's now a growing trend for supercharging rest days with dedicated gym classes, treatments such as cryotherapy and infrared sauna, gadgets and techniques designed to help professional and amateur athletes recover better and faster.
Stat: The International Journal of Sports Medicine reviewed literature that found whole-body cryotherapy reduced muscle pain by 80% with multiple exposures leading to improvements in loss of muscle function and inflammation markers.
Examples: Fairmont Windsor Park is home to the UK’s first spa multi-person Cryotherapy Chamber - both accessible to those with life-limiting conditions. Known for its powerful multitude of benefits, cryotherapy can boost metabolism, reduce migraines and muscle pain, enhance energy and athletic performance and improve both sleep and mood. Chenot Palace Weggis offers its own Recover and Energise programme aimed to reduce stress, recharge the body’s all-natural energy and restore its vitality.
PREVENTATIVE HEALTH As science and technology continue to evolve at a rate faster than ever before, with previously unimaginable advances in the fields developing, the life expectancy for people is continuing to increase with a huge focus on preventative health care.
Stat: The global market for preventive healthcare (technologies and services) is estimated to attain $345 billion by 2029, expanding at a CAGR of 9.6% over the forecast period, driven by government initiatives and support, coupled with growing public awareness.
Examples: World-class health wellness retreat, Chenot Palace Weggis, majestically positioned on the beautiful Lake Lucerne in Switzerland, offers a carefully curated Prevention and Ageing Well 7-night program, targeting these issues helping guests to begin their journey to optimal health and live better for longer. For the most advanced preventative health assessment, head to Echelon Health, located on London’s Harley Street. A true pioneer in the field of preventative medicine, Echelon Health’s personal health assessments are executed with the best medical imaging equipment available on the market and can detect up to 95% of diseases’ causes, years before they become symptomatic. Under the leadership of Medical Director and Founder Dr Paul Jenkins, Echelon Health has been paving the way for technology-led preventative healthcare since 2006.
WELLBEING IN DESIGN Studies demonstrate a connection between design and physical health and wellbeing, inspiring a trend for architecture and design that takes its emotional impact into account. Factors such as daylight, color, acoustics, indoor air quality and scents are all relevant, and increasingly considered in luxury spaces. Design has a profound impact on a hotel guest experience, from the moment they enter until long after they depart evoking emotions and leaving a lingering impression.
Stat: World Architecture Day 2022 was themed around “Architecture for well-being”, paralleling the designation of 2022 as the UIA Year of Design for Health in buildings and cities, a trend that is set to last well into this year.
Examples: CAYO Exclusive Resort & Spa has been intentionally designed to offer panoramic sea views from every bedroom, in order to immerse guests in the surrounding nature. Interiors utilize a muted color palate to support the Cretan sun and prevent harsh contrasts; designer Gian Paolo Venier says, “I like to think of CAYO’s design as ‘whispered’ – it embraces the natural surroundings rather than forcing itself upon them.” A strong advocate for the effect of our surroundings on the psyche, emotions and mood, Emlyn Brown, Global Vice President of Wellbeing at Accor, is implementing a well-considered design strategy across the company’s portfolio of over 40 brands. In-room programs include the Swissôtel Vitality Rooms, providing the idyllic sleep environment with an experience shower and bath, in-room yoga station, a fitness-centered ‘wellness wall’ and a minibar stocked with nutritious juices and snacks. Meanwhile, Raffles is leading the way in making technology a core component of the design experience and its emotional impact.
OUTDOOR FITNESS Avoiding busy gyms and embracing the great outdoors is a trend that is expected to continue into this year. Hiking is set to soar in popularity and experiencing nature, fresh air and views is key for mental wellbeing, a huge priority for many this year.
Stat: Pure Gym found that last year saw an increase of almost 50% on outdoor fitness and this is set to continue to grow in 2023.
Examples: Fairmont Windsor Park boasts an expansive outdoor training area that captures the best in current training trends to offer an exciting workout space in an unforgettable outdoor setting. Centered around a functional training rig it allows users to take on boxing, HIIT, body weight and strength workouts in endless combinations with added climbing ropes for a unique challenge and is accompanied by Assault Bikes, Rowing machines, a 20m sled track, three tennis courts and two padel courts. Those looking to work out in warmer climates can do so in Yazz Collective’s al fresco gym, complete with the latest Technogym equipment, it provides the perfect setting for guests to maintain their fitness whilst visiting the Mediterranean’s new chic boutique resort.
EAST MEETS WEST For centuries, medicine, wellness, and health have been clearly divided into two schools of thought: Eastern and Western. As acupuncture, turmeric, probiotics and yoga become part of our daily routines we’re bridging the gap between Eastern modalities and Western medicine to optimize personal health and wellbeing routines.
Stat: Many prestigious medical centers including Mayo Clinic, University of California San Francisco, and Duke University Medical Centre now offer Oriental medicine and other complementary and alternative medicine treatments to their patients.
Example: COMO’s flagship wellness property, COMO Shambhala Estate, offers an integrated wellness retreat combining traditional and modern Eastern and Western practices. Meaning 'peace' in Sanskrit, Shambhala alludes to the pursuit of balance. It defines the essence of the COMO Shambhala approach to holistic wellness, combining modern science with ancient practices to align mind, body and spirit. Ibiza Gran Hotel’s very own Open Spa offers a mix of Eastern and Western massage treatments including stress away deep tissue and rhythmic Balinese, in a calming and luxurious spa of 1300 sq. m of modern facilities to revitalize body, mind and soul.
