• CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center Promotes Awareness for Mental Health

  May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center, a Dubai-based wellness center marks the campaign by introducing a new method to promote overall mental well-being, combining Hypnotherapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) in the therapy session. “These two powerful tools can be combined to enhance the effectiveness of therapy. The combination of hypnotherapy and NLP can be particularly effective for addressing a variety of mental health concerns, including self-limiting beliefs, addiction, feeling stuck, phobias, feeling overwhelmed, lifestyle management, and self-esteem to name a few,” according to Silvina Joseph, a Canadian Certified Hypnotherapist and NLP Practitioner and Founder of CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center. A testimonial from one of CHARGE’s clients Patricia K in Dubai says: quote "I had an excellent session with Silvina who helped me better understand, manage & release my stress. I find her approach to be compassionate, insightful, and effective. She showed me a clear plan to move forward.” She added: “I have learned to identify my old ways of reacting to situations and through interrupting my old patterns I was able to engage with situations with new behaviors which results in creating effective solutions. This new way of dealing with life situations has had a significant positive impact on my life. I gained clarity and insight into the underlying causes of my stress through Silvina's thoughtful questioning and active listening. I always leave our sessions feeling empowered and better equipped to cope with life's challenges using the tools I learned during our sessions.” Hypnotherapy is a proven method for treating a variety of issues, including weight loss, feeling worried or overwhelmed, lack of joy and interest in daily activities that were once enjoyable, sadness, feeling emptiness or feeling down, smoking cessation, self-empowerment, and much more. Neuro-Linguistic Programming or NLP is a type of therapy that focuses on the language and communication patterns that individuals use to create their perception of the world. By identifying and changing these patterns, individuals can improve their emotional and mental well-being. A hypnotherapist using NLP techniques guides an individual through a hypnosis session to identify negative thought patterns and positively reframe them. This can lead to improvements in mood, self-esteem, and overall well-being. “By accessing the subconscious mind and changing negative thought patterns, individuals can develop more positive and adaptive coping strategies, leading to improved mental and emotional health,” explains Joseph. Mental health is becoming a growing priority in society. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), funding for mental health research and treatment has increased, and more companies are implementing mental health support programs for their employees. CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center is revolutionizing corporate wellness programs with their innovative therapy approach in a group setting, aimed at promoting employee well-being, productivity, and work-life balance. The workshops are tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual, with a focus on enhancing confidence, eliminating self-limiting beliefs, overcoming procrastination, and maintaining motivation. Utilizing conversational hypnosis and NLP techniques, the group sessions and exercises are conducted in an experiential style, providing employees with practical tools and strategies to achieve the desired outcomes. Through this unique approach, CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center has helped employees achieve tangible results that positively impact both their professional and personal lives, as well as the work environment. With increased confidence and productivity, employees are better equipped to meet the demands of their jobs and maintain a healthy work-life balance. The result is a happier, more engaged workforce, contributing to a positive and thriving workplace culture. CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center is proud to be at the forefront of this revolution in corporate wellness, delivering real results and transforming the lives of employees. With the growing awareness and recognition of the importance of mental health in individuals and society as a whole, CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center hopes to support and assist those who are looking to achieve, maintain and improve health, happiness, and paths to success. “With this approach to therapy individuals can achieve greater emotional resilience and positive change in their lives that reflect positively in all aspects of their social, personal, and work life,” concludes Joseph. To celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, Charge Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center is offering a 30-minute FREE consultation throughout May. During the consultation, individuals will have the opportunity to discuss their specific needs and learn more about how hypnotherapy and NLP can help. Sessions are conducted in the clinics in Jumeirah and Barsha Heights.

• Hong Kong to Host Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023

  Asia’s very best bartenders and drinks industry talent will gather in Hong Kong this July as the city hosts Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards ceremony, one of the region’s most authoritative and prestigious surveys of cocktail tastes and trends. For its 2023 edition, the annual awards have partnered with the Hong Kong Tourism Board to bring the event to the city for the very first time on 18 July 2023.“We are delighted to host this year’s edition of Asia’s 50 Best Bars in July, one of the region’s most significant celebrations of hospitality, which further affirms Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s foremost hub for cocktail experiences. We look forward to inspiring the region’s best bar talent with what Hong Kong has to offer,” Dr Pang Yiu-kai, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, says.Mark Sansom, Director of Content for Asia’s 50 Best Bars, says, “We are very excited to host the awards in Hong Kong this year. The city has one of the most dynamic and diverse bar scenes in Asia, and despite tight border controls in the last three years, it continues to lead with amazingly innovative bar experiences. By bringing the biggest event on Asia’s bar calendar to Hong Kong, we hope to shine the spotlight back on the city’s vibrant nightlife and contribute to driving travel and tourism.”Hong Kong is a breeding ground for cocktail-making talent and an ideal location for exchange of ideas among industry leaders. Eight Hong Kong bars are featured on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022. In the top three, two of which are bars proudly born and bred in Hong Kong, including Mexican-inspired bar COA in the No.1 spot, and Argo, at No.3, which serves creative cocktails using Asian-sourced ingredients.

• International Digital Wellness Day to be Celebrated Globally on May 5, 2023

  The Digital Wellness Institute is pleased to bring you the fourth inaugural Digital Wellness Day on May 5, 2023. Last year, Digital Wellness Day reached 7 million people in 36 countries worldwide and this year, over 15 million are expected to participate in virtual and in-person gatherings across the globe. The mission of Digital Wellness Day is to provide free, research-based resources to support wellbeing in the digital era. This global movement and international holiday represents a time to “practice a pause” and optimize our relationship with technology in different areas ranging from mental health to productivity, workplace wellbeing, and beyond. On Digital Wellness Day, a growing network of 400+ Digital Wellness Educators, impact partners, and sponsors will host activations. A year-round educational toolkit is publicly available for diverse audiences to engage in mobilizing their own educational posts and events. Access the toolkit at www.digitalwellnessday.com. The day highlights the connective power of social media and digital devices, allowing participants to connect across countries. To this end, the toolkit features an approach of Digital Flourishing®: a positive psychology-based, mindful approach to technology usage that empowers individuals to take advantage of the benefits of technology while avoiding associated harms like zoom fatigue, negative social comparison, and more. On this day of celebration and reflection, the Digital Wellness Institute will also announce the first Certified Digitally Well University™ and first Certified Digitally Well Company™ in the world, setting a precedent for others to follow. These two entities will receive recognition for their dedication to and leadership in bringing positive digital practices to their communities through evidence-based interventions, assessment, and education. Additional information on how digital wellness principles have been integrated at these entities and how others may do the same will be available at www.digitalwellnessinstitute.com. Nina Hersher, Executive Director of Digital Wellness Day, shares her excitement for this celebration, “The purpose of this day is to inspire and empower individuals to take control of their relationship with technology. By stepping back to reflect on when, where, why and how we are engaging with devices, we can harness their power in a way that fuels versus fatigues us. This knowledge is integral to the Digital Wellness movement – where each of us can become an embodied change agent toward a culture of digital flourishing.” For anyone interested in hosting a virtual event celebrating Digital Wellness Day, partnering as a global sponsor, or learning more about keynotes, trainings and certifications through the Digital Wellness Institute, please contact info@digitalwellnessday.com.

• CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center Promotes Awareness for Mental Health

  May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center, a Dubai-based wellness center marks the campaign by introducing a new method to promote overall mental well-being, combining Hypnotherapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) in the therapy session. “These two powerful tools can be combined to enhance the effectiveness of therapy. The combination of hypnotherapy and NLP can be particularly effective for addressing a variety of mental health concerns, including self-limiting beliefs, addiction, feeling stuck, phobias, feeling overwhelmed, lifestyle management, and self-esteem to name a few,” according to Silvina Joseph, a Canadian Certified Hypnotherapist and NLP Practitioner and Founder of CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center. A testimonial from one of CHARGE’s clients Patricia K in Dubai says: quote "I had an excellent session with Silvina who helped me better understand, manage & release my stress. I find her approach to be compassionate, insightful, and effective. She showed me a clear plan to move forward.” She added: “I have learned to identify my old ways of reacting to situations and through interrupting my old patterns I was able to engage with situations with new behaviors which results in creating effective solutions. This new way of dealing with life situations has had a significant positive impact on my life. I gained clarity and insight into the underlying causes of my stress through Silvina's thoughtful questioning and active listening. I always leave our sessions feeling empowered and better equipped to cope with life's challenges using the tools I learned during our sessions.” Hypnotherapy is a proven method for treating a variety of issues, including weight loss, feeling worried or overwhelmed, lack of joy and interest in daily activities that were once enjoyable, sadness, feeling emptiness or feeling down, smoking cessation, self-empowerment, and much more. Neuro-Linguistic Programming or NLP is a type of therapy that focuses on the language and communication patterns that individuals use to create their perception of the world. By identifying and changing these patterns, individuals can improve their emotional and mental well-being. A hypnotherapist using NLP techniques guides an individual through a hypnosis session to identify negative thought patterns and positively reframe them. This can lead to improvements in mood, self-esteem, and overall well-being. “By accessing the subconscious mind and changing negative thought patterns, individuals can develop more positive and adaptive coping strategies, leading to improved mental and emotional health,” explains Joseph. Mental health is becoming a growing priority in society. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), funding for mental health research and treatment has increased, and more companies are implementing mental health support programs for their employees. CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center is revolutionizing corporate wellness programs with their innovative therapy approach in a group setting, aimed at promoting employee well-being, productivity, and work-life balance. The workshops are tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual, with a focus on enhancing confidence, eliminating self-limiting beliefs, overcoming procrastination, and maintaining motivation. Utilizing conversational hypnosis and NLP techniques, the group sessions and exercises are conducted in an experiential style, providing employees with practical tools and strategies to achieve the desired outcomes. Through this unique approach, CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center has helped employees achieve tangible results that positively impact both their professional and personal lives, as well as the work environment. With increased confidence and productivity, employees are better equipped to meet the demands of their jobs and maintain a healthy work-life balance. The result is a happier, more engaged workforce, contributing to a positive and thriving workplace culture. CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center is proud to be at the forefront of this revolution in corporate wellness, delivering real results and transforming the lives of employees. With the growing awareness and recognition of the importance of mental health in individuals and society as a whole, CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center hopes to support and assist those who are looking to achieve, maintain and improve health, happiness, and paths to success. “With this approach to therapy individuals can achieve greater emotional resilience and positive change in their lives that reflect positively in all aspects of their social, personal, and work life,” concludes Joseph. To celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, Charge Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center is offering a 30-minute FREE consultation throughout May. During the consultation, individuals will have the opportunity to discuss their specific needs and learn more about how hypnotherapy and NLP can help. Sessions are conducted in the clinics in Jumeirah and Barsha Heights.

  • In English
  • Global News

  2023-04-27

• Hong Kong to Host Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023

  Asia’s very best bartenders and drinks industry talent will gather in Hong Kong this July as the city hosts Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards ceremony, one of the region’s most authoritative and prestigious surveys of cocktail tastes and trends. For its 2023 edition, the annual awards have partnered with the Hong Kong Tourism Board to bring the event to the city for the very first time on 18 July 2023.“We are delighted to host this year’s edition of Asia’s 50 Best Bars in July, one of the region’s most significant celebrations of hospitality, which further affirms Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s foremost hub for cocktail experiences. We look forward to inspiring the region’s best bar talent with what Hong Kong has to offer,” Dr Pang Yiu-kai, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, says.Mark Sansom, Director of Content for Asia’s 50 Best Bars, says, “We are very excited to host the awards in Hong Kong this year. The city has one of the most dynamic and diverse bar scenes in Asia, and despite tight border controls in the last three years, it continues to lead with amazingly innovative bar experiences. By bringing the biggest event on Asia’s bar calendar to Hong Kong, we hope to shine the spotlight back on the city’s vibrant nightlife and contribute to driving travel and tourism.”Hong Kong is a breeding ground for cocktail-making talent and an ideal location for exchange of ideas among industry leaders. Eight Hong Kong bars are featured on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022. In the top three, two of which are bars proudly born and bred in Hong Kong, including Mexican-inspired bar COA in the No.1 spot, and Argo, at No.3, which serves creative cocktails using Asian-sourced ingredients.

  • In English
  • Global News

  2023-04-14

• International Digital Wellness Day to be Celebrated Globally on May 5, 2023

  The Digital Wellness Institute is pleased to bring you the fourth inaugural Digital Wellness Day on May 5, 2023. Last year, Digital Wellness Day reached 7 million people in 36 countries worldwide and this year, over 15 million are expected to participate in virtual and in-person gatherings across the globe. The mission of Digital Wellness Day is to provide free, research-based resources to support wellbeing in the digital era. This global movement and international holiday represents a time to “practice a pause” and optimize our relationship with technology in different areas ranging from mental health to productivity, workplace wellbeing, and beyond. On Digital Wellness Day, a growing network of 400+ Digital Wellness Educators, impact partners, and sponsors will host activations. A year-round educational toolkit is publicly available for diverse audiences to engage in mobilizing their own educational posts and events. Access the toolkit at www.digitalwellnessday.com. The day highlights the connective power of social media and digital devices, allowing participants to connect across countries. To this end, the toolkit features an approach of Digital Flourishing®: a positive psychology-based, mindful approach to technology usage that empowers individuals to take advantage of the benefits of technology while avoiding associated harms like zoom fatigue, negative social comparison, and more. On this day of celebration and reflection, the Digital Wellness Institute will also announce the first Certified Digitally Well University™ and first Certified Digitally Well Company™ in the world, setting a precedent for others to follow. These two entities will receive recognition for their dedication to and leadership in bringing positive digital practices to their communities through evidence-based interventions, assessment, and education. Additional information on how digital wellness principles have been integrated at these entities and how others may do the same will be available at www.digitalwellnessinstitute.com. Nina Hersher, Executive Director of Digital Wellness Day, shares her excitement for this celebration, “The purpose of this day is to inspire and empower individuals to take control of their relationship with technology. By stepping back to reflect on when, where, why and how we are engaging with devices, we can harness their power in a way that fuels versus fatigues us. This knowledge is integral to the Digital Wellness movement – where each of us can become an embodied change agent toward a culture of digital flourishing.” For anyone interested in hosting a virtual event celebrating Digital Wellness Day, partnering as a global sponsor, or learning more about keynotes, trainings and certifications through the Digital Wellness Institute, please contact info@digitalwellnessday.com.

  • In English
  • Global News

  2023-04-13

• Stirling Hospitality Advisors Reveals Key Trends Shaping the GCC Wellness Tourism Sector

  Wellness-centric travelers are inclined to spend more money, return more often, and stay longer at a property Wellness-centric travelers are inclined to spend more money, return more often, and stay longer at a property than average travelers, contributing to a more stable occupancy and improved profitability. The aging population, environmental crisis, and lifestyle changes have led wellness to become the center of consumer decision-making, propelling the industry into rapid expansion with a forecasted yearly growth rate of over 10% globally, doubling the value to a staggering USD 1.97 trillion by 2031.propelling the industry into rapid expansion with a forecasted yearly growth rate of over 10% globally, doubling the value to a staggering USD 1.97 trillion by 2031. Wellness lifestyle real estate developments, despite having higher development costs, result in significant sales price premiums averaging between 10.0% to 30.0% due to the associated perceptions of a wellness lifestyle. Stirling Hospitality Advisors (SHA), one of the leading boutique advisory institutions in the region, highlights key trends shaping the GCC wellness tourism industry. For decades, travelers have regularly enjoyed massages and yoga retreats in traditional spa facilities, but when the pandemic hit, wellness took a new urgency and became a priority for many. In response to these supercharged demands, the wellness industry shifted its marketing buzzword from “pampering” to “preventive”, giving integrative and medical wellness a strong momentum across the globe. Not only top-tier hotel operators, but more destinations are also incorporating holistic and advanced wellness treatments promoting timeless health and beauty for body, mind, and soul, hoping to get a piece of the multi-trillion-dollar pie. Tatiana Veller, Stirling’s Managing Director, elaborated, “With all the advantages of catering to wellness-centric travelers, including a significantly higher RevPAR and profitability compared to the traditional luxury hotels/resorts, major hotel operators will continue to go after the wellness tourism market. However, as their main business is to sell rooms, the wellness offerings will mostly be another wellness-washing product”. The continuum of wellness landscape ranges from day spas (e.g. Caudalie, Spa by Clarins), to traditional resort/hotel spas (e.g. The Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons) offering standard recreational/pampering wellness services as part of the lodging’s facilities, to destination spa resorts (e.g. Six Senses, Como) providing more well-rounded wellness packages. At a higher spectrum are integrative wellness resorts (e.g. Chiva-Som, Canyon Ranch) which provide broader treatment offerings with more advanced technologies and specialists, and medical wellness resorts (SHA Wellness Clinic, Clinique La Prairie) which operate under full-time on-site supervision of licensed healthcare professionals and may even perform minimally invasive treatments. Wellness Tourism Performance Indicators For a decade, MENA’s wellness tourism grew at a remarkable average annual rate of 13.3%, yet it only accounts for 1% of total trips whilst generating 2% of total revenue of global wellness tourism. In the Middle East, traditional hotel/resort spas account for 39.7% of the total market revenue and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.5% until 2025. Medical wellness is gaining momentum globally and is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 15.1% until 2025, 1.2x faster than hotel spas and 1.3x faster than day spas. Historically, international wellness travelers spent more than 50% above the average international travelers, and domestic wellness travelers command double premium. The Untapped Potential Ingo Schweder, CEO of GOCO Hospitality, shared his insights during the interview with Stirling, “The GCC has to date no dedicated medical wellness resort. Currently, clients from the region frequent the Far East, including Thailand and India predominantly as well as Indonesia and Japan to a smaller extent. Many GCC clients are also found between spring and fall across main European wellness centers in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the UK and France, representing 8-15% of the total guest share. However, we are working on 7 dedicated wellness projects in the KSA alone, i.e. Amaala, NEOM, Red Sea, soon UAE and expect to expand our reach further. Thus, this should change in the not-so-distant future”. It is evident that the rising popularity of medical wellness resorts offers an untapped potential in the region which presents a niche that investors should further evaluate. Qatar’s Zulal Wellness Resort by Chivasom which opened its doors in April 2022 is MENA’s first and only integrated wellness resort and the world’s first wellness destination to blend Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine (TAIM) with a holistic wellness approach. Until then, Six Senses Zighy Bay in Oman, a destination spa resort, served as an example of a more rounded wellness program focusing on soft wellness retreats, delivering a holistic wellness experience while not being as restrictive or highly specialized as other wellness retreats worldwide. Destination spa resorts on average generate only 20%-30% of total room revenue from holistic wellness packages, unlike integrative or medical wellness where the accommodation revenue is generated purely through the retreat/treatment packages as part of the wellness facilities. Stirling’s research shows that besides the apparent differences in expertise and wellness program offerings, the key differentiators between global integrative/medical wellness resorts and MENA traditional luxury resorts lie in the extensiveness of the property’s wellness infrastructure. Integrative/medical wellness resorts have 1 treatment room for every 3 guest rooms and wellness facilities that are on average 2.5 times larger, compared to MENA’s traditional luxury resorts which have 1 treatment room for every 20 guest rooms with higher room inventory and diverse F&B options. These differences suggest that these luxury resorts focus on selling rooms and provide a recreational or pampering experience, rather than a wellness-centric journey. Sustainability meets Wellness Immersive wellness resorts also incorporate sustainability into all their core values. Last year, SHA Wellness Clinic was awarded Green Globe Sustainability Certification, reflecting its core value in sustainability. Respect for the environment is one of SHA Wellness Clinic’s founding values and is present from the very construction of the building, which was adapted to the typology of the land to minimize environmental impact. Christopher Ford, Head of Asset Management at Red Sea Global KSA, added, “Today, wellness is one of the fastest-growing segments of the luxury travel market, with our target audience research showing that 75% of luxury travelers want vacations that cater for their overall well-being and provide fun activities at the same time. We are partnering with leading wellness hotel brands such as Clinique La Prairie and Jayasom to offer our guests advanced longevity programs and state-of-the-art health and wellness treatments.” Both properties will be located in Amaala, Saudi Arabia’s wellness-focused giga-project along the Red Sea. Amaala is powered by 100% renewable energy and will have a zero-carbon footprint with zero waste to landfill once fully operational. Is Stirling optimistic about the future of Wellness Tourism? Absolutely. Integrative and medical wellness resorts are the fastest-growing trend in the wellness industry today and will continue to be in the next decade. Bearing in mind that being in the business requires careful planning to ensure a safe, operationally efficient, and results-driven environment, it is highly recommended that an experienced consultant be hired to guide the owners and operators into a successful venture. Erni Wijaya, Asset Manager at Stirling, concluded, “Although to date most integrative and medical wellness resorts attract more affluent guests, it is believed that the pandemic has encouraged a shift and opened a new market at a lower price point in the future. Stirling is confident that when done right, a wellness-centric establishment brings enormous values and benefits for all the stakeholders involved, - from owners, clients, employees and community to the destination, the environment, and the world at large”.

  • In English
  • Global News

  2023-04-04

• Global Wellness Summit Releases Annual Report: 12 Wellness Trends for 2023

  Wellness tackles loneliness, with a surge in social spaces, clubs and concepts; with a critique of wellness as cultural appropriator, wellness travel goes hyper-indigenous. We move from murky “clean beauty” to science-backed biotech beauty–from shallow to meaningful workplace wellness. Multisensory experiences boom; wellness remakes the urban landscape, and people jump into the world’s “wild waters” The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) has recently released its annual “Future of Wellness” report, the longest-running, most in-depth (160-pages) and only truly global forecast of the newest directions in wellness. The 12 wellness trends for 2023 were unveiled on January 31 at a media event in New York City. A few themes emerge: Radically different consumer values. The trends show a profound shift in consumer values coming out of the pandemic: from a rejection of a “self-obsessed” wellness to a demand for science and solutions that work. If in this last decade-plus, wellness led with two lonely models—a sea of “self-care” products and “digital wellness”— the trend “Wellness Comes for the Loneliness Epidemic” details the many ways that the wellness world (and wider world) is finally tackling the biggest missing cornerstone in health: social wellness, with a surge in new spaces, community models and concepts that put human connection at the very center. With a critique of wellness as a relentless cultural appropriator, one trend details how wellness travel will shift from “global smorgasbord” to Indigenous wellness at the source. In “Workplace Wellness Finally Starts to Mean Something,” we see how fed-up employees, worsening mental health, and remote work mean “workplace wellness” is finally moving from false promise to meaningful plan of action. Science is King. “From ‘Clean’ to Biotech Beauty” reveals how we’re moving beyond clean beauty’s often muddy claims to lab-tested, scientist-created “biotech beauty.” With so much misinformation about diets and metabolic health, one trend—written by a doctor—explores how transforming white fat into brown may be the obesity breakthrough. A Return to Wellness Roots—With a Difference. Various trends illustrate how we’re returning to some of the deepest roots of wellness, but with a radical reimagining. If wellness has always been a sensory affair, new directions in multisensory integration are emerging with light, scent, temperature, touch and sound being blended to create a dramatically new era for “sensory wellness.” If water is the foundation of spa, the “Blue, Hot and Wild” trend predicts that we’ll now be “taking the waters” in deepest nature, with an unprecedented global surge in new-look hot springs destinations—and wild and cross-country swimming going global. After three years of “touchless wellness” people hunger for sensory immersion. Wellness Impacts Serious New Sectors. Wellness has rewritten industries from fashion to real estate, and the report shows how it will now transform a couple of very serious, people-impacting sectors, including how a wellness lens is powerfully changing urban design and infrastructure; the opportunities hospitality brands see in embracing pro-level sports; and how wellness is becoming a much bigger focus of government policy. “Cast your mind back to 2019, the highwater mark of the hyper-consumerist, product-flooded wellness market, with so many evidence-challenged trends-a-minute,” said Susie Ellis, GWS Chair and CEO. “This report is proof that the wellness market of just three years ago suddenly feels archaic. Wellness in 2023 (and beyond) will be more serious and science-backed, but also more social and sensory.” The report emerges from the insights of hundreds of global executives from wellness companies, economists, doctors, investors, academics and technologists that gather each year at the Summit. This year, in addition to having leading journalists and analysts as authors, the trend-spotters include top experts in that field—whether doctors, economists, or urban futurists. The “Future of Wellness 2023” can be purchased here. Global Wellness Trends 2023 Summaries 1. Wellness + Gathering: Wellness Comes for the Loneliness Epidemic (by Beth McGroarty) We *know* loneliness is skyrocketing; that it kills; that the #1 predictor of health and happiness is relationships. But somehow, the recent uber-capitalist wellness market has led with two things: a sea of keep-them-spending “me time” products and “digital wellness”—both lonely journeys of “self-care.” The pandemic has proven to be the breaking point: the biggest wellness trend is new spaces and experiences that—intentionally and creatively—bring people together in real life, where social connection is the burning center of the concept. The future of wellness? A move from lonely to social self-care, from buying to belonging, from URL to IRL, from ego to empathy, from Goop to group. 2. Wellness + Travel: From Global Smorgasbord to Hyper-Indigenous (by Elaine Glusac) Wellness and wellness tourism have long resembled Disney’s “It’s a Small World,” buffets of global experiences typically divorced from place. Yoga, born in India, is ubiquitous worldwide; ayahuasca retreats have departed their Amazonian homelands; you can get a Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage in Dubai. But with a new critique of wellness as a profound cultural appropriator, a rising social justice movement, and greater emphasis on authenticity, travelers are now seeking much deeper cultural experiences and showing interest in going to the source of ancient healing and knowledge about how to care for the land and for themselves. Indigenous travel and going-to-the-cultural-source for wellness is our travel trend for 2023. 3. Wellness + Workplace: Workplace Wellness Finally Starts to Mean Something (by Skyler Hubler and Cecelia Girr) From protected time off to finally acknowledging women’s health needs, employee wellness is getting a much-needed rethink. Employers have been casually tossing around the word “wellness” since the 1980s. But four decades later, we have little to show for it. Worldwide, 70% of knowledge workers have experienced burnout in the past year, and a recent global study found that 38% of workers hate their jobs so much that they wouldn’t wish it on their worst enemy. Clearly, all those “workplace wellness” initiatives haven’t been working for us. But with the pandemic dramatically accelerating shifts in work models and the mental health crisis—and employees newly empowered—things are changing for the better. In this trend, we explore how superficial wellness at work schemes are being replaced with more meaningful solutions. 4. Wellness + Beauty: From “Clean” to Biotech Beauty (by Jessica Smith) As the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic subsides, one thing has become clear: science is king. In the world of beauty, the shift towards data-backed products has never been more evident. We’re seeing an about face from the conversation around “clean beauty” (with all its muddy claims) to a desire for lab-tested, science-backed and even lab-created products. In this trend, we look at the evolution from the greenwashing and false claims to today’s new—and welcomed—medical, bio-positive and tech-forward product development, and explore what the future might hold. 5. Wellness + Cities: Urban Infrastructure Just Might Save Cities (by Robbie Hammond and Omar Toro-Vaca) The role of the city has been reimagined countless times over the centuries (they’ve been trading posts, political and artistic centers, and recently, concrete jungles of retail and offices). But the pandemic served as a wake-up call on just how unwell our cities are, sparking a new recognition of the inextricable relationship between the health of the cities and the health of city dwellers. Global cities are now at another historical inflection point where they are rebuilding themselves around the wellness needs of their citizens. “Urban wellness infrastructure” is no longer perceived as a luxury—it’s a necessity. This trend examines diverse, creative ways that an urban wellness infrastructure—the melding of capital improvements and business opportunities that holistically address social, mental, and physical health—is being embraced all around the world as a solution for accelerating growth, fueling post-pandemic recovery, and cultivating healthier, happier citizens. 6. Wellness + Weight: The Skinny on Brown Fat and Eliminating Obesity (by Michael Roizen, MD) Harnessing the ability to live longer and “younger” is among the biggest trends in medicine and wellness today. Michael Roizen, MD, believes a crucial factor in the longevity quest is recognizing that not all fat is created equal, and transforming white/yellow fat into beige/brown fat has the potential to move the needle on one of the greatest health crises—obesity. The reason? Brown fat has increased mitochondrial density and burns lots of calories, while white fat is metabolically inefficient and doesn’t use much energy. Yes, moving white fat to brown powers weight loss, but obesity is a serious disease, a key factor in heart disease, cancers, dementia and more. 7. Wellness + Governments: The Case for Coming Together (by Thierry Malleret) Wellness policies have been years in the making, but in 2023 and beyond, they will evolve, multiply and strengthen. Governments *know* the crippling economic and societal costs that come when people don’t feel mentally and physically well. They *know* that unwellness shrinks the labor force while simultaneously hurting productivity—the worst possible combo for long-term economic growth. They *know* that preventative wellness saves public money because it always costs less than cure. 8. Wellness + Water: Blue, Hot, and Wild (by Jane Kitchen) The pandemic spurred a hunger for in-nature experiences that shows no signs of abating. But when we talk about the nature surge, we usually remain on terra firma. In 2023, people will jump into the world’s wild waters for some “blue wellness”—from an unprecedented global surge in new-look hot springs destinations to wild and cross-country swimming going global. 9. Wellness + Sports: New Business Models for Hospitality (by Lisa Starr) Savvy hospitality brands are responding to demands from wellness-focused clients looking beyond the basement gym, in search of pro-athlete-level equipment, fitness classes and wellness programming, whenever and wherever they travel. Some hotel brands are even creating facilities that cater to entire amateur or professional sports teams, expanding the function of the hotel and ensuring professional quality for the rest of us. We predict businesses that support this trend will become the go-to brands for future generations. 10. Wellness + Senses: Multisensory Integration (by Ari Peralta) Advances in neuroscience and neuroaesthetics confirm that, when combined, the senses elevate our human experience. Nature is multisensory and it turns out, so are we. The senses have always been present in wellness. In fact, we subconsciously associate many wellness activities with one sense or another… spa is touch, wellness music is sound, chromotherapy is color, healthy food is taste and thermal is temperature. This siloed approach is quickly changing in remarkable ways. Now brands are accessing multiple senses simultaneously to better support wellbeing outcomes, amplify wellness experience and influence behavioral change—think using multiple sensory cues, in a harmonious way to deepen meditation. 11. Wellness + Biohacking: The Wild, Wild West of Biohacking (by Marc Cohen, MD) Biohacking is the attempt to control biology and defy disease, decay and death so we can become superhuman. The idea is not new: our ancestors were masterful biohackers and developed low-tech hacks such as fasting, isolation, chanting, yoga, martial arts, body temperature manipulations, and traditional medicines to increase their health and wellbeing. However, there is a new trend in biohacking featuring technology that is staggering. Super-technologies such as AI, brain-computer interfaces, sensorless-sensing, CRISPR, xenobotics, nanobotics, probiotics, morphoceuticals, 3D-tissue-printing, cloud-computing and blockchain technologies allow us to manipulate molecules, modify genes, manage microbes, create living robots, regenerate body parts, seamlessly monitor and track health metrics, and manipulate our sensory inputs. 12. Wellness + Faith: Having Faith in Business (by Brian Grim) It’s not surprising that the pandemic led to a resurgence of faith. What is surprising is that the corporate world is embracing it. While diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in workplaces have focused on race, gender, sexual orientation and marginalized populations, one aspect that’s been strikingly left out of the conversation is now emerging: faith. As global workplaces become radically reshaped to address inclusivity, purpose and employee wellbeing, more companies are now tapping into the full identity of their employees by including religion as a full-fledged part of their DEI commitments—encouraging employees to form official (company-sponsored) groups around their faith, just as companies encourage women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ groups to do.

  • In English
  • Global News

  2023-02-02

• Hilton Spotlights Travelers’ Changing Expectations as a Record Year of Travel Concludes

  If 2022 was the year of the changed traveler, 2023 is the year of the evolved traveler. Recently, Hilton released its 2023 trends report, The 2023 Traveler: Emerging Trends that are Innovating the Travel Experience, A Report from Hilton, which reveals the latest consumer expectations following a year when travelers showed up in record numbers. Based on a global survey and analysis of current travel trends, today’s travelers are looking for a balance of technological and human innovations, deeper connections and care, embedded wellness experiences and more.“In 2022, motivated travelers sought out new experiences around the world and reconnected with the people and places they love,” said Chris Nassetta, president and chief executive officer, Hilton. “The 2023 Trends Report showcases travelers’ evolving preferences and how eager and optimistic they are about their future adventures. Our Hilton team members are ready to welcome them and create a great stay experience at our more than 7,000 properties worldwide.”The new report is the result of evaluating both quantitative and qualitative data research paired with insights collected by more than 7,000 travelers across the world in a survey commissioned by Hilton and conducted by Material, a global strategy, insights, design, and technology partner. According to the study, 84% of global consumers hope to travel just as much — or more — in 2023. The research also uncovered four consistent themes for 2023 travel, driven by traveler experiences over the last three years.People will turn to travel for deeper, more engaging, human experiences and connectionsTravel is a gateway to discovering different perspectives and rich traditions. In 2023, travelers will focus on travel to create deeper connections with family, friends, colleagues, customers, cultures and the planet. Nearly half (49%) of survey respondents want to be immersed in local culture and products while traveling — this applies to travelers from China (65%) and Australia (54%) in particular, and Japan (23%) to a lesser degree. Meanwhile, 40% of consumers globally want personalized access to unique experiences or activities, such as performances, events, spa treatments, or classes. That proportion is higher in China (74%), Australia (46%), and just slightly lower in Japan (30%).From destination-focused culinary travel packages to impactful programs like Hilton’s Travel with Purpose, which helps guests positively impact the communities they visit, travelers are looking to create meaningful change through more immersive travel experiences. In fact, Hilton is witnessing signs of this growth through its reimagined Hilton Honors Experiences, which saw a 77% year-over-year increase in Hilton Honors Point redemption during the first nine months of 2022, allowing members to connect with their passions through new, exclusive experiences.People will recognize travel as an essential part of their wellness routineOverall wellness remains a priority for travelers as half (50%) of respondents seek travel experiences in 2023 that align with their holistic wellness goals and priorities.“Travelers in Asia Pacific now desire experiences that truly ingrain themselves into the culture of the destination in every shape and form — including mind, body, and spirit, to rejuvenate the senses,” said Alexandra Jaritz, senior vice president, Brand Management, Hilton, Asia Pacific. “Experiences need to be authentic and immersive; allowing travelers to disconnect from the daily grind and develop a deeper cultural understanding of the destinations they visit.”For about 1 in 2 (47%) travelers, physical wellness and accessibility to fitness amenities like centers or activities will be top of mind when it comes to traveling in 2023. For instance, healthier food and beverage options are top of mind for 66% of travelers from China. Guests will also seek moments of connection with their communities, as well as insights and solutions that improve their mental and emotional health. Addressing mental health on the road will be prioritized by 35% of global survey respondents. Meanwhile, another 49% of those employed will be looking to travel to disconnect from work.Travelers will want to be taken care of more than everPersonalization will continue to be a significant priority for travellers, with 86% of survey respondents indicating they want recognition and personalization while on the road. The trend is significantly more pronounced in Asia Pacific, with nearly all respondents in China (99%) wanting personalization, and 84% in Australia and 70% in Japan. Nearly half in China (46%) even look to travel and hospitality companies to accommodate their personal needs. This also corresponds with their interest in finding personalized food and beverage options — with respondents in China (69%), Australia (50%), and Japan (38%) specifying so.Travelers know the importance of wanting to feel valued for their loyalty — both in their wallet and as an individual. In fact, 42% of survey respondents indicate that loyalty perks — such as earning/redeeming points and loyalty benefits — will matter to them when traveling in 2023. Among these respondents, travelers from China value rewards the most, topping the list at 52%.Whether providing exceptional guest service for value-driven travelers at a Hilton Garden Inn property or accommodating large families looking to reconnect and spend more time together, Hilton understands the importance of delivering reliable and friendly service to every guest, every time. In fact, Hilton offers enhanced booking options like Confirmed Connecting Rooms by Hilton, which allows families and friends to reserve adjoining rooms when booking online.“In Asia Pacific, the pent-up desire to reconnect with loved ones as travel takes on a deeper meaning is resulting in today’s leisure traveler emphasizing quality time with family,” said Ben George, senior vice president and commercial director, Hilton, Asia Pacific. “Exceptional hospitality and innovative guest experiences that anticipate this need go a long way in giving families the peace of mind knowing that they will be taken care of on every level, including helping them to create more shared moments and memories together.”Travelers want frictionless travel innovations that are both technology- and human-led2022 uncovered unexpected friction points in travel. Hilton’s global research found that more than half (56%) of all travelers surveyed will prioritize adopting solutions that make travel easier in 2023 and among them, respondents from China (59%) prefer to have friction points reduced the most. Overall, 26% of respondents also anticipate hotel technologies will be important to them for a seamless stay.To reduce travel’s strongest tension points, guests will seek out the most logical and purposeful solutions. They will look for the hospitality and service that they expected pre-pandemic, whether that’s personalized dining recommendations or reservation adjustments. Within the technological innovations, they will continue to embrace efficiencies like Digital Key in the Hilton Honors app, which allows travelers to bypass the front desk and go straight to their rooms.For more information and a complete view of the 2023 Report, visit Stories.Hilton.com/2023Trends.

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  • Global News

  2022-11-17

실시간 Global News 기사

• CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center Promotes Awareness for Mental Health

  May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center, a Dubai-based wellness center marks the campaign by introducing a new method to promote overall mental well-being, combining Hypnotherapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) in the therapy session. “These two powerful tools can be combined to enhance the effectiveness of therapy. The combination of hypnotherapy and NLP can be particularly effective for addressing a variety of mental health concerns, including self-limiting beliefs, addiction, feeling stuck, phobias, feeling overwhelmed, lifestyle management, and self-esteem to name a few,” according to Silvina Joseph, a Canadian Certified Hypnotherapist and NLP Practitioner and Founder of CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center. A testimonial from one of CHARGE’s clients Patricia K in Dubai says: quote "I had an excellent session with Silvina who helped me better understand, manage & release my stress. I find her approach to be compassionate, insightful, and effective. She showed me a clear plan to move forward.” She added: “I have learned to identify my old ways of reacting to situations and through interrupting my old patterns I was able to engage with situations with new behaviors which results in creating effective solutions. This new way of dealing with life situations has had a significant positive impact on my life. I gained clarity and insight into the underlying causes of my stress through Silvina's thoughtful questioning and active listening. I always leave our sessions feeling empowered and better equipped to cope with life's challenges using the tools I learned during our sessions.” Hypnotherapy is a proven method for treating a variety of issues, including weight loss, feeling worried or overwhelmed, lack of joy and interest in daily activities that were once enjoyable, sadness, feeling emptiness or feeling down, smoking cessation, self-empowerment, and much more. Neuro-Linguistic Programming or NLP is a type of therapy that focuses on the language and communication patterns that individuals use to create their perception of the world. By identifying and changing these patterns, individuals can improve their emotional and mental well-being. A hypnotherapist using NLP techniques guides an individual through a hypnosis session to identify negative thought patterns and positively reframe them. This can lead to improvements in mood, self-esteem, and overall well-being. “By accessing the subconscious mind and changing negative thought patterns, individuals can develop more positive and adaptive coping strategies, leading to improved mental and emotional health,” explains Joseph. Mental health is becoming a growing priority in society. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), funding for mental health research and treatment has increased, and more companies are implementing mental health support programs for their employees. CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center is revolutionizing corporate wellness programs with their innovative therapy approach in a group setting, aimed at promoting employee well-being, productivity, and work-life balance. The workshops are tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual, with a focus on enhancing confidence, eliminating self-limiting beliefs, overcoming procrastination, and maintaining motivation. Utilizing conversational hypnosis and NLP techniques, the group sessions and exercises are conducted in an experiential style, providing employees with practical tools and strategies to achieve the desired outcomes. Through this unique approach, CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center has helped employees achieve tangible results that positively impact both their professional and personal lives, as well as the work environment. With increased confidence and productivity, employees are better equipped to meet the demands of their jobs and maintain a healthy work-life balance. The result is a happier, more engaged workforce, contributing to a positive and thriving workplace culture. CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center is proud to be at the forefront of this revolution in corporate wellness, delivering real results and transforming the lives of employees. With the growing awareness and recognition of the importance of mental health in individuals and society as a whole, CHARGE Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center hopes to support and assist those who are looking to achieve, maintain and improve health, happiness, and paths to success. “With this approach to therapy individuals can achieve greater emotional resilience and positive change in their lives that reflect positively in all aspects of their social, personal, and work life,” concludes Joseph. To celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, Charge Wellness & Hypnotherapy Center is offering a 30-minute FREE consultation throughout May. During the consultation, individuals will have the opportunity to discuss their specific needs and learn more about how hypnotherapy and NLP can help. Sessions are conducted in the clinics in Jumeirah and Barsha Heights.

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  • Global News

  2023-04-27

• Hong Kong to Host Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023

  Asia’s very best bartenders and drinks industry talent will gather in Hong Kong this July as the city hosts Asia’s 50 Best Bars awards ceremony, one of the region’s most authoritative and prestigious surveys of cocktail tastes and trends. For its 2023 edition, the annual awards have partnered with the Hong Kong Tourism Board to bring the event to the city for the very first time on 18 July 2023.“We are delighted to host this year’s edition of Asia’s 50 Best Bars in July, one of the region’s most significant celebrations of hospitality, which further affirms Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s foremost hub for cocktail experiences. We look forward to inspiring the region’s best bar talent with what Hong Kong has to offer,” Dr Pang Yiu-kai, Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, says.Mark Sansom, Director of Content for Asia’s 50 Best Bars, says, “We are very excited to host the awards in Hong Kong this year. The city has one of the most dynamic and diverse bar scenes in Asia, and despite tight border controls in the last three years, it continues to lead with amazingly innovative bar experiences. By bringing the biggest event on Asia’s bar calendar to Hong Kong, we hope to shine the spotlight back on the city’s vibrant nightlife and contribute to driving travel and tourism.”Hong Kong is a breeding ground for cocktail-making talent and an ideal location for exchange of ideas among industry leaders. Eight Hong Kong bars are featured on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022. In the top three, two of which are bars proudly born and bred in Hong Kong, including Mexican-inspired bar COA in the No.1 spot, and Argo, at No.3, which serves creative cocktails using Asian-sourced ingredients.

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  • Global News

  2023-04-14

• International Digital Wellness Day to be Celebrated Globally on May 5, 2023

  The Digital Wellness Institute is pleased to bring you the fourth inaugural Digital Wellness Day on May 5, 2023. Last year, Digital Wellness Day reached 7 million people in 36 countries worldwide and this year, over 15 million are expected to participate in virtual and in-person gatherings across the globe. The mission of Digital Wellness Day is to provide free, research-based resources to support wellbeing in the digital era. This global movement and international holiday represents a time to “practice a pause” and optimize our relationship with technology in different areas ranging from mental health to productivity, workplace wellbeing, and beyond. On Digital Wellness Day, a growing network of 400+ Digital Wellness Educators, impact partners, and sponsors will host activations. A year-round educational toolkit is publicly available for diverse audiences to engage in mobilizing their own educational posts and events. Access the toolkit at www.digitalwellnessday.com. The day highlights the connective power of social media and digital devices, allowing participants to connect across countries. To this end, the toolkit features an approach of Digital Flourishing®: a positive psychology-based, mindful approach to technology usage that empowers individuals to take advantage of the benefits of technology while avoiding associated harms like zoom fatigue, negative social comparison, and more. On this day of celebration and reflection, the Digital Wellness Institute will also announce the first Certified Digitally Well University™ and first Certified Digitally Well Company™ in the world, setting a precedent for others to follow. These two entities will receive recognition for their dedication to and leadership in bringing positive digital practices to their communities through evidence-based interventions, assessment, and education. Additional information on how digital wellness principles have been integrated at these entities and how others may do the same will be available at www.digitalwellnessinstitute.com. Nina Hersher, Executive Director of Digital Wellness Day, shares her excitement for this celebration, “The purpose of this day is to inspire and empower individuals to take control of their relationship with technology. By stepping back to reflect on when, where, why and how we are engaging with devices, we can harness their power in a way that fuels versus fatigues us. This knowledge is integral to the Digital Wellness movement – where each of us can become an embodied change agent toward a culture of digital flourishing.” For anyone interested in hosting a virtual event celebrating Digital Wellness Day, partnering as a global sponsor, or learning more about keynotes, trainings and certifications through the Digital Wellness Institute, please contact info@digitalwellnessday.com.

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  • Global News

  2023-04-13

• Stirling Hospitality Advisors Reveals Key Trends Shaping the GCC Wellness Tourism Sector

  Wellness-centric travelers are inclined to spend more money, return more often, and stay longer at a property Wellness-centric travelers are inclined to spend more money, return more often, and stay longer at a property than average travelers, contributing to a more stable occupancy and improved profitability. The aging population, environmental crisis, and lifestyle changes have led wellness to become the center of consumer decision-making, propelling the industry into rapid expansion with a forecasted yearly growth rate of over 10% globally, doubling the value to a staggering USD 1.97 trillion by 2031.propelling the industry into rapid expansion with a forecasted yearly growth rate of over 10% globally, doubling the value to a staggering USD 1.97 trillion by 2031. Wellness lifestyle real estate developments, despite having higher development costs, result in significant sales price premiums averaging between 10.0% to 30.0% due to the associated perceptions of a wellness lifestyle. Stirling Hospitality Advisors (SHA), one of the leading boutique advisory institutions in the region, highlights key trends shaping the GCC wellness tourism industry. For decades, travelers have regularly enjoyed massages and yoga retreats in traditional spa facilities, but when the pandemic hit, wellness took a new urgency and became a priority for many. In response to these supercharged demands, the wellness industry shifted its marketing buzzword from “pampering” to “preventive”, giving integrative and medical wellness a strong momentum across the globe. Not only top-tier hotel operators, but more destinations are also incorporating holistic and advanced wellness treatments promoting timeless health and beauty for body, mind, and soul, hoping to get a piece of the multi-trillion-dollar pie. Tatiana Veller, Stirling’s Managing Director, elaborated, “With all the advantages of catering to wellness-centric travelers, including a significantly higher RevPAR and profitability compared to the traditional luxury hotels/resorts, major hotel operators will continue to go after the wellness tourism market. However, as their main business is to sell rooms, the wellness offerings will mostly be another wellness-washing product”. The continuum of wellness landscape ranges from day spas (e.g. Caudalie, Spa by Clarins), to traditional resort/hotel spas (e.g. The Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons) offering standard recreational/pampering wellness services as part of the lodging’s facilities, to destination spa resorts (e.g. Six Senses, Como) providing more well-rounded wellness packages. At a higher spectrum are integrative wellness resorts (e.g. Chiva-Som, Canyon Ranch) which provide broader treatment offerings with more advanced technologies and specialists, and medical wellness resorts (SHA Wellness Clinic, Clinique La Prairie) which operate under full-time on-site supervision of licensed healthcare professionals and may even perform minimally invasive treatments. Wellness Tourism Performance Indicators For a decade, MENA’s wellness tourism grew at a remarkable average annual rate of 13.3%, yet it only accounts for 1% of total trips whilst generating 2% of total revenue of global wellness tourism. In the Middle East, traditional hotel/resort spas account for 39.7% of the total market revenue and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.5% until 2025. Medical wellness is gaining momentum globally and is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 15.1% until 2025, 1.2x faster than hotel spas and 1.3x faster than day spas. Historically, international wellness travelers spent more than 50% above the average international travelers, and domestic wellness travelers command double premium. The Untapped Potential Ingo Schweder, CEO of GOCO Hospitality, shared his insights during the interview with Stirling, “The GCC has to date no dedicated medical wellness resort. Currently, clients from the region frequent the Far East, including Thailand and India predominantly as well as Indonesia and Japan to a smaller extent. Many GCC clients are also found between spring and fall across main European wellness centers in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the UK and France, representing 8-15% of the total guest share. However, we are working on 7 dedicated wellness projects in the KSA alone, i.e. Amaala, NEOM, Red Sea, soon UAE and expect to expand our reach further. Thus, this should change in the not-so-distant future”. It is evident that the rising popularity of medical wellness resorts offers an untapped potential in the region which presents a niche that investors should further evaluate. Qatar’s Zulal Wellness Resort by Chivasom which opened its doors in April 2022 is MENA’s first and only integrated wellness resort and the world’s first wellness destination to blend Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine (TAIM) with a holistic wellness approach. Until then, Six Senses Zighy Bay in Oman, a destination spa resort, served as an example of a more rounded wellness program focusing on soft wellness retreats, delivering a holistic wellness experience while not being as restrictive or highly specialized as other wellness retreats worldwide. Destination spa resorts on average generate only 20%-30% of total room revenue from holistic wellness packages, unlike integrative or medical wellness where the accommodation revenue is generated purely through the retreat/treatment packages as part of the wellness facilities. Stirling’s research shows that besides the apparent differences in expertise and wellness program offerings, the key differentiators between global integrative/medical wellness resorts and MENA traditional luxury resorts lie in the extensiveness of the property’s wellness infrastructure. Integrative/medical wellness resorts have 1 treatment room for every 3 guest rooms and wellness facilities that are on average 2.5 times larger, compared to MENA’s traditional luxury resorts which have 1 treatment room for every 20 guest rooms with higher room inventory and diverse F&B options. These differences suggest that these luxury resorts focus on selling rooms and provide a recreational or pampering experience, rather than a wellness-centric journey. Sustainability meets Wellness Immersive wellness resorts also incorporate sustainability into all their core values. Last year, SHA Wellness Clinic was awarded Green Globe Sustainability Certification, reflecting its core value in sustainability. Respect for the environment is one of SHA Wellness Clinic’s founding values and is present from the very construction of the building, which was adapted to the typology of the land to minimize environmental impact. Christopher Ford, Head of Asset Management at Red Sea Global KSA, added, “Today, wellness is one of the fastest-growing segments of the luxury travel market, with our target audience research showing that 75% of luxury travelers want vacations that cater for their overall well-being and provide fun activities at the same time. We are partnering with leading wellness hotel brands such as Clinique La Prairie and Jayasom to offer our guests advanced longevity programs and state-of-the-art health and wellness treatments.” Both properties will be located in Amaala, Saudi Arabia’s wellness-focused giga-project along the Red Sea. Amaala is powered by 100% renewable energy and will have a zero-carbon footprint with zero waste to landfill once fully operational. Is Stirling optimistic about the future of Wellness Tourism? Absolutely. Integrative and medical wellness resorts are the fastest-growing trend in the wellness industry today and will continue to be in the next decade. Bearing in mind that being in the business requires careful planning to ensure a safe, operationally efficient, and results-driven environment, it is highly recommended that an experienced consultant be hired to guide the owners and operators into a successful venture. Erni Wijaya, Asset Manager at Stirling, concluded, “Although to date most integrative and medical wellness resorts attract more affluent guests, it is believed that the pandemic has encouraged a shift and opened a new market at a lower price point in the future. Stirling is confident that when done right, a wellness-centric establishment brings enormous values and benefits for all the stakeholders involved, - from owners, clients, employees and community to the destination, the environment, and the world at large”.

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  • Global News

  2023-04-04

• Global Wellness Summit Releases Annual Report: 12 Wellness Trends for 2023

  Wellness tackles loneliness, with a surge in social spaces, clubs and concepts; with a critique of wellness as cultural appropriator, wellness travel goes hyper-indigenous. We move from murky “clean beauty” to science-backed biotech beauty–from shallow to meaningful workplace wellness. Multisensory experiences boom; wellness remakes the urban landscape, and people jump into the world’s “wild waters” The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) has recently released its annual “Future of Wellness” report, the longest-running, most in-depth (160-pages) and only truly global forecast of the newest directions in wellness. The 12 wellness trends for 2023 were unveiled on January 31 at a media event in New York City. A few themes emerge: Radically different consumer values. The trends show a profound shift in consumer values coming out of the pandemic: from a rejection of a “self-obsessed” wellness to a demand for science and solutions that work. If in this last decade-plus, wellness led with two lonely models—a sea of “self-care” products and “digital wellness”— the trend “Wellness Comes for the Loneliness Epidemic” details the many ways that the wellness world (and wider world) is finally tackling the biggest missing cornerstone in health: social wellness, with a surge in new spaces, community models and concepts that put human connection at the very center. With a critique of wellness as a relentless cultural appropriator, one trend details how wellness travel will shift from “global smorgasbord” to Indigenous wellness at the source. In “Workplace Wellness Finally Starts to Mean Something,” we see how fed-up employees, worsening mental health, and remote work mean “workplace wellness” is finally moving from false promise to meaningful plan of action. Science is King. “From ‘Clean’ to Biotech Beauty” reveals how we’re moving beyond clean beauty’s often muddy claims to lab-tested, scientist-created “biotech beauty.” With so much misinformation about diets and metabolic health, one trend—written by a doctor—explores how transforming white fat into brown may be the obesity breakthrough. A Return to Wellness Roots—With a Difference. Various trends illustrate how we’re returning to some of the deepest roots of wellness, but with a radical reimagining. If wellness has always been a sensory affair, new directions in multisensory integration are emerging with light, scent, temperature, touch and sound being blended to create a dramatically new era for “sensory wellness.” If water is the foundation of spa, the “Blue, Hot and Wild” trend predicts that we’ll now be “taking the waters” in deepest nature, with an unprecedented global surge in new-look hot springs destinations—and wild and cross-country swimming going global. After three years of “touchless wellness” people hunger for sensory immersion. Wellness Impacts Serious New Sectors. Wellness has rewritten industries from fashion to real estate, and the report shows how it will now transform a couple of very serious, people-impacting sectors, including how a wellness lens is powerfully changing urban design and infrastructure; the opportunities hospitality brands see in embracing pro-level sports; and how wellness is becoming a much bigger focus of government policy. “Cast your mind back to 2019, the highwater mark of the hyper-consumerist, product-flooded wellness market, with so many evidence-challenged trends-a-minute,” said Susie Ellis, GWS Chair and CEO. “This report is proof that the wellness market of just three years ago suddenly feels archaic. Wellness in 2023 (and beyond) will be more serious and science-backed, but also more social and sensory.” The report emerges from the insights of hundreds of global executives from wellness companies, economists, doctors, investors, academics and technologists that gather each year at the Summit. This year, in addition to having leading journalists and analysts as authors, the trend-spotters include top experts in that field—whether doctors, economists, or urban futurists. The “Future of Wellness 2023” can be purchased here. Global Wellness Trends 2023 Summaries 1. Wellness + Gathering: Wellness Comes for the Loneliness Epidemic (by Beth McGroarty) We *know* loneliness is skyrocketing; that it kills; that the #1 predictor of health and happiness is relationships. But somehow, the recent uber-capitalist wellness market has led with two things: a sea of keep-them-spending “me time” products and “digital wellness”—both lonely journeys of “self-care.” The pandemic has proven to be the breaking point: the biggest wellness trend is new spaces and experiences that—intentionally and creatively—bring people together in real life, where social connection is the burning center of the concept. The future of wellness? A move from lonely to social self-care, from buying to belonging, from URL to IRL, from ego to empathy, from Goop to group. 2. Wellness + Travel: From Global Smorgasbord to Hyper-Indigenous (by Elaine Glusac) Wellness and wellness tourism have long resembled Disney’s “It’s a Small World,” buffets of global experiences typically divorced from place. Yoga, born in India, is ubiquitous worldwide; ayahuasca retreats have departed their Amazonian homelands; you can get a Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage in Dubai. But with a new critique of wellness as a profound cultural appropriator, a rising social justice movement, and greater emphasis on authenticity, travelers are now seeking much deeper cultural experiences and showing interest in going to the source of ancient healing and knowledge about how to care for the land and for themselves. Indigenous travel and going-to-the-cultural-source for wellness is our travel trend for 2023. 3. Wellness + Workplace: Workplace Wellness Finally Starts to Mean Something (by Skyler Hubler and Cecelia Girr) From protected time off to finally acknowledging women’s health needs, employee wellness is getting a much-needed rethink. Employers have been casually tossing around the word “wellness” since the 1980s. But four decades later, we have little to show for it. Worldwide, 70% of knowledge workers have experienced burnout in the past year, and a recent global study found that 38% of workers hate their jobs so much that they wouldn’t wish it on their worst enemy. Clearly, all those “workplace wellness” initiatives haven’t been working for us. But with the pandemic dramatically accelerating shifts in work models and the mental health crisis—and employees newly empowered—things are changing for the better. In this trend, we explore how superficial wellness at work schemes are being replaced with more meaningful solutions. 4. Wellness + Beauty: From “Clean” to Biotech Beauty (by Jessica Smith) As the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic subsides, one thing has become clear: science is king. In the world of beauty, the shift towards data-backed products has never been more evident. We’re seeing an about face from the conversation around “clean beauty” (with all its muddy claims) to a desire for lab-tested, science-backed and even lab-created products. In this trend, we look at the evolution from the greenwashing and false claims to today’s new—and welcomed—medical, bio-positive and tech-forward product development, and explore what the future might hold. 5. Wellness + Cities: Urban Infrastructure Just Might Save Cities (by Robbie Hammond and Omar Toro-Vaca) The role of the city has been reimagined countless times over the centuries (they’ve been trading posts, political and artistic centers, and recently, concrete jungles of retail and offices). But the pandemic served as a wake-up call on just how unwell our cities are, sparking a new recognition of the inextricable relationship between the health of the cities and the health of city dwellers. Global cities are now at another historical inflection point where they are rebuilding themselves around the wellness needs of their citizens. “Urban wellness infrastructure” is no longer perceived as a luxury—it’s a necessity. This trend examines diverse, creative ways that an urban wellness infrastructure—the melding of capital improvements and business opportunities that holistically address social, mental, and physical health—is being embraced all around the world as a solution for accelerating growth, fueling post-pandemic recovery, and cultivating healthier, happier citizens. 6. Wellness + Weight: The Skinny on Brown Fat and Eliminating Obesity (by Michael Roizen, MD) Harnessing the ability to live longer and “younger” is among the biggest trends in medicine and wellness today. Michael Roizen, MD, believes a crucial factor in the longevity quest is recognizing that not all fat is created equal, and transforming white/yellow fat into beige/brown fat has the potential to move the needle on one of the greatest health crises—obesity. The reason? Brown fat has increased mitochondrial density and burns lots of calories, while white fat is metabolically inefficient and doesn’t use much energy. Yes, moving white fat to brown powers weight loss, but obesity is a serious disease, a key factor in heart disease, cancers, dementia and more. 7. Wellness + Governments: The Case for Coming Together (by Thierry Malleret) Wellness policies have been years in the making, but in 2023 and beyond, they will evolve, multiply and strengthen. Governments *know* the crippling economic and societal costs that come when people don’t feel mentally and physically well. They *know* that unwellness shrinks the labor force while simultaneously hurting productivity—the worst possible combo for long-term economic growth. They *know* that preventative wellness saves public money because it always costs less than cure. 8. Wellness + Water: Blue, Hot, and Wild (by Jane Kitchen) The pandemic spurred a hunger for in-nature experiences that shows no signs of abating. But when we talk about the nature surge, we usually remain on terra firma. In 2023, people will jump into the world’s wild waters for some “blue wellness”—from an unprecedented global surge in new-look hot springs destinations to wild and cross-country swimming going global. 9. Wellness + Sports: New Business Models for Hospitality (by Lisa Starr) Savvy hospitality brands are responding to demands from wellness-focused clients looking beyond the basement gym, in search of pro-athlete-level equipment, fitness classes and wellness programming, whenever and wherever they travel. Some hotel brands are even creating facilities that cater to entire amateur or professional sports teams, expanding the function of the hotel and ensuring professional quality for the rest of us. We predict businesses that support this trend will become the go-to brands for future generations. 10. Wellness + Senses: Multisensory Integration (by Ari Peralta) Advances in neuroscience and neuroaesthetics confirm that, when combined, the senses elevate our human experience. Nature is multisensory and it turns out, so are we. The senses have always been present in wellness. In fact, we subconsciously associate many wellness activities with one sense or another… spa is touch, wellness music is sound, chromotherapy is color, healthy food is taste and thermal is temperature. This siloed approach is quickly changing in remarkable ways. Now brands are accessing multiple senses simultaneously to better support wellbeing outcomes, amplify wellness experience and influence behavioral change—think using multiple sensory cues, in a harmonious way to deepen meditation. 11. Wellness + Biohacking: The Wild, Wild West of Biohacking (by Marc Cohen, MD) Biohacking is the attempt to control biology and defy disease, decay and death so we can become superhuman. The idea is not new: our ancestors were masterful biohackers and developed low-tech hacks such as fasting, isolation, chanting, yoga, martial arts, body temperature manipulations, and traditional medicines to increase their health and wellbeing. However, there is a new trend in biohacking featuring technology that is staggering. Super-technologies such as AI, brain-computer interfaces, sensorless-sensing, CRISPR, xenobotics, nanobotics, probiotics, morphoceuticals, 3D-tissue-printing, cloud-computing and blockchain technologies allow us to manipulate molecules, modify genes, manage microbes, create living robots, regenerate body parts, seamlessly monitor and track health metrics, and manipulate our sensory inputs. 12. Wellness + Faith: Having Faith in Business (by Brian Grim) It’s not surprising that the pandemic led to a resurgence of faith. What is surprising is that the corporate world is embracing it. While diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in workplaces have focused on race, gender, sexual orientation and marginalized populations, one aspect that’s been strikingly left out of the conversation is now emerging: faith. As global workplaces become radically reshaped to address inclusivity, purpose and employee wellbeing, more companies are now tapping into the full identity of their employees by including religion as a full-fledged part of their DEI commitments—encouraging employees to form official (company-sponsored) groups around their faith, just as companies encourage women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ groups to do.

  • In English
  • Global News

  2023-02-02