• 최종편집 2024-03-27(수)

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  • In Search of Sleep: Hilton Caters to Rising Number of Sleep Tourists with Debut of Hilton Sleep Retreats
    Kilolani Spa at Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort Sleep expert Dr. Rebecca Robbins to host snooze‑worthy series at Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort’s Kilolani Spa Hilton’s 2024 Trends Report found the No. 1 reason people of all generations want to travel this year is to rest and recharge. In fact, some travelers are even building their entire trip around sleep, which is a trend now known as “sleep tourism.” Sleep tourism first picked up speed in 2023 and has accelerated this year – in its recent report, the Global Wellness Institute cites Wellness Tourism as one of the fastest-growing segments of travel, projected to reach $1.4 Trillion USD by 2027. To address this demand and in celebration of National Sleep Month in March, Hilton has partnered with sleep science expert Dr. Rebecca Robbins to offer expert insight into ways Hilton can lead the industry in providing the best night’s rest possible across the portfolio. This includes new programming like the launch of Sleep Retreats at Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, with the potential to expand to additional markets in the coming months. Dr. Robbins, an assistant professor in medicine and associate scientist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, is also an acclaimed author and sleep expert featured in national print and television. She deeply understands the importance of sleep and which behavioral changes can help travelers get the most Zzzs when staying in unfamiliar environments. Together with Hilton, she will help guests put these insights into practice during a series of one-of-a-kind retreats, with the first launching in Maui at Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort’s Kilolani Spa, an all-new open-air luxury spa adorned by the natural beauty of Hawaii. “Understanding the vital role sleep plays in our lives goes much deeper than just knowing we need it. It's about nurturing and prioritizing it, especially in our fast-moving world where being constantly on the go is the norm," said Dr. Robbins. “Collaborating with Hilton to bridge the gap between sleep science and its practical, everyday application excites me and our retreats serve as a wonderful demonstration of how this knowledge can be brought to life – whether traveling or at home.” Designed to educate and empower guests while leveraging the unique wellness amenities offered at Hilton, the Sleep Retreats provide an all-encompassing journey into the science and practice of achieving restful, restorative sleep. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in a series of Dr. Robbins-led activities, discussions, strategies and meditations focused on enhancing sleep quality. Kilolani Spa at Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort - Portal Beyond spa services developed to mitigate jet lag, optimize circadian rhythms and release sleep-enhancing hormones, the programs include lectures that illuminate the science of restfulness, covering topics such as the foundations of sleep mechanics and sleep disorders. The retreats also feature healthy, sleep-promoting meals and opportunities for guests to design a personalized sleep schedule, ensuring each guest leaves with the knowledge and practices needed to improve their daily routine. “Hilton seeks to provide more than just a place to stay. We aim to be a catalyst for wellness, starting with a great night’s sleep. Recognizing that more than half of all travelers surveyed in our recent Trends Report emphasized the need for rest when they travel, our commitment has never been more important,” said Amanda Al-Masri, global vice president, wellness, Hilton. “From the moment a guest steps into our hotels, every touchpoint is an opportunity to contribute to the quality of their overall wellness, and these curated Sleep Retreats represent a fusion of comfort, science and innovation crafted to improve the sleep experience.” Hilton’s commitment to enhancing the guest sleep experience is exemplified by specialized offerings across its brands and properties. Travelers have shown a deep appreciation for the basics, and while all Hilton brands offer unique and exclusive bedding, Canopy by Hilton offers a gel memory foam mattress and Serta Cool Balance® technology, with the brand’s signature canopy frame, and Motto by Hilton has equipped its rooms with top-notch mattresses, sound-absorbing surroundings and smart technology available through the Hilton Honors app. Wellness offerings also extend directly into the room across many Hilton properties, such as Tempo by Hilton’s rooms designed with “power down” features for an optimal sleep environment. Additionally, dedicated wellness rooms are available at Signia by Hilton Atlanta Georgia World Congress Center, which are equipped with tools to help guests get their R&R. More information on Hilton’s new Sleep Retreats will be made available on the Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort’s website in the coming weeks.
    • In English
    • Feature
    2024-03-16
  • American Express Reveals 2024 Top Travel Trends
    American Express Travel® released its 2024 Global Travel Trends Report[1] today, highlighting the inspiration and trends driving global travel bookings this year. The report, based on survey data from travelers in the United States, Australia, Canada, India, Japan, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, found that 84% of respondents plan to spend more or the same amount of money on travel in 2024 compared to last year. Additionally, 77% of respondents care more about having the right travel experience than about the cost of the trip.The four trends driving booking decisions are:· For the Love of the Game: Sports fans are planning trips around athletic events, whether it involves a favorite sport, a beloved team, or an international multi-sport competition· Planning Big: Major, expedition-style adventures, like a trip to the Galapagos Islands or trekking with the gorillas, deliver the transformative experiences that travelers are looking for· Going Solo: Travelers are takings trips alone, embracing the ease of planning and ability to tailor itineraries that are a perfect fit· On a Whim: With so much of life being structured and scheduled these days, people are seeking flexibility in their travel plans and leaving room for spontaneity“Travelers are focused on creating the right itineraries and building memories, whether that means booking a trip to see a favorite sports team compete or taking a once-in-a-lifetime expedition cruise,” says Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel. “Our Global Travel Trends Report sheds light on what is driving global travel bookings and provides inspiration for where to go next. Our American Express Travel Consultants can help, no matter what type of trip you want to take.”Top insights from American Express Travel’s 2024 Global Travel Trends Report include:· A desire to see sporting events live and to watch favorite teams and beloved players in person are driving where travelers are going and what they are doing when they get there.- 67% of Millennial and Gen Z respondents[2] (compared to 58% of all respondents) are interested in traveling for sporting events in 2024- 58% of respondents who are traveling for sports in 2024 will do so for soccer, basketball or Formula 1 racing- New York, Miami and Paris are the top destinations respondents are planning to travel to for sporting events this summer· Transformative, once-in-a-lifetime trips, like visiting the Galapagos Islands and hiking in Antarctica, are at the top of many travelers’ wish lists, and younger travelers want an expert to help them plan.- 65% of respondents are more interested in taking a major trip in 2024 than in previous years- 72% of respondents would rather save money for a major trip than spend it on going out with friends; and more than half of respondents plan on saving between 6 months to 2 years for a major trip- 58% of Millennial and Gen Z respondents want a travel agent or trusted advisor to help them book a major trip this year- 55% of respondents planning a major trip would consider visiting multiple countries in a region· The ease of planning and ability to make the perfect, personalized itinerary is driving people to plan trips alone, especially younger travelers.- 76% of Millennials and Gen Z respondents (compared to 69% of all respondents) say they are planning on taking a solo trip 2024- 74% of male respondents and 63% of female respondents say they are planning on taking a solo trip in 2024- 66% of respondents planning on traveling solo are planning a trip tailored to treat themselves- 60% of respondents planning on traveling solo this year intend to take two or more solo trips· Travelers are leaning into flexible itineraries, allowing them the freedom to be spontaneous and experience the local culture when they travel.- 78% of respondents say that spontaneous trips appeal to them77% of Millennials and Gen Z have booked a last-minute trip before, compared to 65% of Gen X[3] and 52% of Baby Boomers[4]- 68% of respondents agree that they like to leave unplanned time in their trip to experience local culture/activities- 57% of respondents prefer booking a last-minute getaway to a nearby destination rather than somewhere far awayAs the demand for travel continues into 2024, American Express provides eligible Card Members with exceptional travel access and experiences, including 1400+ airport lounges through its Global Lounge Collection®; expert Travel Consultants who can build dream itineraries for everything from major trips like an expedition cruise or safari, to quick weekend getaways; restaurant reservations through Resy and curated where-to-eat guides at Resy.com/Travel; benefits across global sporting experiences and venues; benefits at over 2000 hand-picked hotels around the world via Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection; more than 1000 premium vacation rental properties via Select Homes + Retreats™, and more.The full American Express Travel 2024 Global Travel Trends Report can be viewed here. [1] Survey Methodology: This poll was conducted between January 31 - February 8, 2024 among a sample of 2005 US Adults, 1007 Australia Adults, 1002 Canada, 1002 UK Adults, 1002 Japan Adults, 1006 Mexico Adults and 1005 India Adults who have at least a $50k+ income equivalent and typically travel at least once a year. The interviews were conducted online. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 2-4 percentage points. Some geographies may be weighted with fewer variables depending on local census data availability.[2] Millennials and Gen Z are defined as respondents as being born between 1981 - 2012.[3] GenX are defined as respondents as being born between 1965 - 1980.[4] Baby Boomers are defined as respondents as being born between 1946 - 1964.
    • In English
    • Global News
    2024-03-14
  • MICHELIN Guide to Seoul & Busan 2024
    The internationally renowned Michelin Guide released “The MICHELIN Guide Seoul & Busan 2024” in February of this year. This marks the first time the Michelin Guide for Korea has included a city outside of Seoul since first being released in 2017. Busan was selected due to the port city’s unique dining culture.The MICHELIN Guide Seoul & Busan 2024 features 177 restaurants in Seoul and 43 restaurants in Busan, for a total of 220 premium dining locations. French restaurant Allen and Japanese restaurant Mitou in Seoul both earned their second star, while Mori (Japanese cuisine), Palate (French cuisine), and Fiotto (Italian cuisine) in Busan each earned their first Michelin star. Fiotto also earned a Green Star for their use of ingredients picked directly from the farm.In addition to the restaurants which were able to earn stars, the guide also includes 15 and 6 restaurants in Busan and Seoul respectively that were recognized as Bib Gourmand restaurants, providing delicious food at reasonable prices. These new additions bring the total of Bib Gourmand restaurants to 72, ranging from traditional Korean cuisine to Japanese, Mexican, and Thai, as well as vegan cooking.Foodies planning a trip to Korea should definitely check the Michelin Guide! For a gourmand experience that won’t cost too much, a visit to one of the Bib Gourmand restaurants is a great choice.The MICHELIN Guide Seoul & Busan 2024▶ Michelin restaurants in Seoul▶ Michelin restaurants in Busan
    • In English
    • Korea Today
    2024-03-12
  • Seoul Subway Introduces Real-time Interpretation System
    A real-time interpretation system capable of interpreting 13 languages using AI technology has been installed at the Customer Support Center of Myeong-dong Station (Seoul Subway Line 4). The system works by connecting a mic to a see-through touch screen that displays the words spoken and translates them depending on which language the tourist selects. After the tourist asks a question in their own language, their question is translated into Korean and appears on the monitor for the Korean station worker to see and respond to. Now travelers can quickly and easily get answers to all their subway questions, including finding subway routes, the fastest transfer points, and anything else about the subway station. The touch-screen can also be used to look up information on T-locker and T-luggage, storage systems in place for travelers. The system is available in Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay, Indonesian, Spanish, French, German, Arabic, and Russian (13 languages total). While the system is currently in the testing stage, more machines are planned to be installed at major subway stations, including Seoul Station, Itaewon Station, Gimpo Airport Station, Gwanghwamun Station, and Hongik Univ. Station.
    • In English
    • Korea Today
    2024-03-02
  • The Global Wellness Institute Spotlights South Korea’s $113 Billion Wellness Economy
    The Global Wellness Institute (GWI), the leading nonprofit dedicated to research and education in the global wellness industry, has announced the addition of South Korea to its growing Geography of Wellness platform, through a partnership with Therme Group. A global organization committed to fostering inclusive urban wellbeing, Therme recently announced the location for its first Asia Pacific project as part of the Golden Harbor development in South Korea’s Incheon City. “GWI’s Geography of Wellness platform offers a detailed map of the wellness landscape, delineating the economic contributions of wellness-oriented businesses and activities specific to each nation,” said Susie Ellis, GWI chair and CEO. “South Korea, the world’s ninth largest wellness market, has demonstrated both growth and resilience, scaling from a pre-pandemic $99.6 billion in 2019, to a 5% dip in 2020 ($94.4 billion), to a valuation of $113 billion in 2022.” South Korea is not only thriving in its overall wellness economy but is also leading the charge in several specific categories, including ranking #6 globally in both physical activity and traditional & complementary medicine. The nation also secures the #8 spot worldwide in public health, prevention & personalized medicine, as well as workplace wellness—despite a slight dip in spending over the previous year in the latter sector— asserting its continued dedication to evolving workplace culture and public health initiatives. GWI assesses 11 key sectors within the wellness economies of 218 countries worldwide. South Korea has had notable valuation increases in virtually all sectors for 2022 (a new dedicated Global Wellness Economy: South Korea report is available for download.) South Korea Wellness Sector Annual Growth 2020-2022 with 2022 ValuationPhysical Activity: +11%, $29.68B Personal Care & Beauty: +3.5%, $24.87B Healthy Eating, Nutrition & Weight Loss: -0.5%, $13.49B Traditional & Complementary Medicine: +2.7%, $13.46B Public Health, Prevention & Personalized Medicine: +44.6%, $13.40B Wellness Real Estate: +16.5%, $8.37B Wellness Tourism: +11.3%, $5.43B Mental Wellness: +7.2%, valued at $2.86B Spas: +16.2%, valued at $1.55B Workplace Wellness: -3.6, $1.15B Thermal/Mineral Springs: +13.3%, $0.58B Living Well in South Korea Wellness in South Korea is a blend of centuries-old traditions and modern science and technology, in an environment rich in natural resources. Korean cuisine—with its vast variety of kimchi (fermented vegetables), banchan (side dishes), fresh seafood and vegan options—has already taken the world by storm. Wellness practices such as sauna and hot springs bathing, meditation, martial arts (taekwondo and taekgyeon), herbal and medicinal teas, acupuncture and moxibustion (a technique of burning herbal moxa cones to warm acupuncture points) are widely adopted for health maintenance and healing. Living well in South Korea today also means adopting modern fitness routines, accessing digital wellness tools, practicing skincare rituals, and accessing diverse cosmetic and beauty options popularly known across the world as K-beauty. Key Wellness Experiences in South Korea With its vast mountain ranges and surrounded by seas on three sides, South Korea offers a phenomenal natural setting for all types of wellness activities and holidays, from hot springs bathing, to hiking, to water sports; from mountain and seaside resorts to meditation retreats and temple stays. One can sample mountain herbs, temple cuisine, and traditional Korean dishes that can help promote blood circulation and warmth in cold weather. Its metropolises offer wellness amenities from spa and beauty to fitness, to traditional and complementary medicine. Visitors may want to try a mindful tea ceremony, or immerse in Korean bathing traditions at natural hot springs as well as communal baths and saunas, a social and family-friendly experience. Therme Group’s collaboration with GWI is pivotal in showcasing South Korea on the global stage. Stelian Iacob, senior vice president of Therme Group, remarked: “South Korea has rich and varied wellbeing traditions and a high-growth wellness economy. We are committed to enhancing the wellbeing of South Korea’s residents and visitors, and this research provides vital data for the industry. The research shows that people are rediscovering the health benefits of thermal bathing and wellness therapies, and we look forward to working with local partners to bring our unique wellbeing resort experience to the region.” To learn more about South Korea’s wellness economy, visit its dedicated Geography of Wellness page on the GWI website.
    • In English
    • Global News
    2024-02-16
  • Global Wellness Summit Releases 10 Wellness Trends for 2024
    The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) has released its annual Future of Wellness report, the longest-running, most in-depth (120-page) forecast of what will make waves in wellness in the year ahead. In the 20-plus years this trends team has been analyzing the wellness space, there have been more shakeups in 2023 than in the last decade. There certainly is momentum: the global market will grow from $5.6 trillion today to $8.5 trillion by 2027—with countless surveys revealing that wellness has never been such an important priority for people as now. But what kind of wellness matters—and for whom—is undergoing serious transformation. Generational, income, and gender gaps are widening in culture, and they’re creating a wellness landscape increasingly defined by very different—even contradictory—markets and mindsets. The GWS calls these polarized wellness markets “hardcare” and “softcare.” “Hardcare” describes the new hyper-medical, high-tech, even more expensive wellness market. “Softcare” captures the new desires for a low-pressure, simpler, less expensive, less relentlessly self-optimizing wellness, where emotional and social wellbeing matter most. This trends report illustrates how there is no longer one wellness narrative or unifying trend. The future is both “harder” and “softer” care, and that polarity will only widen. Themes in the report: More “hardcare”—from longevity clinics to weight loss drugs, medicine is muscling in: The speed at which medicine is invading the wellness market is astounding. One trend explores how the quest for longevity will continue to dominate the health/wellness space, with highly-medical, high-cost longevity clinics becoming the new business genre, offering everything from advanced diagnostics to stem cell treatments. Equally astounding is how fast new weight-loss drugs have upended behavior-change-focused wellness businesses, whether dieting platforms or resorts. Our trend analyzes these drugs’ impact, how wellness businesses quickly pivoted to prescribe Big Pharma’s magic “pricks,” and how the future is the wellness market delivering a healthier, more comprehensive weight-loss approach. More “softcare”—more low-fi, ancient, social, emotional, deeply human wellness: The media has been covering how younger gens (especially women) are pushing back against this last decade of high-pressure, uber-commodified wellness, and recasting true wellness as a messier, more joyful, simpler and cheaper affair. New desires for a simpler, more profound wellness drive one of our top travel trends of the year: how a record number of revitalized pilgrimage trails worldwide are luring new generations to the most ancient, slow, communal and spiritual form of travel. And if wellness has been complicit in clichéd views of masculinity (only focused on the physical), another trend explores how wellness will finally take a more human approach to men, with a wave of retreats, small groups, and apps focused on men’s social and emotional wellbeing. Wellness will tackle serious crises, from climate threats to women’s health: With temperatures breaking records each year, one trend explores a new “climate-adaptive wellness,” a surge in solutions that can cool our homes, cities and bodies. And since solving for grossly-ignored women’s health issues is now a heartbeat of wellness, another trend explores how desperately-needed innovation in postpartum care for new moms (and dads) is ahead—from post-birth retreats to new mental health apps. New tech, new wellness categories: Several trends illustrate how wellness technology innovation is going into overdrive. One explores how our homes are becoming high-tech health hubs, with everything from medical-grade diagnostic systems, to smart furnishings that make wellbeing adjustments in real-time. Technologies such as generative AI are also fueling a new era of “wellness art.” If experiencing art has always been a passive affair, a new wave of art experiences at museums, resorts and public spaces is turning it into a deeply multisensory, immersive experience, expressly designed to boost your mental wellbeing. TEN WELLNESS TRENDS FOR 2024: Climate-Adaptive Wellness With an increasingly heat-crushed planet, bringing massive physical and mental health risks, we will see a new “climate-adaptive wellness”: a wave of innovations that can cool our bodies, homes and cities. We simply cannot keep air conditioning more of the world: it’s erasing climate change progress. Cooling approaches—from the cutting-edge to the ancient—will be the burning issue in architecture and design. We’ll see more green space, tree cover, and rooftop gardens; high-tech building materials and heat-reflective paint for roads and roofs; and heat-fighting design from historically broiling places like the Middle East. Cities are re-thinking everything, building cooling centers and public pools, with many rushing to clean up their waterways to let people do wild swimming, an incredible line of defense. Smart-tech cooling clothing will go mainstream, as will wearables that monitor the body’s heat indicators, from core temp to hydration to electrolytes. There is even a new “climate-adaptive” beauty trend rising. Our baking planet is disrupting travel, with people moving away from traditional “hotspots,” trading beaches and deserts for mountains, the Mediterranean for Scandinavia, and summer vacations for fall or spring ones, in a move towards what’s being called “cool-cations.” So much will change in the traditional wellness space, from a new focus on hot/cold therapy’s role in the body’s thermoregulation to the rise of (cooler) “night-time wellness” programming at hotels and resorts, from star-gazing to full-moon yoga. The Power of the Pilgrimage One silver lining that came out of the pandemic gloom is that people all around the world rediscovered the simple joys and health benefits that come from walking, and a purposeful connection with nature. Today, walking enthusiasts are dramatically expanding their horizons by exploring ancient pilgrimage trails, fueling a global trend as record numbers of travelers take up multi-day hikes infused with spiritual exploration and cultural heritage in countries around the world. While nearly half a million pilgrims completed the famous Camino de Santiago in Spain in 2023 (a new record), scores of modern pilgrims were also drawn to off-the-beaten-path sites in Japan, such as the Shikoku 88 and the Michinoku Coastal trails, as well as buzzy pilgrimage destinations in Sri Lanka, Bhutan, India and Italy, all of which have undergone extensive restorations thanks to government efforts to promote holistic tourism. From a wellness perspective, this trend has serious legs: a pilgrimage is a metaphor for the path to enlightenment, engendering slow, meditative travel, and facilitating deeper engagement with our surroundings to foster a sense of awe. It also produces unexpected encounters with strangers that lead to a deeper perspective on the place of our “self” in a very big world. Savvy resorts are now looking to pilgrimages, offering wellness programs that incorporate journeys between sacred sites, participation in religious services such as meditating with monks or almsgiving, and providing access to ceremonies once attainable only after years of experience on the path to enlightenment. From Manning Up to Opening Up Wellness has long provided a space for women to open up, explore their emotions, and build community, but the same can’t be said for men. They’ve either been left out of the equation or, when included, the wellness offerings they’ve been served have reinforced a clichéd view of masculinity—from warrior-like fitness challenges to tough-guy biohacks. At the same time, shifting gender roles and a societal revolt against old-school masculinity have left men without a rulebook for what it means to “be a man” today. A cultural shift is underway. As the dire consequences of rising male loneliness are exposed, the wellness industry is responding with a new wave of solutions designed to help men reconnect with themselves and with one another. One example is the rise of men’s retreats like EVRYMAN and Junto, where unlearning stoicism and authentically sharing your feelings is the name of the game; another example is the new mental health apps designed specifically by and for men. In this trend, we explore how these so-called “softer” forms of wellness will serve as a much-needed catalyst for male connection. Looking further ahead, we anticipate that social and emotional wellness offerings for men will become more nuanced, more evenly distributed across all stages of life, and more global. The Rise of Postpartum Wellness Following childbirth, new parents typically find themselves in a care “desert”: all the attention is on the baby, and the medical system largely abandons them. While giving birth is a massive physical event, and new parenthood often entails serious mental health challenges, postpartum care has been grossly ignored. Change is here: a new, comprehensive postpartum wellness is now taking many directions. Cultures around the world have postpartum retreat traditions for the mom and baby (from Korea’s sanjujori to Latin America’s la cuarantena) that focus on deep rest, healthy food, baby-care education, massage and therapeutic bathing for the birthing parent. Increasingly, posh postpartum retreats are delivering precious days and weeks of postpartum recovery (at a price)—whether at Boram Postnatal Retreat in New York City or Kai Singapore. With postpartum depression rates rising globally, governments and corporations are taking action, while new apps are addressing the mental health of new parents (such as Mavida Health, offering a whole slate of therapy and counseling). More femtech startups are dedicated to postpartum care across the spectrum—from C-section recovery services to a boom in pelvic floor care products/services (so crucial to postpartum health). The wellness consumer goods market has exploded with options, from postpartum skincare to supplements, while brands are also destigmatizing sexual wellness post-birth. True postpartum wellness would mean a dramatic change in the current post-birth experience, with access to an integrated medical and wellness team that could deliver a holistic, empathetic approach to support new parents’ physical and emotional wellbeing, including education, proper nutrition, physical therapy and pain-focused therapies. The future needs to make what’s offered in the new, luxe postpartum retreats only a few can afford available to all. Longevity Has Longevity The speed at which longevity has seized the biotech, health and wellness spaces in the last year is staggering. No mere “trend,” it’s the new industry pillar, the lens to reexamine everything we do, and an entire interconnected “economy” pegged to be worth $610 billion by 2025. Driven by an aging population seeking a longer healthspan and a medical establishment still not focused on prevention, longevity is here for the long game and will only ramp up in 2024. So, we bring you two reports with different vantage points. The first, from Kenneth R. Pelletier, PhD, MD, clinical professor at UCSF School of Medicine, identifies the eight key areas of research driving the practical applications of longevity science—including personalized plans grounded in genetic, epigenetic and biomarker testing; research on senolytics (drugs that can remove senescent cells); telomere regeneration; nutrigenomics; and a new AI/GPT-driven healthcare. It provides a much-needed framework for what matters in what’s become a Wild West of longevity solutions. The second report explores the longevity boom from the perspective of the wellness industry, and how the highly-medical, high-tech (and high-priced) longevity clinic is the fastest-growing business genre, with over 1,000 clinics worldwide. Most offer advanced diagnostic testing (biomarker, genetic, hormonal, full-body MRIs, etc.), to identify issues before they become a problem, such as Fountain Life (whose heartbeat is AI-powered diagnostics) or Human Longevity Inc. (with genomics testing at its core). Others offer experimental, less-proven approaches such as stem cell treatments and plasma exchange—and the usual biohacking/recovery treatments (IV drips, cryotherapy, ozone therapy, etc.)—but now in the name of longevity. More high-end gyms (such as Saint Haven in Melbourne) are becoming full-blown longevity clinics, offering work-ups (preventative diagnostic testing, scans, etc.) along with their workouts. If wellness resorts have been more about “soul” than scans and stem cells, now a growing number are becoming highly-medical longevity destinations. Powerhouse medical-longevity players such as Spain’s SHA Wellness and Switzerland’s Clinique La Prairie are on the march, the latter planning 40 new urban “longevity hubs.” Soulful brand Six Senses is opening medical-longevity clubs (called Rosebar), with everything from epigenetic testing to stem cell therapy. More wellness resorts, like Italy’s Borgo Egnazia and Thailand’s Kamalaya Koh Samui, will embrace lo-fi longevity, offering Blue Zones retreats that get their guests connecting, cooking and moving like the people who live the longest in the world. In 2024, a further avalanche of clinics, travel destinations and tools will try to help you live longer and better. But we’ll also start asking some hard questions. About access: with uber-expensive clinics/solutions, are we entering a future where only the poor age? How can most people afford to live to 130? What is the impact of a “never die” mindset on our mental health and on the death-acceptance movement? A Wellness Check for Weight Loss Drugs The wellness industry was shaken up with the arrival of Big Pharma’s new, extremely effective GLP-1-inhibiting weight-loss drugs, the Ozempics and Mounjaros. They upended traditional behavior-change approaches to weight loss, recasting weight loss as a matter of biology rather than psychology and “willpower.” They quickly created challenges for behavior-change-focused businesses, whether dieting platforms, gyms, or wellness resorts. A big driver of the wellness market has always been weight loss, once more explicitly, and now more tacitly, as it became a dirty word after hard-fought body positivity gains. The new “magic pricks” quickly ripped open the weight loss Pandora’s box, and their impact on the world and wellness world will only become more intense in 2024. The number of people taking them has skyrocketed, resulting in ongoing global shortages. At least 70 new drugs are in development, with new, cheaper, very effective ones like Zepbound hitting the market this year. With people clamoring for the drugs, the trend covers how more wellness/health companies quickly pivoted to the (profitable) path of prescribing them, whether direct-to-consumer telemedicine brands like Ro or Found, or weight-loss platforms like WW (formerly Weight Watchers) and Noom. There is so much debate around the drugs and the companies making such moves. Proponents argue they could end the global obesity epidemic and save millions of lives; critics question their long-term health impacts, how they reinforce discriminatory ideals that “thin equals healthy,” and that, while they’re super-effective, they cannot deliver holistic health: exercise, healthy food, mental wellness, are still needed. In 2024, we predict the wellness world will start to interrogate how it could actually provide (not in name only) more honest, fully integrative, whole-health weight-loss approaches (spanning everything from nutrition coaching to fitness to mental health services to advanced metabolic health analysis), while also creating specific “wellness companion” programs for the drug-takers. The future: evidence-based methods that could help get people off these “forever” drugs and that specifically improve their health while on them. Sports Finds Its Footing in Hospitality After decades of fitness meaning lonely solo sessions at the gym, more people globally are embracing social, empowering sports (see: the pickleball explosion)—and more people want to train like near-elite athletes. At the same time, pro, collegiate, and even competitive junior athletes, constantly traveling to compete, have sorely lacked hospitality destinations that deliver wellness, recovery treatments and state-of-the-art gym equipment. It’s strange how much “sports” has been left out of the hospitality equation, but that’s now changing. Hospitality destinations are answering the call with everything from pro trainers to pro-level facilities—and if the global sports hospitality market was last valued at $4.75 billion, we think it will boom. More high-end wellness destinations are catering to recreational athletes who are serious about their sport, letting guests train and learn from their sports idols. Body Holiday in St. Lucia now features nine sports-themed months, led by pro athletes like NFL star Randy Moss and Olympians like Daley Thompson, Alix Klineman and Angie Akers, to let people up their running, swimming, and crewing game. In 2024, Aman Resorts is unveiling fitness, performance and recovery retreats led by five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova. New hospitality brands are squarely aimed at elite athletes, offering nth-degree wellness, fitness and recovery programming. Equinox Hotels plans 33 properties, and will next open in Saudi Arabia’s extraordinary Amaala wellness destination, with a pro-level gym, personal trainers, brain-stimulating tech to boost performance, and the full recovery menu, from cryo chambers to on-demand IV drips. Siro, a mind-blowing fitness and recovery hotel concept, opening its first property SIRO One Za’abeel next month in Dubai, optimizes everything (from rooms to food) for athletes of all levels, but is especially aimed at pros—from its vast gym designed by Olympic athletes to its incredible Recovery Lab. Sports tourism (people traveling to watch events) is a massive market, but more destinations are moving people from spectators to sports participants. The 2024 Paris Olympics will host a pre-Games marathon for regular folks so they can experience the thrill of the course. This summer’s Tour de France will, for the first time, open up new cycling routes near the course, so biking enthusiasts can jump in. Hospitality groups are thinking beyond “training like an athlete” and actually organizing competitive play: swimmers, runners, and tennis and pickleball players really want to compete with people at their level. So, in 2024, add a new category to the tourism lexicon: sports-meets-wellness travel. The Home as Highest-Tech-Health-Hub Wellness-focused homes have been a megatrend for years, with a big focus on amenities like meditation rooms and cold plunge pools. Now homes, and even cities, are becoming highest-tech, multifaceted health hubs. The shift is unprecedented, involving everything from the rise of medical-grade home health-monitoring systems to smart furnishings that adjust in real-time to individual wellbeing needs. In a post-pandemic era marked by increased time spent at home, health-at-home is taking bold new directions. The trend includes “Home Health Care,” where homes are becoming advanced “outpatient” care centers powered by digital health services—from fully-integrated telehealth to new health monitoring and diagnostic technology, reducing reliance on in-person interactions with practitioners. There is so much innovation in using M-health (mobile health) for home healthcare. For example, the just-released foneDX (from electronRX) uses existing smartphone sensors and a user interface app to measure a person’s critical heart and lung health right at home. In the next five years, 45% of healthcare services are expected to be delivered at home. Cities are becoming high-tech health hubs. In Saudi Arabia’s hotly-anticipated new smart city NEOM (unfolding in 2025), the futuristic healthcare system Dr. NEOM continuously collects health data from the population and houses it in a “digital twin” file of every resident. With this wealth of information, the system can precisely customize health and wellness interventions, and even predict health issues before they occur. It’s the city-as-wearable. Sensory-enhanced design is moving far beyond wellness concepts like feng shui and biophilic interiors. A new generation of textiles mean the very fabrics surrounding us at home will come alive as interactive interfaces. Companies like Getsound.ai and Endel are creating personalized bio-soundscapes grounded in our real-time biometric and environmental data. Our homes will ultimately evolve into multifaceted ecosystems, merging advanced nanotechnology and empathetic architecture to create living spaces that capture our biometrics to create environments dynamically extending from our own psyches. The home as high-tech health hub is a futuristic trend within the wellness real estate sector, the fastest-growing wellness market of all: now worth $398 billion and forecast to grow to $887.5 billion by 2027. A New Multisensory, Immersive Art for Wellness Art used to be a passive experience: you stare at a painting, or have lunch next to a sculpture garden. But no more. As newly tech-enabled artists—powered by innovations such as generative AI, projection mapping and spatial sound technologies—bring their craft to the mainstream, we’re entering an era of multi-sensory, wildly immersive art. Beyond a simple gaze, this next-gen art allows us to engage all of our senses and to participate, and is expressly designed to transform our mental wellbeing. Museums, hotels and spas are incorporating more and more multisensory art experiences into their offerings and, in doing so, are prioritizing wellness as an integrated offering. Case in point: the Mandala Lab at the Rubin Museum in New York City combines video, scent, sculpture, and sound based on Buddhist principles into one holistic, spiritual exhibit. At the Termemilano spa in Milan, Italy, a video skyscape of stormy skies surrounds a hydro pool, creating an unmatched moody vibe. Six Senses resorts are creating multisensory somatic experiences, like bio-alchemy sculptures infused with scents, flotation experiences suffused with ocean sounds, or geodesic domes with vibroacoustic floors. Multisensory, immersive art is becoming incredibly widespread in public places. From installations that dot cityscapes to AI-driven art in hospitals that utilize facial screening software to deliver audio-visuals based on your emotions. In the future, as adoption of wearable technologies becomes widespread, generative artworks will become even more hyper-personalized, participatory and therapeutically effective. Adaptive art will continue to take hold and push the boundaries of what sensory immersion and art-as-wellness can mean. Under the Radar At each annual Global Wellness Summit, delegates from around the world gather for four days of top-level insights. Because of its global nature and collection of diverse thought-leaders from the health and wellness world, it’s an incubator of new ideas. Many of these new ideas were the springboard for trends in this report, but GWS Chair and CEO Susie Ellis always notes interesting new directions also discussed that might be under the radar now but have the potential to become trends. This year, for the first time, Susie shares some of her emerging themes to watch. One key theme was for the wellness world to work harder at destigmatizing mental health issues and at creating new solutions, given the skyrocketing global rates of mental unwellness. Simone Biles’ keynote framed this huge issue, chronicling how mental struggles necessitated her withdrawal from the 2020 Olympics, and calling for a world where you could wear a “helmet on your head” to safely signal mental issues just as a cast does for a broken leg. The need for more mental wellness solutions percolated across the Summit. Amy McDonald (CEO, Under a Tree Consultancy) argued that with teens worldwide struggling mightily with mental health, we must lower age limits at wellness centers and spas, so they can benefit from evidence-based healing treatments, and properties like Qatar’s Zulal Wellness Resort have already risen to the occasion. There were very new ideas, such as Anjan Chattergee, MD, professor of neurology, University of Pennsylvania’s research into “slow looking,” how looking at an art piece for 15 minutes (rather than a few seconds) results in eye-opening impact on the brain. Another mega theme: governments embracing more innovative, powerful wellness policies. “Un-GDP” was discussed, with more governments moving beyond money-focused—in favor of quality-of-life—metrics to gauge national wellbeing. Through world-leading health/wellness policies, Singapore has dramatically improved its citizens’ health and longevity, which is why it was just named the sixth Blue Zone. This marks a new future of “Blue Zones 2.0,” where communities actively engineer environments that make it “natural” to make healthy choices. Keynote speaker Sophie Howe, the first Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, explained the crucial role policy must play in protecting the lives and health of those who will be born 50 years from now. Deborah Birx, MD, introduced the concept of “wellness diplomacy,” which could bring a divisive world together to collaborate on prevention. As for other things to watch? Dive into the other under-the-radar themes.
    • In English
    • Global News
    2024-01-31

실시간 In English 기사

  • The 15th Pyeongchang Trout Festival to Kick Off
    The 15th Pyeongchang Trout Festival (www.festival700.or.kr) kicked off on December 29th (Friday) and will run through January 28, 2024 (Sunday), from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Odaecheon area in Jinbu-myeon of Pyeongchang County. Since its inception in 2007, the Pyeongchang Trout Festival has experienced annual growth, contributing to the revitalization of the local economy, and generating jobs during the agricultural off-season in winter.After a hiatus due to COVID-19, the festival made a successful return, attracting 400,000 visitors during the 14th edition in 2022. Notably, it has been designated as the ‘2024-2025 Cultural Tourism Festival’ by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism for its originality and satisfying festival content.With the coinciding ‘2024 Winter Youth Olympics Gangwon’ starting on January 19, 2024, it is anticipated that foreign tourists will visit the festival in greater numbers.The festival primarily features trout fishing, winter games, and food experiences. The highlight is ‘Trout Fishing,’ including ice fishing with 15cm-sized holes drilled into the ice, bare-handed fishing, and indoor fishing. In bare-handed fishing, participants can catch some trout with their bare hands, providing a different thrill compared to traditional fishing.At the indoor fishing site, even children and the elderly can easily catch trout. Moreover, assistance is provided to anyone looking to catch some trout, both at the bare-handed fishing area and Indoor Fishing Center.For beginners in trout fishing, a ‘Trout Fishing Class’ is also held, featuring fishing expert Lee Jeong-gu who is invited to teach them how to catch trout effectively.The trout caught during the festival can be immediately prepared at nearby restaurants, offering options such as sashimi or roasted trout.Fish restaurants provide a selection of 15 different trout menus, including spicy raw trout salad, raw trout bibimbap, sweet and sour trout, and spicy trout stew.Visitors can also enjoy various winter leisure sports at the Snow Square and Ice Square, including snow sledding, snow rafting, and four-wheel ATV riding at the snow palace, as well as traditional sledding, skating, ice-bike riding, bumper car rides, and ice carting at the Ice Square.The Committee of the Pyeongchang Trout Festival also holds the ‘Catch Golden Trout’ event for visitors. Those who catch a golden trout at the fishing center will win a commemorative plaque made of pure gold.Chairman Choi Gi-sung said, “Pyeongchang has become a winter sports city, and is now popular as a winter festival city. We will do our best to ensure safety and create an environment where various visitors can enjoy the trout festival in Pyeongchang.”Pyeongchang Trout FestivalThe Pyeongchang Trout Festival will be held at the Odaecheon Pyeongchang Trout Festival in Jinbu-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun from Friday, December 29 to Sunday, January 28, 2024. At the Pyeongchang Trout Festival, the lives of our ancestors are sublimated into a festival, and a trout festival is held every winter under the theme of ‘A winter story with snow, ice, and trout.’ You can enjoy the joy of a true winter festival with various experience programs such as trout fishing and sledding. Website: http://festival700.or.kr
    • In English
    • Korea Today
    2024-01-02
  • Foreigner-exclusive Taxi Call App TABA Released
    TABA, a foreigner-exclusive taxi call app, has been released. The app allows users to verify their identity using their cell phone number from their home country, and pay for taxis using their overseas card, avoiding two of the most common difficulties foreign visitors experience when using other taxi call apps in Korea. Another benefit to using the app is being able to see the expected travel time, route, and cost to reach one’s chosen destination, based on current traffic conditions. Passengers can also select the route from recommended, shortest travel time, or toll-free route, as well as choose the type of taxi, from mid-sized, large-sized, or luxury. Currently the app offers service in English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified/Traditional), and Thai, with more languages to be added next year, including Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Russian. TABA can be downloaded from Google Play or the App Store. In celebration of the app’s release, users can receive a 5% discount benefit on their first taxi ride.
    • In English
    • Korea Today
    2023-12-19
  • BIO KOREA 2024: Registration Now Open for Programs and Booths
    BIO KOREA 2024, jointly hosted by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI, President: Cha Soon-do) and Chungcheongbuk-do (Governor: Kim Young-hwan), commenced entry registration and exhibition participating company recruitment from December 4, 2023. The event will be held at COEX in Seoul, Korea from May 8th to 10th, 2024.BIO KOREA, marking its 19th edition in 2024, has established itself as the preeminent bio-industry event in Korea. For the past 18 years, BIO KOREA has served as a catalyst for business revitalization and technological exchange between domestic and foreign companies, fostering a vibrant ecosystem of innovation and collaboration within the biohealth sector.Held in May of this year, BIO KOREA 2023 witnessed the participation of approximately 29,400 individuals from 780 companies across 51 countries, resulting in around 1,300 business meetings. Additionally, approximately 330 companies from 18 countries showcased their technologies through approximately 440 exhibition booths. Thematic exhibition halls, such as those dedicated to advanced regenerative medicine, CMO, and CDMO, were operated alongside national halls featuring booths from leading overseas companies from Australia, Canada, Germany, and others, fostering continuous technological and business exchanges among participating companies.BIO KOREA 2024 will feature exhibitions of domestic and international biohealth companies, as well as a range of programs including business partnering, conferences, and an Invest Fair.In particular, to provide visitors with a more enriching experience, a special AI hall featuring booths of digital healthcare companies will be operated, along with a docent tour program to assist in visitors' understanding of the participating companies. An unmanned poster exhibition will also be held in the rest area to provide more companies with an opportunity to participate in the exhibition.Early bird registrations made between December 4, 2023, and February 16, 2024 (Fri.), will receive a 30% discount, while registrations received by April 30, 2024 (Tue.), will receive a 10% discount. On-site registration is also available.Exhibition Booth DiscountsApplications received by February 16, 2024 (Fri.), will receive a 10% discount on exhibition fees, while applications received by April 5, 2024 (Fri.), will receive a 5% discount. Companies that participated in BIO KOREA 2023 will receive an additional 5% discount.BIO KOREA 2024 website provides comprehensive information on not only the exhibitions but also various programs, including the new company presentation program, business partnering opportunities, and the Invest Fair.BIO KOREA entry and exhibition registrations can be conveniently completed on the BIO KOREA website at www.biokorea.org. Website: http://www.biokorea.org/
    • In English
    • Korea Today
    2023-12-12
  • Jeonju: A Must-Visit Destination for Korean History and Culinary Delights
    Jeonju City, a prominent tourist destination in Korea with more than 10 million annual visitors, is a hub of Korean culture where Korean authenticity is best preserved. Jeonju, officially named in 757, is one of the regions with deep roots in Korean history. The city retains an extensive history and traditional culture as the foundational city of the Joseon Dynasty. Jeonju is rich in cultural treasures and historic landmarks steeped in history and culture. Jeonju Hanok Village, Gyeonggijeon, Pungnammun Gate, Pungpaejigwan (Jeonju Guesthouse), and Jeolla Gamyeong are located in the center and Jeonju IC, Jeonju Station, and Honam Jeilmun Gate, each of which serves as a primary gateway to Jeonju City, feature in the form of hanok. Jeonju, designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, is a representative gourmet city. Jeonju is the home of Korea‘s iconic dish, bibimbap, and is a destination for epicurean travel where you can taste a variety of foods from bean sprout soup to Korean Table d’hôte. In Jeonju Hanok Village, where tourists with Korea's distinctive clothing Hanbok stroll the streets, traditional Korean music performances such as pansori, fusion Korean music, and Joseon pop that bring a modern sensibility to traditional music, are available all year round. Jeonju is the city with the largest number of living national treasures in Korea. You may experience exquisite products manufactured by craftsmen in this world-class intangible heritage city, which houses the National Intangible Heritage Center and ICHCAP under the auspices of UNESCO. Jeonju is also a significant manufacturer of “Hanji,” a paper that has gained global recognition. Jeonju, a city also known for its festivals, holds the ‘Jeonju International Film Festival’ every spring, as well as a variety of cultural events and festivals that embody Jeonju's uniqueness throughout the year, such as the Jeonju Bibimbap Festival, Jeonju Hanji Culture Festival, Jeonju International Sori Festival, and Jeonju City’s representative festival Jeonju Festa. Woo Beom-ki, Mayor of Jeonju, said, “Based on its historical assets and cultural capabilities, Jeonju is striving to showcase the most authentic history and strengthen its identity by preserving valuable assets while boldly innovating what needs to be changed. I hope tourists will have wonderful experiences and memories in Jeonju, the most Korean city where tradition and modernity coexist.” ‘Your Taste Jeonju’ Jeonju Cultural and Tourism website: https://tour.jeonju.go.kr/eng/index.jeonju
    • In English
    • Korea Today
    2023-11-30
  • Seoul Lantern Festival Lights Up the Night
    Seoul Lantern Festival, Seoul’s main winter festival, will brighten up the night from December 15, 2023 to January 21, 2024. This year marks the 15th year of the festival, and will be expanding for the first time to include Gwanghwamun Plaza and Seoul Plaza, making it the largest it has ever been! This year’s theme is “White Night in Seoul” and will feature LED lanterns made of hanji (traditional Korean paper), air balloons, kinetic art, and more fun lighting displays. As 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, special displays will focus on dragons, including a large blue dragon at Gwanghwamun Plaza, and the “White Dragon” display at Cheonggyecheon Stream. Gwanghwamun Plaza Market is a Christmas market for local small businesses. Vendors will have everything to enjoy a joyful holiday season, from Christmas products to craft items, and winter treats. Other programs include Christmas and New Year’s photo zones and participatory events. This year’s market will also include food trucks and dining booth area during the festival period. Seoul Lantern Festival & Gwanghwamun Plaza Market Period: December 15, 2023 – January 21, 2024 / 18:00-22:00 Venues: Gwanghwamun Plaza, Sejong-ro Park, Seoul Plaza, Cheonggyecheon Stream (Cheonggye Plaza - Mojeongyo Bridge section) Instagram: @seoullanternfestival
    • In English
    • Korea Today
    2023-11-29
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