A boom of wellness developments catering to social health and wellbeing has emerged post-pandemic. In contrast to spas that cater mostly to individuals by way of spa treatments and therapies, spa design that centers around social wellness aims to promote meaningful and positive social interaction and community development.

With careful consideration and planning, social spa concepts have the ability to drive meaningful revenue and financial return.

When buzz around a documentary titled “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood” floated into our awareness, we made immediate plans to attend opening night at the Hot Docs Cinema in Toronto.

From the opening scene, the film created a portal that moved the audience from the darkened theatre into the intimate setting of a traditional Estonian Smoke Sauna.

At the threshold between land and sea, the raw energy of the Atlantic Ocean meets the sheltered waters of Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia. This stunning landscape is now home to a new meeting place, The Hydrothermal Spa At Oceanstone Seaside Resort.

A discerning and targeted move away from sterile healthcare-based models towards experientially-rich residential communities gives rise to the opportunity to create wellness-based business models.

Coronavirus had become a catalyst for the game of golf. The problem: Traditional golf and old-school country clubs are a far cry from the experiences desired. The solution: The time-honoured game of golf is overdue for a renaissance of sorts along with the birth of the next generation country club.

Over the past decade, Silicon Valley technopreneurs have poured investment dollars and research hours into a variety of home tech innovations. Innovations centred around supporting the health of the built environment and its inhabitants, from living art to smart toilets, are on the rise, and exponentially so.

This represents a boon for the increasing numbers of consumers seeking integrated well-being solutions throughout their homes. This also presents a critical make or break opportunity for the developers serving them.

An Urgent Calling: The Intersection of Hospitality & Health Care

The current global pandemic has exposed a devastating disconnection: Two industries, hospitality and health care, that have been living worlds apart, yet now find themselves in desperate need of one another.

At the forefront of nearly every conversation, health and wellness is poised to take centre-stage, no matter what the industry.

Here, a few highlights and insightful reports from across the world of wellness.

In response to heightened consumer demand for a healthier world, wellness is poised to take a larger role in the hotel experience.

The devastating human toll exacted by the global coronavirus pandemic has pushed health and wellbeing to the forefront.

It’s also led to seismic structural shifts in how the world conducts its business—and I would argue, for the hospitality industry. It represents a pivotal moment in which health and wellness ascend to join overnight room accommodation and food and beverage as the dominant revenue streams, and in the process rounds out the ideal experiential trifecta.

Spa and wellness redefined in a COVID-19 world

Revised standards of care, cleanliness and hygiene will be a prerequisite to hotel re-entry. These practices will get hotel doors open, but alone are unlikely to be enough to get guests to walk back through them.

Para spa y bienestar, nuestra industria, esto presenta una prioridad innegable: el cuidado, la salud y el bienestar de nuestro equipo y huéspedes en un mundo donde el COVID-19 adquiere un significado completamente nuevo. La adopción de nuevos estándares mínimos de cuidado, limpieza e higiene serán un requisito previo para el reingreso. Podría decirse que estas prácticas harán que sus puertas se abran, pero por sí solas es poco probable que sean suficientes para que sus huéspedes vuelvan a cruzarlas.

RE-OPENING TOOLKITS // Bowing to numerous leading industry associations and organizations in the spa and wellness sector that have responded swiftly and generously to the COVID-19 crisis. In gratitude to the @globalwellnessinstitute for amalgamating these re-opening resources (link in bio) that identify new standards of care and cleanliness to keep our teams and guests safe and well. ⠀
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Hotel and day spas in cities and towns are prioritising community and connection over an environment of retreat and isolation. A great alternative to the traditional Friday night bar scene for the growing number of health-focused, teetotal millennials.

Impacting design, functionality and experience, digital wellness and fitness technology are a game-changer for hotel owners and hotel operators. For the latest innovations and trends in digital wellness and fit tech, read on!

With the Global Wellness Economy now valued at a staggering $4.2 Trillion (as of 2017), the business of wellness shows no signs of slowing down. In this post, we share an article we contributed to Hotel News Now, discussing ‘The Rise of Social Wellness’ and how it is driving a new era of opportunity in the business of spa.