Professional Documents
Culture Documents
for 2017 –
and Beyond
As identified at the
Global Wellness Summit
CONTENTS
1. Sauna Reinvented
From theatrical Sauna Aufguss events to jaw-dropping amphitheater
saunas…sweating will get more spectacular and social in years ahead
2. Wellness Architecture
Healthy-for-Humans Building…Finally
3. Silence
From silent spas - to wellness monasteries and
“down-time abbeys” - to silent eating
Susie Ellis is chairman and CEO of the Global Wellness Institute, the non-
profit research and educational resource for the global wellness industry.
She is also co-founder, chairman and CEO of the Global Wellness
and Beyond
Summit, an international gathering of senior executives and leaders,
Global Wellness Summit experts identify future directions for the $3.7
which just celebrated its 10th anniversary. Recognized as a top authority
on the worldwide wellness industry, she is frequently quoted in major trillion wellness industry: from a new focus on “silence” at hotels,
news outlets around the world. She holds an MBA from the University retreats and spas - to the bold reinvention of sauna-going - to wellness
of California, Los Angeles, and is the recipient of the International Spa
rewriting both the architecture and beauty industries
Association’s Visionary Award.
When 500+ wellness experts from 46+ nations both “silent” and creativity and arts programming
gather to debate the future of wellness, you have (whether at hotels, spas or fitness studios) to the
BETH MCGROARTY
one uniquely authoritative and global view of the 2,000-year-old sauna tradition getting a 21st-
Director of Research, Global Wellness Summit trends set to unfold. And that’s what happened century reimagining.
at the recent tenth-anniversary Global Wellness “No other forecast is based on the perspectives
Beth McGroarty has been the Global Wellness Summit’s Director of
Summit in Kitzbühel, Austria, which (with its of so many wellness experts, from renowned
Research for seven years, and serves in the same capacity for the
specifically future-focused theme for 2016, “Back economists, academics or futurists to the heads
Global Wellness Institute (GWI) since its founding three years ago. She
to the Future”) brought together leaders from the of global hospitality, spa and beauty brands,” said
is also the editor of the GWI’s “Global Wellness Brief” and its website,
travel, spa, beauty, fitness, nutrition, technology, Susie Ellis, GWS Chairman & CEO. “And it makes
WellnessEvidence.com, the first online resource dedicated to the
medical, economics and architecture worlds, to for a powerfully collective, global and informed
medical evidence for the top wellness approaches. She has a BA from
identify not only what the top wellness trends in set of predictions.”
Barnard College and an MA from Stanford University.
2017 (and beyond) will be – but why.
After the trends were identified, Global Wellness
With a wave of annual wellness trends reports, Summit researchers expanded on the global
the future shifts that Summit experts identified angles and examples to illustrate the ways they’re
have a distinct “get real” quality: from architects already taking shape in our world.
finally designing buildings for human health to
many new directions ahead in mental wellness
to the wellness industry reaching beyond its
(narrowing) association with wealthy elites. And
much innovation lies ahead: from a new focus on
Sauna Reinvented
From theatrical Sauna Aufguss events to jaw-dropping amphitheater
saunas…sweating will get more spectacular and social in years ahead
The Future:
Europeans are now boldly reinventing
the sauna experience, with everything
from “Sauna Aufguss,” or sauna as a truly
A hot topic at the Summit was not only how the THE TREND
theatrical event, to more extraordinary
world needs to learn from European bathing/ Saunas, spaces built for intense dry or wet heat
and social sauna design. Sauna is getting
reinvented, and the new directions look to sauna culture, but how the Europeans themselves sessions, are standard fare at hotels, spas and
spread globally. are now busy reimagining the sauna experience. gyms worldwide. But when it comes to how sauna
For instance, a Summit showcase, “Sauna “gets done” there has been a serious disconnect
Aufguss: Hot Doesn’t Get Any Cooler Than This” between Northern, Central and Eastern Europe,
(led by Lasse Eriksen, Development Manager, where sauna-going is a way of life…and the rest
Nordic Hotels & Resorts, Farris Bad, Norway), of the world. In countries like Finland (where
vividly illustrated how sauna in Europe is evolving saunas were born 2,000 years ago), Italy, Austria,
into a true event, called Sauna Aufguss (which Germany, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, The
means “infusion”) led by sauna-meisters serving Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, etc., the rituals
up some serious entertainment to sweaty, happy and facilities are often creative, deeply social
audiences. Or a panel led by Anna Bjurstam and fabulous. But the sauna experience outside
(VP, Spas & Wellness, Six Senses; Owner, Raison Europe can frankly be rather “meh”: an uninspired,
D’Etre) called the “Naked Truth about European lonely experience in a spa or condo basement
Spa and Wellness Traditions”, with European “box.” And while non-Europeans often jump in
spa experts discussing their unique spa/wellness and out, Europeans know how to push this sweat
experiences (whether Sauna Aufguss or little- experience, and that contrast therapy (taking
known experiences like the Latvian “pirt” sauna or a cold/snow plunge after, and repeating and
ancient “black smoke saunas.)” And how what’s repeating) is key to the health benefits, and to
been hot in Europe is poised for global discovery. getting those endorphins pumping.
Helsinki’s hip, high-design
new public sauna complex,
Löyly, shows the new
social directions. Image
Source: Avanto Architects
by kuvio.com
• Helsinki, Finland’s stunning new public • You can see the importation of Finnish sauna
waterfront sauna complex, Löyly, a suave, culture at Löyly locations in Portland, Oregon,
eco-friendly pyramid composed of wooden a hybrid between an American spa and a sauna
slats, with the saunas (including an ancient, hangout center. And global wellness retreats are
antioxidant Finnish smoke sauna), vast putting their own indigenous spin on sauna, like
terraces, and restaurant all open to the sea. Peru’s Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel,
And where after a social steam you can jump with their “Andean Sauna” staged pond-side in
in the harbor or through a hole in the ice in a candlelit eucalyptus hut.
winter.
• Trendy urban “sweathouses” using infrared
• The Well (near Oslo, Norway), the Nordic sauna technology (that get bodies sweating
region’s largest bathhouse. A new, sprawling, at lower temperatures, to extend and deepen The new Sauna Aufguss sees sauna-meisters staging true “events” - from singing to dance routines - to
three-level fantasia of 15 saunas (from a jungle the therapy), have gotten much ink, but only engage large audiences. Image Source: Lasse Eriksen PowerPoint, Global Wellness Summit 2016
sauna to a cinema sauna to an Austrian loft seem to be trending hotter. You can chill out
sauna where Aufguss events are performed) in infrared sauna heat wraps (with the likes
– with 11 pools and 100 showers set to attract of Selena Gomez and the Kardashians) at
100,000 daycationers a year. Los Angeles’ three Shape House locations
(and they have ambitious expansion plans)
• The Norwegian cultural project SALT’s Arctic or at NYC’s Higher Dose infrared sauna spas THE FUTURE more than the “one-percent” - the interweaving
amphitheater sauna, the largest (and certainly (two locations now, three coming), where you of spa experiences with art, culture, music and
Every culture has its ancient sweat tradition: the
one of the coolest) public saunas in the world, sweat to house music while basking in chakra performance – and ingenious new wellness
Arabic hamman, Japanese onsen, Russian banya,
where 100 people gather for “group sweat- light therapy. architecture.
Native American sweat lodge, the Mesoamerican
ins” on tiered benches facing the Norwegian temezcal – and, of course, the most globally In the UN’s latest World Happiness Report seven
Sea (looking out through a wall of glass) – all ubiquitous…the European sauna. All will continue of the ten happiest nations on Earth are in
while experiencing theater, readings and to undergo a renaissance (and reinvention) as the Northern Europe (Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland,
art exhibits (or having a cocktail at the bar world aches most for stress-reducing, detoxifying Norway, Finland, Netherlands and Sweden).
therapies. And if the sauna has seemed the Places where a “wellness culture” is natural and
most tepid experience outside of Europe, that’s everyday (rather than a hysterical, consumerist
SALT’s Arctic set to change. Because the sauna reinventions
amphitheater sauna, stressor)…and where sauna is a way of life. In a
now underway, from Sauna Aufguss events world getting hotter and crazier, more people
the largest public
to eye-popping, high-design saunas aimed at will travel to these countries for their cool, serene
sauna in the world,
where 100 people becoming that communal “third place”, live right nature, and to try their hot sauna innovations at
gather for “group at the intersection of so many important, future the source. And their breeds of more social, more
sweat-ins” (and music, trends in wellness and spa. The need for social entertaining, and high-design sauna concepts will
art and cocktails). and fun experiences in our Age of Loneliness - continue to spread across the world.
Image Source: salted.no wellness experiences that are affordable for far
via traveller.com.au
The under-development Six Senses Gammarth Tunisia uses ancient North African architectural philosophies to
create a healthy-for-humans retreat. Image Source: Lars Krückeberg PowerPoint, Global Wellness Summit 2016
Alert! Sick Building Identified: Killer apps for • Buildings that never “die,” like Cradle to
identifying killer buildings are coming. Cradle’s entirely made of clay and wood, so
they simply return to the earth when their life
Liz Terry, moderator of the wellness architecture is over.
air toxins to the highest-tech, like “living” buildings ARUP explained how the Global Real Estate
panel, noted that we’re “fast approaching the
with walls made of algae biofuel cells that grow Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB, which ranks
time when people will have smartphone pollution • Radically “wired” buildings with responsive
their own energy or new phone apps that alert you real estate assets for sustainability) announced architecture that can tailor health experiences
sensors, constantly monitoring things like harmful
when you’re entering a “sick” building. From air this year that their global benchmark for real for each inhabitant: like the mind-blowingly
CO2 and VOC gas levels…This will be a game-
quality to indoor acoustics, everything in the built estate portfolios will now include human health & “smart”, green workplace, Deloitte’s The Edge
changer: toxic buildings will plummet in value,
environment will be reevaluated and reengineered. wellbeing measures. (Netherlands), with 28,000 environment-
while healthy buildings’ value will soar, and
New Standards & Research Labs: Architects The Indoor Air Pollution Super-Crisis: Experts on
can’t design for human health without new the wellness architecture panel hammered home
scientific guidelines. And at the DELOS how indoor air pollution is one of the deadliest “Wellness Architecture and Design” panel led by Liz Terry (Leisure Media), with Anne Marie Aguilar and
workshop, Summit delegates learned about the (if most silent) killers. Studies show that 14 times Vicki Lockhart (ARUP), Lars Kruckeberg (GRAFT Architects) and Neil Jacobs (Six Senses). Image Source:
“International Well Building Standard” (WELL), as many deaths now result from poor indoor Global Wellness Summit by Michelle Hirnsberger
busily certifying buildings around 100+ healthy air quality rather than outside air pollution. And
measures (from air to water to light), and now indoor spaces, that got tightened up (around the
involved in 250 projects across 20 countries. 1980s), when buildings were sealed for energy
And also about Mayo Clinic’s new “Well Living efficiency, have become a toxic stew of CO2
Lab”, which scientifically tests how every and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from
aspect of architecture and design impacts real furniture, paints, sealants and fabrics, that cause
humans, to provide evidence-based, practical cancer, heart problems and lung disease. And
recommendations – like which lighting can these “sick” buildings have an “instant effect on
actually sharpen eyesight. If building standards people’s health and ability to concentrate.” Here
for environmental health (LEED, BREEAM) is a case of environmental sustainability colliding
were chapter one, the next chapter is standards with human health, evidence that you have to
for human health. For instance, Lockhart of consider both, but often independently.
Delos’ Stay Well rooms, with everything from air purification to dawn simulating lighting. Image Source:
Wellness design is key at Six Senses’ Qing Cheng
Delos MGM Grand Las Vegas
Mountain Resort. Image Source: Lars Krückeberg
PowerPoint, Global Wellness Summit 2016
The brand-new, completely “Silent Spa” at Therme Laa Hotel, Austria - a modern interpretation of “sacred
architecture.” Image Source: Vamed Vitality Resorts
The Past:
Art & Creativity Take
From the late 18th
century to WW2, the
connection between a
Center Stage
spa/wellness “cure” and
creativity was powerful.
Yes, adult coloring books - but well beyond: from classical concerts to
But then it was sadly
lost, with “wellness” intensive painting classes at hotels, wellness retreats, spas and studios
becoming all about
chasing physical fitness
and beauty.
An insistent refrain at the 2016 Summit, running concerts a year) argued that “wellness culture”
like the notes of Mozart’s “Requiem” (which has become narrowly obsessed with ego and
opened neuroscientist Dr. Claudia Aguirre’s “self-optimization”, and needs to focus more on
keynote on how experiencing works of art music, art and literature to take guests beyond
positively impacts the brain) was the need for the “cage of self”. (And Louie Schwartzberg’s
more creativity (art, music, literature, dance, etc.) extraordinary nature films, and multimedia artist
at wellness retreats/spas - both for guests to SHA’s collective art piece painted by conference
experience and to “do.” delegates, illustrated the many ways that art can
be creatively connected to wellness.
Historian David Clay Large’s fascinating keynote
revealed that the connection between the “spa If the arts have historically been in spas’ DNA
cure” and creativity (and famous artists) was (genetic material that’s been lost), the future
historically incredibly strong: artists and thinkers, is restoring a very different looking “mind-
from Beethoven and Mozart to Twain and Marx, body” connection, with more creativity/arts
flocked to the grand spas of the late-18th to early- programming a crucial future wellness trend.
The Future: 20th centuries - great works were composed Because the medical evidence shows that de-
Creativity and the arts (both as
there - and musical performance and art were stressing is the path to creativity, and that
experienced and practiced) become once
always the heartbeat of spa culture. Dietmar creative pursuits are key to mental wellness. So,
again central to wellness concepts – and at
hotels, wellness retreats, spas and studios. Mueller-Elmau’s talk (owner, Schloss Elmau, it’s “back to the future” - with arts and creativity
famed German wellness retreat that has kept the programming again taking their proper place on
creativity-spa connection incredibly alive with 220 wellness’ center stage.
Kerstin Florian, founder of Kerstin Florian Skincare, holds up the “Beauty Ball” - which, at $999 billion,
represents the largest segments of the $3.7 billion Wellness Economy - during GWS 2016. Image Source:
Global Wellness Summit by Michelle Hirnsberger
A massively bigger focus on mental wellness – (emotional) patient, or act on evidence that
whether in new programming at hotels, wellness the mind influences every cell in the body. They
retreats and spas or schools and workplaces – was argued that the wellness industry must zero in on
an uber-trend identified by Summit experts. The teaching people “the discipline of living again”:
mounting crisis was laid out. Global economist, to restore day and night, work and rest, learn the
Thierry Malleret, explained how, despite our era of connection between bad food and bad mood, and
historic economic abundance, depression, anxiety the (painful) discipline of digitally disconnecting.
disorders, loneliness, addiction and suicide is (Notably, the first Summit award for a leader in
skyrocketing. So much so that the World Health mental wellness (the Debra Simon Award) went
Organization has forecast that by 2030 the to Jeremy McCarthy, director of spa & wellness for
The Future: largest health risk on earth will be depression (not Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and author of The
Due to increasing levels of stress as well as obesity). Leading integrative medical experts, Psychology of Spas & Wellbeing, for his work in
a greater understanding of brain science, like Dr. Elke Benedetto-Reisch and Nils Behrens bringing the power of positive psychology to the
the proper relationship between mind/
(Lanserhof Group); Drs. Harry and Imke Koenig attention of the spa industry.)
body is getting clearer. With an alarming
(Brenner’s Park Hotel & Spa); and Dr. Christine
mental wellness crisis (spiking depression,
Stossier (VIVAMAYR Medical Clinic) outlined Governments will recognize that a focus on
anxiety, etc.), wellness retreats, spas,
the serious new problems they’re seeing: from mental wellbeing and happiness is an important
fitness studios, schools, workplaces and
governments will step up “healthy mind” “total burnout” to exploding disorders around key to turning around declining productivity
programming…in 2017 and beyond. stress and the “gut” - with agreement that and rising social instability. For instance, Jan-
traditional medicine tends not to see the whole Emmanuel De Neve (economics professor, Oxford
University; co-editor of the UN’s World Happiness
The Past:
Embracing the C-Word
Fear and
misinformation, along
with costly insurance
Wellness industry stops turning away cancer sufferers and, instead,
policies, meant spa and provides comfort, solace and positive recovery paths
wellness businesses
often excluded cancer
sufferers.
Equality and fairness in wellness was a common Bach, who also heads up the GWI Initiative of the
theme at this year’s Summit. Cancer sufferers, same name – Wellness for Cancer – acknowledged
typically underserved when it comes to companies that are embracing cancer sufferers,
wellness options, made significant gains due to and doing what the wellness industry does best:
organizations like Wellness for Cancer. Julie Bach, helping them reduce stress, find inner peace
who heads this educational platform that trains and increase emotional resiliency. Some of the
wellness companies on how to be better equipped trailblazers embracing cancer clients include
to work with cancer patients, said: “The industry’s All4Spas, Biologique Recherche, ESPA, Sanitas
mantra in the past was ‘we serve well people’ – a Skincare, The Red Door, Two Bunch Palms, Voya
non-inclusive policy that is changing.” and Weight Watchers.
Puyssentut, in south-west France, is a haven for people with or recovering from cancer, allowing them to
enjoy simple pleasures while being fully cared for and supported. Image Source: Puyssentut.
The Farm at San Benito in the Philippines offers a
natural and holistic 6-night integrative cancer care
program. Image Source: The Farm at San Benito
support guess dealing with cancer. The program These examples join existing programs at
was recently added to the ESPA’s flagship spa, Pennyhill Park, Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa and
ESPA Life at the Corinthia in London, U.K. Calcot Lodge in the UK, Voya in Ireland, and
Estancia Hotel and Spa in California. As well as
Ananda in the Himalayas recently hosted Wellness destination resorts like The Farm at San Benito
for Cancer training followed by community in the Philippines, which offers natural and
outreach by a specially trained hospice team to holistic 6-night integrative cancer care program;
spread cancer care throughout the local villages, Puyssentut’s week-long post-cancer retreats at
a move that resonates with another common its restored chateau in south-west France; and
theme at this year’s Summit: the call for universal Grayshott Spa in the UK’s special program to care
wellness beyond property “walls” or or “Beyond for people after cancer treatment (with nurses,
the Elite Ghettos of Wellness.” wellness practitioners, nutritionists, etc.)
One of the most insistent arguments, resounding Economist Jan-Emmanuel De Neve (professor,
through most sessions at the 2016 Summit, was Oxford University) dove into the UN’s latest World
the need for “wellness” to reach further beyond the Happiness Report (he is co-editor) to explain all
rich elites. Leading economists painted the new the factors beyond GDP/income that are major
(sudden) global picture: a world where a rising indicators of human wellbeing (from social
sense of “unfairness” is unleashing a global storm connections to health to social freedom), and how
of populism. Economist Thierry Malleret’s keynote the latest report shows that people’s perceptions
(Founder, The Monthly Barometer) explored a of “inequality of wellbeing” has grown in almost
crucial paradox: in a world where “global economic every country over the last few years. So, not only
abundance” has never been higher, why is not only does the world need far more wellness (given
global unwellness (obesity, mental illness, etc.) skyrocketing chronic disease and mental illness
rising – but why is a wave of populist conservatism rates), people’s heightened sense of “unfairness” in
underway (i.e, Brexit, Trump, strongmen from Russia total “wellbeing” is poised to wreak havoc on the
The Future:
to Turkey to the Philippines)? Malleret postulated world stage.
A heightened perception of “unfairness”
in access to wellness makes industry
that it’s not as simple as how well nations or
individuals are doing economically (a simple matter Andreas Braun, PhD (CEO, Destinations Wattens,
change both a moral and market mandate.
And changes will include more wellness of “richer” or “poorer”), but the fact that humans Austria), whose talk “Beyond Ghettos of
businesses giving back and “doing are hardwired down to their DNA for “fairness.” And Wellness” inspired this trend’s name, examined
something” to bring more services to more a rising, global sense of “unfairness” is unleashing a rising inequalities that have created a wellness
people - wellness tourism development that industry too associated with the 1%. He mused on
whole lot of unhappiness.
thinks beyond the property, to the whole his own low-cost, daily health regime (a walk in
community – and more wellness for the
workers that actually deliver it
Image Sources: Pexels
www.globalwellnesssummit.com