Parekh is a former Deutsche Bank executive and COO
for Deepak Chopra
A new type of spa model has arrived. The Well, a modern membership-based wellness club, is opening in the heart of New York City.
Just like destination spas across the world, The Well offers “both the benefits of western medicine and the wisdom of eastern healing”. It has a “science backed ecosystem of wellness” where people have access to doctors, health coaches and 50 practitioners working across a range of modalities – from bodywork, food as medicine and mindful movement to Chinese medicine, ayurveda, vibrational energy healing and emotional wellbeing. Unlike destination spas, however, this is all available in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the world.
The Well is a first of its kind, says co-founder and CEO Rebecca Parekh. “Consumers are becoming more conscientious about their health,” she tells Spa Business, “but with so many different offerings in the health and wellness space, they find themselves running around town and often receiving conflicting advice.” Instead staff at The Well “work together under one roof to build customised plans to suit each member and their goals”.
Parekh is no stranger to the wellness world. She was a COO for Deepak Chopra for five years working to secure federal funding for integrative health research. As a former Deutsche Bank executive, she’s also a shrewd businesswoman.
The Well will help “busy New Yorkers to live healthier, happier, more balanced lives,” she says. And demand is there. Although it’s not due to open until September, there are already 400 members and there’s capacity for 2,000. Each member pays US$375 (€334, £302) a month, plus a registration fee of US$500 (€446, £403).
For this, they get a monthly session with a dedicated health coach, unlimited yoga and meditation classes and are privy to a variety of classroom programmes. They can also access the skilled practitioners, but pay for sessions – a 60 minute massage starts at US$180 (€161, £145) for example.
In addition, they can enjoy amenities at the 13,000sq ft club which include a 10-treatment-room spa with steam and sauna rooms, an organic restaurant and vitamin bar, reflexology lounge, yoga and meditation studios and a private training gym. “We have something for everyone,” concludes Parekh.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2019 issue 3
Spa Programmes: On the menu
Energy medicine at Six Senses; aroma retreat on Croatia’s Island of Vitality and menopause programming all feature in our spa menu round-up
Top team: Rosewood
Jane Kitchen talks to the wellness team behind Rosewood, and its forward-thinking spa concepts, as CEO Sonia Cheng leads a vigorous global rollout
Everyone’s talking about: CBD
Are CBD treatments and products an unregulated fad, or a serious business proposition? Spa Business investigates
Promotional feature: The Madison Collection
Innovation of form and function in robes and towels is a vital part of attracting the next generation of wellness consumers. Charmaine T Lang from The Madison Collection explains how her company consistently maintains its successful point of difference
Interview: Markus Engel
The CEO of Asia’s Urban Resort Concepts talks to Spa Business about positive disruption in the hospitality and spa sector
Promotional feature: The Wellness
A beautiful pool can be the standout feature that draws new customers. It can also cut your running costs if it’s designed to be sustainable. Mohammed Ibrahim, CEO of The Wellness, explains
Interview: Davide Bollati
Liz Terry speaks to the founder of Comfort Zone about the group’s new botanical garden and ongoing commitment to environmentalism
Research: Generation gap
A new consumer study by ISPA uncovers spa-goer preferences and habits across different age groups
Promotional feature: Phytomer
Formulating the ultimate universal product to heal and defend the skin has taken three years of R&D for Phytomer, the French luxury marine skincare brand. The company’s scientific director tells Spa Business about the launch of the groundbreaking Prebioforce serum
Event Report: APSWC Round Table
Industry leaders contribute to APSWC’s third white paper at annual gathering. Catharine Nicol reports from Malaysia
Family spa: Play time
Spa Business takes a look at innovative spa programmes for children and families
Eco spa: Going green
Joanna Roche and Bonnie Baker share their ambitions for the Green Spa Network
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
Parekh is a former Deutsche Bank executive and COO
for Deepak Chopra
A new type of spa model has arrived. The Well, a modern membership-based wellness club, is opening in the heart of New York City.
Just like destination spas across the world, The Well offers “both the benefits of western medicine and the wisdom of eastern healing”. It has a “science backed ecosystem of wellness” where people have access to doctors, health coaches and 50 practitioners working across a range of modalities – from bodywork, food as medicine and mindful movement to Chinese medicine, ayurveda, vibrational energy healing and emotional wellbeing. Unlike destination spas, however, this is all available in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the world.
The Well is a first of its kind, says co-founder and CEO Rebecca Parekh. “Consumers are becoming more conscientious about their health,” she tells Spa Business, “but with so many different offerings in the health and wellness space, they find themselves running around town and often receiving conflicting advice.” Instead staff at The Well “work together under one roof to build customised plans to suit each member and their goals”.
Parekh is no stranger to the wellness world. She was a COO for Deepak Chopra for five years working to secure federal funding for integrative health research. As a former Deutsche Bank executive, she’s also a shrewd businesswoman.
The Well will help “busy New Yorkers to live healthier, happier, more balanced lives,” she says. And demand is there. Although it’s not due to open until September, there are already 400 members and there’s capacity for 2,000. Each member pays US$375 (€334, £302) a month, plus a registration fee of US$500 (€446, £403).
For this, they get a monthly session with a dedicated health coach, unlimited yoga and meditation classes and are privy to a variety of classroom programmes. They can also access the skilled practitioners, but pay for sessions – a 60 minute massage starts at US$180 (€161, £145) for example.
In addition, they can enjoy amenities at the 13,000sq ft club which include a 10-treatment-room spa with steam and sauna rooms, an organic restaurant and vitamin bar, reflexology lounge, yoga and meditation studios and a private training gym. “We have something for everyone,” concludes Parekh.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2019 issue 3
Spa Programmes: On the menu
Energy medicine at Six Senses; aroma retreat on Croatia’s Island of Vitality and menopause programming all feature in our spa menu round-up
Top team: Rosewood
Jane Kitchen talks to the wellness team behind Rosewood, and its forward-thinking spa concepts, as CEO Sonia Cheng leads a vigorous global rollout
Everyone’s talking about: CBD
Are CBD treatments and products an unregulated fad, or a serious business proposition? Spa Business investigates
Promotional feature: The Madison Collection
Innovation of form and function in robes and towels is a vital part of attracting the next generation of wellness consumers. Charmaine T Lang from The Madison Collection explains how her company consistently maintains its successful point of difference
Interview: Markus Engel
The CEO of Asia’s Urban Resort Concepts talks to Spa Business about positive disruption in the hospitality and spa sector
Promotional feature: The Wellness
A beautiful pool can be the standout feature that draws new customers. It can also cut your running costs if it’s designed to be sustainable. Mohammed Ibrahim, CEO of The Wellness, explains
Interview: Davide Bollati
Liz Terry speaks to the founder of Comfort Zone about the group’s new botanical garden and ongoing commitment to environmentalism
Research: Generation gap
A new consumer study by ISPA uncovers spa-goer preferences and habits across different age groups
Promotional feature: Phytomer
Formulating the ultimate universal product to heal and defend the skin has taken three years of R&D for Phytomer, the French luxury marine skincare brand. The company’s scientific director tells Spa Business about the launch of the groundbreaking Prebioforce serum
Event Report: APSWC Round Table
Industry leaders contribute to APSWC’s third white paper at annual gathering. Catharine Nicol reports from Malaysia
Family spa: Play time
Spa Business takes a look at innovative spa programmes for children and families
Eco spa: Going green
Joanna Roche and Bonnie Baker share their ambitions for the Green Spa Network
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’
planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–
Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-
Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional
revenue opportunities.
The UK government has announced a temporary reduction in VAT on visitor attractions and
children’s meals as part of a summer cost-of-living support package designed to stimulate the
visitor economy and encourage family days out.
As designer Yinka Ilori prepares for his first solo gallery show in London, he speaks exclusively
to CLADmag about his mission to spread joy, the power of play, and his bold approach to using
colour (including the colours you won’t see in his work).
The government of Thailand is exploring plans for a THB300bn (£6.3bn, US$8.3bn)
entertainment complex in the country’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), with officials
proposing a large-scale theme park and sports destination as part of a broader tourism and
economic development strategy.
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
