What have your career highlights been so far? Getting Hilton’s newly-created role of global vice president of wellness is truly the job of my dreams. However, there’s been an accumulation of skills and experience that brought me to this point.
Being ambitious, there were times I was tempted to shortcut my way to what I perceived were bigger or newer things. But as I knew – or sometimes learned the hard way – there’s no replacement for hard work. While I have no illusions that I still have much to learn, especially in an industry as dynamic and diverse as ours, I’m so proud of what I’ve achieved so far.
How has the industry evolved? Hilton’s 2023 global trends report shows that more than half of the 8,000 people surveyed are looking to engage with wellness experiences when they travel. The audience has become increasingly diverse and their expectations are expanding too.
Most hoteliers now engage with wellness in some way at the full-service and luxury level. However, areas once considered “cutting edge” – luxury spas and well-equipped gyms – are now table stakes. There’s a need to provide a sensible, comprehensive and cross-functional approach to wellness across the entire stay experience and portfolio – from focused service to luxury.
What consumer trends are driving change? Our trends report also showed a hunger for authentic, cultural experiences and our teams are doing a wonderful job creating this programming for guests worldwide. For example, workshops highlighting local healing herbs in Thailand which are then used in treatment compresses, or a wellness wildlife sabbatical in the Galapagos Islands.
Meeting the diverse and ever-changing needs of our guests within this new wellness paradigm means deepening our existing areas of wellness expertise – namely fitness and spa – while we also move into other areas such as sleep, nourishment and mindfulness. But it also requires consistent brand, marketing and communications support to ensure we shine a light on the incredible work happening within our portfolio.
What do you still hope to accomplish? One of the things that attracted me most to my new role at Hilton was how it aligned with my own vision of democratising wellness.
As the wellness consumer diversifies, our goal is to reach as many people as possible – not just guests in our luxury or full-service properties, but across our entire portfolio of 22 brands and 1.1 million guestrooms in 123 countries.
In celebration of Spa Business’ 20th anniversary, industry leaders take a look at how far the sector has come since the magazine’s inception in 2003, share personal career highlights and reveal their plans and ideas for the future.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2023 issue 3
Editor's letter: Reflection point
As Spa Business celebrates its 20th birthday, Katie Barnes pauses for thought and rejoices in the industry’s evolution
Spa People: 20th anniversary issue: Anna Bjurstam
The strategic senior advisor at Six Senses and Raison d'Etre on being initiated as a shaman, why psychedelics are here to stay and her bigger fear for the global spa industry
Promotion: Klafs: Relax into wellbeing
Klafs and Studio F. A. Porsche have combined their design and wellness expertise to create an oasis for total-body relaxation
News report: Eastern promise
Japan’s spa industry is valued at US$4.2 billion and is part of the world's third highest-performing wellness economy
Jeremy McCarthy: Theory of evolution
From spa to wellness and now leisure – Spa Business’ contributing editor looks at where hospitality experiences are heading
Promotion: Lemi: Built to last
Lemi is committed to leading with innovation to create
cutting-edge treatment room solutions that excel
in terms of performance and eco-credentials
Promotion: G.M. COLLIN: Collagen pioneers
GM Collin’s expertise in collagen research and product formulation has resulted in the creation of a new serum that combats age-related skin degeneration
Promotion: Comfort Zone: A brighter future
Consumers are increasingly interested in reducing dark spots and hyperpigmentation and a new line from Comfort Zone has been launched to address this emerging need
Promotion: Art of Cryo: Life changing experience
Vikki and Robbie are often exhausted after work. A visit to the spa to experience
the Art of Cryo Tech-Spa Module is a chance to re-set and rejuvenate together
What have your career highlights been so far? Getting Hilton’s newly-created role of global vice president of wellness is truly the job of my dreams. However, there’s been an accumulation of skills and experience that brought me to this point.
Being ambitious, there were times I was tempted to shortcut my way to what I perceived were bigger or newer things. But as I knew – or sometimes learned the hard way – there’s no replacement for hard work. While I have no illusions that I still have much to learn, especially in an industry as dynamic and diverse as ours, I’m so proud of what I’ve achieved so far.
How has the industry evolved? Hilton’s 2023 global trends report shows that more than half of the 8,000 people surveyed are looking to engage with wellness experiences when they travel. The audience has become increasingly diverse and their expectations are expanding too.
Most hoteliers now engage with wellness in some way at the full-service and luxury level. However, areas once considered “cutting edge” – luxury spas and well-equipped gyms – are now table stakes. There’s a need to provide a sensible, comprehensive and cross-functional approach to wellness across the entire stay experience and portfolio – from focused service to luxury.
What consumer trends are driving change? Our trends report also showed a hunger for authentic, cultural experiences and our teams are doing a wonderful job creating this programming for guests worldwide. For example, workshops highlighting local healing herbs in Thailand which are then used in treatment compresses, or a wellness wildlife sabbatical in the Galapagos Islands.
Meeting the diverse and ever-changing needs of our guests within this new wellness paradigm means deepening our existing areas of wellness expertise – namely fitness and spa – while we also move into other areas such as sleep, nourishment and mindfulness. But it also requires consistent brand, marketing and communications support to ensure we shine a light on the incredible work happening within our portfolio.
What do you still hope to accomplish? One of the things that attracted me most to my new role at Hilton was how it aligned with my own vision of democratising wellness.
As the wellness consumer diversifies, our goal is to reach as many people as possible – not just guests in our luxury or full-service properties, but across our entire portfolio of 22 brands and 1.1 million guestrooms in 123 countries.
In celebration of Spa Business’ 20th anniversary, industry leaders take a look at how far the sector has come since the magazine’s inception in 2003, share personal career highlights and reveal their plans and ideas for the future.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2023 issue 3
Editor's letter: Reflection point
As Spa Business celebrates its 20th birthday, Katie Barnes pauses for thought and rejoices in the industry’s evolution
Spa People: 20th anniversary issue: Anna Bjurstam
The strategic senior advisor at Six Senses and Raison d'Etre on being initiated as a shaman, why psychedelics are here to stay and her bigger fear for the global spa industry
Promotion: Klafs: Relax into wellbeing
Klafs and Studio F. A. Porsche have combined their design and wellness expertise to create an oasis for total-body relaxation
News report: Eastern promise
Japan’s spa industry is valued at US$4.2 billion and is part of the world's third highest-performing wellness economy
Jeremy McCarthy: Theory of evolution
From spa to wellness and now leisure – Spa Business’ contributing editor looks at where hospitality experiences are heading
Promotion: Lemi: Built to last
Lemi is committed to leading with innovation to create
cutting-edge treatment room solutions that excel
in terms of performance and eco-credentials
Promotion: G.M. COLLIN: Collagen pioneers
GM Collin’s expertise in collagen research and product formulation has resulted in the creation of a new serum that combats age-related skin degeneration
Promotion: Comfort Zone: A brighter future
Consumers are increasingly interested in reducing dark spots and hyperpigmentation and a new line from Comfort Zone has been launched to address this emerging need
Promotion: Art of Cryo: Life changing experience
Vikki and Robbie are often exhausted after work. A visit to the spa to experience
the Art of Cryo Tech-Spa Module is a chance to re-set and rejuvenate together
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Disney has reaffirmed its commitment to investing US$30 billion in its US parks and cruise
business by 2033, using new America250 celebrations to underline the role its attractions play
in supporting jobs, tourism and economic growth.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
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.
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