WELLNESS:AWAKENED.
Ready to embrace wellness? You won’t be doing it alone. According to the Future of Wellness 2023 Trends report from Global Wellness Summit, achieving wellness in isolation is soooo 2020, with in-person group gatherings back on the rise. New spaces and experiences that bring people together via real life and social connection are at the burning center of the concept as people crave human interactions, gatherings, and celebrations: “The social wellness trend is not sprung from pitch decks but awakened by new human needs.”
Of course, there are myriad wellness options out there. Elle predicts travelers will look to restore balance and improve overall mental health as a wellness practice, while Condé Nast Traveler notes mind-blowing meditation experiences, psychedelic retreats, revolutionary and personalized treatments, sleep tourism and more.
Many hotels are thinking forward by integrating wellness offerings into amenities and services. Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, home of the largest spa & wellness center on the Eastern Seaboard, recently began rolling out six new touchless wellness treatments from entrepreneurs who tap technology to write the next chapter of wellness. The resort also offers one-of-a-kind personalized health retreats to align physical, mental, and spiritual health including Spa Wave, a sleep therapy that reduces stress, improves concentration, balances mood, and boosts creativity.
In Botswana, Africa, Wilderness opened two new wellness-focused safari lodges, DumaTau and Little DumaTau, inviting travelers to swim laps alongside Osprey Lagoon at the new state-of-the-art wellness center with an 11-meter lap pool, have a rejuvenating massage at the Osprey Retreat, and enjoy fresh wholesome food while watching elephants migrate down an ancient pathway. A good night’s sleep is a key trend in 2023, ushering in a new era of “sleep concierges,” “sleep suites,” sleep spa treatments and more. In Philadelphia, The Logan Hotel’s new Dream Like Relaxation package at its Underground Spa & Wellness includes lighting to mimic the night sky, breathwork to decrease heart rate, and a team working around the clock using different massage techniques geared towards better sleep. At The Point on a secluded 75-acre estate in Saranac Lake, New York, complimentary sleep-inducing amenities include herbal tea service turndown, bath butler service, and in-room sound machines.
Spa treatments and health-oriented amenities have long been an industry staple for hospitality guests looking to achieve wellness. The planning, landscape architecture and urban design firm EDSA frames the natural world as a more meaningful and holistic method for promoting well-being. Designing outdoor spaces for opportunities that invite environmental interface and cultural exchanges creates a true sense of self-renewal and guest immersion. Hoteliers that prioritize the restorative power of nature with programming and offerings that ensure biodiversity and ecological functionality are essentially taking out an insurance policy for human wellbeing.
Mood-boosting is another important component of wellness. According to Booking.com, 88% of travelers want to escape the doom-scrolling and constant reminders of global instability with travel that takes them back to simpler times. Rooted in nostalgia, Graduate Hotels, has grasped the powerful emotions that memories can conjure. Located in university-anchored cities across the U.S. and UK, each of the 31 Graduates is unique and carefully crafted by an in-house team of 20 designers to weave in the distinct culture and history of the local campus, transporting guests back to their glory days as soon as they step into the lobby.
Wellness travel can also come down to the company one keeps. According to a recent survey from Hyatt, over 50% of respondents said they’ll be traveling solo on leisure this year and, in turn, seeking out opportunities for self-discovery, disconnection, and personalization. Traveling alone can have a profound impact on the mind, body, and soul, which is why many Hyatt hotels offer curated experiences tailored for solo travelers like Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows’ three-day retreat guidebook experience offering guests to create their own journey through elements of wellness including a soothing spa day, energizing fitness classes, inspired activities and more.
Booking.com also reports that 44% of travelers worldwide are interested in mindfulness vacations, and The Zoe Report informs that people are looking to truly heal, reconnect with themselves, and learn a new skill such as meditation, scuba diving, or cooking. According to Forbes, a mindfulness vacation or staycation can start with a simple break for mental health, such as putting phones in do not disturb mode, muting social media notifications, and reverting to traditional alarm clocks. This is common at The Bushcamp Company’s luxury camps in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park, some so remote that there is no wi-fi. Guests report that even a few days disconnected feels so rejuvenating it’s as if they’ve been gone for a week!
TRAVEL COMES BACK AROUND.
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