The GWI just released a report from its recent roundtable on the “next frontier” in wellness: wellness real estate and communities. Twenty experts gathered in NYC to debate the direction that this emerging market needs to take. Recommendations ranged from expanding wellness real estate beyond “multi-million-dollar wellness condos” and more offerings for regular people to a more intense focus on social and intergenerational connections given the skyrocketing health costs of loneliness.
Video: An Extraordinary Moment in European Spa Culture
Spa culture in Europe from the late 18th century to the early 20th was like nothing the world had ever seen. These “grand spas” attracted the likes of Beethoven, Mozart, Freud and Marx, and artistic performances and creativity were at the very heart of taking to the waters.
GWI Launches “Wellness for Children” Initiative
The GWI is launching an initiative focused on wellness for children, with the mission of creating resources that help children be actively involved in their own wellness. An early goal is to create a series of lesson plans around practices like mindfulness, movement, and nutrition that can be easily adapted to kindergartens, school programs and youth services. The initiative is chaired by Christine Clinton, president, International Spa & Salon Services, with vice-chair, Stephanie Rest, founder, Caribbean Wellness & Education.
Must-Reads from the Wellness World (Week of April 11, 2017)
“Silicon Valley’s Quest to Live Forever – Can Billions of Dollars of High Tech Research Succeed in Making Death Optional?” – The New Yorker, April 4, 2017
Even though no single molecule is the answer to the puzzle of aging, many successful entrepreneurs want to believe that billions of dollars worth of high tech research could eventually succeed in making death optional. This article reviews their quest for immortality, or at the very least, “healthy longevity.”
Work Burnout is Worsening, Taking Big Toll on Companies
In rich countries, inflation is picking up yet wage inflation is not. “Normally,” an increase in employment (or even more so, full employment like in the U.S.) should lead to an increase in wages. But technology is creating a “new normal.” It is now eliminating well-paid jobs (stockbroker, credit analyst, writer and so on) while increasing the number of low paid ones for all those who work and compete in the new gig economy. This is progress with a dystopian twist and is destined to exacerbate the populist wave.
Trend: Organic Food Sales Booming and Mass-Market Retailers Winning
The wellness industry may be booming, but that doesn’t always equate with a positive market performance. Example: In the U.S., organic food sales have skyrocketed more than 200 percent in the last decade, but organic specialty retailers like Whole Foods or Sprouts have seen stock prices plummet. It’s mass-market stores like Walmart and Costco that have grabbed the majority of the organic market.
