Markus Brunnermeier and Harold James, Making Sense of the Swiss Shock, Project Syndicate, 17 January 2015 explain in a simple manner the implications of this week’s decision by the Swiss National Bank to abandon its peg to the €. It is “intensely” relevant to the wellness industry…
HAS YOUR COUNTRY GOT WHAT IT TAKES?
With news of the Slovenian government appointing a former CEO of a large wellness centre as the Minister for Economic Development, and the recent bugle call in The Huffington Post asking “Is This The Year Of The Ministry Of Wellness?”, the wellness tourism train has undoubtedly left the station!
GWI Barometer Excerpt Thierry Malleret (January 22, 2015)
In 2015, the Ubermodel–the“posterchild” for disruption – will multiply into a “million” different services, ranging from laundry (Washio) to shopping (Instacart), from chores (Task Rabbit) to parking (Luxe Valet) and so on. As a result, everybody is at risk of being “Ubered”, having to trade more freedom for more risks. Self-employment comes at the expense of a steady income and a decent social safety net, both progressively becoming a “thing of the past”.
MOVE OVER BIG PHARMA – WELLNESS HAS ARRIVED
GWI’s recent “Global Spa & Wellness Economy Barometer” had some staggering findings: the ten-sector wellness market is now a $3.4 trillion market. Some context: it’s 3.4 times bigger than the $1 trillion, global pharmaceutical industry. But what sectors of the vast wellness market are growing FASTEST?
WHAT’S MAKING NEWS IN GERMANY WHEN IT COMES TO WELLNESS?
Spa and wellness travel is still on the rise; the wellness market in Germany continues to grow, and most wellness hotels can boast an increase in revenue. Spa and wellness travel is still on the rise; the wellness market in Germany continues to grow, and most wellness hotels can boast an increase in revenue. On the other hand, there are multiple challenges: a shortage of qualified staff, especially therapists; an increase in costs, from food to energy; and last but not least, more competition in the market.
2015: THE YEAR OF THE MINISTRY OF WELLNESS?
Feel ill? Head to the doctor. Get diagnosed. Treat the issue. (Also known as: Douse with meds. Take a few days off work. Stumble back to the office. Repeat.) Sound familiar?
For too long, discussions about wellness have centered on traditional medical treatments, and Western healthcare systems have maintained a focus on illness and disease, making our hospitals and clinics more like “fix-it shops” than agents of prevention.
