2026 Microplastics Watch Initiative Trends Initiative Co-Chair: Professor Gerry Bodeker, Member at Green Templeton College, University of Oxford, UK and Malaysia Initiative Vice-Chair: Trent Munday, Senior Vice President, Mandara Spa, Thailand Once seen primarily as an environmental concern, the plastic crisis has now crossed a new frontier—into our food, water, air and even our bodies. Microplastics, defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm (5000…
2026 Sport and Hospitality Initiative Trends Initiative Chair: Patricia Ladis, Holistic Physical Therapist, Behavioral Breathing Analyst, Biomechanical Analysis Founder & CEO, WiseBody PT, United States Initiative Vice-Chair: Lynelle Lynch, Owner, Running Y Resort & Bellus Academy, United States The sports hospitality sector is evolving as we enter 2026. Professional athletes are elevating their travel experience to include sleep, movement and dietary priorities. Teams have experts that specialize in creating…
Four wellness sectors are responsible for much of the wellness economy growth in the largest and fastest-growing markets GWI’s recent Country Rankings report is packed with data on the wellness markets of 145 countries and examines which markets have been growing the fastest. One interesting finding: four wellness sectors have been responsible for most of the wellness economy growth from 2019 to 2024, across all the fastest-growing country markets. Download…
World Happiness Report 2026 shows a complex global picture of social media and happiness The annual report is out, and it’s again a story of Nordic domination, with Finland (#1 for the 9th year in a row), Iceland, Denmark, Costa Rica and Sweden ranking as the five happiest countries. Costa Rica at #4 climbed to its highest ever position (it was 23rd in 2023) and there were also positive gains for countries such…
The Picket Fence Concept Home Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States The Picket Fence is a “concept home” constructed on a narrow urban infill lot in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, using consumer insights from the America at Home Study. The project was launched to inspire new ways that builders and architects can work together to create healthy and sustainable homes using design innovations and system-built construction solutions, while maintaining…
As Democracy Recedes Globally, What’s the Impact on Wellbeing? By Thierry Malleret, economist Worldwide, democracy is receding to its lowest levels since the mid-70s, with many countries “autocratizing” at the same time. According to The Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute at Sweden’s Gothenburg University, a record 41% (3.4 billion) of the world’s population currently live in countries where democracy is deteriorating. Should this be of…
