GWI Launches “Immersion” Initiative

The Global Wellness Institute is launching an “Immersion” Initiative dedicated to highlighting global research on how immersive wellness experiences (i.e., destination spas, integrated health resorts and wellness retreats) can be powerful environments for achieving sustained lifestyle change. The goal is to substantiate the benefits of these evolved ecosystems. The initiative is chaired by Joshua Luckow, MBA (former executive director, Canyon Ranch, and co-founder, NEXUS Executives, Austria) with Vice-Chair, Sallie Fraenkel, president of Mind Body Spirit Network.

What Factor Would Drive the Most Happiness in the World?

The recent Global Happiness Report shows why obsessing over GDP growth is misguided: countries with the highest happiness rankings (six European nations) trail the world in GDP growth, while high GDP growth nations (like China) lag in happiness. Malleret discusses why this is – and what matters more than economic growth.

New Report: Future of Wellness Real Estate & Communities 

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.