Global Wellness Institute

Zeel, Soothe, Unwind: Digital Disrupters for Spas?

Economist Thierry Malleret takes a quick look at how technology is turning the entire business world “upside down.” One profound new example: Apple and Google are jumping into the car market. And new digital platforms are poised to radically disrupt the spa, wellness and healthcare industries. How about the successful new wave of apps that allow people to order mobile massage services/therapists anywhere? What does that mean for, say, hotel spas? How about new health tracker apps that can monitor blood sugar for diabetes patients 24/7? In general, if these transparent trackers can prove you’re following doctors’ orders/living healthy—should you get a rebate on your health insurance?

Every tourism board and hospitality property on earth wants to attract visitors who spend big. Well, recent Global Wellness Institute (GWI) research reveals if you want tourists who are exceptionally healthy for your bottom line, pay close attention to the healthy-minded traveler. Wellness tourists tend to be wealthier, better educated and take longer trips—and both the international and domestic varieties spend SIGNIFICANTLY more than your average tourist. How much more?

A survey just revealed employers have ratcheted up the financial incentives they offer workers to participate in wellness programs to an average of $693 per employee (in 2015), up from $594 last year and $430 five years ago. However, fewer employers are imposing penalties, like charging more for insurance if workers do not participate or achieve goals such as losing weight. This may be due to the fact that workplace wellness programs are increasingly coming under legal scrutiny.

The good news? More companies, large and small, are recognizing that helping employees stay healthy is a good idea. The bad news? No one has figured out how to do it. Hence the mess.

But I also see opportunity. And that’s what’s on my mind.

This is the year to seize this opportunity—together. It’s one of the reasons this topic will be on our agenda at the Global Wellness Summit in Mexico City this November. The timing is right. In preparation, I’d like everyone to experiment with workplace wellness in their current workplace: Try something you think could make a difference. And let me know what you learn.