Hydrothermal Initiative 2026 Trends Initiative Chair: Don Genders, Founder & CEO, Design for Leisure, United Kingdom Initiative Vice-Chair: Cassandra Cavanah, Founder, Cavanah Communications, United States Hydrothermal bathing has deep cultural roots in many parts of the world, from the thermal traditions of Europe and Asia to Nordic sauna rituals and global spa cultures built around water, heat and recovery. In recent years, however, these practices have…
The Sauna Conundrum: Tradition vs. Infrared — Which Delivers the Real Sauna Experience? Is an infrared cabin really a sauna or something else entirely? While infrared heat treatments have surged in popularity, sauna purists argue they don’t measure up to the centuries-old traditions of true sauna bathing. In this dynamic debate, our panel brings together leaders from both camps, including the CEO of a leading…
Heat of the Moment: Strategies for Thermal Wellness Business Success With interest in saunas and social bathing concepts at an all-time high, the GWI Hydrothermal and Consulting Initiatives are teaming up for an essential webinar diving into the operations side of this booming sector. Whether you’re planning a new build or refining an existing concept, this session will explore the key decisions that make-or-break success in social…
Sauna Users are Happier – Study Shows A new study from Sweden finds that people who use saunas are happier, sleep better, and have more energy. Dr. Hans Hägglund, a professor at the University of Uppsala (aka the “sauna doctor”), said of the study: “It shows that sauna users are happier, sleep better, have more energy, and rate their mental and physical health better…
Hydrothermal Initiative 2024 Trends Photo credit: Cedar Spa at Four Winds Casino TREND 1: Sweat Bathing: A Time-Honored Tradition Reclaims the Wellness Spotlight With its deep historical roots, sweet bathing is experiencing a radiant resurgence in the wellness market. Aficionados are eager to explore a breadth of authentic practices—from the intense Finnish saunas and the tranquil Roman baths to the spiritual North American sweat lodges…
“There is No War in Sauna”: Sauna-Aid Brings Message of Hope, Peace and Shared Sense of Humanity to War-torn Ukraine Global charity raises €20K in first year; Appeals to sauna lovers worldwide to help reach fundraising goal of €100K in 2023 Sauna-Aid has been hard at work creating innovative solutions to help Ukrainian soldiers as well as refugees outside of the Ukraine find solace in sauna bathing…
