The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) supports a variety of industry Initiatives, furthering the international conversation about wellness in its many and varied forms. Each GWI Initiative is led by an Initiative Chair, who is a renowned thought-leader in his or her particular area of focus.
Global Initiatives
The Africa Wellness Initiative (AWI) aims to promote African wellness through strengthening wellness institutions, training and human resources development. READ MORE
Beauty is wellness, and it’s time to better understand and quantify this often-overlooked, multidimensional, unsung hero of the spa/wellness industry. READ MORE
The Consulting Best Practices Initiative aims to help individuals and businesses evaluate when a consultant would benefit them, as well as provide guidelines on the selection process. READ MORE
This Initiative brings together thought leaders to serve as a think tank evaluating research and advocating for policy and education on the healthy use and adoption of technology. READ MORE
This Initiative aims to create awareness towards ancient culture and healing sources of Eastern European countries. READ MORE
This Initiative will investigate the use and benefits of salt therapies, and provide guidance for those who want to understand and best utilize salt therapy to benefit their clientele. READ MORE
The vision of the First 1000 Days Initiative is to positively impact the health of future generations across the world. READ MORE
This Initiative was inspired by the research report commissioned by the GWS called “Spa Management Workforce & Education: Addressing Market Gaps.” READ MORE
The Healthy Aging Initiative has been established to inspire and drive dramatic improvements in the way people around the world age, by sharing best practices in all related areas. READ MORE
The Hot Springs Initiative is an international wellness think tank dedicated to exploring the diverse values of geothermal waters for health, tourism and community. READ MORE
This Initiative aims to increase transparency and awareness in the design and implementation of all elements of facilities involving thermal and wet treatments. READ MORE
This Initiative highlights the success and essence of destination spas & wellness retreats and presents findings from current and on-going research to the global community. READ MORE
The Massage Makes Me Happy Initiative aims to celebrate the healing powers of massage therapy and promote its benefits through research and education, advocacy and global awareness. READ MORE
The Mental Wellness Initiative aims to understand those pathways that help people stay well and thrive mentally as well as physically. READ MORE
The Social Impact Initiative will identify and communicate evidence-based healthy living efforts that companies and communities are working on together to benefit society. READ MORE
This initiative aims to bring broader awareness, research, education and transformational experiences through the healing power of sound, music and acoustic resonance/vibrational therapies. READ MORE
The purpose of the Sustainability Wellness Initiative is to stimulate a provocative discussion about how wellness intersects on a personal level as well as on a wider social, economic and environmental scale. READ MORE
This Initiative brings together diverse thought leaders with the purpose of raising awareness on how our surroundings directly impact us. READ MORE
This Initiative brings together top thinkers and doers, who offer thought leadership on the impact of wellness at work in the global community. READ MORE
The Wellness Communities Initiative brings together stakeholders with interests in residential communities and holistic health. READ MORE
Its logical that cancer patients and survivors need to visit spas to de-stress and heal, but yet very few spas are trained or have invested in appropriate training. READ MORE
The goal of the Wellness for Children Initiative is to create awareness of the need for children and young people to be actively involved in their own wellness. READ MORE
The key purpose of the Wellness Tourism Initiative is to create a global platform of lead stakeholders in what has become one of the fastest growing tourism segments. READ MORE
This Initiative aims to encourage and promote ‘Lean In Circles’ throughout the wellness industry, to ensure that future female leaders have a framework of support and motivation. READ MORE
More About GWI Initiatives
The Initiative Chair invites other global participants, and together, they seek to shape a project that ultimately drives the Initiative with a goal to impact wellness throughout the world. This may take the form of a best practices manual; a campaign to raise awareness about an issue or an event; a project that impacts wellness in a particular market segment or region of the world; or a new way to innovate within the Initiative Chair’s field of expertise.
Supporting Industry Initiatives
The GWI provides guidance, website prominence, marketing and public relations, connections to global partners, and a platform for sharing the results at the Global Wellness Summit – an international event that takes place in a different part of the world each year.
Initiative Best Practices & Guidelines
Here is a link to a document including detailed information on how to start an Initiative, communication guidelines and best practices, how to evolve an Initiative, etc.
Joining or Chairing an Initiative
If you are interested in chairing an Initiative or being part of an existing Initiative, please contact Beatrice Hochegger, Manager, Events and Operations of the GWI.
The Global Wellness Institute serves as an umbrella organization for numerous Initiatives, that are independently chaired and run. The resources, editorial, research and opinions presented by the Initiatives do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Global Wellness Institute.