Dates: 5-7^th October 2013

Venue: The Oberoi, Gurgaon in New Delhi, India

If I had to pinpoint a defining moment at the GSWS 2013 in New Delhi, it would be Dalai Lama’s incredibly thought provoking speech on “What is Wellness?” and I wouldn’t be alone. The thunderous welcome he received on his entry was exceeded only by the standing ovation on his conclusion. Speaking in his trademark humorous fashion, he touched on several topics such as mindfulness, compassion and secular ethics in a talk covering nearly 2 hours. 

The stage for the seventh Global Spa and Wellness Summit (GSWS) 2013 at beroiin New Delhi, India was set. 377 Industry leaders, high profile speakers, visionaries and thought gurus from 42 countries around the world were congregated at the prestigious annual gathering of the spa and wellness industry. The strictly ‘by invitation only event’ has the participation of high profile delegates from  diverse sectors, such as hospitality, tourism, finance, medical, real estate, manufacturing, technology, consulting and product industries, all joined by a common interest in driving economic development and understanding of the worldwide spa and wellness industries.

The theme of GSWS 2013 was ‘A Defining Moment’ and Day 1 focussed on the theme of ‘Outward’ with the Global Wellness Tourism Congress (GWTC); Day 2 on ‘Inward’ and the Inspirational Business of Wellness, while Day 3 theme was ‘Onward’ with the focus being The Big Business of Wellness.

Spa Mantra was present at the three day Summit, and brings you some highlights.

Looking Outward

Welcoming the delegates Susie Ellis, CEO and Chairman, GSWS, expressed her gratitude to the guests, media and delegates for attending the convention. She said, “We are here at the Global Spa & Wellness Summit to enter into a global conversation and create a defining force that steers the direction of the Wellness Industry by stimulating ideas and challenging imaginations. Across the three days of the Summit, I hope that each one of you is able to identify ‘A Defining Moment” – outward, inward and onward’. I firmly believe that wellness tourism can spark a revolution like no other, so let us come together and chart a course to make history for the people we serve and the industry we love.”

 An Incredible Story

Amitabh Kant, the creator of the hugely successful ‘Incredible India’campaign andCEO & MD, Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation; most known as kicked off the Summit with his presentation ‘The Birth of Wellness Tourism: An Incredible Story’. Kant mentioned, “Tourism is undergoing a revolutionary change, and the source of tourism is changing. The source today is BRIC countries like India and China. Their steady growth & development and the rise of the Indian urban middle class contrasts with the rapidly aging population of Europe and America.   Kant mentioned that the biggest change was the shift to experiential tourism, to self fulfillment and the demise of mass tourism. This has led to the emergence of the ‘alert independent traveller’ – the educated, well-heeled, conscientious traveller who is looking for new and unique experiences which enhance and develop well-being, which is where wellness tourism plays a key role.” He mentioned that the huge success of Kerala as a destination for Ayurveda was a case in point.

Wellness Tourism a $439 Billion Market

Global Wellness Tourism Congress bought together for the first time world-renowned tourism experts congregated to discuss, define, and shape, the best strategies to grow this packed-with-potential tourism sector. Ministries of tourism and ambassadors gathered to share their current strategies and future plans to attract more business and leisure wellness travelers.

A path-breaking SRI Research Study ‘The Global Wellness Tourism Economy’ was presented by Ophelia Yeung, senior consultant SRI International. Led by Ophelia Yeung, and Katherine Johnston, senior economist of SRI International, the landmark study was prepared for GSWS to explore wellness tourism and understand its broad global impact. It brought to light for the first time, that wellness tourism promises to have a dramatic impact on our industry and how people travel..

SRI Research Study estimates the global wellness market at $439 billion, which caters to over 12 million jobs, has an economic impact of close to $1.3 trillion and comprises nearly 14% of total tourism expenditure.  Yeung said, “The global tourism industry is estimated at $3.2 trillion, of which wellness tourism contributes, whether directly or indirectly, almost $2 trillion. Wellness tourism can be defined as travel associated with the pursuit of maintaining and enhancing one’s personal well-being, which is different from medical tourism. Medical tourism is corrective in nature, episodic, clinical and treatment based, while wellness tourism is preventive in nature and focuses on personal growth, mind-body harmony, and healthy living.”

A  brilliant presentation on ‘Should wellness tourism embrace wellness of the planet’ was delivered by Costas Christ, Editor/Columnist, National Geographic Traveller US, and Sustainability Ambassador, Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, US. Making a passionate case for safeguarding the planet, he said that sustainable tourism matters, and that the three key pillars of sustainable tourism would help preserve cultural heritage and natural beauty – environmentally friendly practices; support for cultural and natural heritage, and direct tangible contribution to social and economic wellbeing of the local people. 

Looking Inward

The Summit’s second day focused on looking inward and preceeded with topics that explored the ancient, modern and emotional business of wellness. India’s hospitality titans related their personal and entrepreneurial journeys, while key notes speakers and panellists featured world-renowned Indian and South Asian spiritual and wellness leaders.

Annual Student Competition

Every year the Summit gives students from different universities an opportunity to showcase no employment verification payday loan a design and concept for a spa of the future that encompasses authentic Indian culture and could be rolled out globally. The major criteria were that the strategy should be commercially viable, credible and proven. The 5^th Annual Student Challenge Competition had a five member judging panel and was moderated by Susan Harmsworth, Founder & CEO, eSPA International, U.K. and Mary Tabacchi, PhD, Professor, Cornell University, U.S. The institutes that participated in the challenge were the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad; Institute of Hotel Management, Aurangabad (IHM-A), Maharashtra and University of Delhi, New Delhi.

Triple W Initiative

The Whole World Water Initiative is a groundbreaking project driven by Sonu Shivdasani, CEO, Soneva Resorts, Residences & Spas, Thailand. The concept is designed to unite the hospitality and tourism industry on a non-competitive platform to eradicate the issue of plastic, toxic bottled water and have access to it through clean and safer means. Ever since the project was rolled out there have been many hospitality brands/ hoteliers that have adopted this concept.  The process of distilling and availing of clean water can be done within hotel/ property’s own premises at minimal cost.

Looking Onward

Focusing on looking onward, the Summit delved into matters and aspects that contribute to making the wellness business ‘Big’. The Summit featured six industry forums that widden the scope for interaction and participation.

·         Global Destination Spas – Destination spas often lead innovation on the wellness frontier. This was the first global forum for the evolving destination spa segment which was an exciting, much-needed event. The session was facilitated by Roberto Arjona, Chief executive Officer, Rancho La Puerta, U.S.

·         Global Hydro – Thermal – Facilitated by Don Genders, Managing director, design for Leisure, U.S.  & Rolf Longrée, Managing director, Lux elements gmbH & Co. KG, Germany, the session was pegged to promote a new openness within the competitive hydro-thermal industry that is most perceived lacking.

• Global Hotel Spas – it focused on addressing tough issues like Is wellness the sector’s future; did hotel spa brands deliver or fizzle… etc, the session was facilitated by Anne McCall Wilson, Vice President, Spas, Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, Canada
•  Global Hot Springs – Moderated by Charles Davidson, Founder & Owner, Director, and co-owner Peninsula Hot Springs, Australia, the session was focused on hot springs offer an attractive, affordable “long day” vacation model, and the positive medical evidence for hot/mineral bathing is getting greater exposure.
• Global Spa Education – According to a SRI International’s study released at the 2012 Summit, “Spa Management Workforce and Education,” revealed serious, industry educational gaps, etc. Since then, there have been two important global workgroups addressing this issue. The results were presented at this forum. The session was facilitated by Anna Bjurstam, Vice President of Spas & Wellness, Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Thailand; Owner, Raison d’etre, Sweden
• Global Spa Retail – The peg for this discussion was the overwhelming majority of spas that now have a retail element, but retail makes up only about 10% of total spa revenues, according to an ISPA study of U.S. spas. Jeff Matthews, president, Steiner Spa Consulting (Hong Kong) moderated this discussion.

Other Biz Sessions

Among the six concurrent forums were other general sessions.  Susan Harmsworth, Founder & CEO, eSPA International, U.K. alongwith panelists conducted a session that collaborated with serious investors in the hospitality and spa industries. Andrew Gibson, Group Director Of Spa, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Hong Kong, moderated a session that discussed about charting innovations and new perceptions for industry stakeholders.  

Parting Act

Bonnie St. John, President, Blue Circle Leadership, U.S who took charge as a moderator for the entire Summit’s proceedings summed up the event on the last day. While Sallie Fraenkel, executive Vice President, global Spa and Wellness Summit, U.S. thanked the sponsors, especially it’s Titanium ones – Incredible India and Vana Retreats.

Announcing GSWS 2014

As is customary, annual Summit ended with the announcement of the destination of the 2014 event.GSWS is already geared up for its eight Summit next year andthe ‘red city’ of Marrakech, Morocco will play host.

For more information, visit www.gsws.org.