wellness industry | MORAL COMPASS: Great Places to Go Where the Going Does Good

Susie Ellis, GWS chair and CEO, highlights research into trends in the $5.6 trillion global wellness industry. The upcoming 2024 Global Wellness Summit in St. Andrews, Scotland from Nov. 4-7 is themed, “A Watershed Moment for Wellness.” *© Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com*

Miami, FL –The theme for the 2024 Global Wellness Summit (GWS), a foremost gathering of international leaders in the multitrillion-dollar global wellness economy being held in St. Andrews, Scotland from November 4-7, is “A Watershed Moment for Wellness.”

The 18^th annual conference will explore how the wellness industry, worth $5.6 trillion in 2022 and forecast that it will rise to $8.5 trillion by 2027, is at a watershed moment for growth and evolution, gathering global experts to analyze the newest directions within each sector, including fitness, mental wellness, wellness tourism, healthy food and weight loss, wellness real estate, well-tech, beauty, and wellness policy.

A Dive into the ‘H2O Experience Economy’: The agenda will also specifically explore the surge in water-wellness experiences, a welcome democratic trend in an age of ever-wealthier wellness. If “sanus per aqua” (or “health by water,” the Latin acronym for “spa”) is the most ancient of wellness approaches, experts will discuss the powerful renaissance in water-based therapies underway, and how emerging hydrothermal approaches and technologies could revolutionize wellness in the future. The agenda will tackle topics where water and wellness intersect, from the global surge in new urban bathhouses, sauna centers, and vast water-wellness parks that are becoming the new social “hotspots” to the wave of new and restored hot springs destinations (from reimagined Japanese onsens to an investment rush in hot springs development in the US).

Climate Change, the Water Crisis, and the Wellness Industry: Climate change is severely threatening the world’s most precious resource, water. The wellness and spa industries are voracious consumers of water, while wellness tourism often creates other negative environmental impacts that threaten marine/water ecosystems and can hurt local coastal communities. The agenda will bring sustainability experts together to show how the industry needs to change, from boosting the wellness industry’s role in the “blue economy” (the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth and preserving endangered ocean ecosystems) to embracing the ethics of water (how clean water is a basic human right, now denied to 2.2 billion people) to adopting new technologies and practices that could transform the industry’s water use efficiency.

The Perfect Location: Europe/the UK is the ancient birthplace of water-wellness and spa, and the ideal place to explore the theme. Scotland’s water is famed worldwide (crucial for some of its biggest exports, like scotch and whisky) and it’s one of the world’s most water-rich countries. It has more than 30,000 lochs, 10,000 miles of coastline, and enough rivers and streams to circle the Earth three times. In 2024, 98% of Scotland’s bathing waters will again meet or exceed the country’s strict environmental standards.

Host Sponsor, Kohler–Water Experience Innovator & Sustainability Activist: The 2024 host sponsor is Kohler Co., which for 150 years has been a storied brand in design and innovative water features/experiences. With the Summit being held at one of their seven global properties, the iconic Old Course Hotel with a reimagined Kohler Waters Spa, delegates will literally be immersed in the theme. The company is also a renowned leader in sustainability and protecting the world’s water resources and is working hard toward net zero environmental impact by 2035.

“There is powerful synergy between this year’s Summit theme on how water intersects with wellness and Kohler Co.’s mission, which not only includes pioneering water design, features and experiences for wellbeing but also working hard to fight climate change and protect the world’s water resources,” said Nina Kohler, strategy and design leader for the Hospitality Group at the Kohler Co.

A Watershed Industry Moment, for Growth, for Disruption: The wider agenda will explore the historic momentum for the industry. Global Wellness Institute researchers find that the wellness economy was worth $5.6 trillion in 2022 and forecast that it will rise to $8.5 trillion by 2027. They will unveil a complete update of the Global Wellness Economy Monitor in Scotland, with new data and insights on each wellness sector.

“This is a watershed moment for wellness. In our 2024 trends report, we note that we’ve seen more industry disruptions in the last year than in the last decade–whether the rapid rise of medical-wellness and longevity concepts or Big Pharma rewriting weight loss,” said Susie Ellis, GWS chair and CEO. “With fast-shifting consumer demands, fast-evolving technology, demographic shifts (including a profoundly aging population), accelerating climate change and demands that businesses take environmental action, this year’s agenda will investigate how our industry will continue to see further radical transformation.”

Registration is open. First-time delegates can apply to attend here.

The Global Wellness Summit is an organization that brings together leaders and visionaries to positively shape the future of the $5.6 trillion global wellness economy. In addition to an annual conference, held at a different location around the globe, GWS hosts regular in-person and virtual gatherings, including an annual Wellness Real Estate & Communities Symposium, and a series of Wellness Master Classes. GWS also produces the Global Wellness Conversations podcast and “The Doctor is INclusive” webinar series. The organization’s annual Global Wellness Trends Report offers expert-based predictions on the future of wellness that are oft-quoted in the media. The 18^thannual Summit will be held in St. Andrews, Scotland, November 4-7, 2024.

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Dan Buettner, who famously identified the Blue Zones–those five places around the world where people live significantly better, longer lives–will keynote the Global Wellness Summit convening in Tel Aviv from October 31 to November 3.

Global experts will tackle what’s ahead in medical-wellness innovation, longevity science, and health and wellness technology; how wellness will continue to transform travel and hospitality, real estate and beauty; and the future of everything from food and faith to wellness policy and wellness investment

Miami, FL – The Global Wellness Summit (GWS), one of the most prestigious conferences on the $4.4 trillion business of wellness, today unveiled the full, three-day agenda–and 30-plus new keynotes and panels–for its conference being held in Tel Aviv from October 31 to November 3.

This year’s Summit will bring together a historic number of luminaries from the wellness, medical, scientific, tech, academic and investment worlds to explore the dramatically different and bright future for wellness and preventative health that lies ahead after the shocks of the pandemic. The agenda clearly illustrates a wellness industry with unprecedented momentum, and with a future that is more serious and science-backed, as well as more innovative and authentic. 350-plus high-level entrepreneurs and leaders in wellness from 50 nations have already registered.

VIEW THE FULL AGENDA HERE.

REGISTER HERE.

“Third time’s the charm! This journey to bring the GWS to Tel Aviv began in 2020 but the world had other ideas. It took chutzpah to bring this Summit to life, and the caliber and variety of speakers, the soulfulness and creativity, and the sheer breadth of content, confirm that we have delivered a powerful agenda,” said Nancy Davis, GWS chief creative officer and executive director. “Getting to know the country, the people and the palpable energy that courses through Tel Aviv is something I want every delegate to feel. Producing a global gathering centered around wellness, at a time in the world when that’s needed more than ever, is an honor and a responsibility.”

Topics and Speakers Announced Today:

Future of Longevity:

Longevity science is the buzzed-about topic in both medicine and wellness, and keynotes include: Tzipora Strauss, MD, Sheba Medical Center-Israel, on the medical science for longevity; Shai Efrati, MD, associate professor, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, and co-founder of Aviv Clinics, on how unique protocols for hyperbaric oxygen therapy can actually reverse the biology of aging: Blue Zones discoverer, Dan Buettner, on how the world’s longest lived eat; Richard Carmona, MD, 17^th US Surgeon General, on the epigenetics of wellness; Naveen Jain, CEO, Viome, on making illness irrelevant; Anna Bjurstam, wellness pioneer, Six Senses, on curiosity’s role in longevity; and a panel on the future of functional medicine, including Bill Kapp, MD, CEO of Fountain Life, and Michael Roizen, MD, Emeritus Chief Wellness Officer at the Cleveland Clinic.

Future of Travel, Hospitality & Spa:

With wellness travel the big tourism gainer post-pandemic, travel leaders will predict the future, including: Neil Jacobs, CEO, Six Senses, on the future of hospitality; Tal Danai, founder of Artlink, on how to disrupt hospitality; Sue Harmsworth, MBE, founder of ESPA, on “Spa and Wellness Under Threat;” and Ömer Isvan, president, Servotel, on what customers want and what we’re not delivering. A panel with top execs from Accor, Six Senses and Chiva-Som will explore the future of wellness travel, while another panel on the booming business of thermal parks features leaders from Peninsula Hot Springs, Danubius Hotel Group, Therme Group and Castle Hot Springs. Cathy Feliciano-Chon, founder of CatchOn – A Finn Partners Company, will present critical new research from the Mabrian Institute: the first big data study that identifies the wellness travel activities most in demand today, the wellness destinations with the most future potential, and emerging trends.

Future of health and wellness technology:

With Israel the global hotbed for health and wellness tech innovation, the conference has the biggest focus on digital health in its history, with Israeli disruptors on full display. Keynotes include: Noam Gabison, industry manager for digital health at Meta, on how the future of wellbeing is in the metaverse; Mickey Beyer-Clausen, co-founder, Timeshifter, on the future of circadian solutions; Ilan Samish, founder and CEO, Amai Proteins, on how they cracked the sugar code; Sharon Handelman-Gotlib of Sompo Digital Lab on how multi-national insurance giants are using tech to innovate wellness; Aradhana Khowala, founder, Aptamind Partners, and chair of the advisory board for Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Project, on the future of femtech and wellness; and Varda Shalev, MD, co-founder of Alike.Health, on how crowdsourcing is the future of health and wellness. Amir Alroy, co-founder of Welltech Ventures, will present “From Start-Up to Scale-up: A Lightning Round of Israeli Innovation,” a panel of of high-profile founders of Israeli health and wellness startups, including Ben Enosh, co-founder of Antidote Health; Avishai Ben-Tovim, CEO and co-founder of MDI Health; Ziv Pereman, CEO of X-trodes; and Racheli Vizman, founder of Savor Eat. A Welltech Ventures-sponsored Tech Pavilion will immerse delegates in innovations from around the world.

Future of wellness real estate and communities:

Keynotes and panels include: Marian Herman, CEO of the global real estate developer HB Reavis Group, on “Wellness Real Estate: In Pursuit of Office Wellbeing;” Robbie Hammond, president of Therme Group US and co-founder of New York City’s High Line, on the future of public spaces in urban settings; and a high-powered panel on the evolving, explosive wellness real estate market, including Ricky Burdett, CBE, director, LSE Cities and Professor of Urban Studies, London School of Economics and Political Science, and John Fitzgerald, CEO and founder of Australia’s JLF Group.

Future of beauty and wellness:

Talks include: Zarina Kanji, TMall Business Development, Alibaba Group, on “Beauty and Wellness: Unpacking the Young Chinese Consumer’s Quest” and an expert-packed panel exploring why beauty doesn’t get the respect it deserves in the wellness industry, featuring Rupert Schmid, co-president and co-chairman, Biologique Recherche; Anna Bjurstam, Six Senses; Sarah Camilleri, editorial director, European Spa magazine; Chunxia Gao, Minor Hotel Group; and Jessica Smith, senior analyst at The Future Laboratory.

Future of wellness, governments and policy:

The Global Wellness Institute will release the first study to define wellness policy and argue for why it it’s so desperately needed at the government level–and how it can complement public health policy and happiness/well-being policy efforts. Using quantitative analysis, it’s the first research to provide answers to these questions: Does spending on wellness actually lead to better health and happiness outcomes and greater longevity?

Future of faith:

An extraordinary panel on how faith increasingly impacts business, moderated by Jean Sung, head of Philanthropy Centre, Asia, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, includes Brian Grim, founding president of the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation in the US; Judith Richter, MD, founder of Medinol Ltd. and The NIR School of the Heart in Israel; and Isaac (Yitz) Applbaum, chair of The Western Wall (Kotel). Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji, president of the India’s Divine Shakti Foundation, will keynote on “From I to We: The Power of Spirituality in Moving from Illness to Wellness.”

Future of Sustainability:

Planetary wellness is a key topic, and keynotes include Itay Zetelny, groups leader of Innovation, Global Incentives & Cleantech at Ernst & Young, on the future of sustainability and Oded Rahav, Business & Strategy, Dead Sea Guardians, on their incredible sustainability project to save the Dead Sea.

Future of investment and the wellness economy:

With the wellness market estimated to grow from $4.4 trillion to $7 trillion by 2025, the conference will explore where investment and the wellness economy are headed. Thierry Malleret, global economist and founder of the Monthly Barometer, will analyze the triumphs and future challenges for the wellness economy. To provide a window into what global wellness investors are seeking today, the “Reverse Pitch” will have major investors–including Nichol Bradford, executive director and co-founder of Transformative Technology; Nimrod Cohen, managing partner of TAU Ventures of Tel Aviv University; Dr. Modi, founder and chairman of India’s Modi Holdings; Rick Stollmeyer, founder of Mindbody and CEO of Inspired Flight Technologies, Inc., David Stoup, chairman and CEO of Healthy Lifestyle Brands; Yoriko Soma, CEO, Conceptasia, Inc.; Amir Alroy, co-founder, Welltech Ventures; and Alejandro Weinstein, co-founder, WM Partners–pitching delegates on what they’re looking to invest in in wellness and why. A new feature, “What’s Bubbling Up in the Wellness Economy?”, will have delegates contributing the new ideas and trends they see emerging across every wellness sector.

Amazing networking and parties–and musical, cinematic and wellness experiences–every day:

The Summit is renowned not only for its future-focused content but for its networking opportunities, social events, and creative wellness experiences. Each day, delegates will be immersed in incredible music, film, art and wellness experiences. Myndstream is bringing stunning musical performances; Louie Schwartzberg, director of the blockbuster film Fantastic Fungi, will debut healing films, and BBC StoryWorks will premiere its groundbreaking, awe-inspiring new series, “In Pursuit of Wellness: The Art & Science of Living Well.” One night, delegates will dine at authentic restaurants in historic Jaffa, another evening they will dance the night away at the Gala.

About the Global Wellness Summit —The Global Wellness Summit is a premier organization that brings together leaders and visionaries to positively shape the future of the $4.4 trillion global wellness economy. Its future-focused conference is held at a different global location each year and has traveled to the United States, Switzerland, Turkey, Bali, India, Morocco, Mexico, Austria, Italy and Singapore. GWS also hosts other virtual and in-person gatherings, including Wellness Master Classes, Wellness Sector Spotlights, Investor “Reverse Pitch” events and Global Wellness Symposiums. The organization’s annual Global Wellness Trends Report offers expert-based predictions on the future of wellness. The 2022 Summit will be held in Tel Aviv, Israel from October 31 to November 3.