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Global Wellness Summit Day 1
Global Wellness Summit Day 2
New Research On AI-powered Wellness And Sleep: Not The Strange Bedfellows You Might Imagine
Rebecca Robbins, MD, Assistant Professor, Division Of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate Scientist, Division Of Sleep And Circadian Disorders, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, United States
There is an epidemic of poor sleep, however 80% remain undiagnosed and untreated. While AI can communicate data and insights to patients, sensitive messages such as negative feedback, communicating bad news or pointing mistakes, should not come from AI. For conditions like sleep apnea, where there are often issues with sleep equipment, AI can step in to guide patients, effectively taking on roles typically performed by nursing staff. However, as AI relies on data for its recommendations, it can also replicate existing biases in the data it learns from, potentially influencing the quality of care.
Wellness Trends For 2025
Beth Mcgroarty, VP For Research & Forecasting, Global Wellness Summit, United States
Analog living will continue to grow in importance at the same time as hyper-optimization. Real science is getting mixed up with pseudo-science – but consumers are demanding more evidence. The industry is now concerned not only with ‘well-washing’ but also with “science-washing” and ‘doctor-washing’—the misuse of scientific terms to boost credibility.
Amy Eisinger, Head Of Content, Well+Good, United States
Wellness is a place of extremes, with biohacking vs JOLO – the joy of logging off. Real-world human connections remain paramount, especially as younger generations reconsider their life paths and focus on fulfillment. Beauty products that meet consumers where they are on their journey, at their stage of life will succeed. Sensitive skin is now the norm and aging well is replacing anti-aging. Women’s sports is more popular than ever and this is paired with a huge increase in sport tourism.
Vanessa Fuss, Managing Director – Strategy And Insights, VML Intelligence, United States
We will all be more productive when we are well, employers are now understanding this. The employer can aid at every step of the journey in partnership with AI, such as proving a prompt to meditate when an employee’s heart rate is elevated. Transcendent travel, which allows people to experience awe-inspiring nature, is also growing, helping people with transformation as they reexamine how they live their lives.
Olivia Houghton, Beauty, Health & Wellness Trends Analyst, Ls:N Global, United Kingdom
Technology integrated into clothing is advancing, with features like built-in acupressure and motion assistance that could reduce anxiety and enhance mobility. In the fitness space, prompting a primal response in group and solo exercise can add a new layer to the experience and haptic feedback could guide us so we don’t have to rely on our phones for directions.
Beyond A Broken System: Why A Wellness Revolution Might Save Healthcare
Aradhana Khowala, CEO, Aptamind Partners, United Kingdom
We know the healthcare system is broken, but the good news is that we are healthier than ever before. We now live longer and life expectancy is increasing. Preventable diseases make up 70% of today’s health issues, and suicide rates continue to increase. Insurance costs are unaffordable and government debt is increasing. There is also a 25% chance of another pandemic in the next 10 years.
Wellness is the cure! New Zealand, Finland, Singapore, India, and the UAE are all measuring wellbeing, health and happiness metrics. Wellness tech is shifting the information into the hands of the public, and people can now take an active role in their healthcare.
Creating Community: The Rise Of The Social Wellness Club
Jonathan Leary, DC, Founder & CEO, Remedy Place, United States
The concept of social wellness clubs has proven to be a sustainable business model, offering spaces designed for healing and connection. With the promise of leaving better than you came in, Remedy Place provides a new way to socialize. Our social lives often negatively affect our health, with alcohol typically at the center of the social activity for many people. Changing habits to improve your wellness can often leave people with no social life. However, lacking social connection is as dangerous as six alcoholic drinks per day! A lack of social connection has drastic effects on health. What if we could shift our social activities to healthier ones? Social self-care will make us healthier!
The Marriage Of Design, Architecture And The Environment: Life In The Dyson/Sharples Household!
Anna Dyson, Hines Professor Of Architecture, Yale Schools Of Architecture And Environment, United States
Christopher Sharples, Founding Principal, Shop Architects, United States
Visual delight, created through materials and color, articulate the essence of a space or building. With light, air, ventilation, and biophilic elements in mind, it allows each person residing or working in the building to connect with nature. By 2030, global demand for water will outstrip supply by 40% and about half of the world’s population will live in water-scarce areas. Concrete production currently accounts for almost 10% of global industrial water use, therefore alternative materials must be explored.
Clear windows could be coated with a substance that can collect water from the air, solar energy can be transformed through building facades and used to purity water for re-use. Low energy, non-toxic materials can be used for structural applications, such as coconut by products that are actually harmful when dumped onto the land or into the sea.
Bringing The International Cultures Of Water-Based Wellness To Everyone
Christoper Barrett, CEO, Worldsprings, United States
Research shows that 68% of the US population believe that water helps them feel good about themselves. Spending time near water is essential to elevating and sustaining happiness.
WorldSprings endeavors to bring bathing experiences to the US in urban settings by creating large-scale developments that blend international traditions with modern wellness facilities. A 10-acre property in a big city offers 40 pools, 20 different mineral contents to bathe in, 7 saunas, and 3 cold plunges. Community has always been part of the hot springs experience. After dark, a nighttime social scene offers opportunity for connection at the hot springs, they also have clinically designed circuits for physical recovery, stress, or another conditions. With a maximum capacity of 3000 people, and entrance fees from $60 to $95 USD, WorldSprings facilities create an affordable wellness activty. They require $50-60 million USD of investment to develop.
Wellness Tourism 3.0
Cathy Feliciano-Chon, Managing Partner, Finn Partners Company Limited, Hong Kong (SAR China)
Jeremy Jauncey, Founder, Beautiful Destinations, United Arab Emirates
Age Benders: age is no longer a determining factor in wellness travel as 60-year-old take part in activities with 30-year-olds and 30-year-old adopt the behaviors of older generations, drinking less alcohol and focusing on longevity.
Nomadism: as people move around the globe, now able to work remotely, people can stay longer on retreats to really form life changing habits over several weeks or even months. An opportunity for wellness travel and wellness real estate.
Women’s health: fertility, postpartum, pleasure and menopause are all viable wellness programs now attracting female travelers.
Sky-high wellness: helping people adjust their circadian rhythms and arrive to their destinations without jetlag.
Nourishing escapes: wellness now influences culinary travel. From culinary meditations and dopamine dining, to neural nutrition and menu personalization.
Thermal springs: urban bath houses and thermal water increase in popularity and can now be part of government wellness strategy.
Emerging tourism hot spots: South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Iceland and Italy are all offering self care and holistic wellbeing for travelers with their unique blend of natural resources, cultural richness, and innovative practices.
From sustainable to regenerative: Wellness tourism will need to be regenerative, or it cannot be considered wellness tourism. How is tourism affecting the ecosystem and population of the destination?
Saving The Planet: One Chair At A Time
Timothy Anscombe-Bell, Director, Sustainable Design Collective, United States
In Conversation With
Martin Penrose, Managing Director, Benchmark, United Kingdom
Sustainability is an overused and misunderstood term. Filling a wellness focused property with furniture and products that off-gas toxins defeats the point of bring people into that environment for wellness. The consumer increasingly demands a well environment. Wood is an excellent building material that aligns with this demand, offering natural aesthetic appeal and supporting well-being. However, to ensure a truly sustainable future, forests supplying this wood must be responsibly managed and regenerative. This approach not only helps protect ecosystems but also secures a renewable source of timber for construction, helping to balance environmental health with industry needs. Thinking about the second and third life for furniture and building fittings help extend the life and usability of items, but must be considered at the design stage of development.
Shark Tank Of Wellness Awards: Winner Announced!
Sofia Sanchez from the Savannah College of Art and Design, was selected as the Winner. Evi Vermeêren from Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Belgium, took second place, while Aimar Diaz, also from the Savannah College of Art and Design, earned third place.
Bringing Sports & Wellbeing To Underserved Communities, One Football At A Time
Gundeep Anand, Founder & Creative Director, The Last Stand, United Kingdom
The Last Stand started a street football league initially in London, bringing together underprivileged youths and young adults from 13 to 36, both male and female, to play football without having to invest a lot of money for kit or equipment. Although it’s on the streets, it is well organized and ticketed. Young people involved in this have gone on to try out for professional football teams and represent global brands.
How Hot Is The Business Of Hot Springs?
Charles Davidson, Chair & Creative Director, Peninsula Hot Springs, Australia
China and Japan now represent about half of the global hot springs market. Significant growth is expected across the globe over the next 5 years, currently at 63,000 USD and reaching about 100,000 USD economy by 2028. Creating experiences alongside thermal bathing brings the arts, culture and events together with musical performances and festivals held with bathing and wellness at the core.
The Man Behind The Method: New Research, Controversy And Conundrum
Jemma King, PhD, Director, Biopsychanalytics Pty Ltd., Australia
In Conversation With Wim Hof, Creator, Wim Hof Method, Netherlands
As a scientist measuring states of stress, Jemma was asked to conduct research with Wim Hof. The study included 400 participants, unfamiliar with the Wim Hof Method, to assess the effects of ice baths and cold showers versus meditation. The research included a two-week period to collect baseline data, followed by a 4 week intervention, with follow-up data collected for 3 months. Participants were surveyed, practiced breathwork and took cold showers and performed cognitive tests and weekly ice baths.
Immediate cognitive benefits were seen, better mental clarity and better ability to handle stress, more energy and better mental accuracy. Better self regulation and body listening were seen in addition to better perceived sleep. They will now focus on longevity research. The microplastic contamination that is now seen in humans lowering fertility and overall function of the body.
Wim knows that his practices are now used all over the world, helping people deal with grief, stress and anxiety. He has even shown that he could manipulate his body to eliminate bacteria, which no scientist though possible. Wim has also led groups of other people to achieve the same results. We are all in control of our own brains, and a happy man does not go to war! Wim led the audience in a guided breathwork practice.
A Watershed Moment: Global Wellness Awards
Bennett Family Award For Collaboration In The Science Of Wellness
Presenting Sponsor: Bija Bennett, Founder & CEO, Bijab, United States
Jemma King and Wim Hof were honored with the Bennett Family Award for Collaboration in the Science of Wellness.
Leader In Sustainability Award
Presenting Sponsor: Patrick Fernandes, Executive Managing Director, Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, United States
Davide Bollati of Davines received the Leader In Sustainability Award, honoring his exceptional commitment to sustainable practices in the wellness industry.
Announcement Of The GWS 2025 Location!
Nancy Davis, Chief Creative Officer & Executive Director, Global Wellness Summit, United States
Susie Ellis, Chair & CEO, Global Wellness Summit, United States
The Global Wellness Summit 2025 is heading to the vibrant city of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
