Global Wellness Summit Day 2
Global Wellness Summit Day 3
The World in a Drop of Water, a Drop of Water in the World
Louie Schwartzberg, Filmmaker & CEO, Moving Art, United States
In keeping with tradition, a short film from Louie opened the summit with a message of gratitude and wonder, a visual explosion of color from stars and galaxies to microscopic detail of flowers and butterflies.
Welcome, and the Lens of Creativity
Nancy Davis, Chief Creative Officer & Executive Director, Global Wellness Summit, United States
Nancy spoke of her love of creativity and art, and invited us all to see wellness through our own unique lens.
Longevity Through a Wellness Lens
Susie Ellis, Founder, Chair & CEO, Global Wellness Summit, United States
Susie welcomed the summit delegates and highlighted the importance of being in the UAE, embracing longevity, AI and new innovations in wellness. Susie spoke of the pivotal step in bringing the industry together with research and numbers to define the economy and clarify the subsections within it. Today, the bubble chart is a global reference for the wellness industry and media outlets. We can truly change the world for the better with prevention, sustainability and with science, medical and wellness experts working together.
Medicine, Wellness, and the Future of Longevity
Michael Roizen, MD, Chief Visionary, Great Age Reboot; First Chief Wellness Officer, Cleveland Clinic, United States
Michael asked us to imagine ourselves as younger than we are, at 40, even if our body is chronologically 90. He defines wellness as slowing aging and longevity as reversing aging. Make your ‘real age’ younger by focusing on various longevity factors:
In the next decade, we could expect a 30-year jump in life expectancy! However, you have to stay young to get younger.
The United Arab Emirates’ Longevity Ambitions
Nicole Sirotin, MD, DipABLM, FAC, CEO, Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
With obesity, diabetes, and cancer rates at an all-time high in the UAE, this symbolizes a huge economic cost in healthcare. Increasing life expectancy has an economic benefit; focusing on longevity is shown to be in the best interest of the government.
Moving to proactive care and away from reactive care. The question arises, who will pay for this? Currently, no one is in charge of keeping the population healthy; we have sick care, but not preventative care – the UAE is poised to change this for its citizens.
A Body Scan Meditation
Led by Heidi Garcia, Marketing Director, Palmäia – The House of Aïa, Mexico
Heidi guided the group through a heart-centered meditation to connect and ground the audience.
The 2025 Global Wellness Economy Monitor
Katherine Johnston, Senior Research Fellow, Global Wellness Institute, United States
The new figures for the wellness economy in 2024 were presented, and the total economy is now valued at 6.8 trillion USD. In 2029, the economy is predicted to reach 9.8 trillion USD. All wellness sectors have now recovered from the pandemic, and every sector is poised for future growth.
Wellness real estate and mental wellness sectors have experienced explosive growth. Physical activity, healthy eating, personal care & beauty, and traditional & complementary medicine have all experienced steady growth. Tourism-based sectors include spas, thermal springs and wellness tourism. Global tourism grew 1.9% over the past five years, whereas wellness tourism has grown 6.4% annually. Public health, prevention & personalized medicine and workplace wellness are largely dependent on policy.
The new bubble chart representing the global wellness economy in 2024:
The wellness policy series currently includes physical activity, wellness tourism, and mental wellness, and will soon include healthy eating, traditional & complementary medicine, wellness at work, and wellness in the built environment.
The Latest in Hospitality Development and Investing: Do Wellness & Longevity Play a Role?
Ömer Isvan, President, Servotel; 2025 Global Wellness Summit Co-Chair, United Kingdom
Ömer outlined the standards of design that are acceptable and how they differ greatly from the ideal values, in terms of air quality, light, and sound. To build a well environment, we must move way beyond just acceptable levels. Wellness needs to be built in, not bolted on.
The Convergence of Longevity, Luxury & Hospitality: The Next Vision
Sam Nazarian, Founder & CEO, SBE Entertainment, United States
Paying attention to what the new generation wanted, Sam worked on some of the original lifestyle hotel brands. By asking a lot of questions, at SBE, they uncovered the demand for residential opportunities within a lifestyle brand, such as SLS, which launched in Los Angeles and soon became a success internationally. In 2019, with a hectic travel schedule, Sam realized he was the most unhealthy he had ever been in his life. He sold his hotel company and focused on luxury residences, fully integrating all elements. Partnering with Fountain Life (pioneers in preventative health), he learned from the culture of education, longevity, and prevention. After five hours of testing, Sam completed the process and just days later was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm that was removed by surgery. It would have ruptured within 6-12 months if left untreated.
A new development, The Estate, currently under construction in the Dominican Republic, will deliver all-inclusive medical and wellness solutions to its guests. This will initially be available at the ultra luxury boutique level and, with more data and evidence, will be offered through lower price points.
Longevity Fueled by Technology
Phil Newman, Founder and CEO, Longevity. Technology, United States
Chasm theory explains how, after early adopters, comes a chasm that we must make it past to be successful. In wellness, Phil suggests that we are still pre-chasm, and we must get it right to succeed! Longevity.technology, Phil’s website, is a media platform sharing information, research, and data.
With a multitude of apps and platforms, collaborations are starting to bridge gaps between our wearable devices and medical testing, and linking also to nutrition and wellness advice. Longevity clinics are driven largely by Gen X clients.
Systemic aging reversal is a realistic concept now gaining attention and significant funding. Consciousness preservation and biostasis may soon be a reality.
Wellness Evidence: The Next Chapter
Moderated by
Susie Ellis, Founder, Chair & CEO, Global Wellness Summit, United States
Today’s consumer is looking for evidence-based recommendations, and wellness evidence can provide that, all on one platform. Modalities such as acupuncture, flotation therapy, sauna, tai chi, and many more can all be found.
Panelists
Beth McGroarty, VP, Research & Forecasting, Global Wellness Summit, United States
Users are empowered by the research and knowledge available, while the research spotlight highlights some standout studies that can make an impact on health and longevity.
Jane Kitchen, Media & Trends Analyst, Global Wellness Summit, United Kingdom
Biophilic design, breathwork, cryotherapy, dance therapy, and flotation therapy are all new modalities that have been added this year. Which modalities should be added and researched? Email ja**********@******************it.com with your suggestions.
Building Breakthrough Brands
Jeremy Jauncey, Founder & CEO, Beautiful Destinations; 2025 Global Wellness Summit Co-Chair, United Arab Emirates
Philippe Zuber, CEO, Kerzner International, United Arab Emirates
Across the Kerzner brands, Atlantis, One & Only, SIRO and Rare Finds, the challenge of delivering wellness is about matching the lifestyle of the client’s wellness activities at home. By delivering wellness solutions, demand during the shoulder season’s typically slower months can be increased. A collaboration with Clinique La Prairie offers the guests a credible brand in medical wellness. By working with AC Milan, they studied their wellness practices and sleep patterns to better cater to the demands of all guests. SIRO will be launching in Mexico, Miami, and Tokyo in the coming years. They will focus on family wellness in the future to ensure all generations are involved in the ecosystem of wellness.
Hospitality Vibes
Meng-Mei Chen, PhD, Assistant Professor of Marketing, EHL; Author, Hospitality Vibes, Switzerland
What makes us happy and what defines a good relationship? Our emotional energy comes from good relationships. Social interactions can energize us or deplete us. Research shows us that our happiness level can increase by interacting with people we come into contact with, but don’t know as friends, such as baristas, receptionists, cashiers, etc. In hospitality, this means staff can impact the guest’s happiness via positive social interactions.
Creating good vibes includes design, programs for co-creation, and technology. Design to gather people together. Social eating is a great way to bring people together and improve team cohesiveness. Use name badges to tell customers and colleagues a personal story, building connection and creating a cohesive team.
Global Wellness Summit 2025: Pre-Summit
CoreX: The Bio-Intelligence Engine Powering Precision Wellness
Isaac Bentwich, Founder & CEO, CoreX, United Arab Emirates
Cells taken from a blood sample can be engineered into brain and organ cells – organoids, where drugs and supplements can be tested safely while AI monitors their reaction and the effectiveness. Perhaps you could also chat with your organs and get next-level biofeedback!
Quris AI can generate millions of drug interactions on known drugs and teach the AI so it can generate realistic predictions of drug interactions with 92% accuracy.
New obesity drugs developed with AI show impressive results with no muscle loss, making them favorable to Ozempic and similar drugs.
The FDA has recently declared that organ-on-chip research will be embraced and that soon, animal testing will become obsolete.
Prestige Wellness Group – What Makes a Thermal Area Work: Lessons from a Decade Inside the Steam
Federico Checo described a typical thermal nightmare… When beautiful design meets poor functionality, the result is a thermal nightmare: a disconnect between design and operational reality.
Poor drainage, poor flow between hot and cold zones, lack of maintenance, and other factors contribute to this. For a functional spa hydrotherapy area, four parts must be considered:
Space planning: the journey, sequence, and flow must follow logical progression.
Sensory design: light, sound, materials, aromas, and temperature, along with the brand story and aesthetic harmony, should be considered.
Circulation and flow: avoid bottlenecks, slippery cross zones, unclean areas and external contamination; include a logical flow, doors and views should lead to the next step.
Maintenance and longevity: plan for ordinary and extraordinary maintenance, plan for maintenance access, and create a maintenance checklist.
Design for function, build for emotion, maintain for longevity!
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By Sara Jones, Editor
