one vision of well-being and the relationship to wellness and well-being that will cascade on both sides of the equation .” It ’ s a message she says has resonated internally and in the marketplace .
“ I also felt there ’ s a great opportunity to not just ‘ well wash ’ the world but really to – the best way I can describe it is , really , I feel like the world is over-indexed on all things well , but they ’ re under-indexed on human truths ,” she says . “ How do we make well-being as approachable and as grounded as you can be and map that to an overall hotel experience ? Because if we ’ re successful we ’ ll have relationships with our employees , our customers and guests that extend between hotel stays , not just during hotel stays , because they trust us to care for their well-being more than the next guy .”
DIVERSE EXPERIENCE Kyricos says her toolbox of skills is a good match for the challenges ahead . “ I happily live at the intersection of brand strategy , hospitality , wellness and global sensitivity … I didn ’ t even realize how rare it was until I had these conversations
‘‘ HOW DO WE MAKE WELL-BEING AS APPROACHABLE AND AS GROUNDED AS YOU CAN BE AND MAP THAT TO AN OVERALL HOTEL EXPERIENCE ?’’
during the interview process ,” she says . “ It just ended up being perfect timing , perfect role .”
Hyatt needs to prove that its wellness brands , including Miraval , which is highly regarded in the U . S ., “ can travel ,” says Roger Allen , CEO and founder of consultancy Resources for Leisure Assets . “ The expectation of that brand – they ’ ll need to communicate that in different cultures , in different marketplaces .” Allen adds that Kyricos ’ dual role makes sense . “ If you ’ re aiming to be a leader in the wellness market , then you want your employees to be the most key element of that experience .” Kyricos ’ own wellness journey , she says , started with her upbringing in a “ big fat Greek family . If you show up at the door we ’ re going to feed you , clothe you if you need it . Make sure you get a good night ’ s sleep and be on your way .” The hospitality industry ’ s own journey , from swimming pools to fitness centers and then spas , has been bumpier . “ I ’ ve been part of all that and I ’ m grateful for it , but I think a lot of times in retrospect , I don ’ t think we were as approachable and as accessible as we needed to be successful .” Her goal is to make wellness and well-being something that every individual believes can be achieved .
How does she do that herself ? Meditation for 20 minutes a day , a habit she started in the past year ; journaling ; and a positive outlook , a practice she undertook after reading the book “ Positivity ” by Barbara Fredrickson – finding “ more good in a good situation ,” as she puts it .
Mindfulness practices , she believes , pave the next steps in the wellness journey for hospitality . “ I think the mind ’ s the next frontier … And I really do feel things like meditation , journaling , positivity , these are all things that are evidence-based but actually stand a chance of connecting the mind with the great body therapies and services out there that we know already exist .”
Miraval , which Hyatt acquired in 2017 , is a big component of Hyatt ’ s wellness strategy , says Mia Kyricos , but it ’ s not the whole picture .
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