EDITOR ’ S DIARY
PASSION FOR HOSPITALITY
EDITORIAL Jeff Weinstein , Editor In Chief 1.312.274.2226 E-mail : jweinstein @ hotelsmag . com Barbara Bohn , Managing Editor 1.312.274.2209 E-mail : bbohn @ hotelsmag . com Chloe Riley , Associate Editor 1.312.274.2229 E-mail : criley @ hotelsmag . com Bert Ganzon , Senior Art Director 1.312.274.2227 E-mail : bganzon @ mtgmediagroup . com Steve Vanden Heuvel , Senior Art Director 1.312.274.2218 E-mail : svandenheuvel @ mtgmediagroup . com Brittney Hackbart , Associate Art Director 1.312.274.2216 E-mail : bhackbart @ mtgmediagroup . com Michelle Villadolid , Freelance Design E-mail : mvilladolid @ mtgmediagroup . com Bill McDowell , Vice President , Editorial Director 1.312.274.2201 bmcdowell @ mtgmediagroup . com
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Oriana Lerner , Erin Sund
PUBLISHING David Wood , Publisher 1.312.274.2225 dwood @ hotelsmag . com Bill Kinross , Vice President , Group Publisher 312 / 274-2214 bkinross @ meatingplace . com
INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD Nakul Anand Executive Director , ITC Ltd ., Gurgaon , India Stephen Bartolin President , Broadmoor Sea Island Co ., Colorado Springs , Colorado Geoffrey Gelardi Managing Director , The Lanesborough , London Alex Kyriakidis President and Managing Director , Middle East and Africa , Marriott International , Dubai Christopher Nassetta President and CEO , Hilton Worldwide , McLean , Virginia Monika Nerger Chief Information Officer , Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group , Atlanta Paul Sistare President and CEO , Atlantica Hotels International , São Paulo Susan Terry Vice president of culinary and food and beverage operations , Marcus Hotels & Resorts , Milwaukee , Wisconsin
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Wellness tourism already is valued by the Global Wellness Institute at US $ 563 billion , and based on the growing emphasis hotels are placing on wellness — creating programming to engage families , singles , children and the aging population — it feels as though owners are just starting to capitalize on the opportunity .
Think about how stressed everyone is by the 24 / 7 news cycle , our growing attachment to devices that promote sedentary lifestyles , work creeping further into leisure time and the growing
Editor In Chief cost of health care . It has led to growing obesity , more diabetes and increasing interest in finding healthful stress-busters .
The question is who will win by putting the management in place to make it profitable . It will be interesting to see how well the Equinox gym concept will translate as a hotel brand when it finally opens its first properties in Los Angeles , New York and Chicago starting in 2019 . One thing it has as an advantage is being small enough to avoid delivering a formulaic wellness platform and therefore having the potential to attract millennials who want more authentic products . In fact , generally speaking , the smaller the brand , the better .
For any hotel company considering its future in wellness , I hate to say it but , yes , look at millennials because they are driving the trend more than any other group . Understand what they at least perceive to be important , even if they don ’ t always act on it . Words like organic , natural , holistic and simple come to mind .
Remember that wellness is not just about the spa and fitness facilities ; it is just as much about how services that improve guests ’ state of mind . To truly make inroads , you have to help them eat well , sleep well , look great and increase their happiness quotient . Those with the right equation are already winning — and they tend to be independents and smaller brands where wellness is viewed as an inherent quality .
Keep in mind that wellness programming will vary from region to region and can travel . For example , Middle Eastern and North African holistic wellness developments reportedly have included a surge in hot springs development . In Japan , Hoshino Resorts CEO Yoshiharu Hoshino believes he can export his traditional and popular Japanese hot springs ryokan concept to urban and resort centers in the United States .
How this translates to Marriott , Hilton and other big companies I am not sure . Yes , they have their programming , but I suggest wellness is where everyone should improve their game , and it goes beyond having a yoga room to creating a much more holistic experience . First , better understand your guests ’ needs , and then don ’ t hesitate to act , as this trend seems to have a serious tailwind .
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