Poised to exceed $1trillion in global spending by the end of 2024*, the wellness travel market continues to boom, as people all over the world prioritise their health and overall wellbeing. From shamanic retreats on remote islands to groundbreaking cognitive health helmets and alpine escapes that take guests back into nature, BIRD is excited to unveil the next wave of transformative experiences that will redefine the future of wellbeing travel.
* According to the Global Wellness Institute, wellness tourism continues to grow significantly faster than tourism overall, with wellness trips accounting for almost 1 in 5 total ‘travel dollars’ spent.
A RACQUET RENAISSANCE
Studies find that those who play racquet sports have an increased lifespan
Racquet sports are emerging as a top choice for boosting longevity and wellness, with players enjoying 3.7 additional years of life compared to non-players. Tennis, squash, and badminton are at the forefront, showing a 47% lower risk of premature death, according to a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. These activities not only enhance physical fitness but also elevate mental well-being, releasing endorphins that combat stress and anxiety. As a result, hotels and resorts are embracing racquet sports, creating vibrant environments where fitness and fun intersect, proving that the path to a healthier, more active lifestyle is just a way away.
- Marbella Club, Spain: Experience the world’s-fastest growing racquet sport at the birthplace of Padel in Europe. Against the backdrop of the La Concha Mountain, guests can enjoy expert coaching or friendly matches with family and friends at Europe’s renowned gathering place for the elite. .
- Hotel Castello di Reschio, Italy: Located within the 3,700-acre Reschio Estate, Hotel Castello di Reschio offers a top-tier tennis experience with immaculate courts, private coaching, and a pavilion for guests to unwind between matches, all framed by the estate’s Umbrian landscape.
- Le Grand Bellevue, Switzerland: Situated in the heart of Gstaad, this historic hotel has easy access to nearby padel tennis courts and recently launched its inaugural Padel Club Gstaad tournament, welcoming players of all levels amidst breathtaking alpine scenery.
- Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, St Moritz: Experience premier tennis at the iconic St. Moritz, where summer courts overlooking Lake St. Moritz provide stunning views and certified instructors are on hand to help players of all levels enhance their skills, making it the ideal destination for practice and leisure in a breathtaking alpine setting.
- Sartomare, Italy: Set on 75 acres of Tuscan coastline, Sartomare offers an exceptional tennis experience with meticulously maintained courts perfect for both casual play and competitive matches. The estate provides ample space for hosting your own tournament, with breathtaking views of Maremma and Argentario as the backdrop.
- Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery, Croatia:The property in Istria has unveiled its new on-site tennis courts featuring an exclusive residency with Goran Ivanišević, the Croatian champion and former coach of Novak Djokovic. As a haven for tennis enthusiasts, the nearby Pula amphitheatre hosts the legendary ATP Croatia Open, while the Umag Tennis Academy stands out as one of the best in the Mediterranean, attracting renowned players to the region each year.
- Soneva Fushi, Maldives: Situated within lush jungle, just a stone’s throw from the white sand beaches, sits Soneva Fushi’s open-air or covered Olympic-sized tennis courts. Guests can perfect their topspin with Grand Slam champions through the Soneva Stars programme, or practice their backhand with one of the skilled Hosts.
TRAIN YOUR BRAIN WITH AI
SHA introduces new technology to its award-winning Cognitive Development Unit
McKinsey’s 2024 Wellness Market Report shows a growing preference for wellness products with clinically proven ingredients over those marketed as “natural.” This shift presents a unique opportunity for wellness brands to highlight their evidence-based treatments and leverage insights from healthcare experts to meet the demand for scientifically backed wellness experiences. SHA, a world pioneer of medical and holistic wellness, is at the forefront of this movement, introducing a new groundbreaking technology to its Cognitive Development Unit: a Quantitative Electroencephalography Helmet (QEEG). This revolutionary innovation monitors brain waves in real time and enhances SHA’s established neurofeedback techniques, enabling precise diagnosis and treatment of neurological and cognitive conditions such as ADHD, depression, and dementia. According to Professor Bruno Ribeiro, Head of the Cognitive Development and Brain Stimulation Unit, the QEEG helmet allows for immediate observation of brain activity, allowing the team to identify and address cognitive imbalances in real time and create bespoke brain training sessions tailored to each individual’s needs.
CARE FOR THE SCALP & SKIN
SHA launches a dedicated trichology and dermatology unit
According to Statista, the global beauty market is expected to reach $218 billion by 2029. Specifically, the global hair care market is expected to reach $36.2 billion by 2027, propelled by an increasing emphasis on trichology and scalp health, as noted by WGSN. In response to this demand, SHA is set to unveil its Dermatology and Trichology clinical unit in 2025, in collaboration with the renowned Pedro Jaén Group. The unit will offer comprehensive scalp and skin assessments, blending advanced technology with personalised care to optimise skin and hair health. Focusing on hair health and conditions like alopecia, it will provide early detection, tailored treatments, and holistic solutions for skin concerns such as psoriasis and dermatitis. This new unit bridges the often-overlooked gap between medical treatments and cosmetic improvements, offering guests the opportunity to embark on a journey of health and transformation.
FOREST BATHING IS BACK
eriro, a new alpine retreat implores guests to immerse themselves in its landscape in the name of wellbeing
Travellers are increasingly seeking nature-centric experiences – the World Economic Forum Travel & Tourism Development Index highlights a rising trend towards nature-filled stays that offer physical and mental health benefits. This shift towards biophilia – the innate connection to nature – has been shown to lower blood pressure, boost immune function, and reduce stress hormones. Joining this movement is eriro, a brand-new alpine retreat that opened this August, set at the foot of the Zugspitze mountain range in Austria’s Tyrol. Accessible only by cable car to limit environmental impact, this exclusive nine-bedroom hotel invites guests to immerse themselves in the region’s alpine traditions. Guided hikes across mountains and meditation in the forests help guests connect to nature, and with no TV’s and WiFi only accessible in suites, guests can truly detox from the world around them. At the beating heart of eriro is its spa, deliberately positioned in the basement among rugged rocks, lush meadows, and Tyrolean forests. Here, guests can enjoy bespoke wellness treatments while soaking in the panoramic views of the Tajakopf mountain. The spa’s offerings draw on the wisdom of local herbalists and naturalists, using seasonal, region-specific ingredients like mountain arnica, St. John’s wort, and stinging nettle. A personal consultation with eriro’s Head of Spa ensures each guest receives a tailor-made wellness experience, whether it’s a soothing herbal massage or a revitalising session in the meditation pools or Finnish saunas.
SHAMANIC HEALING:
Cap Karoso harnesses the Marapu culture of its community
Shamanism is the UK’s fastest-growing belief system, driven largely by Millennials and Gen Z who are turning to ancient healing for self-discovery and emotional balance, according to a recent census. Launching in March 2025, pioneering eco-resort Cap Karoso in Sumba, Indonesia, will debut a unique and tailored wellness journey, Shamanic Healing Journey, harnessing the wisdom and knowledge of the island’s indigenous Marapu culture. The week-long experience has been meticulously curated to include treatments at Cap Karoso’s Malala Spa, movement and meditation practice, cultural immersion, and a rare insight into Sumba’s sacred medicinal plants used for healing purposes. Towards the end of the week, guests will reach a more open minded and honest state of mind, in time for a raw, authentic encounter with the local shaman; who will unravel truths and bridge the gap between their physical and spiritual lives. The remote Indonesian island of Sumba, long isolated from outside influences, has cultivated and preserved a unique system of beliefs and medicine, deeply rooted in animism, ancestral wisdom, and a profound sense of interconnectedness. To ensure Marapu culture and to avoid overexposure of local healers and shamans, only two couples or three individual adults will be accepted onto the journey each month; ensuring the experience remains exclusive, personal and profound.
JAMES BOND STYLE SNOWSPORTS
Lech’s most stylish chalets launches wellbeing experiences that equally create chaos and calm on the slopes
With “a growing number of wellness travellers seeking a fusion of physical adventure and relaxation” according to Luxury Travel Magazine, The Arula Chalets introduces a new, restorative mountain experience for the upcoming ski season. After a day of skiing or boarding the 200km of high alpine, there is no better antidote for sore muscles than a slow ‘Snowga’ practice, led by Arula’s in-house yoga teacher, Anna Kanonier. The practice focuses on the essential yoga poses for skiers including Taksanda, Utkatasana, Warrior poses, while helping to prevent injury on the slopes. Guests can rejuvenate through a bespoke synergy of breathwork, sound healing and ayurvedic body treatments to peacefully connect with themselves, body, mind and soul. Throughout their stay, guests can explore extensive in-chalet spa and wellness facilities, including the indoor swimming pool, Finnish sauna, steam bath, hot tub and relaxation areas complete with Himalayan salt walls and water beds, as well as sumptuous treatment rooms where hot stone, deep tissue massages and Augustinus Bader signature facials await at the nourishing hands of the resident spa therapist. The Head Chef’s culinary creations will be steeped in adaptogens and superfoods to support longevity and immunity to supplement an active day.
EXPAND LIFESPAN THROUGH BIOHACKING
Kamalaya Koh Samui’s Longevity House enhances decades of ancient tradition and healing
According to the Virtuoso x Globetrender Travel Trends Watch 2025, the “silver bullet” wellness trend will continue to revolutionise the industry through hyper-specific “cures” designed to enhance longevity. Leading the way is Kamalaya’s Longevity House, where cutting-edge medical science seamlessly merges with holistic wellness.Guests can boost immunity with Ozone Therapy, rejuvenate with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), and enhance their longevity with personalised DNA-based health assessments. Preventive cancer screenings add another layer of care, whilst the Pedi:Mani Studio by Bastien Gonzalez combines medical precision with indulgent luxury foot and nail treatments. With its transformative approach, Kamalaya’s Longevity House sets a new standard for personalised wellness, fusing advanced science techniques and luxury for lasting vitality.
COASTAL HEALING
Kayaam House, Sri Lanka launches ayurvedic retreats for the stylish soul seeker
According to the European Centre for Environment and Human Health, the ocean is a natural healer, with its calming sounds activating the parasympathetic nervous system, resulting in a slower heart rate and lower blood pressure – improving overall cardiovascular health. Located between the dense jungle and the golden beach, Sri Lanka’s newest boutique getaway, Kayaam House, offers bespoke wellness journeys rooted in centuries-old Ayurvedic practices. The journey starts with a detailed consultation with Kayaam’s expert Ayurvedic practitioner, who crafts a bespoke programme tailored to each individual’s needs. Whether the stay lasts a few days or a couple of weeks, the itinerary is carefully curated with a mix of wellness activities including: restorative yoga, therapeutic massages, and Ayurvedic treatments that promote both physical and mental rejuvenation. The treatments are rooted in centuries-old practices, incorporating herbal powders, warm oil therapies, and medicated leaves to soothe the nervous system and relieve muscle tension. As cuisine is an integral part of the healing process at Kayaam, the team collaborates with Ayurvedic experts to design tailored menus aligned with each guest’s dosha, ensuring that each meal nourishes the body whilst complementing their overall wellness journey.
SPIRITUAL AWAKENING
Bali’s best kept secret, Nirjhara, revives spiritual healing traditions amongst the junglescape of Kedungu
As holistic healing continues to gain traction worldwide (Medical Tourism Magazine), Bali remains at the heart of this movement, offering transformative wellness escapes that honour the mind-body-spirit connection. Tucked away in the junglescape of Kedungu on Bali’s southwest coast, Nirjhara stands out as a sanctuary for seekers of authentic, restorative experiences. Located a stone’s throw from the island’s volcanic sand beaches and the iconic Tanah Lot temple, Nirjhara’s spa, The Retreat, immerses guests in time-honoured healing practices. Whether it’s sound healing, breath meditation, or spiritual purification rituals at Sebatu’s sacred springs, visitors are invited to embark on journeys that inspire. For those looking to deepen their experience, off-site spiritual blessings in the foothills of Ubud offer a rare chance to connect with Bali’s cultural heritage. Looking ahead to 2025, Nirjhara is set to elevate its wellness offering with a bold expansion. New spa cabins, Ayurvedic treatments, a sauna, and a cold plunge pool will join the retreat’s existing offerings, while an exclusive collection of villas featuring private infinity pools and a concept-driven restaurant will redefine hospitality in the jungle. With its Phase Two development, Nirjhara continues to evolve as a holistic getaway where ancient traditions meet contemporary indulgence
AYURVEDA IN ITS HOME COUNTRY
Anopura unveils a new spa, reimagining ancient healing techniques and connecting guests to the Rajasthani countryside
Ayurveda medical tourism in India is growing rapidly, attracting travellers from across the globe who seek the allure of simpler times, the reclamation of ancient practices and the connection to oneself and their surroundings (Condé Nast Traveller). Tucked away amid lemon groves, frangipani trees, and marigolds on a tranquil five-acre farm just an hour from Jaipur, Anopura is set to redefine wellness with the launch of its new spa in 2025. Rooted in Ayurvedic principles, the spa will be based in the organic gardens and offer deeply personalised treatments designed to rebalance the doshas, address individual health concerns, and promote long-lasting holistic wellbeing. Guided by experienced practitioners, therapies will utilise handpicked oils, herbs, and techniques tailored to each guest’s unique needs, ensuring transformative benefits that extend beyond their stay.
