Skift Take

The opportunities in health and wellness tourism have never been richer.

Series: Skift Podcast

Skift Podcast

Compelling discussions with travel industry leaders and creatives who are helping to shape the future of travel.

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The Skift Podcast is back, and for our second episode of 2016, we are looking at the state of health and wellness travel trends in 2016.

When many people think health and wellness travel, they think spas, meditation, and yoga, but over the last two decades it has evolved into so much more. Now the field encompasses women-only surf retreats, health-conscious hospitality brands, a new focus on men and families, high-energy escapes, healthy cruising, on-demand massages, amid more — all fueling a multi-billion dollar opportunity.

Gone are the days were travelers look at their time-off as a free-for-all, using the age-old “I’m on holiday” excuse as a coat of armor against largely unhealthy and sedentary vacation choices. Four out of five wellness tourists integrate healthful activities and habits into their trips to counteract interrupted routines that affect sleep, diet and exercise. One in five takes trips with the intention of making some form of health and wellness the goal of the trip.

To better understand what’s happening across the sector, Skift reporter Alexandra E. Petri and Skift co-founder and Head of Content Jason Clampet sat down with Jason Moskal, VP of lifestyle brands for IHG (in charge of its EVEN hotels) and Susie Ellis, CEO at Global Wellness Institute and President of Spafinder Wellness.

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Tags: skift podcast, the skift travel podcast, wellness

Photo credit: Puerto Vallarta’s Makawe Spa at the Matlali Hotel.

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