Architect Bill Bensley to speak about sustainability at Global Wellness Summit
– Nancy Davis, CCO and executive director, GWS
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) team has announced that designer Bill Bensley will deliver a keynote speech on hospitality design and sustainability at this year's summit in Hong Kong (15-17 October).
Bensley's keynote will challenge delegates to rethink how hotels and resorts are designed and built, by posing questions he believes that the conscientious traveller of the future will be asking, such as: Does this hotel respect its environment? Does it respect the people that engage with it? Does the hotel add in any way to the community?
"If we ask these questions regularly, hoteliers and developers will be forced to answer," Bensley said. "Our fragile environments walk a tightrope to a healthy future - let's ask those questions now before its too late.
"Conservation of the world's wild places matter and I firmly believe rewilding is key to our mental health."
Bensley has worked on a number of unique projects across the globe, including the award-winning Four Season Tented Camp in the Golden Triangle, Thailand, where guests check-in by river canoe and bunk in the jungle and where they wake to the sight of elephants feeding nearby.
Recently, Bensley launched his own luxury boutique hotel group, which includes Shinta Mani Wild, a luxe-jungle escape located above a waterfall in the South Cardamom Forest in Cambodia. The resort aims to combine modern conservation and sustainable tourism.
His firm, Bensley Architecture, Interior Design and Landscape, has worked on more than 200 projects in 40 countries, including Oberoi Reajvials in Jaipur, MAIA Seychelles, Four Season Langkawi and Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.
Nancy Davis, CCO and executive director of GWS, said: "Bill's commitment to, and passion for, the environment and sustainability in hospitality design is unparalleled, and his megaphone is large. I understand he is known for his unpredictable, memorable presentations, so we're very keen to lend him the stage in Hong Kong to see what unfolds."
The theme of this year's GWS is 'Shaping the Business of Wellness', and will include a host of speakers discussing emerging business and wellness trends. It will take place at the Grand Hyatt Hotel Hong Kong.
Global Wellness Summit GWS Hong Kong Bill Bensley design conscientious traveller Architecture Interior Design Landscape Nancy DavisNew GWI Initiative to focus on UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
GWI Initiative names top hot springs trends worldwide
GWS to focus on the future of workplace wellness
Healthy celebrations organised around the world for Global Wellness Day
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Aman sister brand Janu launching in Tokyo in 2024 with design by Denniston's Jean-Michel Gathy
The Peninsula London unveils Peter Marino-designed spa inspired by London’s famous parks
First glimpses revealed of Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair's subterranean spa retreat
"Architecture is alive" says Ma Yansong, as Shenzhen art museum opens exhibition showcasing work of MAD Architects
Ben Channon has written Happy by Design, a new book about how architecture affects our mental health. He explains how we can all be happier at home