GWS releases 2020 Global Wellness Trends Report
– Beth McGroarty
Religion and wellness, music as medicine, and circadian health are some of the GWS’ 2020 predicted wellness trends, just released in its 2020 Global Wellness Trends Report.
The annual publication forecasts ten new trends for the year ahead in health and wellness, with individual chapters dedicated to each trend.
The trends are formulated in a collaborative effort between global wellness leaders, including economists, academics, futurists and CEOs of international corporations. They’re also inspired by speeches from the GWS’ Global Wellness Summit.
The report was authored by Susie Ellis, GWI Chair and CEO, Beth McGroarty, co-author and VP of research and forecasting at GWI, Judy Chapman, author and curator of The Karma Group, Peter Eadon-Clarke, advisor at Conceptasia, along with author Richard Panek and journalist Rina Raphael.
“This unique input makes for a powerfully informed set of global predictions,” says McGroarty. “Wellness used to be comprised of more discrete, siloed markets, such as the fitness or
spa industries, but now everything is converging in, and around, wellness, and the concept is remaking whole industries and categories of living”.
Other top trends include technologies designed to improve mental health, energy medicine, and wellness sabbaticals as well as fertility health, rebranded ageing, Japanese wellness and using science to debunk myths in the wellness industry.
Looking at the trends in more detail, McGroarty said circadian rhythms are of interest because examining them enables us to throw a spotlight on the effects of jetlag, light, diet, temperature and light pollution on sleep.
She predicts that: “High-tech circadian solutions are ahead, but this trend is also about changing basic human behaviour and the many human-clock-destroying social and cultural institutions”.
Eadon-Clarke illustrates the future Japanese wellness trend covering ‘Japan’s comprehensive culture of wellness’. Touching on Japan’s 100-year Life Society, he explores Japan’s ageing population stating that in 2017, they had 67,824 centenarians, representing the largest per capita ratio in the world.
Eadon-Clarke attributes the longevity of the Japanese to a strong connection with nature, an emphasis on community wellness and social interaction, as well as taking time for self-care. He anticipates that with the publicity of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Japanese wellness is set to become a major trend.
The 2020 Global Wellness Trends Report
10 trends shaping the future of wellness:Focus shifts from sleep to true circadian health
Ageing rebranded: positively coolJ-wellness (Japanese Wellness)
Mental wellness and technology: rethinking the relationshipEnergy medicine gets serious
Organised religion jumps into wellnessThe wellness sabbatical
The fertility boomWellness music
In wellness, we trust: the science behind the industry
GWS Global Wellness Trends Report Susie Ellis Beth McGroarty mental health energy medicine ageing Japanese wellnessMoorefield and Floh appointed to GWI Board of Directors
The motherlode of wellness content: GWS launches podcasts
It’s time for governments to pay attention to wellness, says Global Wellness Institute
GWI Announces 2020 Partnership with Prevention magazine
GWI report: global physical activity sector worth US$828bn
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
How Portugal’s biggest brewer enlisted the help of one of the country’s best known architects to turn two historic nature parks into thermal spa and nature destinations
Designing an eco hotel for the Galapagos Islands that allowed the stunning natural surroundings to take centre stage while minimising its impact on the land presented its own unique set of challenges, Ecuadorian architect Humberto Plaza tells Kathryn Hudson