Global Wellness Institute to hold inaugural Wellness Real Estate & Communities Symposium
– Susie Ellis
The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) is preparing to host a Wellness Real Estate & Communities Symposium on 28 September 2021.
The conference will take a deep dive into the fast-growing market and gather top executives, developers, investors, architects, designers, analysts, policymakers and media to examine the future of the market.
The hybrid event is being hosted both online and in-person in New York City at etc.venues 601 Lexington.
Hosted between 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (EST), the schedule features keynotes, panels and interactive discussions with participation from industry figures such as:
- Clodagh, New York-based Irish designer and founder & CEO of Clodagh Design
- Rachel Hodgdon, president & CEO of International WELL Building Institute
- Dr Richard H. Carmona, chief of health innovations at Canyon Ranch and 17th US Surgeon General
- Steve Nygren, founder of Serenbe
- Veronica Shreibeis Smith, CEO & founding principal of Vera Iconica Architecture.
New research will also be presented throughout the day. GWI’s senior research fellows Katherine Johnston and Ophelia Yeung will present the never-before-shared market numbers for 2020 and discuss the implications of various global forces on this sector going forward in the context of the evolving wellness economy and new public health and policy conversations.
Topics covered will include:
- What are the trends in technology and design “hardware” to create smart-healthy homes and communities?
- How will a work-from-home future spur new developments that blur the line between home, work and wellness and new destinations and concepts?
- How are hotel and wellness resort groups zeroing in on a mixed hospitality-wellness residence model?
- With a retail and office space downturn, how could cities get a “well” rethinking; what’s the future of urban wellness developments?
- Is a new wave of more affordable and inclusive wellness communities coming, driven by forward-thinking governments, policymakers and developers?
In addition, Joanna Frank, president and CEO of the Center for Active Design, will present findings from the largest health and wellness study of real estate investors to date.
To register and find out more about the agenda, head to this link.
The GWI and Wellness Real Estate & CommunitiesThe GWI first measured and analysed the global wellness real estate and communities market in its 2018 report, Build Well To Live Well, identifying a US$134b (€113.1b, £96.6b) market back in 2018.
The organisation also recently launched a new initiative dedicated to this sector.
“A revolution in rethinking real estate, communities and the built environment around wellness principles was percolating pre-pandemic, but this long crisis has created a whole new mindset: The health of our homes and communities – where we live and how ‘well’ – has become a critical issue,” said Susie Ellis, GWI chair and CEO.
“We felt that there was an urgency to bring together the big players, thinkers, investors and innovators in an all-day, think-and-do tank-like event to go very deep on the latest insights and directions in this crucial, evolving space.”
In other news, Kendra Kobler has been named director of programmes & operations for the Global Wellness Summit (GWS) and the GWI.
Kobler’s first role will see her head up the operations around the upcoming Real Estate & Communities Symposium.
Prior to her full-time appointment, Kobler was already leading two initiatives; the GWI’s Wellness Moonshot: A World Free of Preventable Disease and the GWS’ Shark Tank of Wellness competition.
Before joining the organisations, Kobler spent five years at wellness real estate and technology company Delos, working on the development and implementation of health and wellness solutions designed for top-tier hotels and resorts, corporate offices, and residences.
In addition, she’s worked on marketing and business development initiatives for other key players in the wellness industry including WTS International, Spafinder Wellness, and Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa.
Global Wellness Institute Global Wellness Summit Susie Ellis wellness real estateGlobal Wellness Summit podcast unveils new six-episode season hosted by Kim Marshall
GWI refreshes UN Sustainable Development Goals initiative with new leadership appointments
GWI Women in Wellness initiative dedicates new survey to women in leadership
Wellness care hospital opens in Vilnius with innovative spa and hospitality concept
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’ planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism investment.
For years, the corridor has been associated primarily with science, technology, housing and university-led economic growth. However, the clustering of large-scale visitor attraction projects along the
All-inclusive eco-wellness development Auko to open near Vietnam’s Son Doong caves
Shedd Aquarium upgrades its visitor experience with new Immersion Theater
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional revenue opportunities.
The attraction has transformed the aquarium’s Phelps Auditorium into a multi-sensory venue combining panoramic projection, environmental effects and interactive technology.
A new pre-show area allows visitors to engage with augmented reality marine animals before entering the
MCR is planning a luxury hotel for London's BT Tower
Joy as a radical act: Yinka Ilori launches solo exhibition celebrating the rebellious power of spreading happiness
Work gets underway on Madrid's €800 million leisure complex
Work is underway in Madrid on one of Europe’s most significant multi-functional complexes, combining sport, entertainment, culture and education.
The €800 million initiative to regenerate the former Olympic Aquatic Centre in the north-east of the city, next to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium, is being led by Barsento – a joint venture between Live Nation Entertainment, Oak View Group and Atlético de Madrid. The project will
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Four Seasons’ Naples Beach Club opens 2,800sq m Sanctuary spa inspired by indigenous Calusa people
Orient Express Corinthian to host Ocean Rebirth wellness retreat in collaboration with Guerlain
Famed London nightclub, Tramp, launches Tramp Health
First look: Miraval opens on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia
Hainan Science Museum by Ma Yansong, opens in China
A new science museum has opened to the public in Haikou after attracting more than 350,000 visitors during a four-month soft opening period.
Designed by Ma Yansong and his practice MAD Architects, the Hainan Science Museum is located on the edge of Wuyuan River National Wetland Park and has already recorded peak attendance of more than 5,800 visitors in a single day.
Commissioned by
Zannier Île De Bendor launches with design by Hardel Le Bihan Architectes
Sæl Spa readies for launch in London: “a modern British sanctuary”
Immersive art bathhouse Submersive announces debut location in Austin
Construction begins on regenerative wellness destination The Shenandoah Nature Resort
Royal Caribbean reveals record-breaking cruise ship
V&A East opens in London
David Geffen galleries open at LACMA
New venue The Lands by Capella includes a longevity centre to complement sister hotel Capella Sydney
World of Frozen launches at Disneyland Paris
Pical Resort by Valamar reveals first Croatian spa under the ESPA brand
Mandarin Oriental creates end-to-end Egyptian journey with two new hotels and first-ever luxury river cruise
Designers Mendil + Meyer launch new division called Lām Concepts for strategic wellness projects
Wilderness Bisate in Rwanda reveals brand’s second Sanctuary spa
4a Architekten shares details of wellness extension at Salinarium Bad Dürkheim Thermal Spa
BodyHoliday plans 10-15 locations in the next 15 years
Floating wellbeing destination planned for London’s Royal Docks
Aman Group to open second Janu in Dubai with inaugural Janu Club
Designed to restore neglected land and renew the identity of Iraq’s capital city, Baghdad Sustainable Forests promises a new way of living surrounded by nature. Gensler’s Ian Mulcahay tells us why he thinks the project could become a model for the repair and enhancement of urban centres




















