Samantha Foster, president of IHWA

The global non-profit association IHWA launched this week, opening up membership to the spa and wellness industry. Founded by a group of the global destination spas, IHWA aims to unite all sectors of the wellness industry, identifying best practices and promoting true wellness at a grassroots level, the organisation said.

Incorporated in Australia, IHWA is global in its scope and mission, with board and founding members from Europe, North America, Asia and Australia, including Ananda in the Himalayas, Chiva-Som, Como Shambhala, Destination Spa Management, Kamalaya, Longevity Wellness, Rancho La Puerta, SHA Wellness and Wellbeing Escapes.

“We are very excited to launch IHWA to the world, and we invite every organisation and individual with a passion for health and wellbeing to join us,” said Samantha Foster, president of the organisation. “We’re on a mission to transform 10 million lives in 10 years, and it’s going to take the spa, fitness, complementary health, medicine and environmental industries working together to do it.

"In our networks we have so many talented people; so many effective treatments and interventions; so much knowledge and technology...we believe that massive change is possible if we collaborate and build a community that encourages and inspires people to make positive lifestyle change.”

To this end, IHWA will facilitate programmes that aim to engage, empower and educate society about wellness, Foster said. Members can propose and participate in projects, such as establishing meditation in schools, teaching organic gardening, or Wellness for Cancer – just a few of the projects currently being considered.

To make wellness accessible to all, membership is available at Corporate, Professional & Associate levels, and benefits include network offers, job boards and a knowledge-sharing forum, with workshops and educational seminars, best practice guides, and the opportunity to participate in wellness-related research in development.

Membership fees are AU$395 (US$302; €264, £211) for Corporate, AU$195 (US$149, €131, £104) for Professional and AU$120 (US$92, €80, £64) for Associate. Registered charities and not-for-profit NGOs get a 50 per cent discount.

In celebration of its launch, IHWA is also offering a 10 per cent discount for new members who join by 30th April 2016.