Best Practices and up to the minute news on Customer Experience Management and Service Excellence
Best Practices and up to the minute news on Customer Experience Management and Service Excellence
U.S. travelers spent roughly $258 billion on wellness trips last year. It’s a trend hoteliers and hospitality leadership would be foolish to overlook.
The trend shows no sign of slowing down in 2025. It also has a wide-ranging demographic of travelers. A recently released report from the Global Wellness Summit called the “Future of Wellness Tourism 2025” shows Baby Boomers may have kickstarted modern wellness travel, but Millennials are amplifying it.
Wellness travelers now want more than traditional spa services. They’re interested in experiences promoting physical, mental, and emotional health.
Wellness travelers are more than your typical holistic health enthusiast. Many are everyday folks looking to escape daily stress by relaxing and luxuriating on a getaway vacation.
Many hotels offer spas and fitness centers. However, wellness travelers are now interested in meditation centers, I.V. vitamin therapy, and even napping wellness centers. Feng Shui and serene environments can contribute to ultimate relaxation for these guests.
Find out: How to Improve the Feng Shui of Your Hotel with These 5 Tips
Personalization has been a growing hospitality trend that GEM Journal has covered for years. Offer your guests customizable wellness packages. That can range from yoga and meditation classes to custom nutrition packages.
These are unique revenue drivers while also sticking to the guest experience mission. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more Americans have gravitated toward at-home fitness. Think Pelaton or BODi – the kind of fitness that can be done without the stress of a crowded gym.
You can provide fitness equipment in rooms or private sessions with trainers and wellness experts.
GEM Journal has previously reported, “Luxury Hotels Are Embracing These 3 Eco-Friendly Approaches.” It’s worth a read, and they’re tips even mid-level hotel chains can consider.
Wellness travelers appreciate eco-friendly practices, from using organic linens and locally sourced meals to reducing their carbon footprint with single-use plastics or focusing on paper over plastic.
Anytime you can implement natural elements to promote energy efficiency in your hotel, eco-conscious wellness travelers will take notice. Ensure your potential guests know your hotel hosts these offerings in your marketing material.
Need help marketing? Read: 5 Ways to Enhance Your Guest Experience Before Arrival
Wellness travelers find guided natural walks, local offerings, and cultural immersion to be unique travel experiences.
Focus on meaningful experiences that will provide lifelong, memorable experiences to these guests. Make them feel rejuvenated and more in touch with nature before returning to the daily grind of modern life.
Connect with local wellness practitioners who offer these kinds of experiences. You may go as far as collaborating with an expert on traditional healing practices experienced in conducting drum circles, burning sage, and practices like Thai Chi.
Not only will wellness guests feel satisfied with their stays, but it may encourage them to stay longer and book again for a repeat stay.
Read more: Guests Crave an Immersive Experience
Dining is a guest – and wellness – experience of its own.
Wellness travelers prefer organic, locally sourced foods. Some are plant-based, while others will only consume beef that’s been grass-fed and grass-finished. It’s important your guests know you provide these options for their dining experience.
Cater to all wellness diets and ensure the nutritional facts are available. Maybe host a cooking class or workshop on nutrition for guests to learn and engage with the chefs creating their wellness meals.
Read more: 3 Effective Solutions That Bring Order to Guest-Cooking Chaos
In guest experience, your staff should always be hospitality heroes.
They keep the whole guest experience machine turning. When focusing on a wellness tourism experience, your team needs to be experts on the subject more than your guests.
Invest in training programs to educate your staff. Focus on guest interaction daily. Wellness trends change quickly, and when your concierge and guest experience team is in the now, it puts confidence in wellness tourists.
Hire consultants, research, and train your team to be the wellness specialists guests crave to spend their money on a unique experience with.
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