Forecasting the next big trends in wellness travel for 2017, we share the best travel trends in the spa and wellness industries. From holidays for a healthy mind, to stop-smoking-holidays and full body-MOT escapes, discover the hottest new trends that will influence the wellness and spa worlds.
Stop Smoking Retreats
Forecasting the next big trends in wellness travel for 2017, Health and Fitness Travel, live up to their reputation as the leading experts in wellness holidays worldwide. From holidays for a healthy mind, to specialist stop smoking retreats and full body-MOT escapes, discover the hottest new trends that will influence the wellness and spa world in 2017.
Top 3 Destinations: SHA Anti-Tobacco (Spain), Kurotel Anti-Tobacco (Brazil), Marbella Club Anti-Tobacco (Spain)
Optimal Health for the Modern Man
Following an increasing move away from the ultra-masculine man towards the Modern man, more men than ever are now going to spas and wellness retreats. In today’s ever more liberal society, it’s becoming more socially acceptable for men to escape on a wellness holiday where they can take part in masculine activities, like boxing and HIIT, before recovering with a massage or spa treatment. With men, still significantly less likely than women to make time to consult a doctor, wellness retreats catering to men also offer a more approachable means of addressing health issues.
Top 3 Destinations: Chiva Som (Thailand), Komune Resort (Bali), Marbella Club (Spain)
Healthy Mind and Emotion Healing Holidays
With more of us looking for ways to boost self-confidence or learn how to manage stress, it is little wonder that mind and emotion healing holidays are a rising trend in the wellness world. With a growing understanding that a healthy mind leads to a healthy life, retreats offering coaching in mindfulness, meditation and yoga, are helping sufferers of modern-living burnout to reconnect their mind, body and soul.
Top 3 Destinations: Shreyas Silent Retreat (India), Marbella Club De-Stress Emotional Rebalance (Spain), Kamalaya Embracing Change (Thailand)
Post-Cancer Recovery Retreats
No longer shying away from the complexities of treating a cancer sufferer, a rise in wellness spa retreats creating specialist post-cancer recovery programmes offers a sanctuary for cancer survivors to recharge and rejuvenate. Helping you to feel like the best version of yourself again, a range of holistic spa therapies and alternative natural medicine treatments, from acupuncture to Ayurveda, will nurture and resort your well-being. Combined with expert consultations from psychologists, nutritionists and physiotherapists, regain your appetite and your strength as you rejuvenate your mind, body and soul in a luxurious wellness sanctuary.
Top 3 Destinations: Chiva Som Cell Vitality (Thailand), Kurotel Post-Cancer (Brazil), The BodyHoliday BodyScience (St Lucia)
Full-Body MOT Holidays
Every year, drivers spend thousands taking out MOTs on their cars, so why not spend the same amount of money and loving attention on your own body? After all, it’s the only one you’ll ever have. Enter full-body MOT holidays where fitness training, wellness activities, spa treatments and diet plans are personalised to your body. Taking personalised wellness one step further, some even offer DNA analysis, to really tailor the treatment plan to your health needs.
Top 3 Destinations: The Body Camp (Ibiza), The BodyHoliday BodyScience (St Lucia), 38 Degrees North Healthy Hedonism (Ibiza)
Eat-Well Detox Holidays
Gone are the days when a detox holiday entails a punishing regime of fasting and tiny portions; time for the eat-well detox. Foodie lovers in search of a cleansing detox will be pleased to know that on an eat-well detox you’ll be able to refuel with well-proportioned nutritious meals throughout the day, that won’t leave you going hungry. Focusing instead on eating a generous amount of healthy food, try a more satisfying experience for those looking to detox without forgoing food.
Top 3 Destinations: Ti Sana Liver Detox (Italy), Kamalaya Comprehensive Detox Rejuvenation (Thailand), Como Shambhala Estate Detox (Bali)
Zen Adrenaline Junkies
The idea of zen and adrenaline might seem like an odd combination, but more and more of us are now embracing ‘adrenaline-après’ holidays where we can satisfy a thirst for high-octane adventure with kite-surfing and paragliding, before relaxing with spa treatments, meditation and yoga. A great way to train your body and mind to let go of stress and enjoy living in the moment, embrace the mind-body cocktail of zen adrenaline and return home ready for anything.
Top 3 Destinations: Zighy Bay Sense of Adventure (Oman), The BodyHoliday Fusion Fitness (St Lucia), Maya Ubud Adventure (Bali)
Physical Therapy Holidays
Everyone puts their bodies through a lot of stress. Whether from being hunched over a desk or working out to the extreme, muscles are frequently being strained, pulled or teared. Answering the call for worn out bodies, the rise of physical therapy holidays provides opportunities for recovery from your injuries and to re-train your body to peak perfection. Heal your body with a wide variety of treatments, from expert consultations with physiotherapists to aquatic therapy and posture alignment.
Top 3 Destinations: Chiva Som Physical Renewal (Thailand), Lefay Sports & Posture (Italy), Amatara Fitness(Thailand)
Family-Wellness Holidays
Following the rising realisation that the next generation of spa goers are the younger generation, more spa and wellness retreats are now offering family-wellness holidays. No longer a no-go zone with the children in tow, with an array of mini spa treatments designed especially for children, now the whole family can be pampered from head to toe. Also focusing on drawing the kids away from their iPads and video games, action packed kids clubs encourage children to experience new sports and activities, as they swap their smartphones for bicycles, tennis and water sports.
Top 3 Destinations: The BodyHoliday WellFit Families (St Lucia), Fusion Maia (Vietnam), Terre Blanche (France)
New Waves in Wellness
With 71% of Earth being covered in water, it only makes sense that we’ve taken to board sports like ducks to water. Riding a new wave in wellness, more of us are now turning to board sports as a fun way of toning up and shaping up. From stand-up paddle boarding to indoor board fitness classes and surfing, board sports offer a great workout for training your core and legs.
Top 3 Destinations: Epic Sana Sup Fitness (Portugal), Komune Yoga & Surf (Bali), Paradis Plage Surfing (Morocco)
Preventative Health to Lower Your Biological Age
Already highly popular with the Baby Boomer generation, the appeal of preventative health holidays offering the chance to help slow down the clock are also rising in popularity with Generations X and Y. Proving that age really is nothing but a number - whether pressing pause on ageing by learning to let go of stress or sweating your way to a more youthful you, reducing your biological age is the new mantra of the ‘ageing gracefully’ gurus.
Top 3 Destinations: SHA Rejuvenation (Spain), The BodyHoliday Healthy Ageing (St Lucia), Longevity Anti-Ageing (Portugal)
Social Group Fitness Holidays
If you’re a social butterfly and like to make friends wherever you go, then you’re probably a part of the ever-rising number of people escaping on social group fitness holidays. Whether a group of friends or the solo traveller who doesn’t want to train alone, with the added support of individuals going through the same process, you’ll soon reach your fitness goals. Offering the opportunity for you to train in groups where you can learn from each other, you may even make some lifelong friends.
Top 3 Destinations: The BodyHoliday September Solos (St Lucia), Wildfitness Zanzibar (Tanzania), The Body Camp (Ibiza)
Workplace Wellness
If you’re a social butterfly and like to make friends wherever you go, then you’re probably a part of the ever-rising number of people escaping on social group fitness holidays. Whether a group of friends or the solo traveller who doesn’t want to train alone, with the added support of individuals going through the same process, you’ll soon reach your fitness goals. Offering the opportunity for you to train in groups where you can learn from each other, you may even make some lifelong friends.
Top 3 Destinations: Ultimate Luxury Around The World Wellness Trip (Worldwide), Lefay (Italy), Kamalaya (Thailand)
Eco-Friendly Wellness Retreats
With a rise in green conscious travellers in search of a wellness holiday that is as kind to the planet as it is to you, there has been a growing emergence of eco-friendly wellness retreats offering a trip, without the guilt trip. Return home an expert on the local fauna and flora with educational eco-forest walks, indulge with all-natural spa remedies and refuel with healthy organic cuisine from onsite gardens.
Top 3 Destinations: Karkloof Safari Spa (South Africa), La Clairière (France) Aro Ha (New Zealand)
For advice, guidance and booking visit www.healthandfitnesstravel.com or call 0203 397 8891
