Wellness experts reflect on the well-being trends of today and tomorrow.
Dubai : The world is awakening to the power of purposeful travel, with rising numbers traveling intentionally to return feeling better than when they arrived. This movement is fueling extraordinary growth, which the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) projects will reach nearly $9 trillion by 20281.
Long before wellness became so sought after, for the last 30 years, Six Senses has been pioneering places, spaces, and experiences that feel good, do good, and spark something in people. Whether on sun-soaked islands, in the mountains, within healing retreats and now in urban epicenters, the 27 Six Senses around the world take guests beyond the destination into new discoveries.
Driving this agenda forward are Wellness Pioneer, Anna Bjurstam and Mark Sands, VP of Wellness. With a combined experience of over 60 years and shared curiosity for what’s next, they infuse the integrated wellness philosophy of Six Senses with intentional innovation and ancient healing practices to ensure Six Senses continue to stand at the forefront of what it means to be mentally, physically, and spiritually well.
“The future of hospitality is holistic,” Anna Bjurstam summarizes, “Gone is the quick fix mindset, and in its place, we’re seeing well-being become an intentional strategy of our guests’ everyday lives. Millennials and Gen Z are spending disproportionately on wellness2, meanwhile 84% of the US population2 and 94% of people in China2 say wellness is a ‘top’ or ‘important’ priority. In the UK, this is true of 79%2, with 76% joining the gym to improve their mental health3. This demonstrates how people are looking for a wellness ecosystem both when at home and as they travel – somewhere their well-being is considered throughout their entire experience. It’s moved from doing wellness, to being well.”
Mark unpacks how this mindset will influence wellness in the fast-evolving landscape of 2026:
Workplace Wellness
“Workplace well-being is coming to the fore of corporate consciousness and conversation as more people are recognizing the impacts of today’s working world on well-being. This is particularly relevant for the CEO and C-Suite community, who are beginning to recognize that peak leadership starts with peak well-being. No longer are they sacrificing health in pursuit of success and are instead increasingly investing in self-care as a necessity for leadership effectiveness.
“What’s more, entrepreneurs do not see themselves logging off when they reach retirement age and now intend to continue working or embarking on an encore career long into their elder years. Research consistently shows that CEOs who prioritize sleep, mindfulness, and regular movement consistently demonstrate sharper judgment, greater emotional intelligence, and more balanced decision-making. This means they are up to 30% more resilient under pressure, less susceptible to burnout, and more likely to sustain their professional longevity4.”
The Six Senses Integrated Wellness philosophy and personalized programs are tailored to identify, respond to, and even prevent the impacts high-powered professionals may face. From intentional programs grounded in Indian, Chinese, and Tibetan medicine at Six Senses Vana to lighter and more immediate options in urban locations like Six Senses Rome, Six Senses Kyoto, and the forthcoming Six Senses London which will feature the first Six Senses Place, a new private members concept instilling the Six Senses lifestyle, every day, Six Senses wellness experiences are designed to empower the leaders of today and tomorrow to unlock sharper decision-making, build resilience under pressure, and lead with clarity and purpose.
AI Meets Ancient Wisdom
“AI is reshaping how we approach wellness. Increasingly, intuition is merging with intelligence, as technology is now viewed not as a replacement, but as a valuable tool to track behavior and highlight where we need support. This becomes most meaningful when combined with the nuance and empathy of human experience. As a result, there remains deep respect for the ancient practices that have stood the test of time. By bridging the two, we are now able to unlock a far more personal and effective path to well-being.”
Six Senses continues to embrace tools that help people understand and optimize their unique biology. An integrated wellness screening at the beginning of a guest’s stay is used to assess key physiological markers such as stress resilience, energy, cognitive clarity, and rest. Personalized programs are then tailored by Six Senses Wellness Practitioners, designed individually to improve the guest’s unique measures and aided by state-of-the-art spas and technical tracking devices.
Sleep tracking, smart wearables, and clinical insights, including epigenetics and DNA testing, help accelerate a guest’s recovery, performance, and stress reduction. Experts at Six Senses pair these modern diagnostics with the brand’s high-touch, intuitive approach, allowing AI and technology to illuminate where traditional, nurturing practices—from mindfulness to bodywork and energy medicine—can deliver the deepest benefits.
The Rise of Contrast Therapy
“The conversation has moved on from biohacking as a trend to biohacking as a lifestyle. Thermal therapies, including heat, cold, and contrast, are becoming everyday rituals as rising numbers install solutions in their own homes. As an example, the home sauna market was valued at $1.2 billion last year [2024] and is now projected to reach $3.5 billion by 20335. Guests at Six Senses have long benefited from contrast therapy, one of the most accessible forms of biohacking.”
Six Senses Spas enable guests to experience the hot or cold embrace of cryotherapy environments from pools to pods when away from home. Thermal cycles pair cryotherapy with infrared saunas, steam rooms, or hot baths to support circulation and detoxification whilst underscoring the increasingly recognized therapeutic benefits6.
The Roman bathing circuit at Six Senses Rome offers a sociable, immersive experience through a modern reinterpretation of Laconicum, Caldarium, Tepidarium, and Frigidarium.
At Six Senses Crans-Montana, a range of saunas includes Aufguss ceremonies, sensory rituals combining music, storytelling, temperature variations, aromas, and movement, led by skilled Sauna Meisters. The forthcoming Six Senses London will debut a cold-water immersion journey, 65-foot indoor swimming pool and London’s first hotel magnesium pool.
The Power of Breath
“Breathwork is moving into the mainstream as the Global Wellness Institute identifies this growth being comparable to that of yoga in the 1990s7.
“The simplest wellness tool we possess is also the most powerful. Breathwork teaches us how to regulate our nervous system with nothing more than the inhale and exhale. It can shape your physical and emotional state, bringing about a sensation like a high-intensity workout: you feel simultaneously relaxed, focused, and euphoric. It’s none of the exertion, all the feels.”
Building on the popularity of mindfulness, sound, and meditation practices, Six Senses is expanding guided breathwork sessions and retreats across its properties. Whether through pranayama, transformational breathing, or simply learning how to pause and reset, guests of every age and ability are discovering how breath can become a daily anchor for well-being
Appetite for Analog
“In 2026, analog living is poised to become the antidote to hyperconnectivity. This marks the deepening of the digital detox as people don’t just want to disconnect from the virtual world; they want to intentionally reconnect with the real world. Travel is a time when we become part of a world beyond the everyday and have the capacity to embrace the extraordinary. What we’re able to do at Six Senses is allow our guests to log off completely through things that feel tactile, slow, and real, whether that’s in our Earth Labs, at the Alchemy Bar or through a range of crafted experiences otherwise known as ‘pinch me moments’.”
At all Six Senses, analog experiences are woven into programming: communal tables and conversation cards, mindful journaling opportunities, craft workshops, unplugged festivals, and even Faraday bags where devices are temporarily locked away. At Six Senses Vana, a dedicated wellness retreat, devices are confined to rooms to allow guests to be fully present.
Crafted experiences – a hallmark of Six Senses – invite guests to step beyond the everyday to experience extraordinary moments. Be it paragliding into Six Senses Zighy Bay guided by the Gulf stream, a fire ceremony at Six Senses Bhutan, or stargazing behind the Saudi sky at Six Senses Southern Dunes, these transformative experiences are enriched by local traditions, regional flavors, and the wisdom of remarkable masters, whether spiritual guides, expert foragers, world-class divers, or karate champions. They open new perspectives, ignite curiosity, and guide individuals toward a deeper sense of clarity, meaning, and purpose.
The Middle East’s Wellness Wave
“The Middle East is emerging as a global hub for wellness, with the MENA region now ranking #1 globally for growth in spa use, and the UAE the fastest growing wellness market in the region. Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia, the wellness economy is valued in the billions with wellness tourism alone growing at approximately 66% annually8 as locals and visitors alike are rapidly embracing holistic practices. This Middle Eastern emphasis on luxury, high-tech, and holistic wellness is influencing how the world views wellness, with a ripple effect to destinations like Europe, Asia, and the Americas.”
Six Senses is realizing considered and purposeful growth in the Middle East with the opening of two new properties in the coming years. Six Senses Amaala, Six Senses The Palm, Dubai and Six Senses Residences Dubai Marina will join Six Senses Zighy Bay and Six Senses Southern Dunes.
Since opening in 2008, the first spa in the region at Six Senses Zighy Bay has offered a full spectrum of experiences, including nine treatment rooms, two Arabian hammams, steam rooms, saunas, ice caves, and a holistic menu of local and signature therapies delivered by skilled international practitioners.
Opening in 2026, properties like Six Senses Amaala and Six Senses The Palm, Dubai are at the forefront of this movement, offering state-of-the-art facilities and treatments that reflect the rise of wellness in the region. Guests can explore a wide range of wellness offerings, from traditional hammams to cutting-edge fitness centers, all designed to promote health and rejuvenation.
Six Senses Residences Dubai Marina continues this innovation. From the first brick to the 122nd floor, wellness is integrated into every detail. Across 61,250 square feet spanning four levels, offerings include hydrotherapy, cryotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen chambers, and sound healing on the Longevity level, while the Horizon level on the 109th floor features a lap pool with the highest city views of any residential building in Dubai.
Longevity’s Missing Variable: The Soul
“We’ve mastered the science of extending lifespan – from cellular regeneration to AI-powered diagnostics – yet we’re missing the most critical variable: the soul. True longevity isn’t just about adding years to life, but about adding life to those years through purpose, meaning, and spiritual connection. The latest research confirms what ancient traditions have always known: people with strong spiritual practices and sense of purpose live not just longer, but better, with studies showing up to 33% increased longevity in those with regular spiritual engagement9. We’re seeing a fundamental shift where guests no longer separate their spiritual journey from their wellness goals. They understand that optimizing biomarkers without addressing the soul is like tuning an instrument but never playing the music.”
Six Senses integrates this understanding through programs that weave together measurable longevity interventions with soul-nourishing practices. At properties like Six Senses Vana and Six Senses Bhutan ancient Vedic wisdom meets cutting-edge longevity science through personalized retreats that address not just biological age but spiritual vitality. Practitioners guide guests through purpose-discovery sessions alongside epigenetic testing, combining energy medicine with biometric monitoring, and incorporating sacred practices into evidence-based protocols.
This holistic approach to longevity extends across the Six Senses portfolio, where moon ceremonies, sound healing, and meditation sit comfortably alongside hyperbaric chambers and NAD+ therapies. The result is a new paradigm: longevity with soul, where the question isn’t just “how long will I live?” but “what will I live for?”.
Six Senses – part of IHG’s fast-growing Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio, now one of the world’s largest – is a wellness pioneer, standing at the forefront of conversations and innovations that impact mind, body, and spirit. Its integrated wellness programs blend innovative, advanced science with authentic ritualistic techniques, combining ancient health wisdom with modern science technology. It doesn’t follow fads but does its own research to pioneer signature standards, wellness programs (sleep, nutrition, movement, energy medicine and alternative therapies), and longer-stay immersions.
