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In the past, gyms and spas were positioned as mere amenities but today there are an increasing number of established international hotel chains re-branding around wellness. According to SpaFinder’s Top 10 Spa & Wellness Trends for 2013, hotel amenities will extend beyond fitness and spa and include personalized offerings such as healthy food and beverage selection (i.e., gluten-free and vegan menus), in-room yoga and weight training.

 

Fueling this trend is the rise of global stress and chronic disease epidemic (i.e., cancer, diabetes) along with the high costs of corporate healthcare. Health-focused travelers now represent 40% of the travel segment.

 

Leading the Way

The Westin chain was the first to fully incorporate wellness into its property spanning everything from its ‘Heavenly’ beds, “Heavenly’ spas, SuperFoodsRX menu and ‘Westin Workouts’.

 

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) have launched its ‘all-wellness’ brand EVEN™ Hotels targeting the underserved market of 17 million guests. It will be the first mainstream hotel brand dedicated to helping guests stay healthy on the road. The concept is based on the ‘four pillars of a healthy life’ defined as: eating right, exercising, productivity and rest. The first EVEN hotel will open in Manhattan in 2014, and the company expects 100 properties in development in its first five years.

 

Opportunities in Vietnam

Wellness is still a relatively new concept in Vietnam and is currently limited to the luxury end of the market in properties like Six Senses Ninh Van Bay and Fusion Maia Danang.

According to Euromonitor International’s Health and Wellness Tourism in Vietnam 2012 report, spa and wellness tourism is predicted to achieve a compounded annual growth of 16% over the next five years with hotel and resort spas driving the growth.

 

While the coastal regions are a natural choice for spa and wellness resorts, there are also other ideal locations to develop wellness. Highland locations such as Dalat and Sapa are perfect for their beautiful natural scenery, fresh air and mild climate. Vietnam’s numerous mineral hot spring locations could also be tapped into for wellness development. Existing properties interested in re-branding can start with something as simple as incorporating healthy foods to expanding spa services to include lifestyle consultation or Vietnamese Traditional Medicine in their service offerings.

 

Wellness Vietnam Hotel Collection currently features a list of properties that meet Wellness Vietnam’s guidelines of offering healthy eating options, spa and fitness facilities, and wellness activities. The collection was developed to provide wellness-minded travelers with healthier options for accommodations and travel in Vietnam.