This year's Summit, taking place at the Old Course Hotel in
St. Andrews, Scotland, will take a
deep dive into today's reinvention of ancient water-based therapies
and social bathing practices, as well as the explosion of
accessible, urban-based thermal waterparks
MIAMI, July 16,
2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Global Wellness
Summit(TM) (GWS), renowned as the premier gathering of
international leaders in the multitrillion-dollar global wellness
economy, today announced a group of speakers and panelists who will
address one aspect of this year's theme, "A Watershed Moment for
Wellness," in St. Andrews,
Scotland, November 4-7.
The ancient bedrock of wellness—communal
bathing—is being reinvented by the wellness innovators featured on
this year's agenda
"The ancient bedrock of wellness—communal bathing—is being
reinvented by the wellness innovators featured on this year's
agenda," said Nancy Davis, GWS chief
creative officer and executive director. "This modern-day
renaissance is evident in the explosion of new urban bathhouses,
sauna centers, water-wellness parks, and revitalized hot springs
worldwide. Setting these wellness experiences apart is the fact
that they promote physical wellbeing while fostering a sense of
connection and community, which we know is essential for holistic
wellness."
The numbers tell the story: there's a marked increased interest
in water-related therapies, including private and social sauna
bathing (global sales are expected to reach $120B by 2028), new and improved hot springs
locations (boasting a [projected 14.3% growth rate from 2022 to
2027), an obsession with cold immersion (searches for "ice baths"
have increased 600% globally), the growth in large-scale thermal
waterparks (the leader in this sector, Therme Group's global
expansion includes upwards of $200
million for a new South Korean build), and the rise of wild
and city swimming (Google searches for wild swimming rose more than
700% from 2018 to 2021).
ON THE 2024 GWS AGENDA
(Additional speaker announcements will be unveiled in the coming
weeks as GWS builds its robust agenda for the 18th annual Summit,
which will explore all aspects of the $5.6
trillion wellness economy.)
Wim Hof, aka "The Iceman," has
almost single-handedly popularized today's obsession with ice
baths. He is a globally recognized adventurer and researcher and is
best known for his inspirational exploration of extreme cold. He
will share the "Wim Hof Method," including breathing, mindset and
cold exposure techniques, with Summit delegates.
A renowned expert in human performance, Jemma King, PhD, will present her highly
anticipated and recently completed scientific validation study with
Wim Hof on the "Wim Hof Method." Dr.
King's stress, sleep, cognition, and psychological safety research
and studies have made her a leading authority in stress management
and cognitive performance. She has shared her findings and insights
with prestigious organizations that include the Australian Olympic
Swim Team and Australian Special Forces and Dr. King is also an
advisor to McKinsey & Co.
Jonathan Leary, DC, the visionary
founder and CEO of Remedy Place, revolutionized social wellness
clubs in the US, changing the way we think about "getting
together." Dubbed the world's first "social wellness club," Remedy
Place has locations in New York
City and Los Angeles with
plans to extend its footprint in North
America and beyond. A self-care trailblazer, Dr. Leary is a
sought-after speaker in the health and wellness arena, with his
practice and expertise featured in top media outlets from Vogue to
The New York Times.
Anna Deacon and Vicky Allan, authors of The Ripple Effect: A
Celebration of Britain's Brilliant
Wild Swimming Communities, will join Therme Group US's Robert Hammond for a conversation on cold water,
wild swimming and the healing power of nature. Deacon is a
photographer who organizes charity swims, while Allan is an
award-winning journalist and author.
Architect Chris Romer-Lee
champions idea of opening up public waterways to swimming to not
only boosts quality of life, but to also invigorate waterfront
economies and restore aquatic habitats. Romer-Lee, co-founder of
Studio Octopi, empowers decision-makers and community leaders to
reconnect city dwellers with this valuable resource. He is a
frequent guest on radio and TV and has spoken at TEDx KPMG, V&A
for London Design Festival and many more. Romer-Lee resides in
London and starts his day with a
swim at Hyde Park's
Serpentine.
Design consultant, curator, and writer Jane Withers believes that "bathing is as much
of a state of being as an act of cleansing." With a background in
creating acclaimed exhibitions and events at prestigious venues
like the Victoria and Albert
Museum and the Royal Academy of Arts, she is well-versed in using
design to address cultural, commercial, and societal challenges.
During her talk, she will explore how design can play a crucial
role in addressing these complex issues.
There's an investment rush in hot springs development across the
globe. After discovering the profound healing benefits of
geothermal bathing at Japanese onsens, Charles Davidson, co-founder of Australia's Peninsula Hot Springs, has been
evangelizing the benefits of a deep bathing culture. Davidson is
playing a crucial role in hot springs global expansion and will be
sharing real-world case studies on building a sustainable hot
springs business.
Christopher Barrett, CEO of
WorldSprings, recently launched a new outdoor social wellness
destination in Dallas, Texas. The
nine acres include 46 expertly formulated mineral pools inspired by
spas and natural springs from around the world, along with cold
plunges, barrel saunas and a full-service spa. Over the past
decade, Barrett has led private equity backed, consumer-driven
companies that focus on the experiential retail space through
partnering with L Catterton, KSL Capital Partners, Outlier, and
Offroad Capital.
The 2024 host sponsor of the Summit is Kohler Co., which for 150
years has been a storied brand in design and innovative water
features/experiences. With the Summit being held at one of their
seven global properties, the iconic Old Course Hotel with a
reimagined Kohler Waters Spa, delegates will literally be immersed
in the theme. Nina Kohler, strategy
and design leader for Kohler's award-winning Hospitality Group,
serves as one of this year's co-chairs and will also bring water
wellness to life at November's conference.
Registration is open. First-time delegates can apply to attend
here.
Media who would like to attend the GWS in Scotland can apply here.
About the Global Wellness Summit: The Global Wellness Summit is
an organization that brings together leaders and visionaries to
positively shape the future of the $5.6
trillion global wellness economy. In addition to an annual
conference, held at a different location around the globe, GWS
hosts regular in-person and virtual gatherings, including an annual
Wellness Real Estate & Communities Symposium, and a series of
Wellness Master Classes. GWS also produces the Global Wellness
Conversations podcast and The Doctor is INclusive webinar series.
The organization's annual Global Wellness Trends Report offers
expert-based predictions on the future of wellness that are
oft-quoted in the media. The 18th annual Summit will be held in
St. Andrews, Scotland,
November 4-7, 2024.
Media Contact
Cassanda Cavanah, Global Wellness
Summit, 8183974630, cassandra@cavanahcommunications.com,
www.globalwellnesssummit.com
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SOURCE Global Wellness Summit