Spa Business·24 Sep 2026
The 2026 Bathhouse and Thermal Wellness Development Benchmark Survey, run by the Global Wellness Institute's Cassandra Cavanah and Lisa Starr, polled 43 operators. Sixty five percent expect multiple locations inside three years though only 10 run more than one today, and 71 percent of operating sites are cash flow positive. Capital is the gate: 35 percent spent US$5 million or more to open, and 56 percent needed two years or more to develop.
Spa Business·23 Sep 2026
Ten founding stewards from the UK, Ireland, Canada and Mexico launched a Public Sauna-Bathing Charter in Oslo on September 23, ahead of the XIX International Sauna Congress. Its 10 principles cover affordable access, community accountability, respect for cultural traditions, safety and maintenance standards, and putting public good ahead of private profit. The British Sauna Society counts UK public sauna sites rising from about 45 in early 2023 to 147 by early 2025.
Spa Business·24 Sep 2026
The Canadian owner of Stott Pilates has acquired Gyrotonic and its equipment-free sister discipline Gyrokinesis from founder Juliu Horvath, for undisclosed terms. Gyrotonic counted roughly 16,000 trainers across 60 countries and about 5,000 studios as of 2020, while Merrithew reaches more than 100,000 students and partners in over 135 countries. CEO Jim Heidenreich says the company intends to preserve the method's philosophy and education standards.
TravelDailyNews·23 Sep 2026
Palazzo Fiuggi was named World's Best Wellness Retreat and Six Senses took World's Best Wellness Retreat Brand. Guerlain Wellness Spa at Waldorf Astoria New York won both World's Best Hotel Spa and World's Best New Hotel Spa, with Lefay SPA World at Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti taking best resort spa and WORLD SPA in New York best day spa. Natura Bissé was named best spa brand in the awards' twelfth year.
Spa Business·22 Sep 2026
Vision Architecture has published a concept for Lázně Kynžvart, once Bad Königswart, proposing 1,200 to 1,800 guest beds, medical facilities for respiratory, skin and longevity care, a 2,000 capacity cultural venue and a climate-controlled promenade across a 48,000sq m state-owned site. Chief architect Radek Vopalecký notes the town never reached the critical mass of accommodation that full spa operations require. It is concept stage only, with legal, medical and financial due diligence still ahead.
TTG Asia·21 Sep 2026
Sidjih Wellness Village opened September 19 at Batam View Beach Resort with seven treatment rooms, two of them with jacuzzis, landscaped gardens and four to five day packages built around herbal remedies, sound healing, yoga, massage and local day tours. Indonesia's tourism ministry sees it lengthening average stays on the island and anchoring multi-destination itineraries with Jakarta and Bali. General manager Anddy Fong is targeting corporate retreats.
