In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to
our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. ... more
Fallout from the ongoing pandemic and changes in consumer attitudes are driving the sector and governments in the same direction. Now’s the time to link them up
More people are realising it’s time to commit to self-care / photo: Sabrina Bracher/shutterstock
Welcome to this third edition of the HCM Year in Review, we hope you find it a useful resource and a comprehensive record of these times when our industry has been challenged from every direction, driving it to mature and crystallise its purpose.
If 2020 and 2021 highlighted the need for better data about the value of the sector, then 2022 was the year this evidence really started to roll in. Deloitte China and the Global Health and Fitness Alliance delivered their report, Economic health and societal wellbeing: quantifying the impact of the global health and fitness sector, showing in detail the impact of the sector on GDP and healthcare systems around the world. This identified a total value of up to US$91.22bn per annum*.
Hard on the heels of this, the World Health Organization (WHO) published its Global Status Report on Physical Activity 2022 which revealed the shocking impact of sedentary behaviour on health outcomes.
WHO found US$27bn a year in public healthcare costs – or US$300bn by 2030 – could be saved globally by increasing participation in physical activity. In turn this would prevent 500m cases of noncommunicable diseases and mental health conditions by 2030.
Working with Europe Active, HCM interviewed Dr Fiona Bull, head of the physical activity unit at the WHO and the driving force behind this research, who called on the industry to commit to its inclusivity approaches – in terms of both consumers and staff – and encouraged the sector to work at shaping government policy on physical activity.
The Global Wellness Institute stepped up to contribute to this debate, issuing Defining Wellness Policy, a new report looking at ways of filling gaps in current public health policy, while also addressing failures in sick-care-focused medical systems.
Crises in healthcare provision, exacerbated by excess demand due to the pandemic, financial pressures and ageing populations, are driving changes in consumer behaviour. Where once some took the view they could live how they liked and their healthcare service would sort out any lifestyle diseases they developed, they’re now recognising help may no longer be forthcoming and it’s in their best interests to take more personal responsibility.
This impulse must be met with more effective government policy and support to enable a transition to a prevention-based system where health services and providers of physical activity work together to support people from all social groups and of all ages to be more effective guardians of their own wellbeing.
Global Wellness Day (GWD) marked its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its
site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French
West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to
celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-
powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-
focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is
expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and
2029.
