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19-21 Jul 2026
The Global Ambassador , Phoenix, United States
22-25 Jul 2026
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23-26 Aug 2026
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10-12 Sep 2026
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18-20 Sep 2026
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22-23 Sep 2026
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27-29 Sep 2026
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29 Sep - 02 Oct 2026
Pical Resort, Valamar Collection, Porec, Croatia
GWD one of only 15 Instagram accounts followed by Harry & Meghan
By Jane Kitchen 07 Aug 2019
Aksoy founded Global Wellness Day in 2012, bringing her vision to the world that wellness is not a luxury but the inherent right of every individual
UK’s Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, have announced the 15 Instagram accounts that they’re following, after they unfollowed everyone and requested people to recommend worthy causes for them to follow.

The royal couple choose 15 worthy charities each month to follow, creating publicity for those causes and sharing their missions with their 9.3 million Instagram followers.

Among the 15 causes selected this month: Global Wellness Day, the nonprofit founded by Belgin Aksoy that offers a range of free health and wellness activities to the public, and which many spas across the world are involved in.

“We are still doing the happy dance,” said Aksoy. “I was hoping so much for this. It’s just amazing to see that all the voluntary work and sleepless nights of the Global Wellness Day family towards our global shared dream of ‘living well’ has also been crowned by the British Royal Family. We look up to their Royal Highness The Duke and Duchess of Sussex for using their platform to shoutout for inspiring organisations and initiatives that work for the things that matter.”

Aksoy founded Global Wellness Day in 2012, bringing her vision to the world that wellness is not a luxury but the inherent right of every individual. Global Wellness Day is celebrated on the second Saturday of June each year with free wellness activities across the globe and the idea that “one day you can change your whole life”.

In 2019, the event reached more than 7,000 locations in 150+ countries across six continents – resulting in millions of people getting involved.

In the eight years since its inception, the annual celebration of wellness has grown exponentially and this year saw the involvement of a host of high-profile celebrities, even before the Royals got involved.

These included Oprah Winfrey and her friend Gayle King posting on social media how they were celebrating GWD by taking a morning hike with the dogs.

Aksoy’s dream of celebrating a day dedicated to wellness has now inspired an international network of more than 87 GWD Ambassadors, 25 Key Supporters and four Advisors to organise free wellness events around the globe.

New countries taking part in the event this year included the Cayman Islands, China, Peru, Kenya, Zimbabwe and the Dominican Republic.

“The beauty of GWD is that no matter where in the world it is celebrated, the aim is to always take the current wellness level of the community and enhance it with complimentary wellness activities," she said. "GWD events range from having lice cleaned from children’s hair in Myanmar 'No Man’s Land' to yoga with celebrity instructors on the Helipad of Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. GWD is inclusive, embracing and a fit for any community. That’s part of what makes it so magical.”



News
1 to 12 of 9512 news stories
14 Jul 2026
Turkey came first at this year’s World Championship in Massage between 3-5 July in Copenhagen, Denmark. Organised by the International Massage Association (IMA), the ninth edition of this tournament saw the highest number of participants ... More
14 Jul 2026
Synergy – The Retreat Show, the global trade show for retreats, has launched a global research initiative that will provide insights into the retreat sector from both consumer and industry perspectives. The resulting report, which ... More
14 Jul 2026
The Wellness Tourism Association (WTA) has published a non-regulatory global industry framework designed to ensure the retreat market offers responsible experiences. The Six Principles for Responsible Retreats have been created to provide a shared reference ... More
12 Jul 2026
A new survey of international spa practitioners shows that stress, burnout and wellbeing concerns have caused one in three respondents to consider leaving the industry. The Therapist Wellbeing Report is based on responses from 159 ... More
09 Jul 2026
Wellness hotels generating less than US$1 million (€932,700, £785,200) – or 10 per cent of total revenue from wellness and leisure – recorded the strongest RevPAR and TRevPAR growth in 2025 across categories when compared ... More
08 Jul 2026
Robert Thurman, an expert on Tibetan Buddhism and the spiritual director of Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Woodstock, has died, aged 84. Thurman – also known for being father to actress Uma Thurman – ... More
10 Jul 2026
Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere, has opened today (10 July) near Knutsford in the north-west of England with a 1,715sq m Fairmont Spa that has been designed using a ‘Wellness without Walls’ concept. The Select Group, ... More
10 Jul 2026
Marriott International has partnered with Fitwel, a healthy building certification system that aims to optimise occupant health.  Marriott has become Fitwel’s first Enterprise Partner and the new healthy building solutions will be implemented across the ... More
10 Jul 2026
Becky Pelkonen, the sauna advocate and researcher, has unveiled the draft of a global public sauna-bathing charter. The ten guiding principles form the foundation for people building, running and championing public sauna-bathing. The draft, which ... More
09 Jul 2026
Lefay Resorts, the portfolio of two luxury wellness properties in Italy, has added emotional dance classes and group cold plunge sessions in response to market demand for social connection.  The brand says it is encouraging ... More
03 Jul 2026
Preidlhof Luxury DolceVita Resort, the destination resort and spa in Naturno, South Tyrol in Italy, will reveal a new spa in February 2027, designed by wellness expert and consultant Patrizia Bortolin. Bortolin has been the ... More
10 Jul 2026
Anna Bjurstam – who left her role as Wellness Pioneer at Six Senses Hotels and Resorts at the end of June – has launched a new wellness, longevity and 'consciousness consultancy' called Wahayla. Bjurstam is ... More
     
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Founded in 2008 by a Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner, Elemental Herbology is a spa, [more]
 
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International SPA Association - iSPA
International SPA Association - iSPA
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International SPA Association - iSPA
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