A new Global Wellness Institute Initiative has been launched to focus on the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in particular, SDG #3, which is ‘Good health & Well-being’.

Chaired by Jean-Guy de Gabriac, CEO of Tip Touch International, the GWI Initiative aims to provide useful information for the other GWI Initiatives and for spa, wellness, fitness and hospitality professionals who want to contribute to the global efforts of helping people live richer, fuller and longer lives.

“SDG #3 'Good health & Well-being' promotes healthy lives and wellbeing for all, at all ages, which is completely aligned with the mission of many of the Global Wellness Institute Initiatives and the Wellness Moonshot,” said de Gabriac.

The objective of 'Supporting UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals' is to inform and inspire wellness professionals to step up to the call of 193 heads of States, and to encourage them to care for their associates and to put in place more sustainable operations that consider planet, people & profit – in that order.

The Initiative will provide updates on the progress of the 25+5 Cities programme, so that GWI Initiative chairs are kept abreast of opportunities to help teams in cities implement the third SDG.

De Gabriac and vice chair Gareth Presch, CEO and founder of the World Health Innovation Summit, will report back to the industry on the main events organised by the UNGSII, including the SDG Champions Conference in Finland and the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. There are also plans to create a resource list to identify contacts within the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UNSDSN), United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), United Nations of International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and other SDG-related Excellence Partners.

“The gap between life expectancy and health expectancy is widening, with millions spending their last ten years in sickness,” said de Gabriac. “As spa, wellness, fitness and hospitality professionals, it is our duty to support preventative actions for our guests, associates and local communities to enjoy richer, fuller and longer lives.”