A group of seasoned wellness industry executives have joined forces to create the Wellness Tourism Association (WTA), a not-for-profit business that will serve the booming wellness travel industry.
“Our mission is clear,” says Andrew Gibson, vice president of wellbeing at Accor Hotels’ and co-founder and chairman of WTA. “We plan to support and further the growth and development of the wellness tourism industry through networking, education, communication and marketing. It's crucial we work together to help define our industry, as well as to educate the public to recognise legitimate and credible wellness suppliers.”
According to the Global Wellness Institute’s 2017 Global Wellness Economy Monitor, the wellness tourism segment is booming – it’s worth some US$563-billion annually, meaning it’s growing faster than the tourism industry itself.
Other founder members include Anne Dimon, CEO of Travel to Wellness, who will be the WTA’s president and Thomas Klein, president and COO of Canyon Ranch, who will be the organisation’s treasurer.
Memberships will be offered to destination marketing organisations, hotels, resorts, destination spas, tour operators and travel advisors. The WTA’s first tourism office member is the Monaco Government Tourist Office, while US-based New Life Hiking Spa is one of the first retreat members.
Hotels, resorts, retreats, destination spas, tour operators and wellness travel companies may join the WTA as members, while organisations with a specific interest in the sector may become partners. Membership packages range from US$300 for travel advisors to US$2,000 for hotels and destination spas.
Later this year, the WTA plans to collaborate with the Global Wellness Summit’s Wellness Tourism Initiative.
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