Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) has curated a new Wellbeing Collection, which comprises 15 luxury hotels that provide soulful sanctuaries designed to restore the body, mind and spirit.
These properties from around the world are qualified by wellness experts for presenting wellness not merely as a service or trend, but as a way of life.
Noting that the world is overstimulated and meaningful rest has become both a luxury and a necessity, SLH commissioned OnePoll to conduct The Restless Traveller Report, a quantitative survey of 6,000 adults across the UK, the US and Australia to better understand what drives the need for profound rest.
Key findings show that 72 per cent of respondents reported feeling tired right now, with 60 per cent saying modern life does not allow for true rest. Yet, 89 per cent reported that they recognise travel as effective for achieving holistic rest – supporting emotional, physical and mental well-being. Furthermore, 49 per cent reported nature-based travel allows for the most rest, followed by wellness-focused trips.
Richard Hyde, chief operating officer of SLH, said: “Following an increased desire from guests for well-being and inner sustainability, we’ve created the Wellbeing Collection by carefully filtering the hotels in our portfolio to spotlight those that offer heartfelt hospitality somewhere peaceful, where they can immerse themselves in nature-based experiences, the local culture, educational workshops and wellness-focused facilities to feel enriched, unplug for their daily lives and truly relax.”
Of the 15 founding properties in the Wellbeing Collection, four are in the Asia-Pacific region: Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary and Gangtey Lodge, both in Bhutan; Keemala in Phuket, Thailand; and Namia River Retreat in Hoi An, Vietnam.
Each hotel in the collection is said to understand how to layer the process of improving health with practical advice for long-term sustainability, and is equipped with emotional intelligence, instinctive teams and exceptional locations to guide guests towards a complete recharge.
They are given a stamp of approval from well-being industry experts, including renowned spa editor Susan D’Arcy and well-being expert in Sophrology and founder of BeSophro, Dominique Antiglio.
Sophrology, a practice combining breathing, gentle movement, relaxation, visualisation, and meditation has been widely used across Europe for over 60 years in medical, educational, corporate, and sports settings. It supports a variety of wellness goals, including managing stress, improving sleep, reducing anxiety, easing pain, and preventing burnout.
In an earlier interview with TTG Asia, Mark Wong, senior vice-president, Asia Pacific, at SLH, said the founding properties in the Wellbeing Collection will act as best practice references for other hotels keen on developing a wellness forte.
He noted that the wellness tourism trend “has legs to go far”, as it speaks not only to travellers in need of a quality health recharge but also those determined to prolong their ageing process as the modern lifespan extends.
To celebrate the launch of the Wellbeing Collection, SLH Club members will gain exclusive access to the BeSophro app, featuring the new Travel Reset series, a collection of guided mind-body practices designed to enhance restful travel, from easing flight anxiety and jet lag to helping guests maintain that post-holiday sense of calm.
