Our Destination Deluxe Awards Judges on the Future of Wellness & Travel

Destination Deluxe Awards Judges 2020 - Wellness and Travel
Our Destination Deluxe Awards are evaluated by a group of well-respected industry experts. We caught up with them to gather insight into the future of wellness and travel

Our wonderful panel of industry judges make up a big part of the Destination Deluxe Awards as they evaluate the entries and select the winners each year. Here, our 17 judges shed some light on what we can expect in the near future when it comes to wellness and travel.

 

Belgin Aksoy - Destination Deluxe

Belgin Aksoy
Founder of Global Wellness Day

How do you think travel will change? 
We will travel again, but it will not be the same. Even if borders reopen, travelers must trust that boarding a plane is safe and that they will be able to enter the destination country. There will be a great shift towards touchless travel and digitalization throughout airports and hotels. Strict cleaning and social distancing protocols will be in place throughout airports. New hygiene and other specialized Covid-19 certifications and regulations are currently enforced by governments for hotels to re-open and many more on-site audits will be taking place.

What will the future of wellness look like?
We need wellness now more than ever! Covid-19 has made everyone around the world realize that wellness is not a luxury but a necessity – a message I have been trying to spread for years with Global Wellness Day. We need to not only focus on physical wellness and health but in such times really concentrate on our mental wellness and health – a pandemic causing such turmoil throughout the world is not an easy situation to accept or ignore. Covid-19 has also made us intensely focus on the importance of family, friends, loved ones – basic human values and most importantly “slow” living, but also gave a huge push towards adapting to technology and joining the digital era. I believe more industries will take action to bring wellness into their products and/or services.

What will be your first destination once this travel ban is lifted?
After the travel ban, I will be traveling to London to make sure my son settles back into his school safely.

What’s on your bucket list?
I have a lot of destinations and experiences on my bucket list – but I really would like to visit Petra, a place I was planning to visit right before Covid-19 took over. 

 

Gerry Bodeker - Destination Deluxe

Gerry Bodeker
Chair of the Mental Wellness Initiative of the Global Wellness Institute

How do you think travel will change? 
This is something that I’ve been reflecting on. It’s crystal ball gazing really, but I expect that if a vaccine is found – rather a long shot in the face of a mutating virus – and effective treatments, people will want to travel again for leisure, but will be more demanding about in-flight and in-resort public health safety measures.

What will the future of wellness look like? 
The Covid crisis, in the absence of a vaccine or proven treatment, has put wellness onto a global front burner. Prevention, fitness, reduced risk of inflammation, enhanced immunity – all are priority topics for everyone now, in addition to the basic public health rules of social distancing, hand sanitizing and self-isolation if unwell. Optimal and interesting food and nutrition will be a priority, as will mental wellness as a means of finding an inner centre of direction and calm. Wellness as a way of daily living will become more prioritized rather than as a rescue or escape strategy. 

What will be your first destination once this travel ban is lifted?
I am in Perth, Western Australia, for the time being. I came for a ten-day visit in early March when lockdown occurred in Malaysia, where I have my home, and then in Australia, where I was born and grew up. I will probably have stayed for at least six months by the time I depart as lockdown in Malaysia extends to at least 31 August. So, my first visit will be to get back to my home in Kuala Lumpur – my own destination deluxe.

What’s on your bucket list?
I am currently staying near Cottesloe Beach in Perth, which is a treat in itself. But as it’s winter now in Australia, I would welcome a beach destination in a tropical setting – say Bawah Reserve in the Anambas Archipelago of Indonesia, or Joali Resort in the Maldives. Then, of course, a return to Mulu UNESCO Heritage Park in Borneo when this re-opens, where my colleagues and I have created a rainforest immersion program, Ayus Wellness, at the Mulu Mariott Resort and Spa.

 

Johnny Chang Spa - Destination Deluxe

Johnny Chang
Founder and CEO of Spa Solutions Shanghai

How do you think travel will change? 
In the near future, trips might become longer, but with less pleasure.

What will the future of wellness look like? 
Personalised wellness will be much needed in the future. People were so disconnected during the pandemic and started seeking wellness, which can bring physical, emotional and mental connectivity back to them. Connectivity has to be based on a personalised experience. 

What will be your first destination once this travel ban is lifted?
Sydney. I’m in so much need of a great environment and a much more relaxed lifestyle.  

What’s on your bucket list?
A spa experience in Thailand (Four Seasons Koh Samui perhaps) or Bali (Alila Uluwatu) is at the top of my list. 

 

Susie Ellis Destination Deluxe Awards Judge

Susie Ellis
Co-Founder, Chair and CEO of Global Wellness Summit and Global Wellness Institute

How do you think travel will change? 
Much like how 9/11 forever transformed flying, COVID-19 will make a permanent mark on travel. I believe more travelers will intentionally seek more healthy and rewarding future journeys. I think people will focus more on the quality of their experiences, rather than the quantity of trips they’re taking: Not more tourism, better tourism – and I think, staying at places longer vs. hopscotching about.

I think there will be more purposeful travel of all kinds, from more ecotourism to more cultural travel. I think wellness travel will be far more sought after: Wellness destinations are typically remote in nature, and more people in our long, socially-distanced, traumatizing era will crave nature, fresh air, open spaces and healing programming for the body and mind. There will obviously be more local travel, bypassing lots of planes and trains; more “slow travel,” like walking and hiking and cycling tours; more “micro adventure” travel to national parks and places of deep nature.

What will the future of wellness look like? 
Covid-19 harshly exposed the terrible human cost for not controlling chronic (‘underlying’) conditions: hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and respiratory conditions from smoking and air pollution. THE key, differentiating concept in wellness (as opposed to “cure-focused” medicine) is being personally proactive to keep oneself healthy and to keep illness at bay – wellness is self-care, not healthcare. And never before in modern history has the whole world practiced so much preventive wellness as they have under this pandemic–acting aggressively to keep themselves and their families’ healthy.

I truly believe that Covid-19 immediately strengthened the long-term case for a life of preventative physical and mental wellness. And I believe that wellness is now at a crucial conceptual tipping-point. It could have a much bigger seat at the healthcare table, and while the economic pain from mass unemployment will linger with us, I think that wellness will make up a bigger “share of wallet” for many more people. So, my big-picture prediction is that the wellness concept and wellness markets have a very bright and important future post-pandemic.

What will be your first destination once this travel ban is lifted?
Domestically, my first trip will be to Austin, Texas to see my twin sister… or to Los Angeles to visit my young granddaughter. Internationally, it will be to Italy to visit my niece and her husband.

What’s on your bucket list (destination, hotel, experience)? 
The new Sensei Lanai resort in Hawaii interests me.

See also: 10 Wellness Trends in 2023

 

Nigel Franklyn The Spa Whisperer - Destination Deluxe Awards

Nigel Franklyn
The Spa Whisperer, and Co-Founder of Moss Wellness Consultancy

How do you think travel will change?
Travel will become purposeful and essential. Residential wellness properties offering medical wellness/immunity boosting programs will recover first. Traditional “fly and flop” vacations will stay domestic until travelers are able to manage their anxiety with things like airport regulations, etc…and until we have a clearer picture of what it means to fly away from the safety of home. Also, people will travel for longer vacations. Small weekend breaks won’t be worth the regulatory hassles of international travel. 

What will the future of wellness look like? 
Wellness will play a much greater part in people’s lives. We have learned a lesson on the fragility of society and our own mortality, so wellness will become a more integral part of lives and travel. Touch will not be replaced with tech. That’s not sustainable. Wellness is such an amorphous thing, and while elements might change out of necessity to accommodate post-Covid-19 regulations, its genesis will constantly evolve beyond real time situations – beyond Covid-19.

What will be your first destination once this travel ban is lifted?
First India and then home to San Francisco. 

What’s on your bucket list?
A Northern Lights safari – a coastal winter trip up through Norway’s islands and then down into Finland. 

 

Sue Harmsworth - Destination Deluxe

Sue Harmsworth
Founder of ESPA

How do you think travel will change? 
Initially I think people will stay closer to home for numerous reasons: quarantines, fear of getting stuck somewhere if there is a second spike as predicted, government limitations on travel which means no insurance, which is risky for the older travelers and those with underlying health issues. So domestic travel should boom and also here in Europe many people are going by car or train which is deemed less risky than airports and planes.

I think there will be a boom in villa rentals, whether stand alone or in resorts, anything where there is privacy and the outdoor environment is good. The same applies for spas. Those that have VIP suites, or spas within spas or separate areas that can be hived off for individual or family use will be popular.

What will the future of wellness look like? 
I have predicted for some time that spas and wellness will merge and that the education side will be as important as the treatment side. Programs which deal with prevention – immune system building, strengthening the respiratory system, mental/cognitive health, sleep programs, the gut microbiome and all it represents, will all become an essential part of wellness, and many more. The world will need wellness more than ever, but guests will be very selective and hygiene, staff training and general standards and knowledge will be key. Wellness communities will become very important as people try to escape the big cities and all they represent – pollution, crowds, lack of green and nature, dependence on importation of food, air and water quality etc. We are already seeing a growth in wellness real estate. There will also be a growth in the medical side of destination wellness and spa resorts – diagnostics will be the key to effective programming. 

What will be your first destination once this travel ban is lifted?
To my villa in the Canary Islands – private villa and pool, personal training and massage in the villa, brilliant air and water quality, organic food, mostly locally grown, fresh fish, sea air which makes me sleep, nature, mountain and sea views – bliss!!!

What’s on your bucket list?
My next bucket list trip will be to a medical destination – probably in Europe. There are various things I want to test that are difficult to do with traditional medicine, and as I am ageing, I look at my biological age and try to stay as strong as possible both physically and mentally to enable me to carry on enjoying my work and life to the maximum every day!

 

Lucy Jackson - Destination Deluxe

Lucy Jackson
Co-Founder and COO of Lightfoot Travel

How do you think travel will change? 
Travel has always been enhanced by connections and the local community but I think that COVID-19 has showcased how important it is that we work collaboratively with these communities to enhance their relationship with tourism too and encourage clients to travel again with integrity and less impact on the local environment. Firstly, we are beginning to see people exploring more of their natural habitats and this will extend to other wilderness destinations as people seek escapism with social distancing more inherent in the landscape than city breaks.

What will the future of wellness look like?
Wellness will encapsulate our re-earthing to nature and simplicity. With people staying at home, there has been an emphasis on personal relationships and the importance of nurturing these as well as ourselves. I believe that anything that can highlight our sense of self and help others will become at the heart of the wellness movement.

What will be your first destination once this travel ban is lifted?
I’ve already been exploring the islands off the coast of Queensland and our next stop is the UK to connect with family. From there, I’ll be planning around travel restrictions as various destinations open up. Our team is already poised with suggested itineraries of potential travel bubbles from each of our travel hubs – from the relaxing beaches of the Maldives with kids clubs to the foodie meccas in Europe – quite a few are already in my mind’s eye!

What’s on your bucket list?
The whole world right now – if I could unlock the world and travel for a year of Lightfoot experiences that’s what I would choose to do.

See also: 7 Beautiful Hotels to Inspire Your Interior Design at Home

 

Juliet Kinsman - Destination Deluxe

Juliet Kinsman
Founder of Bouteco, and Sustainability Editor of Condé Nast Traveller

How do you think travel will change? 
While we’re going to travel less, I really hope this time has highlighted the need for us to travel better. We need to make travel a stronger force for good in terms of environmental change, but also in terms of socio-economic impact. By better understanding and looking at every single aspect of travel, I hope everyone will think that bit deeper about how to enjoy more enriching, soul-uplifting experiences and adventures but through more considerate, conscious sensitive travels, help our world heal. We all need to seek out more meaningful exchanges with locals, not just other travelers, and listen, listen, listen. Travel is a wonderful opportunity to speak with people in different cultures, but time away is not only a time to observe and celebrate geographical and cultural differences, but also to better understand our common humanity. Being more eco isn’t simply about how to mitigate negative actions – it’s about striving for positive impact for all communities. While none of us can predict the future, together we are the ones to shape it.

What will the future of wellness look like?
Since being greener is essentially about wellbeing for the world, let’s think deeper about the time we spend in spas. I have found it strange that when it comes to wellbeing, there’s such a disconnect between concern for our own health and that of the planet as a whole. My problem with some retreats is that it’s just not relaxing to see so much treated water and energy expended to enhance the experience for its visitors – often at the cost of locals. We know how much plastic ends up contaminating the oceans, yet spas are spilling over with pre-packaged, single-use, disposable underwear and the like. We need to be better at seeking out hosts who invest in water-saving tricks, such as low-flow showers and watering their gardens with greywater. We need to look for the places that use all-natural therapies enhanced with fruit, veg and spices. Rather than being lavished with huge fluffy white towels and leaving a knot-in-stomach-inducing wake of things to be washed and dried, we should be poised to turn down robes and disposable slippers too.

What will be your first destination once this travel ban is lifted?
At the start of the year, I was scheduled to be making a luxury travel TV show co-presenting it with James Jayasundera of Ampersand Travel and we should have filmed in Bhutan, India, Switzerland and South Africa by now… Until we can all fly long-haul again, I will happily be exploring the UK off camera, reconnecting with nature and heading Glamping with my daughter! I’ve got my sights on a foray with sustainable tour operator Intrepid Travel who have launched Intrepid Retreats, a new collection of local tours. Their three-night in Suffolk, with a stay in a yurt at Halesworth, woodstove pizza for dinner, wine tasting tours at an award-winning vineyard – English wines are finally coming into their own. And some stargazing on a guided night-time stroll.

What’s on your bucket list?
Without hesitation, an extraordinary new private island, in Mozambique, called Kisawa. The creator Nina Flohr, has put so much thought and love into creating what will be a game-changing sanctuary off the coast of southern Africa. What I am most excited about is not only her passion for design, but how she is thinking so sensitively and passionately about how to support locals in creative expression for the next generation of Mozambicans. As for their wellness, Nina has taken learnings from Vana in India, one of the world’s leading holistic health centers, and will include TCM and Ayurveda in their wellbeing approach.

 

Kathryn Moore - Destination Deluxe

Kathryn Moore
Founder of Spa Connectors

How do you think travel will change? 
Honestly, I think things will go back to normal pretty quickly, well the new normal! I feel like people have pretty short memories. Most people I know and a large amount that I see on social media are raring to get back out into the world. We may be a little cautious to start with, but I feel people will learn to live and travel with Covid-19. It’s clearly not going anywhere, so we need to adjust to the new norm.

What will the future of wellness look like?
I feel like we will see a wave of travel – one form will be leisure. People will want to get away and have a rest and a change of scenery. Wellness Tourism will pick up but it’s going to need to be affordable. People have suffered mentally and physically during COVID-19, so wellness is the answer. If we don’t tailor our offering to the market’s needs and spending power, we won’t be as successful as we could be. We have a real chance of making wellness travel mainstream if we package it properly.

What will be your first destination once this travel ban is lifted?
I have two destinations on my list. I want to see my family in Australia. I haven’t seen them since Christmas and that is way too long. A close second is an exotic island somewhere where I can lie by the pool, drink cocktails and relax. These few months have been non-stop and a break would be amazing. Anyone want to sponsor a trip to the Maldives?

What’s on your bucket list?
Besides my island resort fantasy, I’d love to visit a bustling city; New York, London or similar and just live life. Experience the culture, food, engage in life again. I miss those cities and can’t wait to see them back in action. I’m not great at roughing it, so definitely a luxury hotel with a big bath and beautiful sheets. Hey, one can dream right?

See also: Sustainable Luxury Travel

 

Catharine Nicol Awards - Destination Deluxe

Catharine Nicol
Founder of Spas + Beyond

How do you think travel will change? 
I think our perceptions of travel will change – we will appreciate the luxury of being able to experience travel all the more when we are finally back on the road. 

What will the future of wellness look like?
As the world recovers post-pandemic, maintaining responsibility for our own health and ongoing self-care will necessarily continue to be incredibly important, especially given that travelers may be needing health certificates to avoid quarantines when crossing borders short-term, while long-term new pandemics are likely to continue to challenge our immune systems.

What will be your first destination once this travel ban is lifted?
Wherever first opens up for Hongkongers! I’m excited to start traveling again as soon as possible, whether it’s within the Greater Bay Area, or further afield in Asia. City trip, beachy relaxation, hiking adventure or wellness retreat – I’ll be happy whatever it turns out to be. 

What’s on your bucket list?
I’ve missed two trips thanks to the pandemic, both bucket list destinations for me – Bhutan for the adventure and spirituality, and New Orleans for the food. Following my Wim Hof expedition, I’m also dreaming of travelling to the chilly top and toe of the globe – up north to Newfoundland and the northern reaches of Scandinavia, and down south to The Antarctic.

 

Andrea Oschetti Blueflower Travel - Destination Deluxe

Andrea Oschetti
Founder of Blueflower

How do you think travel will change? 
As a consequence of the pandemic, travel will face challenges for some time. This means that people will choose and plan their trips more carefully. In the new world it makes sense to look for travel that is meaningful, even transformational, rather than travel for the sake of it, or because it is summer. People will want to travel to places with integrity, meet local heroes and engage with their communities.

What will the future of wellness look like?
Being and staying healthy is on everyone’s mind. We will see the integration of alternative and traditional medicine into wellness, even more so than we have until now. For example, look at Aman’s Immune Support Retreats. I think, though, that a wellness approach won’t be enough, and that access to nature and adventure will play an increasing role; your run-of-the-mill wellness retreat will look more like a designer trip in the post-Covid era.

What will be your first destination once this travel ban is lifted?
The crisis brought me closer to my roots. I plan on getting back to adventure travel. So, if I could have my pick, I would go to the very remote, very inaccessible Northern Mongolia. Of course, another destination at the top of my list is Italy, to visit my parents.

What’s on your bucket list?
Definitely Mongolia, at a lovely private yurt I am connected to, instead of a commercial camp, managed by an authentic local family, which is the perfect blend of adventure and purpose. Another item on my bucket list is Rascal Voyages’ Expedition Series, without a doubt the ultimate cruise to the Coral Triangle in Indonesia, in your own private yacht, away from everybody. I would also like to spend a week each in the remoteness of Camp Kiattua in Greenland and the Sheldon Chalet, in Alaska, where nature is at its most impressive, to look for a sense of awe and fresh perspectives after the events of this first half of 2020. Finally, I would like to train as a safari guide during one of the wonderful five-day custom courses that EcoTraining, a leader in wildlife education, runs in South Africa.

 

Erina Pindar - Destination Deluxe

Erina Pindar
Managing Director of SmartFlyer

How do you think travel will change?
The luxury travel sector has evolved rapidly to meet clients’ demand for increased safety protocols. These translate to an even more personalized level of service as operators create as few touch-points as possible from the moment travelers leave their homes (think: utilizing the same guides, cars, drivers on a multi-stop itinerary) to deplaning and arriving to their destination stress-free. At SmartFlyer, we are working diligently to ensure clients are prepared for the new normal, whether that means locking in high-demand reservations for restaurants which are now at 50% capacity or creating programming at camp-like properties for families whose children have had their traditional summer camps canceled. It really is just driving us to be more creative and more client-centric than ever, which of course drives us all forward.

What will the future of wellness look like? 
There has been a real shift in the different type of offerings when it comes to wellness travel, and moving forward it will be a continuation of what is currently already available to us. The term ‘wealth is health’ has never rang truer, there will be plenty of options from all across the Wellness spectrum to choose from. For example, the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills’ Wellness Rooms come complete with the latest fitness equipment, room service menu approved by the Cleveland Clinic, and an air-purification system that reduces allergens, microbes, and toxins – which is so important these days. On the other end of the spectrum, you have SHA Wellness in Alicante that is well-loved for its holistic, top to bottom approach to wellness, integrating Ayurvedic cuisine, fitness, as well as state-of-the-art programming that approaches wellness from both the physical and mental aspect. 

What will be your first destination once this travel ban is lifted?
I’ve already begun traveling domestically! Our clients are asking for more insight into domestic properties like Old Edwards Inn and Kiawah Island, so those were my latest check-ins. I’ve also been taking my time and spending a little bit longer than I typically would in a destination, I was in Miami most recently as the luxury properties, like our favorites Four Seasons Resort Surfside and Faena Hotel, are now open. I’ll be headed to LA next with our CEO, Michael Holtz, to check out the openings on the west coast; and he specifically requested the Wellness Room I mentioned earlier at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills for himself. For us, these travels are more important than ever, not only to support our partners, but also in order to have a better grasp on the logistics and client experience, especially with the new safety protocols and newly reopened properties. 

What’s on your bucket list?
At the moment, I’d love nothing more than seeing New York City back to its glory, but I’m also eager to head back to Europe, as well as Australia to check in with our team Down Under!

See also: Bucket List Destinations

 

Parineeta Sethi - Destination Deluxe

Parineeta Sethi
Founder of Global Spa

How do you think travel will change?
Travel, for some time, will be about short haul breaks. People will try to go to places nearby and avoid plane journeys as far as possible. Driving holidays will surely be the next trend. Also, people will prefer to go to tried and tested places.

What will the future of wellness look like? 
The future of wellness will be very big. It’s surely going to be the biggest trend as we move forward, as people are putting a huge focus on their health and physical as well as mental wellbeing.

What will be your first destination once this travel ban is lifted?
I will surely go for a wellness retreat maybe within India for the immediate future and then probably Maldives or Thailand.

What’s on your bucket list?
Right now, I have no real bucket list. But a wellness break is definitely the experience I need and want.

 

Mark Smith - Destination Deluxe

Mark Smith
Founder of The Spa Man

How do you think travel will change?
I think that people will take less journeys per year and when they do travel, they will be with a wellness purpose. The Covid-19 pandemic has focused our collective attention on health – therefore it’s only natural that when we can travel again, people will seek new adventures and work on their own health and wellness. 

What will the future of wellness look like? 
Wellness will put health first and foremost in people’s minds. But I also believe that the people of the world require deep healing. This will come from emotional and spiritual retreats that support and nurture the mind and mental health. 

What will be your first destination once this travel ban is lifted?
Oh, so many! Greece is currently booked for September (I hope I can still go) and I had to cancel Japan, Madeira and Israel due to the pandemic, so they are high on the list too. 

What’s on your bucket list?
Definitely a tropical spa on a beach with private pool villas. A massage outside where I can hear birdsong and feel the gentle breeze on my skin. Delightful. In terms of experience – I love to walk in the mountains, so take me to Austria or Switzerland. Throw in a healing energy retreat – that’s my medicine. 

See also: Top 9 Wellness Retreats in Greece

 

Vivienne Tang Founder of Destination Deluxe

Vivienne Tang
Founder of Destination Deluxe

How do you think travel will change?
Even before Covid-19 we saw a growing trend in remote travel. People were already moving away from mass tourist destinations in favor of secluded places in nature, so I believe people will continue to seek open air spaces where they can breathe fresh air and recharge. Of course, there will be more local travel, and if long haul, people will explore destinations over a longer period of time.

What will the future of wellness look like? 
Wellness will be on everyone’s mind after Covid-19, especially when making travel decisions. Many resorts have already launched immunity programs and retreats, which will help people improve their immunity after being in lockdown with reduced movement for so long. People’s mental health will have also greatly suffered during the crisis, so there’s a high chance meditation and mindfulness will become part of everyone’s daily habits, if they haven’t already.

Spas are also rethinking their offering and are doing everything to create a safe environment for their guests. I believe many spas and retreats will incorporate new wellness techniques, such as sound healing and breathwork, which are two deeply transformational healing modalities. These can also be practiced with social distancing measures in place. 

What will be your first destination once this travel ban is lifted?
Probably something within Asia, such as Thailand. I’m hoping to be in Switzerland for Christmas to see family and friends.

What’s on your bucket list?
A bucket list trip of mine is to join a wildlife volunteering program by Biosphere Expeditions, which offers snow leopard conservation in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, a holiday to support the critically endangered leatherback sea turtle in Costa Rica, an expedition to track and study wolf, bear and lynx in the Transylvanian Alps of Romania, or a desert species project in Arabia to study oryx and other wild animals. High on my list is also a conservation trip with award-winning photographer Paul Hilton to the Leuser Ecosystem in Indonesia, which is rapidly declining because of deforestation due to palm oil. The Leuser Ecosystem is the last place on Earth where elephants, orangutans, tigers and rhinos still live together.

 

Barry White - Destination Deluxe

Barry White
Director of WHITE, and Founder of TIME

How do you think travel will change?
Everyone I speak to is talking about ‘travel revenge’, a pent-up desire to travel anywhere as soon as they can. So the desire to travel will be strong, but I get the feeling that leisure travel may be focused on local or regional travel as opposed to long haul.

I would not be surprised that in the short term we may see higher air ticket prices and longer travel times, and reduced connectability, as airlines consolidate routes, which all will lend itself to keeping leisure travel more local.

What will the future of wellness look like? 
Well, if you wanted a global marketing campaign to highlight the value and importance of wellness and wellbeing, not just as an individual but as a community, Covid-19, just gave us a masterclass. I believe a lot of people now have a new sense of the value of their wellness and wellbeing, how fragile it actually is and will do what they can to protect that in the future. Wellness and wellbeing should go hand in hand with the environment and sustainability. 

What will be your first destination once this travel ban is lifted?
Philippines, either Siargao or Coron Island.

What’s on your bucket list?
Snowboarding in Antarctica. Mountain biking to Base Camp of K2 or Everest. Road trip to every country in Europe with my family.

See also: 7 New Wellness Retreats in Asia

 

Tracey Woodward Destination Deluxe Awards Judge

Tracey Woodward
Director of Innovation and Sustainability at Sheridan&Co

How do you think travel will change?
I truly believe that business travel will change. However, I feel people will still want to travel, maybe less frequently initially. But it will still be one of these things that bring us the greatest joy. 

What will the future of wellness look like? 
I am certain that wellness will continue to grow and it will be the priority for so many of us to learn more about ourselves, and I feel that wellness will come out of the spa area and move more into nature, cold water swimming, foraging, forest bathing, classes that focus on stretch and strength. 

What will be your first destination once this travel ban is lifted?
Greece  

What’s on your bucket list?
I would love to take a luxury train journey through Canada. I would also love to spend 30 days at Buchinger Wilhelmi, learning more about selfcare and wellness. This is a goal for my 60th birthday. I would also love to stay in every fine hotel in London. We never pay much attention to our hometown, I would love the opportunity to explore London as a tourist. 

 

 

Destination Deluxe Awards

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