Hotels have spent a decade turning the bathroom into a design statement. Marble, brassware, rainfall showers and softly backlit mirrors now sell rooms before a guest has even arrived. Yet for anyone who actually needs to get ready in one, the hotel bathroom remains one of the most quietly frustrating spaces in hospitality.

Lymphatic drainage gets sold short. It tends to sit in the same mental box as a relaxation massage, only gentler, and that framing does the treatment no favours with clients who equate pressure with value. Walk a client through what is actually happening under their skin, though, and the picture changes. The reason a good drainage treatment works has almost nothing to do with how hard you push. It has everything to do with where you push, in what direction, and at what rhythm.

The global wellness economy is still growing at pace. The Global Wellness Institute says it reached $6.8tn in 2024, up 7.9% on the year before, with further growth forecast over the rest of the decade. That is good news for spas, but it does not make the commercial picture simple. A growing market can also become a more demanding one, particularly when operators are trying to balance staffing, rising costs, guest expectations and the practical limits of room capacity.

Six Senses has opened at The Whiteley in Bayswater, bringing a spa and wellness offer that is built for regular local use as much as hotel stays. The opening centres on Six Senses Spa London, a 2,300 square metre facility anchored by a 20 metre indoor pool and a dedicated magnesium pool, with a recovery focused biohacking lounge and a full scale fitness set up designed to support training, performance and downregulation in a city environment.

NAD, short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, has become a familiar term in longevity clinics and supplement aisles, often framed as a direct “top up” for energy. The biology is real, but the language around it is frequently sloppy. NAD is a coenzyme found in every cell, constantly being made, used, recycled and broken down. Most interventions marketed as “NAD” are not a straightforward intake of NAD itself. They are, more often, ways of feeding the pathways that help the body build NAD inside cells.

Heat is having a moment in British wellness. Infrared cabins, classic Finnish saunas and hot plunge pools are moving from “nice to have” to “anchor treatment,” backed by an evidence base that is no longer just folklore from Nordic countries. For operators in the UK, the challenge is not whether heat works but how to show it works for your guests in ways that are safe, comprehensible and compliant with advertising rules.

Picture a private island where the daily routine skews towards blood panels, cold plunges and chef-led nutrition rather than beach clubs. That is the pitch behind SHA Island, a new project at AlJurf on the UAE’s Sahel Al Emarat coast, midway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The destination is being developed with IMKAN Properties and anchored by SHA Wellness Clinic, the Spanish brand known for clinic-level programmes that mix diagnostics with spa, movement and nutrition. Partners are marketing it as the world’s first island community built entirely around longevity and healthy living.

Dr Thriya Pillay, founder of Bump and Beyond Chiropractic has her Masters in chiropractic (cum laude). She has 5 years experience in treating mums, babies and everyone in between. Dr Thriya Pillay shares how pregnancy-safe chiropractic can ease back, hip and sciatic pain, support pelvic balance, and encourage optimal baby positioning, with research suggesting shorter labours and fewer interventions. She explains relaxin, alignment of the spine and pelvis, and gentle techniques such as Webster and SOT, then shows how postpartum care restores function, improves posture, and reduces strain in the fourth trimester.

Coworth Park, Dorchester Collection’s modern country house hotel located in the heart of Berkshire, has launched its reimagined spa. Designed to work in harmony with the surrounding countryside, The Spa at Coworth Park offers a slower, deeply intuitive wellness experience, for guests of the hotel, spa members, and visitors to enjoy. 

Wellness has moved from the margins to the centre. In the United States, the industry is now worth over $2 trillion, making up nearly one-third of the global wellness economy. This figure reflects more than a market trend. It marks a change in how people live, spend, and seek comfort in a fast-moving, fragmented world.

In the field of beauty and wellness, appetite regulation is often discussed in passing but rarely understood in detail. Yet glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, offers genuine promise. This hormone is central to satiety, helping manage insulin, slow digestion, and regulate hunger. It also connects gut health to brain signalling, positioning it at the crossroads of aesthetic medicine and metabolic care.

Once a marginal luxury tucked away in high-end spas or Nordic cabins, the sauna has stormed back into mainstream wellness with new urgency and new meaning. From floating wood-fired sanctuaries in Liverpool to panoramic rooftop retreats in London, saunas are now redefining the boundaries of modern health, beauty, and social connection. What’s more, they are doing it with both scientific credibility and cultural resonance.

Debuting in July 2025, the Britannic Explorer, A Belmond Train, U.K. announces the ultimate in slow luxury with a partnership with leading British wellbeing brand, Wildsmith, and an exclusive Wellness Suite on board the train. Renowned for a nature- inspired approach to wellbeing, for the first time, Wildsmith brings its expertise to a train, curating treatments exclusive to, and inspired by the journey, and offering guests a serene escape to harmonise the body and mind.

Dr Sohère Roked, GP, Functional Medicine and Hormone expert explores how our hormones play a vital role in our overall well-being, and even slight imbalances can affect how patients feel., and outlines some signs which can indicate that your hormones may be out of sync.

Wellness paths are structured experiences that guide guests through a curated sequence of spa treatments, enhancing relaxation, rejuvenation, or invigoration. When implemented effectively, these paths improve treatment efficacy, guest satisfaction, and operational efficiency. However, many spas fail to offer clear guidance, leading to suboptimal experiences.

The UK's spa and wellness industry, valued at approximately £7.9 billion in 2024, is at a crossroads between maintaining luxury and embracing sustainability. While specific data on waste generation within UK spas is scarce, the broader beauty industry is known for significant waste production, including single-use plastics and disposable items. In the United States and Canada, the beauty sector generates approximately 877 pounds of waste per minute, encompassing hair clippings, metals, and excess hair colouring.

Andropause or "male menopause” refers to age-related hormonal changes involving declining testosterone levels, though it differs significantly from female menopause. Here, Dr Sohere Roked GP, Functional Medicine & Hormone Doctor, discusses the process of identifying and treating symptoms of the Manopause.

Finland has more saunas than cars. This striking fact underscores just how deeply embedded sauna culture is within Finnish society. With an estimated 3.3 million saunas serving a population of 5.5 million, there is roughly one sauna for every 1.67 citizens. An astonishing 90% of Finns indulge in a sauna session at least once a week, making it a key aspect in the way of life.

Sound has long been recognised for its profound ability to influence the mind and body. Scientific studies have shown that certain frequencies can reduce anxiety, lower cortisol levels, and promote a state of deep relaxation. Utilising the power of Sound, in Partnership with Myndstream, Shared Beauty Secrets has launched the Sound Escape Massage, recently launched at the prestigious InterContinental Hotel London Park Lane spa, harnessing the therapeutic potential of sound in a groundbreaking way.

Dr Annelize Meyer discusses simple yet impactful strategies for starting 2025 with healthier habits and greater ease. She highlights the importance of reducing added sugar for improved metabolic health, carving out "me time" to recharge and rebalance, and nourishing the body with protein and fibre-rich meals. By embracing these practical steps and fostering mindful practices, Dr Meyer offers readers a sustainable approach to wellness that goes beyond fleeting New Year resolutions.