The Philosophy Behind Our Retreats

" What does wellness actually mean? There are many competing definitions in circulation . For example the Global Wellness Institute defines wellness as ' the active pursuit of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health ', while the National Wellness Institute defines wellness as ' a conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving full potential '.

Wellness is more than a Signature Massage, a spa, a showpiece gym, or a sunset yoga session. Its effects reach beyond the physical realm of the hotel's facilities and offerings and are felt more deeply.

When wellness works in a hotel, it works because it has been treated holistically and forms an integral part of the guest experience; it touches all aspects of the business, from every corner of the property, the offering, the people and the concept to the values, culture and MINDSET of the hoteliers.

Wellness versus Wellbeing -

We see 'wellness' and 'wellbeing' mistakenly being used interchangeably. However, there is a subtle yet important difference we must get right. Although closely related, these terms are not synonymous.

A simple way to view it is as follows: wellness is the tool and wellbeing the goal.

Wellness provides us with the tools that allow us to access different types of wellbeing (e.g. physical, mental, emotional, spiritual) - our goals. These wellness tools include touch therapies, alternative medicine, fitness activities, a balanced diet and a gamut of other services designed to enhance our mental, physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

Have you ever walked into a hotel, a restaurant, a shop, a spa or any other public space and felt a great sense of contentment, where everything seemed just perfect? Perhaps you couldn't believe that this feeling would continue beyond the first magical moments of your arrival, but it did. You couldn't pinpoint what exactly it was that made you feel so wonderful and at ease, as the delightful whole was a sum of many small pleasures - the interactions with the staff, the customer journey, the design of the space, the lighting, the smell, the temperature and so on. 

These all combined to create a unique and memorable experience. This essentially is how it feels for guests when wellness (the tool) has been threaded thoughtfully and meaningfully throughout the hotel experience to keep the overall wellbeing (the goal) in mind.

Wellness has become the New Luxury that today's consumers are looking to the hospitality industry to provide as they pursue that state of wellbeing that allows for a fuller human experience than traditional hospitality typically provides.

It has become standard to find a spa and gym in five-star luxury hotels, but the market now demands increasingly more sophisticated, integrated wellness experiences.

Guests now crave a sense of connection from a hotel stay. Whatever the reason for their trip, people who are traveling less want to travel better; they want to be nourished, healed, surprised and delighted, from before they arrive to during their stay and beyond.

The resorts hosting our retreats understand their guests' needs have evolved and that today's business and leisure travelers want more than the standard hotel room, decent breakfast and beautiful facilities. Today's guests want experiences that are fulfilling, memorable and shareable; they want experiences that transform their overall wellbeing, even if it's in a simple way."

- Sonal Uberoi