Shows
The Wellness in Hospitality Podcast137. What Exactly Does A Wellness Consultant Do?Most wellness leaders feel the pull toward consulting, and then freeze on one simple question: “But what would I actually do?” In this episode, I break it down clearly and practically, so you finally understand what the role really looks like. When wellness leaders ask me, “Sonal, what does a wellness consultant actually do?” I always smile because I remember being in that exact place myself. Years ago, when I first stepped into consulting, I thought I could do everything. I had just come off a successful pr...
2025-11-3038 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast131. Inside the Wellness Consultant BlueprintMost wellness directors dream about consulting, creating concepts they love, working with clients they choose, and finally having freedom of time and place.But most never make the leap. Not because they’re don’t have the right expertise or wellness knowledge.But because they don’t know how.When I first designed the Wellness Consultant Blueprint, I knew I didn’t want to create another course packed with theory.I wanted to create a container, an experience that walks you step-by-step from being a burnt-out operations leader to a confid...
2025-10-1927 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast129. There Are Already Too Many Spa Consultants Out There“There are already too many spa consultants out there.” That’s the belief I keep hearing from talented wellness leaders, and it’s the very thought that’s keeping them from tapping into their full potential. When I put out a call for help a few years ago, I had 384 applications from wellness leaders. After rounds of shortlisting, I test-drove 4 incredibly talented candidates. And yet, not one of them could deliver what I needed. Here is why: being a great wellness director doesn’t automatically make you a great consultant. And thinking the market is...
2025-10-0538 min
The Conscious Hospitality PodcastEpisode 61 - Sonal UberoiEpisode 61 – Sonal Uberoi: Rethinking Wellness in HospitalityIn this inspiring episode of the Conscious Hospitality Podcast, host David Arraya sits down with Sonal Uberoi, founder of Spa Balance Consulting and a global expert in wellness strategy, spa management, and sustainable business transformation.Sonal’s unique journey—from growing up in Kenya, pursuing a law degree, and working in high finance at Goldman Sachs to ultimately building a purpose-driven career in the wellness and hospitality space—is a powerful example of personal growth, intentional leadership, and redefining success on your own term...
2025-06-301h 02The Wellness in Hospitality Podcast103. “I Don’t Have Time, Sonal”The Real Story Behind “I Don’t Have Time”It starts small.You cover one shift.Skip one team meeting.Handle one guest complaint yourself—because it’s just quicker.Before you know it?You’re doing everything.→ Running from treatment room to reception.→ Coaching therapists during your lunch break.→ Answering emails on your day off.→ Still being told you’re not hitting budgetAnd somewhere along the way, you stopped leading.You started managing survival.But here’s the truth no one says ou...
2025-04-0618 min
Tuesday's ThanksEpisode 129 - Sonal UberoiIn this episode, Brian is joined by Sonal Uberoi, Founder
and Wellness Director at Spa Balance Consulting based in Madrid. Spa Balance Consulting specializes in concept development, pre-openings, operations, training and boosting profitability. Born in Kenya, of Indian origin, Sonal has worked across Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. Sonal brings a uniquely global skill set and creative outlook to any project she takes on. In addition to her consulting business, Sonal has also written the Best Seller, The
Wellness Asset: How wellness can transform and future-proof your hotel. Tune in to hear who Sonal Thanks for helping...
2025-01-2135 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast92. Why ‘No Budget’ Kills Hotel Wellness (And The 3 Steps To Revive It)“I want to invest in wellness, but I have no budget for it.”Sound familiar?In today’s episode I talk about the hidden trap in the hotel wellness world: the ‘no budget’ problem. You’ve spent millions on a stunning wellness facility, yet when it comes time to invest in actual strategies, you’re left with little to no money to make wellness work.It’s the reason wellness proposals die on the desk—and today I’d like to show you how to fix it.In today’s episo...
2025-01-1923 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast91. Why your wellness vision needs the right teamEver wondered why some boutique hotels thrive with wellness while others struggle?The difference often isn’t the size of the budget—it’s the expertise behind the vision.For boutique hotel owners, it’s easy to think: 'My project is small; I don’t need all these specialists.'For wellness leaders, the thought might be: 'I have the experience; we can handle this internally.'But here’s the truth: The size of your property doesn’t reduce the complexity of getting wellness right.In today’s episod...
2025-01-1226 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast90. Why wellness feels so intangible and how to fix itWhy does wellness feel so intangible to both wellness leaders and boutique hotel owners? It's a disconnect I see happening more and more as our industry evolves.For wellness leaders, it's frustrating when owners only focus on numbers.For hotel owners, it's challenging to justify investments when the returns feel hard to measure.In today's episode, I'll break down:→ Why this disconnect exists and what it's really costing you→ How to measure wellness's full impact through three key dimensions→ A real case study of a hote...
2025-01-0527 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast89. Why wellness feels so hard to get rightWhy does wellness feel so hard to get right?It’s not because you’re not trying, and it’s not because you don’t care.The truth is, wellness often feels stuck in survival mode because there’s a hidden disconnect between hotel management and wellness leaders—and it’s costing more than just profits.In this episode, I break down:→ Why wellness often feels stuck in survival mode—and how to move past it.→ The hidden disconnect between wellness leaders and hotel owners—and why it matters.→ A simple, actionable fra...
2024-12-2920 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast88. Do you really need a wellness manager?How do you know if hiring a wellness manager is the right move for your boutique hotel?It’s a question I get asked all the time. For some, it’s the key to growing their wellness offering. For others, it’s an unnecessary expense. The truth is, the decision comes down to your hotel’s unique goals and what wellness really means for your brand.In today’s episode, I’ll explore: → When hiring a wellness manager makes sense—and when it doesn’t.→ The key differences between...
2024-12-2217 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast87. The Power of Gratitude with Brian Proctor81% of employees say they’d work harder for a boss who shows gratitude.Let that sink in.What does gratitude have to do with wellness? Everything.Gratitude is about creating a sense of balance and connection. It’s fundamental to achieving overall wellbeing—especially mental wellbeing. When we lead with gratitude, it shifts how we connect with our teams, how we inspire them, and how we show up for ourselves. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Brian Proctor, founder of Leeds Hospitality Group and host of the...
2024-12-1537 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast86. How To Choose The Right Partner For Your Hotel’s Wellness Offering with Nick IraniHow do you know if a brand is the right partner for your wellness offering? Choosing the right product partner is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. The wrong choice can lead to inconsistent guest experiences, wasted resources, and even impact your therapists’ performance. But the right partner can help you deliver meaningful results, strengthen your concept, and build guest loyalty because they trust you to deliver results. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Nick Irani from Subtle En...
2024-12-0837 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast85. What does it cost to build a comprehensive wellness facility?What does it actually cost to build a wellness facility in your hotel? This is a question I get asked a fair amount, so today, I’d like to dive into the subject of costs. If you’re a boutique hotel owner dreaming of creating something special—something that stands the test of time—this episode is for you. And if you’re a wellness leader wanting to understand the owner’s perspective, stick around. Why is this important? Because wellness is no longer a “...
2024-12-0127 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast84. Tokenisation, Investment, and Legacy Projects in Wellness with Kevin BeutlerWhat if you could fund your wellness project without a bank loan or a big investor?Finding funds to build a wellness retreat is tough. Most boutique hotel owners and wellness leaders need external funding to make their vision real. Traditional methods—loans, big investors, even government grants—are often slow and complex.That is why I have invited my next guest in my Wellness in Hospitality interview series – Kevin Beutler, CEO of a real estate investment firm in Bali.Kevin Beutler offers a different approach to wellness investment. He calls it tokenisation.
2024-11-2428 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast83. Are we selling time?Are we selling time or solving problems?When I first started in this industry, I thought like everyone else—stack your high-yield treatments during peak hours, fill quieter slots with the shorter ones, measure everything down to the minute.But I kept noticing one thing: a guest might receive an incredible treatment, but if it ended a few minutes early, they’d still feel short-changed. A five-minute difference was enough to overshadow an otherwise fantastic experience. It got me wondering—Have we built a model that serves time more than it ser...
2024-11-1719 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast82. Who are you to do this? Mindset mastery with Jerome HopkinsHave you ever heard that little voice saying, 'Who are you to be doing this?’For so many of us—whether we're wellness directors or boutique hotel owners—this doubt creeps in, especially when we're striving for something big. When we’re working in alignment with our purpose, we feel unstoppable. But keeping that mindset strong isn’t a one-and-done; it’s a daily commitment.That’s why I’ve invited today’s guest, Jerome Hopkins, to talk about the power of mindset. Jerome’s journey is unique: a seasone...
2024-11-1050 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast81. Going from bad busy to good busy with Kate SotsenkoEver felt sandwiched between top management’s demands and your team’s needs? If you’re a wellness manager, you know what I mean. You’re constantly balancing what the GM wants with what your team expects—and sometimes, it feels like there’s no winning. It can feel like you’re juggling endless demands from the top and bottom. The end result? Burnout - Losing the joy in a profession you once loved. In today’s session, I’m joined by Kate Sotsenko ⏱️, founder of TheGoodBusy.com
2024-11-0340 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast80. We aren't in the business of selling massages, facials and yoga sessions!Have you ever found yourself focusing on creating wellness offerings—only to realise that the results aren’t what you expected? Maybe you’re a wellness director, a hotel owner, or a GM, and you’ve been wondering why selling more massages, facials, or yoga sessions doesn’t lead to the transformation you hoped for. The problem isn’t that your services aren’t good enough—it’s that we’re looking at it all wrong.We aren’t in the business of selling massages, facials or yoga sessions.We’...
2024-10-2715 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast79. Enhancing Guest Experiences through Landscape Design with Scott LaMontWhat role does landscape design play in elevating the wellness experience for hotel guests? It's a significant investment, yet landscaping often receives less attention than it deserves. Too many times, it’s treated as an afterthought rather than a fundamental element of the guest experience. In today's episode, I'd like to share insights from my conversation with Scott LaMont, CEO of EDSA. We delve into the often-overlooked importance of landscaping in hospitality and its transformative potential for guest stays. Join me to explore: → Why Nature Matters: Discover how integrating natural...
2024-10-2029 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast78. A look inside the Wellness Asset AcademyWhat exactly do you get inside the Wellness Asset Academy? You've heard me talk extensively about my ESSENCE framework, which is at the core of my signature programme, The Wellness Asset Academy. And now, you're asking: → what exactly do I get? → what results can I expect? → why is the Wellness Asset Academy different from all the amazing courses out there? Join me today as I give you a detailed breakdown of what is included in the course, what results you can expect...
2024-10-1239 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast77. When to Fail Fast & Pivot vs Hang In & Iterate your Wellness ConceptHave you ever wondered when to throw in the towel on your wellness concept and when to keep tweaking it? Today, I’d like to talk about one of the biggest challenges wellness and hospitality leaders face: knowing when to fail fast and pivot versus when to hang in and iterate.In this episode, we’ll uncover how to identify if your concept is fundamentally flawed or if it just needs a few tweaks. Many wellness leaders struggle with this decision, and I’m going to share some simple ways to help you figure...
2024-10-0618 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast76. 3 Wellness Service Myths Holding Your Team BackWhat holds your team back from consistently delivering remarkable experiences?You’ve put in the time and effort to build a strong, stable team, training and coaching them through various challenges. Just when things seem to be going well, someone leaves, and you find yourself back at square one. It’s frustrating, and it impacts your ability to provide the level of service you know your guests deserve. Does that sound familiar?Today, we explore the three wellness service myths that might be holding your team back...
2024-09-2918 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast75. 4 Things You Must Avoid If Wellness Isn’t Going The Way You HopedHow do you get your wellness concept back on track when it isn’t performing the way you hoped?Today we're diving deep into a challenge that many wellness leaders face: 👉🏼 what to do when your wellness concept isn’t delivering the results you expected. You’ve put in the work, aligned your vision with key decision-makers, and created a concept that you know is solid. But despite all your efforts, the numbers just aren’t where they need to be. Sound familiar?We explore the common pit...
2024-09-2221 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast74. 3 Steps To Find The Right Team To Do Wellness The Way You Want ToHow can you find the right team to do wellness your way?In today's session, we’re diving into the never-ending subject of talent shortage, specifically: how can you find the right people to do wellness the way you want them to.As wellness leaders and hoteliers, our problem doesn’t tend to be our ability to come up with ideas. Our main pain point is finding the people to EXECUTE our vision and to make it a reality.📌 Here’s what you’ll learn:→ How to streamline your headcoun...
2024-09-1520 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast73. How to Design Wellness Concepts That Can't Be ReplicatedHow can you design a wellness concept that no other hotel can replicate?As wellness leaders aim to craft something extraordinary.We want our approach to not only be different and unique, but also impossible for competitors to copy.In today's episode, here’s what you’ll learn:→ Why focusing on how you deliver wellness, rather than what you offer, is the key to creating a unique concept.→ How to map out the guest journey to identify opportunities for unforgettable wellness experiences.→ Practical steps to highlight your prope...
2024-09-0823 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast72. How to Monetise Wellness Services in HotelsCan wellness services in hotels really be turned into profit, or are they just perks that guests take for granted?In today's episode, we’re tackling a big question: how can wellness directors make wellness offerings not just a nice addition, but a profitable part of the guest experience? As guests come to expect things like yoga sessions, mindfulness workshops, and healthy meals during their stay, how can we ensure these services actually boost the hotel's revenue?Here’s what you’ll learn:→ Why the usual ways of trying to make...
2024-09-0119 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast71. Getting Your Wellness Concept Past The Start LineHave you ever found yourself excitedly launching a wellness concept, only to watch it stall before even getting past the start line? Many of us have been there—whether you’re a wellness director, a hotel owner, or a GM with a passion for wellness, the initial thrill can quickly fade when faced with the reality of getting everyone aligned. The excitement is intense, but too often, the sheer number of ideas and perspectives from passionate stakeholders turns into a paradox, causing your concept to stall before things take off. In t...
2024-08-2525 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast70. How to Master Creating Impactful Wellness Concepts - Part 3How can you create a distinctive identity that makes your hotel unforgettable? Today’s episode is the last of a three-part guide on mastering the creation of impactful wellness concepts.We continue with the million-dollar question: How can you create a distinctive identity that makes your hotel unforgettable? In the last two episodes, 68 and 69, I talked about the Emotional Cycle of Change and its critical role in the success of any project. At the start of any venture, we’re at an emotional high, b...
2024-08-1825 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast69. How to Master Creating Impactful Wellness Concepts - Part 2What determines the impact and profitability of your wellness concept?Last week, we kicked off the first episode of a 3-part guide on creating impactful wellness concepts.Today, we continue with the million-dollar question: What sets apart those boutique hotel owners who have thrived with wellness from those who haven’t?Before we dive into the second episode of this series, if you haven’t listened to last week’s episode, episode 68, part one of the series, I highly recommend it. In it, I discussed the Emotional Cycle of Change and its critical role i...
2024-08-1132 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast68. How to Master Creating Impactful Wellness Concepts - Part 1How can you create impactful wellness concepts? Today, I’d like to share the first episode of a 3-part guide on how you can master creating impactful wellness concept.I’ll guide on how you can master creating impactful wellness concepts – concepts that are profitable, loved by your guests and team, AND make a positive impact.This isn’t about creating a bling concept; it’s about the strategy and psychology behind it.We’ll deep dive into how you can create a successful and impactful concept, so you feel c...
2024-08-0424 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast67. Integrating Building Biology for Enhanced Guest Wellbeing with Valentina Cereda"There are over 80,000 chemicals in our interior and architectural materials, most of which are not regulated. By focusing on organic, non-toxic materials, we can improve indoor air quality and reduce the harmful effects these chemicals have on our health" - Valentina CeredaIn the recent Wellness in Hospitality Spotlight 2024 we talked about Responsible Design.To kick off the topic, Valentina Cereda, Health & Wellbeing architect, talked about Building Biology, Sacred Geometry and Feng Shui.When you combine ancient design practices, like Sacred Geometry and Feng Shui, with modern practices like...
2024-07-2842 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast66. Integrating Total Human Hospitality Experience into Modern Wellness Practices with Yasemin Oruc"Effective communication starts with aligning your internal stakeholders. When your team is unified in their understanding and execution of your wellness vision, it transforms guest interactions - it ensures you deliver the exceptional wellness experience you promise." - Yasemin Oruc It's one thing to have an amazing wellness-oriented vision and hotel. It's an entirely different ball game effectively communicating it to your team and guests.In my Wellness in Hospitality Spotlight 2024, Yasemin Oruc, Senior Lecturer at Hotelschool The Hague, talked about the importance of effective communication to deliver transformative experiences.
2024-07-2134 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast65. 8 Lessons from 15+ Years Coaching Social EntrepreneursWhat are the secrets of success with wellness in hospitality?16 years ago, I launched my own business, which allowed me to collaborate with a diverse and dynamic group of social entrepreneurs. In my book, I describe them as forward-thinking and innovative—dedicated to sustainability, the wellbeing of people, the community, and the environment.It's been fascinating to observe the journeys of these social entrepreneurs, many of whom have successfully run their ventures for over a decade.In today’s episode, I want to share my insights on what contributed to their successes and...
2024-07-1418 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast64. How to Turn your Boutique Hotel into a Lucrative & Responsible Wellness DestinationTired of the traditional definition of luxury?You've seen it before: glass hotels with marble lobbies, 5-star restaurants serving gourmet dishes, grand spas, gold taps and uniform service with scripted greetings. As the owner of a small, boutique hotel...You don't resonate with the hospitality of traditional luxury hotel chains.You believe true luxury is about allowing guests to reconnect with themselves through:→ Eating wholesome food→ Discovering the local culture→ Inviting guests to your "home" and sharing your lifestyle→...
2024-07-0725 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast63. The Wellness in Hospitality SpotlightIt’s that special time of the year for my Wellness and Hospitality Spotlight, taking place on the 11th and 12th of July 2024. For those new to following me, here's a brief back story. In 2020, while researching for my book, The Wellness Asset, I began interviewing hoteliers worldwide to understand their approaches to wellness, their challenges, and their successes. These interviews were initially shared on LinkedIn and evolved into the Wellness in Hospitality interview series, where I highlight insights from various hospitality professionals weekly.In 2023, I expanded this series in...
2024-06-3029 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast62. The Myth that Wellness Takes Too Long to Yield ROIDoes wellness really have such a long incubation period? Does it really take so long to see your return on investment? Today, I’d like to throw a curveball out there and challenge this ageold assumption we carry around with us in the wellness industry. Here is what I have preached (and in some cases, still do): That wellness takes time. We’re dealing with people’s wellbeing, and as both wellbeing (the ultimate goal or destination) and wellness (the toolbox...
2024-06-2316 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast61. The Danger Of Designing Your Wellness Concept Around An Individual ServiceWhat happens when you design your wellness concept around an individual service? Today, I’m going to address the one of the most dangerous mistakes wellness and hospitality leaders make with their wellness concept, and in turn the design of their entire wellness facility. That is: designing your wellness concept based on an individual service. I see this happen time and again in the industry, and this is one of the reasons why we have wellness offerings that aren’t commercially sustainable in the long run. ...
2024-06-1617 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast60. How to Create Wellness Concepts that Resonate & EndureHow do you create wellness concepts that resonate & endure? This is a question I often get from my wellness and hospitality clients. How do you create a wellness concept that truly resonates with your target guests and stands the test of time? The challenge lies in the diversity of ideal guests, each with unique buying and consumption habits. With so many different segments, it can be overwhelming to decide who to serve. The natural instinct is to target all of them. This choice overload often stems from cre...
2024-06-0924 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast59. The Difference Between The Right Wellness Concept & A Wellness AssetWhat is the difference between the RIGHT wellness concept for a particular property and a wellness ASSET? If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know that I use the terms “the right, most profitable wellness offering” and “the wellness asset”. When I take my wellness leaders through both my signature programme, The Wellness Asset Academy and my mentorship programme, Asset Builder, I help them understand the difference between the right wellness concept and the wellness asset so that they can better advise their hospitality colleagues or their owners....
2024-06-0218 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast58. How Can We Tackle The Talent Shortage In Wellness With Bobby GriffithsBefore diving into today’s episode, I’m thrilled to announce the collaboration between the UK Spa Association and my signature programme, The Wellness Asset Academy. Our spa and wellness industry has always struggled with education. There’s no straightforward way to tackle the disconnect between wellness businesses, educational organisations, and the role of not-for-profit organizations like the UK Spa Association. What is clear is that training and education are important pillars for the future of any industry. Today, our industry struggles to find the ri...
2024-05-2629 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast57. We Aren’t In The Business Of Selling Massages, Treatments And ProductsHave you ever stopped to think what business we are in?Whenever I speak with hoteliers and wellness leaders, even though it is evident that they truly believe in the impact of wellness, when it comes to crunch time, that is managing their businesses and reaching budget, they slip into automatic pilot mode.They fall into the trap of thinking they sell massages, treatments and products.They build their entire wellness offering around creating a treatment menu that has the best therapies and techniques.They think that creating amazing treatments and...
2024-05-1919 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast56. Masterclass Preview - My Top 3 Secrets to Profitable Wellness AssetsHarsh truths: → More than 90% of luxury hoteliers report never recouping their investment from the initial cost of build of their entire wellness-related offering. → Less than 1% of wellness leaders become hotel GMs. It is no surprise then that most wellness offerings in hotels represent a meagre 1-3% of total hotel revenue. If less than 1% of wellness leaders occupy key decision-making positions in hotels, how can we expect wellness to be a strong revenue and value contributor? If those who truly understand the business of wellness d...
2024-05-1220 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast55. The Problem With Knowing It AllHave you ever found yourself say: “I know that!”?Well, today I’d like to talk about the problem with supposedly “knowing it all”. Now, I’m sure we’ve all lived situations where we’ve been humbled. Where we thought we knew it all, and in the end we realized we really didn’t. There was something we didn’t know, or there was something we missed, and we would have probably picked on that thing had we not been so complacent.Today I’d like to extrapolate this...
2024-05-0521 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast54. How Useful Are Feasibility Studies?How useful are feasibility studies?Today’s a controversial one.Most consultants and business strategists will strongly advice to commission a feasibility study.Why?Because:1. It ensures you have a good feel of the business idea you have in mind and where the market is headed.2. Technically speaking, it saves you thousands, hundreds or even millions of dollars in costly mistakesThe reason today’s episode is controversial is because I’d like to throw a curveball out there and question: are feasibility studies re...
2024-04-2826 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast53. The Invisible Crystal Ceiling That Looms Over Wellness LeadersWhy is the crystal ceiling placed so low for wellness leaders in hospitality? Today I’d like to address the elephant in the room. Less than 1% of wellness leaders make it to hotel general manager.And over 90% of wellness leaders find that they hit this invisible but strong crystal ceiling that they’re unable to get past. Why? Here are two root causes that play a pivotal role:1. The image of the role of wellness leaders – that of a specialist role.We’re supposed to be...
2024-04-2125 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast52. What Does It Mean To Be A 'Good' Wellness LeaderWhat exactly does it mean to be a ‘good’ wellness leader?Have you ever stopped and asked yourself how we, as an industry, define a ‘good’ wellness leader? What leadership skills and traits do they have?Some words that come to mind from the image we’ve painted over the years are the following:“wellness-oriented”“gentle”“connected to emotions”“sensitive”“not business-oriented”“not hard-wired for operational efficiencies or business strategies”… And what these words have done is build the image of this somewhat “woo woo” leader, who is so wellbeing-conscious, that they’re incapable of being strong busines...
2024-04-1420 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast51. Do We Really Need To Make Our Wellness Businesses So Complicated?Today I'd like to talk about something I’ve noticed we wellness leaders do with our businesses, probably without realising, and that is complicating our businesses more than we need to. As wellness leaders, we get stuck in the weeds of our business, where we think we’re the mini-GM of our area (we must lead our teams, carry out HR functions, look after the sales and marketing of our offering, cover reception and in others also jumping in and performing a treatment). And on top of all the different hats we wea...
2024-04-0722 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast50. Sense Of Entitlement - Does It Really Serve Us?Today I'd like to talk about something I've been noticing recently: sense of entitlement. I don't think this is something new - I think as humans we naturally veer towards that mindset, but I wonder if it really serves us. The upside of the chaos we were thrown into over the past few years has been how much importance wellness has gained. Wellness is now considered that "tranversal" sector that nearly every industry wants a stake in to ensure their businesses are still relevent. Whi...
2024-03-3125 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast49. The Difference Between Your Wellness Offering's Brand and ConceptWhat is the difference between your wellness offering’s “brand” and its “concept”, and does it matter?I’ve been observing many of us wellness leaders when it comes to creating the concept for their wellness offering.And what I’ve noticed, particularly in those hotels which are part of established chains with clear guidelines and brand standards, is that many wellness leaders confuse the terms “brand” and “concept”.They seem to use these terms interchangeably, and today, what I’d like to clarify is that, although these terms are related...
2024-03-2415 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast48. Wellbeing Unveiled - The Total Human Hospitality ExperienceWe all know wellbeing is important – we can’t deny it’s intangible value. We know we must look after the wellbeing of both our guests and our people.But, the question is, can we measure the tangible benefits of enhancing overall wellbeing?Can we demonstrate that when we consider the total human hospitality experience in every aspect of our business, that we enjoy healthier top and bottom lines?I had the pleasure of speaking at the Hospitality Track at the ITB in Berlin last week, alongside the am...
2024-03-1731 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast47. How To Get Your GM To Get YouThe million-dollar question for wellness leaders: How can I get my GM to GET ME? This is a question I get asked often. And many wellness leaders might not think it out loud, but deep down, this is something they truly desire. That their GM GETS them, that their GM gets wellness. Now, let’s now kid ourselves. We all want to be, or at least feel understood. It allows us to feel appreciated and recognised – particularly in times when things are not going the way we expect them to go. It’s a...
2024-03-1038 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast46. Are You Failing Ahead Of Time With Your Wellness Offering?Today I’d like to talk about a subject I see many wellness and hospitality leaders fall victim to, and that is failing ahead of time with our wellness offerings.And I know this because I, too, have fallen victim to this notion, without even realizing it.So what does failing ahead of time mean?It basically means that we, intentionally or not, decide to fail ahead of time. We think that wellness simply won’t work, so why even bother. Hence, we don’t even try, and the result we end up living...
2024-03-0318 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast45. The All Or Nothing Approach To Our Wellness OfferingsDoes this sound familiar?A treatment isn’t selling, hence we write that treatment off as one that isn’t good.A brand isn’t selling as well as we expected, hence we think it isn’t good and instead we find another brand to replace it. You wellness offering isn’t working, hence the leader isn’t good enough, so we change the leader.And, hopefully, once we get rid off the things that we think aren’t working, we should have a wildly successful well...
2024-02-2518 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast44. Is Doing Wellness Mutually Exclusive From Making Money?As wellness becomes more and more popular across all industries and businesses across the globe, I’ve noticed the topic around the notion of doing true wellness and making money from enhancing people’s overall wellbeing as being something unethical or dare I say even morally wrong. And today, I’d like to be controversial again and call the big red BS card on that notion. Doing wellness, that is truly transforming people’s lives by enhancing their overall wellbeing is NOT mutually exclusive to making money, specifically, insane amounts of money.
2024-02-1816 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast43. Crafting Irresistible Offerings - Why Market Studies Fall ShortToday is a controversial episode .Here's the curveball I'd like to throw out there:When it comes to creating truly irresistible wellness offerings (that is offerings that your guests absolutely love), how important is it to have detailed market studies?Now, I'd like to clarify that I'm NOT saying that market studies do not have value and that we should not do them. They are important and valuable - of course.What I'm offering is another perspective.I'm asking you to think about how useful the 'data' in these...
2024-02-1120 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast42. Wellness Business Mastery – Rethinking Success, Moving Beyond The GM🎉 🔊 Launching The Wellness Asset Academy! 🎉 🔊 It's the final countdown! I can't believe that in just 1 days' time (Monday 5th February 2024), I'll be going live with the round of my brand new online programme - The Wellness Asset Academy! In this first round, my 3 key messages to all wellness leaders in hospitality are: 1. If we feel that we're hospitality's lowest-paid specialist leader, then there's a reason for it. We aren't the 'victims' of this 'situation' that we think 'has happened' to us. We are, as harsh as might sound, the co-creators of it. 2. W...
2024-02-041h 21The Wellness in Hospitality Podcast41. Why Wellness Leaders Are Hospitality's Lowest Paid Specialist LeaderWhy Are Wellness Leaders Hospitality's Lowest Paid Specialist Leader?Have we wondered why our wellness leaders are paid less than other specialist leaders – for example: Directors of Finance, Sales & Marketing, People & Culture, Food & Beverage and Rooms?We could continue to play the ageold violin that wellness isn’t taken seriously in hotels. That traditionally, hoteliers treat wellness as an amenity department, a compensation tool for angry guests or this “unknown area” that they must subcontract to a third-party operator.However, if we go beyond what our eyes see and dig belo...
2024-01-2816 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast40. Mastering The Essential Skill - A Must for Wellness Leaders in HospitalityWhat is the most essential skill every wellness leader must develop, particularly in the hospitality industry?No – it’s not finance skills. No – it’s not having grand facilities, great teams, top brands and state-of-the-art equipment.And no – it’s not being the cat’s meow or dog’s bullocks of wellness.Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that these skills aren’t important.Of course it is important to have basic finance skills. As a leader of any business you must know how to read the numbers.
2024-01-2116 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast39. Beyond Quick Fixes - Why Tackling Wellness Business Symptoms Falls ShortAs wellness professionals – experts in helping our clients solve their wellbeing-related problems - we would find it absurd if we saw our clients trying to treat the symptom instead of the root cause of their problem. For example, if a guest came to us complaining of strong headaches, and after a detailed consultation we learned that the cause of their headaches was dehydration and not only the tight shoulder and back they thought was their core problem, we would not just try to remedy their tight shoulder or back with a massage because that is wha...
2024-01-1420 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast38. Why Do Less Than 1% of Wellness Leaders Actually Make It To GM?Why do less than 1% of wellness leaders actually make it to hotel GM? Have you wondered why our wellness leaders have the crystal ceiling set so low when it comes to their growth? I sometimes can't help but think about how the system - OUR wellness industry's growth trajectory system - is built in such a way that sets our wellness leaders up for failure before they even start their careers! We have such short-lived careers in an industry we are so passionate about and have given so...
2024-01-0717 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast37. Why Are Wellness Leaders The Lowest Paid Specialist Leader in Hotels?Why are wellness leaders the lowest paid specialist leaders in hotels?Have you wondered why?If we look at what factors influence the decision of benchmarking what is considered a fair salary for a particular position, there are essentially 5 key factors when it comes to specialist leaders:Education & ExperienceImpact & ResponsibilityCraftsmanship & 'Superpowers'Passion & DedicationFinancial ContributionNow, if we were to systematically work through each of these factors, we'd see that if we put our main direct-revenue generating, operations specialist leaders on the balance: Directors of Rooms, Food & Beverage and Wellness, we'd realise that wellness...
2023-12-3123 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast36. The Gamechanging KPI that Few Wellness Leaders Measure“What gets measured get managed.” – Peter Drucker Over the last 20+ years in the wellness industry, what I have found fascinating is how our performance dashboard has evolved – in other words, how we measure the performance of our dashboard. I remember the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) we used to measure back then, and how over the years we kept introducing new ones, along with all the different ways to calculate a given KPI. While it is fascinating to witness the creativity and time that goes into the developing and measuri...
2023-12-2418 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast35. The Wellness Director's Pitfall - Settling for Good EnoughAs a wellness leader, have you settled for good enough? Are you at the top of the ladder, have a few openings under your belt, plus the experience over a few continents and have a salary that only the top 5% of wellness leaders get paid around the world? Then this episode is for you! This episode is also for you if you are someone who has reached to the very top of what you thought was possible being a wellness leader in a hotel. Today I delve into what I call th...
2023-12-1730 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast34. 5 Must Avoid Pitfalls for Wellness LeadersAre you a wellness leader striving for excellence? Then you this episode is for you! I delve into the 5 crucial pitfalls that every wellness leader must steer clear of to thrive in their role.The reason I know these pitfalls can be fatal is because I, myself, have fallen into the trap of each and every one of them, and on several occasions over my 20+ years in this industry.Why does it matter we avoid these pitfalls?Because when we repeatedly make these mi...
2023-12-1020 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast33. The Key Thing Only 3% of Wellness Directors Do - Stay the CourseWhat sets the 3% of wellness directors that manage wellness offerings that represent more than 10% of total hotel revenue? They do this ONE thing that goes over and above what the rest of the 97% of wellness directors who manage wellness offerings that represent a meagre 1-3% of total hotel revenue: 👉🏼 They STAY the course. They go all in and they see their wellness concept past the finish line - come what may. That doesn't mean they work harder. Nor does it mean that they make their...
2023-12-0317 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast32. Mastering the Descent: Navigating the Slope to the Valley of DespairThe 3 reasons why 97% of wellness leaders in hospitality oversee wellness offerings that don't make more than 1-3% of total hotel revenue are the following: 1. We bet on the wrong horse (we saw this last week)We bet on the wrong wellness concept. And that is because we aren't taught how to write a concept, let alone create the right wellness concept for a particular hotel. 2. We then don't know how to ride that horseNot only do we not get the concept right fr...
2023-11-2616 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast31. The Number 1 Mistake Wellness Leaders Make? They Bet on the Wrong HorseWhat is the biggest mistake we wellness leaders make with our wellness offering? We bet on the 'wrong horse'. Two decades ago when I started off in the industry, I really didn't have a clue about what a wellness concept really was, let alone designing a coherent one. And I wasn't the only one in that "clueless" boat. Very rarely are we wellness leaders taught how to write a concept. We barely learn how to read a profit and loss (through pure need). If there is one thin...
2023-11-1913 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast30. The Role of Wellness in Low Season Travel with Ged BrownToday, I delve into the pivotal role of wellness within off-peak travel periods. As wellness leaders, we understand its significance in mitigating seasonal fluctuations for hotels in specific destinations. While travel trends evolve, the human desire for exploration and revitalisation remains constant. In this enlightening conversation, I speak with Ged Brown, a wonderful person and incredibly experienced leader in travel, tourism, and aviation. I love how he delves into the dynamic relationship between travel, wellness, and technology, and how these elements intersect to enhance our lives. Ged, the visionary founder of 'T...
2023-11-1238 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast29. The Wellness Director’s Achilles Heel - SellingTo say that 'Selling' is our Wellness Director's Achilles Heel would be an understatement. We seem to always grapple with sales.We feel we don't the necessary support when it comes to the commercialisation of our wellness offering. We are in this constant uphill struggle to reach budget (many times, unrealistic).So, yes. Selling seems this necessary chore - something we have to do, but something we don't really enjoy.What if selling didn't need to be that way?What if we could acquire and further hone th...
2023-11-0517 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast28. The Power of a One Percentage Point IncreaseIn today’s episode, I’d like to talk about the power of a one percentage point increase in the total revenue generated from your wellness offering. Image this... What if you increased the total revenue generated directly from your wellness offering by only one percentage point, from let's say 3% of total hotel revenue to 4%. What impact would that have on your wellness profit and loss? What impact would that have on your hotel's overall profit and loss? And...
2023-10-2913 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast27. The Four Types of Wellness Leaders in HospitalityIn today’s episode, I’d like to talk about the four types of wellness leaders in hospitality, and these different leadership mindsets create very different results. When it comes to creating wellness assets, I’ve observed that there are really four levels that we’ll see wellness leaders operating at: Traditionalists, Followers, Innovators and Visionaries. Join me as we uncover the different types of leaders and what impact each has on their wellness business. ________Are you ready to take wellness to the next level...
2023-10-2218 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast26. Engagement: How to Create a Committed and Loyal Client Base that Actively Engages with your BrandIn today’s episode, I’d like to talk about the last stage of my ESSENCE model – Engagement. Engagement is about how to create a committed and loyal client base that actively engages with your brand, not because you asked the guests you knew were happy with their stay to do so, but because they genuinely want to. To recap from previous episodes on the different stages of the ESSENCE model, in the first two stages, Expectation and Story, I showed you how to create the best wellness concept for your hotel, one that considers what yo...
2023-10-1529 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast25. Consistency - How to Ensure Your Team Consistently Delivers Remarkable Wellness ExperiencesIn today’s episode, I talk about the challenge most wellness leaders, that is, how to ensure our team consistently delivers remarkable experiences to our guests, each and every time. In today’s world, when hiring and retaining the right people is so tough, it adds a further strain on our operations to continuously train all the new team members that enter. To recap from previous episodes on the different stages of the ESSENCE model, in the first two stages, Expectation and Story, I showed you how to create the best wellness concept for your hotel...
2023-10-0828 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast24. Decoding ESG - Navigating Sustainability Goals, Budgets, and Priorities for Business Success with Xenia zu HohenloeESG is a complex topic, more like fifty shades of green. In this session, we will explore how to set ESG goals and manage them effectively. What can realistically be achieved with smaller budgets? How do you prioritise what to focus on and where to spend your money? Join industry expert, Xenia zu Hohenlohe as we uncover practical strategies and actionable insights to navigate the ESG landscape and drive sustainable impact for your business.________Are you ready to take wellness to the next level?Here are 2 ways I...
2023-10-0135 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast23. The Hotelier's Lens - Where Hospitality Meets Wellness with Riaan DreverThe leisure segment has been paving its way forward in the last couple of years. And a key element of this has been been traveller’s desire to look for experiences that enhance their overall wellbeing. Today I’d like love to share an interview with a wonderful, seasoned and incredibly generous hotelier: Riaan Drever. Just to give a little context on my very special guest, Riaan was one of the beta readers of my book, The Wellness Asset, and his insights were priceless. It was with great p...
2023-09-2434 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast22. Insider Perspectives - Navigating Trends, Challenges, and PR in the Hospitality Industry with Maria Pajares"Wellness is not an add-on; it's a crucial part of the overall hospitality experience. Hotels should find creative ways to bring wellness professionals into the main hotel space physically and digitally, including social media, websites, and PR efforts." - Maria Pajares.Today I’d like to talk about the role of PR and sales and marketing in the hospitality industry, specifically when it comes to navigating consumer trends and the challenges both hoteliers and agencies face when it comes to their PR initiatives. And to shed light on this subject, I couldn’t hav...
2023-09-1741 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast21. Hospitality Fitness Offerings: From Dead Space to Revenue Generating Business Units with Matt Morley"Perhaps a complete regime is as much about giving back as you take out. And what does that equate to beyond just your standard spa?... There's a world of trends and movement happening out there, and that idea of cross-fertilisation and taking some of the ideas from innovative, dedicated, smaller brands in corollary sectors, and using that to create your own unique blend of health and wellness in the hotel space. It takes some bravery to do it, to stand out, but I think it's those early adopters who do take a chance, who are basically rewriting the rule...
2023-09-1041 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast20. The Responsibility & Caution Behind Regenerative Tourism with Noelle Homsy"The new generation of travellers seeks unique experiences, mental health, wellness and a positive environmental impact. This is the luxury they desire.” – Noelle HomsyNoelle was the first hotelier I had the pleasure to interview when I kicked-off my Wellness in Hospitality interview series in 2020 as part of my research for my book, The Wellness Asset, which was later published in 2021. For those of you haven’t read my book, you can grab a copy of it on Amazon or Book Depository.Fast forward 3 years later, it was an honour to have Noelle kick-o...
2023-09-0333 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast19. Navigation - How to Ensure You Stay the Course with Your Wellness ConceptIn today’s episode, I talk about the most difficult stage of your wellness business: staying the course. In the first two stages, Expectation and Story, I showed you how to create the best wellness concept for your hotel, one that considers what you as a hotelier want to offer and what your clients want to experience. In System and Execution, I showed you how to implement your wellness concept in the most effective way for your guests and your staff. We worked on creating your special way of doing wellness and we found, hired, trained and ret...
2023-08-2747 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast18. Execution - How to Put Together your Lean & Ideal TeamIn today’s episode, I’ll show you how to find, hire and retain the team you need to successfully implement and execute your wellness concept, without breaking budget. I show you how to organise and execute your wellness business in the most intelligent way possible. I’ll show you how to put together the right team that works in synergy and in harmony with one another to deliver the landmark experiences, without you needing to hire highly skilled, experienced or expensive talent that your profit and loss can’t realistically sustain. In other words, I’ll walk you through th...
2023-08-2038 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast17. System – How to Create your Special Way of Doing WellnessNo matter how talented or experienced your team are, they– and in turn, your business– will not succeed if you do not have the right system in place. Your system produces the results, your people manage the system. It is your system, your special way of doing things, that differentiates your hotel from the one next door. In the System stage of my ESSENCE model, we work on how you can create your special way of doing wellness that is unique and authentic to you. To give some context, in episodes 14 and 15, I talked about the first two s...
2023-08-1340 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast16. The Talent Shortage/Surplus Paradox - The Disconnect between Supply and Demand with Kathryn Moore"We can't sit around and complain that we don't have the talent if we're not willing to do something about it." - Kathryn Moore In my recent Wellness in Hospitality Spotlight, I had the pleasure of having a wonderful chat with Kathryn Moore, a fellow wellness colleague in the arena fighting alongside many of us.What I found very interesting from our chat are two facts:☝🏼 We have a big pool of amazing, highly qualified wellness talent in the wellness industry - and they are all deeply passionate about their craft.✌🏼 N...
2023-08-0643 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast15. Story – Your Concept from Your Ideal Guest’s PerspectiveThere are two sides to creating a wellness concept, what you as a hotelier or wellness professional wants to offer, and what your ideal guest, as a consumer of those services, wants to consume. In the first stage of the ESSENCE model, we looked at the concept from your perspective as the hotelier or wellness professional. In Story, we sense check our concept from our ideal guest’s perspective.In episode 14, I talked about the first stage of my ESSENCE model: Expectation – How to Create the Right Wellness Concept for your hotel. In today’s episode, I’d like t...
2023-07-3046 min
Low Season Traveller Insider GuidesSonal Uberoi - Wellness & Low Season TravelToday I’m delighted to be joined by a #1 Best Selling Author and leading Spa and Wellness expert, Sonal Uberoi, to learn more about Spa and Wellness breaks. I don’t know about you but I’ve always thought of Spa and Wellness as being a luxurious and extravagant pursuit of the relatively wealthy. In this episode I wanted to learn more about the concept of Wellness, the types of people who engage in Wellness travel, how Spa and Wellness link to a destination’s cultural heritage and of course, whether there are any advantages to this...
2023-07-2929 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast14. Expectation - The Right Wellness Concept For Your HotelA common question I guest asked by my clients is: how can I create the best and most unique wellness concept that no other hotel has? They are eager to know what the right wellness concept for their hotel is, a concept that helps differentiate them from the rest of their competitors and that helps them attract this new discerning, wellness-conscious guest that cares about their wellbeing, even if they go to a hotel for work reasons. In today’s episode, I will show you how you can create the right wellness concept for your particular property – a rob...
2023-07-2337 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast13. Unveiling Realities - Exploring the Intersection of Wellness, Hospitality & Real Estate with Horacio AlcalaWhat do we truly know about the immense value that wellness adds to the realms of hospitality and real estate? Moreover, what unknown challenges do investors encounter when considering hospitality products with a robust wellness component?These are the questions I tackle in today’s episode with the highly seasoned hotelier and investor, Horacio Alcala, who I introduce in detail in the interview I share in a few minutes.In this interview, Horacio sheds the light on the harsh truths that investors face when embarking on investing in hospitality products with a strong wellness component. He...
2023-07-1633 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast12. Trend Watching: The Independent Hotel Perspective with Lauren AlbaThe independent and boutique hotel segment have been trailblazers in the hospitality space for the last fifteen years. The question is, what can other segments of the hospitality space learn from them? What competitive edge do these smaller, more agile properties have over the larger more established brands? And what are they doing so differently that is attracting today’s wellbeing-conscious and discerning traveller? In today’s episode, I’d like to share the interview I had with Lauren Alba, Vice President of Global Marketing and Communication for The Leading Hotels of the World, where she sheds light o...
2023-07-0927 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast11. Brave Leaders – Vulnerable, Human and Empathetic with Michael VazThis episode is about leadership. What core skill does today’s hospitality leader need to equip themselves with in order to successfully take our industry to the next level? To say we’re living truly unique times is an understatement. However, as unique as they are, we’re living truly game-changing times. There are few times in history where we get the chance to rewrite the rules of the game - this time with intention and heart. And that starts from the top of our organisations: from our leaders.In today’s episode, I’d like t...
2023-07-0244 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast10. The Events’ Lens: Wellness and Hospitality’s Creative Painpoints with Heleri Rande“Events are definitely back, some even bigger and bolder…[But] events need to become a lot more focused and content driven, as do the venues. People will only attend if it is worth their while, both for business and their carbon footprint. Many event organisers have started adding a wellness aspect to their agenda and the venues need to be able to accommodate that… Having glass jars where you can see the nice cucumber floating in or serving healthy food on green plates are not cutting it anymore. We need innovation here.” - Heleri RandeIf there is...
2023-06-2545 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast9. The Wellness/Hospitality Paradox That No-one Seems To Do Anything About with Andrea Quagliata"The paradox is that hospitality and wellness are on their own all about the very things that make life grand, they are holistic, they are about spirit, they are about us and yet their brands are shallow shells that rely on tropes established long ago and since repeated over and over again, revealing nothing new". - Andrea QuagliataPeople have travelled for millennia to regenerate themselves, connect with other cultures and to experience new horizons. I have always thought that there is tremendous power at the intersection between hospitality and wellness. No other intersection of two...
2023-06-1848 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast8. The Investor’s Lens – How Investible is Wellness in Hospitality with James ChurchHow investible is the hospitality industry? And more specifically, how investible is wellness in hospitality? How investable an industry is, is a good barometer of the general confidence in an industry to not only survive a rough period, which the hospitality industry has clearly demonstrated its resilience on several occasions in the last 100 years, but also its capacity to innovate and move with times, instead of becoming the likes of Blackberry, Kodak and Blockbusters. It is in this area where hospitality could learn from other, less established but more agile businesses. Data shows that there w...
2023-06-1143 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast7. The Real Estate Lens – Where the Money in Wellness is with Leekyung HanWhere is the money in wellness for hospitality products? Traditionally wellness does not have a track record of stellar performance in mainstream hotel chains. Most hoteliers report a meagre 1%- to 3% of the total hotel revenue from their spas, one of the fewer direct revenue generating wellness offerings. So the question is: where is the money in wellness and hospitality?In today's episode, I'd like to share the eye-opening and insightful interview I had with Leekyung Han is seasoned, incredibly smart and very sharp hotelier who enters hospitality projects before the blueprint phase, that is, when investors...
2023-06-0442 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast6. Sink or Swim – The Importance of Staying Relevant with Sean MurphyIn a world that is rapidly changing, things are constantly evolving. And as a result, we need to adopt an agile approach to keep up with the dynamic pace of today’s business landscape. But what is more important, even more so than upping our cadence, is to stay relevant. If we don’t move with times, we will eventually fade away.In today’s episode, I’d like to share the refreshing interview I had with a young, dynamic and forward-thinking hotelier, Sean Murphy. I love how Sean made reference to the Blockbuster and Netflix c...
2023-05-3126 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast5. The 5 Ways You Could Do Wellness In Your HotelHave you ever asked yourself the question: how can I do wellness profitably in this particular property? I know it is a question I used to ask myself extensively until the penny dropped one day, where I realized there are a certain number of ways of doing wellness in a hotel, and the best one for a particular property depended on the overall business strategy the general manager or owners opt for.In today’s episode, I will talk about the 5 ways you could do wellness in your hotel, the pros and cons of each way of do...
2023-05-0917 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast4. The ESSENCE Model for Bold HoteliersHow can you create a wellness asset that generates profits in the post-pandemic world? Here are the seven ESSENCE principles that show you the steps you can take right away to create a wellness concept that adds value to your hotel and helps you build a committed and loyal customer base. Does this sound familiar? You hire a great wellness director or a star therapist to turn your wellness business around. They highlight all the things you’ve been doing wrong and suggest changes that sound fantastic. You give them the go-ahead. Things seem great... but one day...
2023-04-0623 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast3. The Harsh Truths About Wellness in HospitalityAll businesses and industries have their nuances, their peculiarities, and the wellness business is no different.In today’s episode, I’d like to talk about a subject that I find pivotal to having success in wellness – that is the harsh truths about wellness in hospitality.Now, all businesses and industries have their nuances, their peculiarities, and the wellness business is no different.So whether you are just starting off your journey in the wellness business and want to learn the ropes of the business, or you are a seasoned professional who has been i...
2023-03-2921 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast1. The Wellness OpportunityHello and welcome to the very first episode of my Wellness in Hospitality podcast. I am Sonal Uberoi, the author of the best-seller book, The Wellness Asset: How Wellness can Transform and Futureproof your Hotel. I am also the founder of Spa Balance, a Madrid-based boutique consultancy that specializes in helping innovative and forward-thinking hoteliers transform their businesses by creating profitable wellness assets.I wanted to give you a chance to get to know me before you ever sign up for any of my mentorship programmes, consulting services or trainings, and I hope this podcast will you...
2023-03-2940 minThe Wellness in Hospitality Podcast2. The Three Fallacies of Wellness in HospitalityWellness sounds like this new craze, but how come the majority of mainstream hoteliers only report a meagre 1-3% of total hotel revenue from their wellness offering?In this episode, I’d like to talk about the three fallacies about wellness in hospitality, and how these common fallacies, along with their sets of myths have led hoteliers down unhelpful paths.________Are you ready to take wellness to the next level?Here are 2 ways I can help:1️⃣ WHO: Wellness directors who want to join 1...
2023-03-2924 min
Now Boarding By Melting PotAll about the wellness business with Sonal UberoiThe pandemic resulted in a paradigm shift wherein we started focusing more on wellness. The next episode of NowBoarding features Sonal Uberoi, the founder of Spa Balance Consulting - a boutique consultancy for the wellness industry that focuses not only on the customer front, but for employees as well. Spa Balance Consulting works with various hotels and helps them explore and create the best wellness experiences. That's what we are deep diving into today with Sonal Uberoi who brings with her around 20 years of experience in the wellness Industry. Streaming now on
2022-07-0430 min