need to register online for free and devise a unique
wellness activity that lasts at least one hour. The more
unique, the better: one of de Gabriac’s favorite examples
from last year’s event came from a spa in Mozambique
that hosted a yoga and meditation session on a small,
coastal sand bank that washed away at high tide. Another
activity from 2018 noted by de Gabriac was a “Yopera”
class that combined yoga and opera. Outreach to local
media, government officials and businesses is another
important aspect of participation, according to de Gabriac.
Lastly, de Gabriac notes that engaging with your
employees is critical to the event’s success and beneficial
to your spa’s long-term workforce development. By
creating a unique activity through employee input and
“sharing a higher purpose with them” beyond the
bottom-line, your team will feel a sense of pride in their
work, says de Gabriac.
Todd Hewitt—corporate director spa, health clubs and
recreation for Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts—is an
advocate for the impact of the event. “We think that it is
important to continue to increase the awareness of
wellness through fun activities,” said Hewitt, who also
noted that Shangri-La especially values World Wellness
Weekend’s emphasis on community involvement. Last
year, Shangri-La’s events ranged from glow-in-the-dark
yoga was among montage hotels
& resorts’ activities during last
year’s event.
Zumba in Jakarta to rooftop yoga in Bangkok and Sydney.
Hewitt says that Shangri-La plans to do even more for this
year’s event by “coordinating real-time competitive activ-
ities between five of our largest fitness facilities.”
Whether you’re a day spa, a destination spa or
anything in between, there’s no activity too big or too
small for World Wellness Weekend, says de Gabriac. “It’s
all about having fun,” he says, “It’s a time when we can
all come together to do something amazing and elevate
the profile of wellness.”
No matter where you’re located or what you do, that’s
a mission that all ISPA members can agree on. n