StarrCast

In this inspiring episode of The StarrCast Podcast, host Lisa Starr sits down with Vivienne Tang, founder and CEO of Destination Deluxe, a luxury wellness and travel company, to explore the dynamic world of wellness retreats. Vivienne shares her journey from fashion publishing to becoming a global thought leader in wellness travel, offering insider perspectives on the evolution of wellness experiences, the essential elements that make retreats transformative, and how travelers are seeking more profound, meaningful experiences beyond traditional spa services. Whether you're a spa professional, wellness entrepreneur, or simply wellness-curious, this episode offers a compelling deep dive into where the industry is headed—and how you can tap into it. About Vivienne Tang Founder & CEO of Destination Deluxe, a leading online magazine and platform for curated wellness and luxury travel. Former Editor of Asia Spa Magazine and co-owner of The Sanctuary, a holistic wellness center in Hong Kong. Vivienne is recognized worldwide for her expertise in wellness retreats, and is often called upon by top hotels and resorts to consult on designing wellness programs. Key Takeaways The Rise of Wellness Retreats: How consumer needs shifted from spa services to holistic, transformative experiences. Authenticity Matters: The importance of genuine programming, expert practitioners, and personalized guest experiences. What to Expect: A breakdown of typical retreat structures—consultations, activities, food, and digital detox strategies. Medical Meets Wellness: How biohacking and preventative medicine are blending with traditional wellness practices. Building a Successful Retreat: Essentials like customized guidance, community building, connection to nature, and standout culinary offerings. The Ongoing Journey: How retreats offer a gateway, but true wellness is a lifelong path—not a one-week fix. Visit our website Connect with me on LinkedIn Watch StarrCast episodes and other useful content on YouTube

In this episode of The StarrCast Podcast, Lisa Starr speaks with James Gu, Director of Spa and Wellness for Equinox, and Greg Kasparian, founder of The Creek Retreat in Serenbe, Georgia. The episode, recorded live at the We Work Well spa event at Chateau Elan, offers a dual perspective on the future of wellness.  James discusses how Equinox is evolving its spa offerings across over 90 properties with a focus on performance, biohacking, and accessibility. Greg shares his journey from the supplier side of the industry to launching a cutting-edge wellness facility based on intention, technology, and personal reinvention.  This episode reveals how two leaders are shaping wellness spaces that respond to modern health demands, staffing limitations, and shifting consumer expectations. Why It Matters: As wellness merges with fitness and personal optimization, both guests demonstrate how vision, adaptability, and innovation are crucial to staying ahead in a rapidly evolving industry. Key Takeaways: The future of spa is rooted in performance, personalization, and technology-driven recovery. Equinox is shifting from one-size-fits-all spa models to specialized tiers and touchless modalities. The Creek Retreat embodies a deeply personal reinvention of wellness care, offering hyperbaric therapy, red light, cryotherapy, and pain-relieving SoftWave technology. Biohacking, longevity, and stress regulation are top wellness trends guiding design and service innovation. “Rewirement” is the new retirement: wellness entrepreneurship as a second act. Other Topics:  Hyperbaric oxygen therapy Cryotherapy Red light therapy Wellness retreats Biohacking Vibroacoustics Recovery labs Touchless therapy Healthspan Visit our website Connect with me on LinkedIn Watch StarrCast episodes and other useful content on YouTube

Live from FIBO Part 2 of 2; Longevity Center CEO Joanna Bensz discusses her Center's focus on expanding preventive health and lifestyle optimization and László Puczkó, Hospitality and Wellbeing Strategist, advises on incorporating true wellness activities into your business model. Event organizers Andrew Gibson and Sven Huckenbeck comment on the many innovative takeaways of the Spa & Wellness International Day.

Live from FIBO, the largest fitness show in the world, we're sharing excerpts from the Spa & Wellness International Day, where expert speakers shared innovative business models integrating longevity and wellness with hospitality and membership. This episode, part one of two, features Andrew Gibson, Oliver Patrick of Pillar Wellbeing, and Claire Bourne of Eden One.

Live from LEC Innovation Summit: industry veteran operators Maggy Dunphy and Tammy Pahel share thoughts on the current state of the wellness industry and future innovation, including touchless wellness options.

Live from the Health & Fitness Association's annual conference, three panelists from different corners of the world discuss how their innovative business models are redefining what it means to be well, and why they're quickly becoming the go-to destinations for individuals seeking comprehensive, transformative health experiences that promote physical recovery, mental clarity, and emotional well-being. Featuring Emili Hernandez, of Inner Flow, Daniel Stickler of The Covery, and Matthew Riemann of ShaeFit.

Every year, wellness is included on more trend lists from popular publications and thought leaders, but it can be difficult to discern a trend from a fad. Business management has to navigate these forecasts to ensure their business is providing options that are sought after, but not too far ahead of the curve. Jessica Shea, VP of Wellness, Retail and Leisure Operations for Hilton Americas, helps us to find the practical applications in the haystack.

Africa is a continent rich with indigenous wellness rituals and unique botanicals, but growing the wellness industry within Africa is a challenge on many levels. Mariane Akwenye of NomadSpa and Michelle Saudan of Amanzi Wellbeing, Chair and Vice-Chair of the African Wellness Initiative from GWI, are passionate about the continent's history and culture and determined to spread the word globally.

Chiropractor and Concierge Wellness Doctor Jonathan Leary recognized the need among patients for an opportunity to participate in holistic healing activities that did not feel isolated, and the idea for Remedy Place was born. On the cusp of opening their 4th location, Dr. Leary discusses the journey so far and his vision for the future of this new and exciting business model.

Entrepreneur Jennifer Pahl took a yoga class and said, I can do this too! Using a practical approach, Jennifer shares her journey from idea to studio owner, yoga instructor, and yoga studio business coach, creating a vibrant Twist-Yoga community along the way.

What's ahead this year in wellness? The eagerly awaited annual Global Wellness Summit Trend report, released live in NYC, sheds light on how to position and market our wellness businesses for the future. We spoke with journalists and attendees Heather Mikesell, Jennifer Walsh, Sandra Sadowski, Francisco Lugo and Sallie Fraenkel for their expert opinions and first impressions. Learn more details here on the GWS site.

The world watched in horror as the recent L.A. wildfires engulfed neighborhoods, businesses and lives. Local wellness professionals Kim Marshall, Catherine Dambrosia and Sparrow Harrington share their first-hand stories of destruction and sorrow, with hope for the future. For ideas on how to help, please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/wildfire-relief/california, https://www.gofundme.com/f/berosygofundme, https://www.lafoodbank.org/donate/disaster-relief, www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html        

Charging ahead with continued 7% growth, the global wellness economy continues to roll along. Global Wellness Institute Senior Research Fellows Ophelia Yeung and Katherine Johnston share some of the stories behind the numbers, and what is fueling this continued growth and consumer interest in wellness.

Yoga has never been more popular, and yet many studios still struggle to survive. International yoga business consultant and Yogapreneur Josh Biro shares some of the tactics and strategies required for long-term success in a class-based business model.

Wellness is difficult to define, and yet global brands build their reputations on standards and consistency. The visionary Michael Newcombe, VP of Wellness for Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts globally, shares some of the unique elements that define Four Seasons spa and wellness experiences across 100+ properties in 44 countries.

Music is an important component of everyday life for many of us, pacing our actions and accompanying our activities, and has always been a crucial component of a well-rounded spa experience. We are fortunate to hear from Freddie Moross, Founder of Myndstream, which has made playing a wide assortment of purpose-built and royalty-free music easy for spa and wellness businesses globally.

Live from the Global Wellness Summit, the premier global gathering of wellness professionals, industry leaders Cathy Chon, Dr. Marc Cohen, Don Genders, Erin Lee and Charles Davidson share their insights on the wellness industry for 2025.

Recorded live at the We Work Well Spa hosted buyer event in La Jolla, CA, Spa Gregories owner Scott Duncan and Spa Director of Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf & Spa Resort Tracy Harper discuss market conditions they are seeing in their regions, and what they think the next year will bring.

Sauna and bathhouses are the hottest (pun intended!) topics in spa & wellness right now, and no business is hotter than Othership. Co-founder and CEO Robbie Bent shares the story of the amazing growth of the business, from his back yard to the newly opened 3rd location in Manhattan, and what he sees as the future of contrast therapy.

Have you incorporated generative AI into your life yet? We'll dive into how AI is being incorporated in the design, operations and fitness realms of the spa and wellness industry. Listen in as Vishal Patel of Sensei, Toby Ward of DFL and Enrico Manaresi from Technogym share how they are using AI to help their businesses work smarter and face the future. Hosted by the Consulting Initiative of the Global Wellness Institute.

China's growth may have slowed recently, but it is still a force to be reckoned with. Second in the world in both population and economic might, the growing middle class in China is continuing to fuel interest in spa & wellness. Recorded live at the 2024 Spa China Summit, Johnny Chang of Spa Solutions TM, Laura Gamboa of Natura Bisse, and Yvonne Cheung of PA Wellness Consultancy share their first-hand views of the domestic spa industry.

Technology evolution continues; the long-awaited Aescape system for robotic massage is coming soon to a spa or wellness center near you! Join us to hear about the 7+ years behind the development of this amazing device from SVP of Product Alex Linde and Paul Nunez, Director of Partnerships. Meant to augment hands-on treatments, the Aescape system gives a remarkably human massage. And it never calls in sick!

This global capital of 9 million is revered as a bastion of tradition and is home to some of the most iconic hotels in the world, but the recent strong growth in hospitality and wellness facilities brings more new properties and modern concepts to the marketplace. Hattie David-Wilkinson, Director of Spa for Claridges Hotel, and Taffryn Ellis Kinsey, Director of Wellness for Six Senses London, share their insights on the local market, trends and outlook post-Brexit.

Spa and wellness businesses have been operating at capacity since post-pandemic, but is there an economic slow-down on the horizon? We gain insights from Patrick McDirmit, VP at Trilogy Spa Holdings, Lynn Curry of Curry Spa Consulting, and Derek Hofmann, Senior Director of Spa Four Seasons, on what these seasoned executives are seeing firsthand in the multiple spas they are responsible for. Recorded live at We Work Well Spa North America, at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point. 

Now that the pandemic is in the rear-view mirror, and touchless wellness and recovery services are steaming ahead, we check-in with renowned architect Robert Henry, Founder and Principal of wellness architecture firm RDHA, and spa, wellness & leisure facility designer Bryan Dunkelberger of S3 Design, for tips on the latest design trends and concepts in the field.

Leading teams in any discipline requires energy. But so often, our reserves are depleted by the demands of daily living. As the spa & wellness industry strives to create relaxing havens for guests and fulfilling work for staff, we have to be the masters of creating balanced energy in the workplace. Five leaders from across EMEA share their tips and strategies for maintaining the energy level of both themselves, and their teams, while creating serene environments. Recorded live at We Work Well Spa EMEA; Sardinia May 2024

While it may be a gaming mecca, Las Vegas is also a spa & wellness mecca, home to many of the largest and most elaborate facilities in the US. Current Director of Spa & Wellness for Fontainbleau Las Vegas, local spa maven Jennifer Lynn, has helmed many of these world-class locations and shares the method behind the magic of wowing clients in a city with a wow a minute.

How does one become a saunameister, and what is involved in that role? We visit with the world-renowned Lasse Eriksen, Development Manager for FarrisBad, who not only leads a team of 10 sauna masters at FarrisBad, he also heads up the Norwegian Sauna Association, is Vice President of Aufguss WM, a Board Member of ISA, and a global spokesperson for the many health benefits of sauna culture.

You know those beautiful spreads of spas and hotels in glossy magazines? We speak with Angelina Villa-Clarke and Nicole Trilivas, who are writing many of them for Forbes, Travel & Leisure, The Robb Report, and more! These women have the job of a lifetime; they travel the world visiting luxury properties and trying out the amenities. We gain their perspective on what they look for in their spa and wellness experiences, what is a turnoff, and what trends they are seeing across the globe.

Scandinavia is often equated with saunas and contrast therapy, but it was always done individually; it is only of late that communal experiences have become more common. Travel with me to Norway as I visit the amazing water palace spa & hotel The Well and chat with Asst. GM Annete Ose, survive a Celtic Sweat Lodge ceremony at Farris Bad with Tim Jago, and meet with Ragna Marie Fjeld, a founder of the Oslo Sauna Association, which is bringing affordable sauna to the people!

As the worlds of hospitality, fitness and wellness continue to converge, we welcome the first fitness hotel, SIRO, from Kerzner International, debuting in Dubai. A hotel created for both leisure and business travelers who want to maintain their healthy routines while traveling, the five pillars of SIRO, fitness, nutrition, sleep, recovery and mindfulness, are evident throughout the property. We talk with the Recovery Lab Manager, Julie Amos, and Staff Clinical Dietician Heeral Shivnani about what makes SIRO special.      

With so many digital business promotion methods available, is it really necessary to have a website anymore? Connie Holen, Owner and Founder of Pixality Design, designs websites for wellness, fitness and yoga businesses, and shares her tips and tricks for effective web design and SEO practices, resulting in business promotion for both known and prospective clients.

Calculating the value of 11 different wellness industry sectors which total $5.6Trillion is no easy feat! Meet the knowledgeable leaders of the Global Wellness Institute research team, whose experience and determination make this feat a reality. Ophelia Yeung and Katherine Johnston have spent the last 10 years providing perspective and scope so the rest of us can better understand our specific sectors, and the multitude of business possibilities before us, as the industry is forecast to grow another 52% by 2027!

No wellness industry trend report carries more weight than the GWS Future of Wellness. Recorded live at the press event unveiling in NYC, hear the 2024 trends accompanied by illuminating thoughts and opinions on the trends from some of the attending journalists and experts. You'll hear from Jonathan Leary, Remedy Place; Sara Jones, Spa & Wellness Mexicaribe; Erica Huss, All Too Well Media; Joe Holder, GQ Magazine; Heather Mikesell, Well Defined; Cathy Chon, Finn Partners; Jane Kitchen, Spa Business, and Mia Kyricos, Kyricos & Assoc. Order your copy of the report here. 

Sven Huckenbeck earned his Masters in Sports Science before venturing into the spa & hospitality world, so he possesses a unique skill set as both a business operator and a body technician. Currently the Spa Director at Inspiration Spa at Das Konig Ludwig Hotel in Bavaria, Sven discusses the creation of his BioBalance system for maintaining optimal physical and mental health.

We know consumers seek wellness in the general sense, but decided to dig down into trenches to learn how those desires are manifesting within the treatment room. We speak with celebrity esthetician and skincare expert Pietro Simone, massage expert Nicole Chryst, and Alisa and Mike McGlothlin, award-winning owners of an Ageless Fitness franchise, on what they're hearing from clients.

Among the estimated 180k spas in the world, massage therapy is universally the #1 requested service. And yet, post-COVID, few spas are operating with the desired number of massage therapists. John Morris, Corporate Director of Wisconsin's Sundara Spa, and Service Director Cassandra Stratton from Chicagoland's Mario Tricoci chain of spa/salons, share some innovative approaches to this ongoing challenge to revenue and profits.

From personal trainer to CEO/Owner of IDEA, the world's leading membership association for fitness and wellness professionals, powerhouse Amy Thompson shares her inspirational career path story, launching and growing numerous brands and programs. But she's not finished yet; hear about her exciting vision for the continued convergence of wellness and fitness and the debut of World-Active.

Recorded live at the fall '23 North American Spa edition of We Work Well, Tania McCorkle of Garden of the Gods Resort & Club, and Lynne Hite of Four Seasons Westlake Village share their perspectives on how the spa industry continues to evolve, and how an avant-garde mindset can benefit business operations.

Everyone wants to be in the wellness business, but not everyone thinks ahead about the end game. Luckily, there is an expert in that too! Mitch McGinley, MBA, has both bought and sold a wellness business personally, and now advises buyers and sellers in the process of valuation, due diligence, sales prep and all of the fun paperwork! Listen to Mitch's sound advice on what to look for when buying, and how to prep your business for your next chapter.

An early love of nature and the outdoors has infused every aspect of Jennifer Walsh's entrepreneurial career path. From founding Beauty Bar to roles as an on-air beauty expert, wellness journalist, published author, strategic advisor, co-host of Biophilic Solutions Podcast and creator of Wellness Walks®, Jennifer has literally been "walking the walk," demonstrating the connection between nature and mental wellness, touching the lives of thousands along the way.

Seems like everyone is doing yoga today - and there are almost 50k studios, just in the U.S. But owning a studio is not as easy as it looks. Sure, your yoga class is busy, but then what? You still have to pay rent on the other 22 hours a day! Verge Yoga owner Carole McKeon shares her journey from fitness guru to yoga instructor and studio owner, and the joys and challenges along the way.

Now that one of the world's largest spa & beauty markets is finally reopened post-COVID, hear from SVP of Mandara Spa Trent Munday, Director of Spa Development for Natura Bisse Laura Gamboa, and Paul Keegan, Senior Int. Trainer for AlfaParf, on the current challenges and opportunities of business in China. Recorded live at the 15th annual Spa China Summit.

Turning her back on a successful career as a financial analyst, Myriam Giri created a future for herself in wellness, first beginning a product company HolyBlends, with healthy snacks and supplements made in France, and then moving to Riyadh and starting a consultancy for wellness businesses. She is particularly focused on nutrition and its impact on overall health, and is finding much opportunity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where the citizens are embracing healthy lifestyles.

Patrick Tighe realized after personal experience that spa and wellness businesses needed an option to mitigate the already minimal risk for both client and business from non-invasive procedures. Coverwell by InjectSure® provides an easy and frictionless solution which helps to propel growth of these high-demand procedures.

Recorded live at the Medical Wellness Congess in Vienna, Austria, hear from 3 global experts on how the integration of spa, wellness and medicine is anticipated to evolve. We'll chat with Laszlo Puczko, Andrew Gibson and Emlyn Brown on their global perspectives and future vision for this growing field.

Entrepreneur and health-advocate Ross Bloom seized an opportunity to create something missing in the market; a wellness business that focused on individual care and treatment with a hospitality approach and beautiful environment. Almost 10 years into the journey, the biostation™ is flourishing and expanding. Bloom shares the story of the brand creation and growth, and the bright future ahead.

As the world continues to be obsessed with all things "wellness," it makes sense that the money will follow. Over the last several years, investment company CI Capital has purchased a string of high-profile wellness businesses and united them as Arch Amenity Group. We speak with Senior Vice Presidents Chris Griebe and Susan Grey on why CI Capital is so bullish on the wellness industry.

Often the future is best seen by those who benefit from the lens of past experience. Wellness Pioneer Anna Bjurstam shares her journey from celebrity fitness trainer to spa & wellness guru, creating global spa brands and most recently driving the renaissance of Six Senses Resorts. Anna enlightens us on radiesthesia, biohacking, biogeometry and energy healing, as well as what it means to be a pioneer, along the way.

Everyone is interested in mindfulness practices, but we don't always know where to start. What is meditation, exactly? And how do I know if I'm doing it "right?" Dr. Nina Smiley, Director of Mindfulness Programming at Mohonk Mountain House, walks us through the process, and supplies some excellent tips and tricks to get started.

When world-renowned wellness resort Chiva-Som decided to open a second location, they settled on a beautiful spot on the tip of Qatar, surrounded by the breezes of Arabian Gulf. Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som is a pioneer in Middle East wellness destinations and features full immersion of wellness services dedicated to promoting physical, mental, and emotional health, fully embracing the philosophy of Traditional Arabic & Islamic Medicine (TAIM). Director of Health & Wellness Sandie Johannessen shares the opening journey with us.