Global Wellness Institute

03/18/2026

Portugal’s wellness economy has reached $21.0 billion, now accounting for 6.8% of GDP—above the global average.

Developed with the Associação Portuguesa de Ética Empresarial (APEE), this first-ever report reveals a country on the rise as a global wellness destination.

Key highlights:
• 2.49M wellness tourism trips in 2024 (surpassing pre-pandemic levels)
• $1,349 average spend per trip
• $1,961 per capita wellness spending (above the European average)

Top sectors:
Wellness Tourism ($5.1B) | Personal Care & Beauty ($4.2B) | Physical Activity ($3.7B)

Fastest-growing:
Wellness Real Estate (20.6% CAGR)
Mental Wellness (13.4%)
Preventive Health (10.2%)

Portugal’s blend of nature, culture and innovation is fueling serious momentum across the global wellness economy.

📊 Explore the full report on our Geography of Wellness platform and join the conversation at the official launch in Lisbon on March 20. https://hubs.li/Q047pJch0

03/13/2026

Student Contest 📣
Share a short 1-3 minute video on “Why I Chose Massage as My Career” for a chance to win 1 of 3 prizes:
✨ A $250 product basket from
✨ A $250 gift certificate from
✨ A $250 gift certificate from
One entry per student. Submit your video using the Google Docs form at the link in bio and stories!
We can’t wait to hear your story 😊
Global Wellness Institute

03/10/2026

The wellness economy in the Philippines is booming. 🌏

New research from the Global Wellness Institute reveals the country’s wellness economy has reached $47.3 billion, growing 31% since 2019 and now contributing over 10% of national GDP.

Developed in collaboration with the Philippines Department of Tourism, the data highlights strong expansion across spas, physical activity, wellness tourism, and wellness real estate.

Explore the insights and download the free report on GWI’s Geography of Wellness platform.

https://hubs.li/Q046ct9B0

03/05/2026

Call for Submissions: Global Glimpse 2026

We are now curating the Global Glimpse — a visual showcase of the world’s most compelling wellness real estate and community developments.

Presented as the opening of the Wellness Real Estate & Communities Symposium on May 12 in New York, this showcase places selected projects in front of the industry’s leading developers, investors, operators, architects, media, and policymakers.

For more than a decade, the Global Wellness Summit and the Global Wellness Institute have helped define and shape the wellness real estate sector — now one of the fastest-growing segments of the $6.8 trillion global wellness economy.

We’re seeking standout projects of all kinds:
• Urban or rural
• Single buildings or large-scale communities
• Luxury or affordable
• Biophilic design, longevity living, neuroaesthetic concepts
• Mixed-use developments
• On the boards, under construction, or completed

Being featured offers meaningful visibility and PR value on the industry’s most credible global platform.

📩 Please send links and strong visuals (photos or renderings) by Monday, March 16.

https://hubs.li/Q045BTd60

Let’s spotlight the projects shaping the future of wellness real estate.

03/05/2026

Our NEW 2026 brochure and updated toolkit are designed to help practitioners, schools, and wellness leaders bring this global initiative to life in their own communities.

Explore what’s new, what’s expanded, and how you can participate this year and every year, 20th March!

🔗 Access the full toolkit: https://www.massagemakesmehealthyandhappy.com/toolkit

The future of Massage Makes Me Healthy & Happy is here! Let’s educate & celebrate!

03/04/2026

A powerful insight from the Global Wellness Institute: workplace wellbeing isn’t just nice to have — it’s a business imperative. This stat from the 2026 Workforce Trends Report shows how much wellness now drives performance, retention, and culture.

Source: https://hubs.li/Q045DBJG0

03/02/2026

Thank you to Travel Daily News for featuring data from the Global Wellness Institute in your coverage of Thailand’s $42.7B wellness market.

We’re proud to see our research helping spotlight Thailand’s remarkable growth across wellness tourism, spas, and wellness real estate. It’s inspiring to see global media highlighting the strength and momentum of the wellness economy.

We appreciate the feature and the continued conversation around the future of wellness worldwide.

https://hubs.li/Q045gvvP0

Thailand wellness market reaches $42.7bn in 2024 as wellness tourism surges 36.4% year-on-year, says GWI report.

02/27/2026

In Build Well to Live Well: Case Studies, Volume 1, the Global Wellness Institute spotlights 13 projects across the U.S. and U.K. proving wellness real estate works at every scale and price point.

In 2026, the series will feature one project at a time to inspire more creative, inclusive development for all.

Case Study Highlight: Hope Lodge Houston

Operated by the American Cancer Society, this 64,000-sq-ft refuge near the Texas Medical Center offers 64 free suites for cancer patients and caregivers traveling for treatment.

Designed for healing, it prioritizes:
• Non-toxic, health-forward materials
• Biophilic design for mind and body
• Shared kitchens and gathering spaces to foster community

A powerful example of wellness real estate serving those who need it most.

https://hubs.li/Q0452qxB0

Wellness Real Estate Case Study American Cancer Society Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Hope LodgeÓ Houston, Texas, United States The American Cancer Society Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Hope Lodge© in Houston, Texas (henceforth referred to as Hope Lodge Houston) is one of the newest ...

02/26/2026

New Data from the Global Wellness Institute: Thailand’s $42.7B Wellness Economy Surges Ahead

The Global Wellness Institute has released new research showing Thailand’s wellness economy reached $42.7 billion in 2024, with exceptional growth across wellness tourism, spas, and wellness real estate.

Most notably, wellness tourism spending increased 36.4% from 2023 to 2024 — nearly three times the global average — positioning Thailand among the fastest-growing wellness destinations worldwide.

This research, made possible through continued collaboration with BDMS Wellness Clinic, offers new insight into Thailand’s expanding role within the $6.8 trillion global wellness economy.

Thailand now ranks:
• #7 globally for overall wellness market growth
• #15 worldwide for wellness tourism
• #9 in the Asia-Pacific region

Thailand’s momentum reflects a powerful blend of cultural heritage, preventive health leadership, innovation, and long-term investment in wellness infrastructure.

Read the full press release and explore the Thailand Geography of Wellness platform to access detailed data and download the free country report.

https://hubs.li/Q044Wl-L0

02/25/2026

Social media is heading toward its own “Big Tobacco” moment.

As policymakers around the world call for bans on youth access, concerns about addiction, mental health, and regulation are escalating. Even Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, recently warned that “social media has become a failed state.”

But economist Thierry Malleret asks a bigger question:

If addiction and mental harm affect all ages, why is the debate limited to kids and teens?

As governments explore enforcement and impact tracking, Big Tech is pushing back. The real challenge may be this:

👉 How do we define a “wellness limit” for social media?
👉 And how do we protect people from overconsumption—at any age?

Read more below.
https://hubs.li/Q044Kpqf0

Social Media Is About to Have Its Big “Tobacco” Moment And it will go beyond regulating teens By Thierry Malleret, economist Earlier this month, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that “social media has become a failed state,” echoing the rising concerns of many policymakers and exper...

02/20/2026

In 2017, the nonprofit Global Wellness Institute (GWI) launched The Wellness Moonshot: A World Free of Preventable Disease — a bold global call to action grounded in Moonshot Thinking.

The goal was clear: align innovation, investment, and leadership around one shared outcome — making preventable disease truly preventable.

Today, that mission feels more urgent than ever.

On Tuesday, March 3 (10–11 AM ET), join GWI Chief Creative Officer & Executive Director Nancy Davis and WisdomWorks CEO and GWI Advisory Board Member Renee Moorefield, PhD, for the next Wellness Moonshot Full Moon Celebration — a live, interactive global gathering.

Together, we’ll explore how values-led leadership, sustainable business models, and bold advocacy are reshaping how we work, live, and lead. Special guest Konstantinos Delialis will share his perspective on driving meaningful change across industries and cultures.

This is more than a conversation. It’s part of a growing global movement to align purpose, impact, and growth in service of real wellbeing.

If you’re building, investing, shaping policy, or leading within the wellness economy — this is your invitation.

https://hubs.li/Q0440Snp0

02/20/2026

NeuroWellness: Where Breath Meets Brain & Behavior 🧠✨

What if your breath could rewire how you think, sleep, and perform?

On March 4 (10–11am ET), the GWI Breathe Initiative hosts a powerful webinar exploring the science behind breathing, brain function, and behavior—and why it matters now more than ever.

Featuring:
🔹 Mohammad Nami, MD, PhD – Director, Brain, Cognition & Behavior Unit at BrainHub Polyclinic and Academy UAE; Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at Canadian University Dubai
🔹 Peter M. Litchfield, PhD – Vice Chair, GWI Breathe Initiative; President, Professional School of Behavioral Health Sciences
🎙 Moderated by Sandy Abrams – Initiative Chair, Founder of https://hubs.li/Q0440jxZ0, and corporate breathwork leader for organizations including Google, Facebook, McKinsey & Co., and Canyon Ranch

Together, they’ll unpack how breathing patterns directly influence:
✔️ Cognitive performance
✔️ Sleep quality
✔️ Emotional regulation
✔️ Neuro-cognitive fitness

This is where neuroscience meets real-life application—offering evidence-based tools to build mental resilience and optimize brain health.

✨ If you care about longevity, leadership, or peak performance, this conversation is for you.

Register now:
https://hubs.li/Q0440h0m0