Small Luxury Hotels Launches Global Wellbeing Collection Beyond the Spa
The new portfolio blends cultural immersion, nature, and holistic design to meet surging demand.
Photo: Courtesy of Small Luxury Hotels
Small Luxury Hotels of the World marked Friday’s International Relaxation Day with the debut of its Wellbeing Collection, a curated group of 15 boutique properties across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The collection was created in response to the brand’s recent Restless Traveller Report, which revealed that 72 percent of surveyed travelers feel chronically tired, 60 percent believe modern life does not allow for true rest, and nearly 90 percent see travel as essential for reconnecting with what matters most.
Unlike traditional spa-focused retreats, SLH’s Wellbeing Collection was built on the idea of emotional intelligence in hospitality. Each hotel is required to meet at least eight of 12 criteria that extend beyond the spa into dining, design, inclusivity, community connection, and staff culture. Vetting was carried out by a panel of industry experts, including spa editor Susan d’Arcy and Dominique Antiglio, founder of BeSophro, whose background in Sophrology emphasizes a mind-body approach to resilience. The result is a portfolio that positions wellbeing as something woven through the entire guest experience rather than siloed in a treatment room.
The 15 founding members include destinations such as Forestis in the Italian Dolomites, Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary in the Himalayas, Castle Hot Springs in Arizona, and Rio Perdido in Costa Rica. Experiences are grounded in their settings: forest bathing at Euphoria Retreat in Greece, wild swimming in Central America, or mindfulness programs at Vietnam’s Namia River Retreat.
The collection is organized around three pillars—rest, reconnection, and resilience—that speak directly to different luxury travel motivators. Rest may resonate with overworked executives looking for digital detox, reconnection can appeal to couples or multigenerational families, and resilience may be most relevant for performance-driven clients interested in longevity.
Wellness travel is expected to grow faster than the overall luxury segment in the coming years, and the risk of “wellness-washing” has become a challenge in the marketplace. SLH’s approach, with defined standards and expert oversight, offers advisors reassurance when recommending properties that deliver on their promises. For clients increasingly searching for more than a spa break, the Wellbeing Collection signals that the boutique hotel sector is ready to meet the demand for meaningful, restorative travel.
