As we move towards the end of the first quarter century in this millennium, wellness has never been so important to so many people. The global wellness economy has now exceeded US$5.6 trillion (€5.2 trillion, £4.4 trillion) and shows no signs of slowing down – it’s predicted to reach US$8.5 trillion (€7.9 trillion, £6.7 trillion) by 2027 (see page 116). It’s a great time to be in the industry; technology is bringing new innovation to the way we do business, from brain training for neuroplasticity (see page 12) to gesture-tech and mixed reality (see page 16) to new ways of biohacking (see page 74) – and even to converting the electrical impulses and frequencies of plants into healing soundscapes (see page 21).

At the same time, we’re also seeing a resurgence of – or a return to – tried and true modalities that have served humanity well for hundreds or thousands of years, as people seek out authentic wellness experiences. From a return of water tastings (see page 14) – popular in the heyday of European spa towns – to the idea of teaching somatic practices to teens to help them regulate emotions (see page 15), what’s old is new again. Even that most basic of human movements – walking – is having something of a moment (see page 20), as people rediscover the joy of being outside in nature for a kind of moving meditation.

Some of the trends we’re looking at combine old and new; deep listening can be low-tech and retro, with guests listening to classic vinyl albums in the sauna, or it can be high-tech and futuristic, like the upcoming Texas-based Submersive, which will play underwater sounds in combination with images that are designed to transport people to an elevated state of consciousness (see page 13).

But we’re still working on the basics: sleeping well (see pages 100, 132), connecting with others (see page 102), sexual wellness (see page 131) and simply finding space to slow down and rest (see page 70).

Whether it’s new technology or a timeless trend, the wellness market is most definitely moving quickly – and as Ferris Bueller said, “If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” We hope the insights, research and resources in our annual Spa Business Handbook help you do just that: stop, look around, and ultimately, play your part in driving the industry forward.