Huge energy, investment and love are going into the creation of the next generation of spa and wellness facilities, making them some of the most stunning buildings on earth.

In this issue we enjoy a look at a number of new developments globally, including Lanserhof Sylt (p66), with its beautiful thatched roof, Banyan Tree Veya (p20) and Soneva Soul (p86), the latest concept from creative powerhouse, Sonu and Eva Shivdasani.

It’s timely that our coverage of Soneva Soul features in the same edition of Spa Business as our interview with Neil Jacobs, CEO of Six Senses – a business started by Sonu and Eva that’s being realised as a truly global eco brand by the talented Six Senses team (p34).

It’s exciting to see such great architecture in our market and the buildings being created play a huge part in delivering the guest experience, but the real hero of the story is nature – whether the sand dunes of Sylt, the tropical forests of the Maldives or the icy waters of the Arctic.

As humanity grapples with challenges from war to drought, unfiltered, authentic access to the healing power of the natural world is increasingly in demand. I’d go as far as to say it’s as important as water in delivering healing journeys – perhaps our rallying cry should evolve from salus per aquam to salus per natura?

On page 12, economist Thierry Mallaret flags it up, saying: “One of the most significant trends is the remarkable emergence of nature in the wellness space. Nature is a formidable antidote to many of today’s ills. It makes us feel good, eases psychological and physical pain and is associated with a multitude of health benefits.”

Mallaret says operators not tuning in to this powerful trend will find themselves in a ‘precarious situation’.

This flight to nature chimes powerfully with another trend we’re spotting – a growing interest in emotional healing, and on page 74, Spa Business editor-at-large, Jane Kitchen, talks to operators around the world who are creating and delivering a new generation of healing interventions to support guests in finding peace among the chaos.

Whatever your work, now’s the time to get closer to nature, finding ways to integrate it into your business at every level, for the benefit of your own health and wellbeing and that of your people and your customers.