The 18th annual Global Wellness Summit (GWS) is off to an energetic start today (5 November) in St Andrews, Scotland, as more than 500 wellness leaders from 43 countries have assembled for the sold-out event.

Hosted at the historic Old Course Hotel and sponsored by Kohler, the three-day conference will centre on the theme, "A Watershed Moment for Wellness," examining a pivotal era for growth, disruption and innovation in the wellness industry.

The summit will also place a special focus on water as a critical element of wellness, sparking in-depth discussions on topics including fitness, mental health, wellness tourism and wellness technology, as well as public health policy, nutrition and wellness real estate.

“‘A Watershed Moment for Wellness’ has been an exciting challenge to capture in an event,” said Nancy Davis, GWS chief creative officer and executive director.

“The theme has inspired thinkers and doers to come together in St Andrews to explore the possibilities: what can the wellness industry do now, with its collective muscle and financial might, to mitigate some of the most pressing global issues of our time? Climate, mental wellbeing, physical health and so much more.

“This ‘watershed moment’ is a call to gather, to share ideas about the future, and to act.”

As in past years, delegates will receive an exclusive research update from the Global Wellness Institute during the release of its annual Global Wellness Economy Monitor.

This exciting and much-anticipated announcement will provide key trends and insights into the recent performance and future direction of the wellness economy.

The GWS has complemented the jam-packed conference schedule with ample networking opportunities and daily wellness activities including wild sea swims, movement sessions with Sanctum, yoga with Ashley Kohler and more.

Stay tuned for the next issue of Spa Business for a complete event review from this year’s GWS – sign up here to receive your copy.