Future spa: building wellness communities

André Julseth General manager, The Well Spa & Hotel, Norway

I see the rise in sauna rituals and collective social spa as a big topic. Traditionally spa was about a shared group experience, then it morphed into a more solo pursuit. Now it has come full circle and social spa-ing has been reinvented for today – it’s now about building a wellness community. An increasing number of guests are looking to embrace the energy of the natural world as a way to switch off, while reconnecting with themselves in a social setting.

Here at The Well, we pride ourselves in offering the combination of heat and water therapies, and the health benefits of immersion in nature. Young and old, men and women are gathering around relaxing, rejuvenating and energising using heat, water and sauna rituals. Spa is no longer a solo pursuit – we find people arrive alone but quickly find friends and choose to spend time together finding joy in the same spa rituals.