(This article first appeared in the December 6, 2017 issue of The Independent Newspaper)
Wellness retreats were once thought of as a trendy niche but have earned their right as a permanent travel category. Individuals and groups alike are looking to escape the day-to-day routine for an extended weekend, or week, of revitalization. Virtuoso is the travel industry’s leading luxury network with over 9000 travel advisors across 26 countries. As a former advisor myself back in 2016, I decided to go straight to the source for what’s ahead in wellness travel. Here are five wellness trends to watch for in the upcoming year.
1. Learning from the best. Humans are constantly seeking self-improvement and what better way to accomplish such a task than learning from the top in the fields? Wellness retreat hosts are offering opportunities to interact and find educational resources from CEOs, masters, gurus, and beyond.
2. Sugar detox. Entire itineraries are planned around ridding the body of what 2017 was perhaps most fearful of — sugar. Sugary foods will be replaced with those that are rich in nutrients to fight that cupcake craving. By eliminating sugar in its many forms the end goal promises increased energy, better digestion, and clear skin.
3. Healing retreats. Those seeking solace after a divorce, loss of a loved one, or other life-altering event can find stress management and emotional healing therapies.
4. Sleep recovery. Between the everyday stresses of life and society’s over-connectedness, sleeping seems to have taken a backseat. Next year, travelers can expect to see a leap of sleep enhancement retreats to jump start your entire life. Through diagnostic techniques and holistic treatments the end goal is to slow the mind to rest the body.
5. Silence. If you’re someone who looks to truly disconnect while away, welcome to the increasing trend where silence is golden, complete with WiFi blockers and noise-free zones. Entire luxury destinations are reconstructing to implement noise-reducing walls, and silent retreats are no longer for just the penitent faithful.