Hotels & Accommodations
Why Hotel Companies Can’t Afford to Ignore the Wellness Economy |
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky – 8.2.2025
Health, wealth and relationships are the three timeless markets, and hospitality touches all of them. The key question is, what does it truly mean to care for the health of a hotel guest?
This is where wellness (as the offering) and wellbeing (as the outcome) come in. Tracking how guests engage with wellness amenities can shape custom itineraries, increase ancillary revenue and even show tangible health gains over time, such as improving heart rate variability (HRV), a strong indicator of stress and vascular resilience.
You may wonder, “Why focus on wellness data when we’re still cleaning up our core ops?”
Fair question. But wellness is shaping up to be a trillion-dollar opportunity. Just think back to the last time you were unwell: productivity, plans and responsibilities all took a back seat. Wellness habits like sauna use, healthy eating and supplementation are increasingly seen as preventive health investments, reducing sick days and enhancing overall performance. And once someone experiences those benefits, the loyalty is hard to shake.
Wellness is habitual by nature, which means repeat guests and recurring spend. Travelers are now choosing hotels based on wellness offerings, whether it’s a destination retreat or premium amenities at a city property. That means hotels must identify their wellness-minded guests and tailor messaging, upsells and experiences accordingly. Data helps reveal patterns, inform capital decisions and build campaigns around high-value, health-conscious travelers.
Step one is merchandising wellness consistently throughout the guest journey. That includes marketing, packages, upsells and even group offers. Every digital interaction – from fitness class signups to gym keycard swipes – creates data. This should flow into your warehouse and CRM, where future AI tools will mine it for insight. Painful as integrations can be, tracking what guests book and when can drive improvements in RevPAG and even justify rate premiums.
A powerful real-world example is SHA Wellness Clinic in Spain and Mexico. Their 7 to 14-night programs span diagnostics, fitness, nutrition and hydrotherapy, with all of them being very data-heavy. Recently, they began integrating WHOOP wearables to track metrics like HRV, blood oxygen and recovery. That data feeds into SHA’s systems to adjust guest schedules in real-time. Bad sleep? Move the workout. Slow recovery? Add more protein. It’s dynamic personalization powered by health insights.
Yes, SHA is a specialized player, but it signals what’s coming. As wearable tech and wellness platforms become mainstream, the hotels that adopt early will be best positioned to lead. Don’t wait for perfect infrastructure; start where you are, and let data be the bridge to better service, better outcomes and stronger financials.
Together, Adam and Larry Mogelonsky are the principals at Hotel Mogel Consulting Ltd., an asset management and hotel development consultancy. Their experience encompasses properties around the world, both branded and independent in the luxury and boutique categories. Their writing includes eight books: “Total Hotel Mogel” (2024), “In Vino Veritas: A Guide for Hoteliers and Restaurateurs to Sell More Wine” (2022), “More Hotel Mogel” (2020), “The Hotel Mogel” (2018), “The Llama is Inn” (2017), “Hotel Llama” (2015), “Llamas Rule” (2013) and “Are You an Ostrich or a Llama?” (2012). You can reach them at adam@hotelmogel.com to discuss business challenges or for speaking engagements.
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Related
The US State Department has issued a security warning for Karachi after receiving intelligence about a possible threat against luxury hotels in the city.
In a precautionary move, the US Consulate General in Karachi has temporarily barred official visits by American government staff to these hotels.
“The US Consulate General Karachi received a report of a threat directed at high-end hotels in Karachi,” the mission said in a statement, adding that access for US government personnel would remain restricted until further notice.
The alert comes amid persistent concerns over safety in Pakistan’s largest cities, where political unrest, sectarian tensions, and terrorist violence have periodically erupted. While the consulate did not disclose specifics of the threat, officials noted that Washington routinely adjusts security protocols for its diplomats in response to credible intelligence.
US citizens in Pakistan are being urged to avoid large gatherings, remain vigilant, and keep a low profile, especially in venues popular with foreigners, such as upscale hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and tourist sites. The advisory also reiterated that Pakistan is under a Level 3 travel warning, which urges travelers to reconsider visiting due to terrorism and armed conflict.
Karachi, despite local efforts to improve safety, has experienced periodic violence in recent years. Luxury hotels, often frequented by diplomats, aid workers, journalists, and business travelers, are considered potential targets in the event of attacks.
The move to restrict staff travel reflects the US government’s broader policy of proactive risk management at its diplomatic missions. Security analysts note that while not all alerts point to an imminent danger, they are based on intelligence reviews and treated seriously. The consulate’s decision highlights the ongoing difficulties of safeguarding US personnel in volatile regions.
The situation is being closely monitored. Restrictions will be lifted once threat levels are reassessed. In the meantime, Americans are encouraged to follow updates from US diplomatic missions and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for real-time security information.
Hotels & Accommodations
Indian Hotels Co (IHCL) eyes on North East for development of new properties
File Photo : Puneet Chhatwal Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL).
| Photo Credit:
JOTHI RAMALINGAM B
Tata Group hospitality firm Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) is putting the spotlight on the North East for new properties in line with India’s ambition of developing the region, according to its Managing Director and CEO Puneet Chhatwal.
The company has a portfolio of 15 hotels with 1,348 rooms in the North East, and six hotels with 634 rooms in the pipeline.
Developing properties in the East and North East has been a part of a strategic initiative, Chhatwal told PTI.
“Like 50 years ago it was Goa, 30 years ago it was Kerala. More recently, you heard about Lakshadweep. Now it is the North East — which is also in line with India’s ambition of developing the North East — our contribution as a Tata Group company,” he noted.
Elaborating on some of the new projects that the company is undertaking in the North East, he said,”IHCL has committed to projects like Jagiroad in Assam, opposite the Tata Electronics factory that is coming up.”
Moreover, he said,”There are also the conversion of two properties — one is the existing Vivanta in Guwahati which will be upgraded to Taj. We will see an extension of that asset with a number of rooms, banquet halls, etc. We will also be building another hotel in Kaziranga (in Assam).”
Chhatwal also reiterated that IHCL has signed its first ‘Taj Palace’ property in the North East with the ‘Taj Pushpabanta Palace’ in Agartala, Tripura.
The property was signed in May this year in a public-private partnership with the Tripura government. Under the partnership, the Pushpabanta Palace built in 1917 as a holiday home for the king and his guests will be developed to have 100 rooms to be housed in a newly built structure.
The refurbishment and expansion are expected to be completed in the next three years, IHCL had earlier said.
Last month, IHCL and the Ambuja Neotia Group had announced an agreement for 15 new hotels mostly in the East and North East India.
Published on August 3, 2025
Indian Hotels Co. Ltd (IHCL) plans significant expansion in Northeast India, with new hotels and renovations in Assam, Tripura, and other locations.
The company has a portfolio of 15 hotels with 1,348 rooms in the North East, and six hotels with 634 rooms in the pipeline.
Developing properties in the East and North East has been a part of a strategic initiative, Chhatwal told PTI.
“Like 50 years ago it was Goa, 30 years ago it was Kerala. More recently, you heard about Lakshadweep. Now it is the North East — which is also in line with India’s ambition of developing the North East — our contribution as a Tata Group company,” he noted.
Elaborating on some of the new projects that the company is undertaking in the North East, he said,”IHCL has committed to projects like Jagiroad in Assam, opposite the Tata Electronics factory that is coming up.”
Moreover, he said,”There are also the conversion of two properties — one is the existing Vivanta in Guwahati which will be upgraded to Taj. We will see an extension of that asset with a number of rooms, banquet halls, etc. We will also be building another hotel in Kaziranga (in Assam).”
Chhatwal also reiterated that IHCL has signed its first ‘Taj Palace’ property in the North East with the ‘Taj Pushpabanta Palace’ in Agartala, Tripura.
The property was signed in May this year in a public-private partnership with the Tripura government. Under the partnership, the Pushpabanta Palace built in 1917 as a holiday home for the king and his guests will be developed to have 100 rooms to be housed in a newly built structure.
The refurbishment and expansion are expected to be completed in the next three years, IHCL had earlier said.
Last month, IHCL and the Ambuja Neotia Group had announced an agreement for 15 new hotels mostly in the East and North East India.
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