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EVENT – WORLD WELLNESS WEEKEND, A MUST-ATTEND EVENT FOR WELLNESS PROFESSIONALS
From 19 to 21 September 2025, more than 9,500 properties in 190 countries will participate in WWW, promoting an inclusive and supportive approach to wellness among guests, employees and local communities. |
Category: Worldwide - Industry economy
- Exclusive experiences
- Sustainability - Calendar
Article written by Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine on Wednesday 06 August 2025
 Jean-Guy de Gabriac is the founder of World Wellness Weekend
Photo credit © Arnaud Reichert
For its ninth edition, the event is more than ever establishing itself as a sustainable, unifying and inspiring initiative. “World Wellness Weekend is not just a date in the calendar (…) it is also an international non-profit association, recognised in Belgium by King Philippe and the Minister of Justice since April 2025,” insists Jean-Guy de Gabriac, its founder, in an interview with Journal des Palaces.
Experiences rolled out in the luxury hotel industry
Among the most committed groups, Marriott International is continuing its large-scale mobilisation this year through its JW Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Westin, St. Regis, Le Méridien and W Hotels brands, with the aim of reaching 200 participating hotels by 2025.
“It's quite remarkable to see that Marriott International, which, with more than 140 properties, was already the most active hotel group in last year's World Wellness Weekend, wants to anchor this event a little more firmly in its calendar and among its teams, to be a true champion of wellness in the United States, Asia-Pacific, where mobilisation is strongest, but also in Europe, Africa, Oceania and Latin America,” emphasises Jean-Guy de Gabriac.
For its part, Taj group, through its wellness brand, J Wellness Circle, brings together more than 80 properties. Banyan Group has around 50, Six Senses and Mandara Spas have around 30 each, while Accor has around 20 hotels and Hyatt has around 10.
The activities, which can be viewed on the wellmap, are designed to be accessible to as many people as possible, including property employees, guests, and members of the local community. The Anara Spa at the Grand Hyatt Kauai is opening its 4,200 m² of wellness facilities and activities to the local community. The property is “already a wellness hero, as they are going to organize more than three activities for the public, one activity for their team and one activity for the local community, for seniors…” recalls Jean-Guy. The experience, which will include a masterclass, aims to “get away from the crazy world we live in,” says the WWW founder.
The W Abu Dhabi Yas Island is also pulling out all the stops, starting on 17 September. The programme includes themed days open to guests and the local community, with fitness sessions, yoga, breathing sessions, sound baths and gratitude circles at sunset. Some managers are personally involved in the event, such as the GM of the Corinthia Lisbon, Cesar Silva, who will be offering a running session through the streets of the Portuguese capital.
Hotels are also seizing the opportunity presented by this event to enrich their offering with new, high value-added experiences. This is the case for Alila Napa Valley, part of the Hyatt group, which is launching its “Cycling Day Retreat: Ride, Recharge, Rejuvenate”, a day dedicated to movement and reconnection. Participants cycle through the Californian vineyards before enjoying recovery rituals at the Alila Spa. This initiative illustrates how World Wellness Weekend inspires hoteliers to come up with new products, combining wellness, sport and local roots.
A synergy between visibility, CSR and talent attraction
This commitment goes beyond commercial visibility, as the event acts as a lever to enrich the CSR approach and workplace quality of life policy of the hotels. Everywhere, the activities on offer are designed to include guests, employees and local communities, with initiatives ranging from wellness sessions reserved for staff to solidarity actions in schools, orphanages, and hospitals.
“Wellness is not just a privilege for those who can afford it, it is something that should be shared with as many people as possible,” emphasises Jean-Guy de Gabriac. This spirit of openness and inclusion is increasingly echoed in the luxury hotel industry, which is seizing the opportunity to promote its values beyond its walls.
The founder points out that the benefits of the event continue long after the WWW, as the groups and properties are involved throughout the year in a holistic approach, as well as through other WWW partner events, such as World Cleanup Day, European Sports Week and the Campaign Nonviolence Action Days.
Inspiring concrete initiatives for hospitality
The five pillars of World Wellness Weekend, ‘sleep, nutrition, movement, mindfulness, and solidarity’, continue to inspire hotels in the development of their programmes. To recognise the involvement of the most committed properties, World Wellness Weekend awards the Wellness Champion badge to those offering more than three activities during the event. Some go even further, multiplying initiatives open to staff, guests and local communities. This badge demonstrates the commitment of hotels that make well-being a key part of their strategy, in terms of guest experience, talent attraction and local roots.
World Wellness Weekend continues to pursue its ambition of making wellness a vehicle for positive impact, in collaboration with hoteliers, institutions and cities, convinced that health, inclusion, and sustainability are more than ever at the heart of contemporary hospitality expectations and values.
 The World Wellness Weekend will take place from September 19 to 21, 2025
Photo credit © World Wellness Weekend
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