Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS) is investing 29 billion baht (US$881.6 million) to develop WellEra, a 200,000m² wellness ecosystem in Bangkok that is scheduled to open in 2030.
The healthcare operator is drawing on nearly 55 years of clinical experience to create a development focused on longevity and preventive health beyond the traditional hospital setting.
Located at a 5.3ha site at the intersection of Langsuan Road and Lumphini Park, the project aims to combine preventive medical services, wellness facilities, hospitality and residences within a single development.
The investment comes as Thailand’s wellness sector continues to expand. The global wellness economy is projected to reach US$9.8 trillion by 2029, while Thailand’s wellness economy grew from US$38.8 billion in 2023 to more than US$42.7 billion in 2024.
According to the Global Wellness Economy: Country Rankings (Data for 2019-2024), published in February 2026, Thailand ranks 15th globally for wellness tourism. Wellness tourism expenditure rose 36.4 per cent between 2023 and 2024, reaching US$14 billion.
BDMS executives believe Thailand is well positioned to benefit from the sector’s growth.
“The global market is expanding rapidly, but these windows of opportunity do not remain open indefinitely,” said Tanupol Virunhagarun, CEO of BDMS Wellness Group.
“If we do not move quickly to capture this momentum within our generation, we miss a vital chance to solidify our position.”
Wellness is already a significant contributor to the group’s business. In 2025, BDMS reported revenue of 113.3 billion baht, with wellness operations contributing 13.6 billion baht, or 12 per cent of the total.
The group is seeking to build on Thailand’s strengths in healthcare, hospitality and gastronomy while capitalising on growing demand for preventive health and longevity services.
“BDMS currently manages 12.8 million patients and wellness clients annually. The new mega-development aims to capture the time these visitors spend outside the clinic by catering to shifting consumer demands,” said Tanupol.
WellEra will comprise four main components: a BDMS Wellness Clinic focused on preventive diagnostics, an urban wellness retreat with 168 guestrooms across 20 floors, a lifestyle retail zone, and Capella Residences Bangkok at WellEra.
Managed by Capella Hotel Group, the residential component will mark the first Capella-branded residences in Thailand and will offer 262 units across 45 floors.
The master plan was designed by New York-based architectural firm Kohn Pedersen Fox around a human-centric “Smile Building” concept intended to maximise green space and community interaction.
Tanupol said the project represents a long-term opportunity to strengthen Thailand’s wellness tourism sector.
“We have spent decades building our medical and clinical infrastructure. Leveraging that foundation to capture international wellness travellers will serve as a resilient, powerful long-term economic driver for Thailand’s tourism ecosystem,” he said.
