Preferred Hotels & Resorts has launched a new global designation programme that brings together more than 50 member hotels and resorts offering holistic and transformative wellness experiences, four of which are in Asia-Pacific.
Introducing the new Preferred Wellbeing programme at ILTM Asia Pacific 2025, president Michelle Woodley said the initiative was borne from the group’s desire to “anticipate what’s next and guide the conversation in luxury travel”.
“Wellness is definitely becoming a defining force in travel decisions,” said Woodley, adding that it is also becoming a core reason why travellers choose a hotel or resort.
The launch of Preferred Wellbeing was informed by insights from the company’s recently released Luxury Travel Report, which identifies wellness as a defining force in travel decisions. The report found that more than a third of luxury travellers are actively seeking transformational wellness journeys, while 77 per cent agree that true luxury today means escaping the pressure to post and impress online. Today’s luxury traveller is increasingly motivated by experiences that support genuine disconnection and reset.
Together, these shifts point to a new era of wellness travel – one that blends science, tradition, personalisation and design into deeply transformative experiences that extend far beyond the spa.
To help luxury travellers discover and book hotels and resorts that would satisfy their wellness needs, Preferred Hotels & Resorts have carefully curated the collection to feature “properties that go beyond the traditional spa offerings, creating immersive journeys through things like hydrothermal circuits, nature-based retreats, and nutritionally-driven culinary programming”, shared Woodley.
Selection abides by a 12-point criteria, and qualified hotels and resorts must check off at least 10 requirements. These include Environmental and Sustainability; Purpose-built Wellbeing Spaces; Nourishing Culinary Philosophy; Nature Immersion & Outdoor Renewal; Welcoming & Adaptive Guest Experience; Mental Presence & Inner Practices; Local Connection & Cultural Exchange; Personalised Wellbeing Journeys; Learning, Discovery & Self-Development; Advanced Wellness Technologies; Human Centred Hospitality; and Ethical Operations & Culture.
In Asia-Pacific, the four highlighted properties are: The Meru Sanur; The Leela Palace Udaipur; The RuMa Hotel & Residences; and Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo.
In her media address, Woodley also discussed top trends in wellness tourism.
She identified longevity in wellness, where travellers are drawn to “intentional, results-driven experiences centred on long-term health”; the convergence of ancient rituals and modern science; the growing importance of hydrotherapy as the “centrepiece of the wellness journey”; a shift away from one-off treatments towards personalised, multi-day wellness journeys; and growing momentum behind nature as part of the healing experience.
