The Wellness in Hospitality Podcast

Is the Wellness Asset Academy the right fit for you?    That’s what we’re diving into in today's session.      Most wellness departments contribute less than 8% of hotel revenue—but what if they could do more? What if they could match Rooms and F&B as a key revenue stream?      Let me put it another way.      Most wellness leaders earn less than $50K—but what if they could do more? What i...

“I want to invest in wellness, but I have no budget for it.” Sound familiar? In today’s episode I talk about the hidden trap in the hotel wellness world: the ‘no budget’ problem. You’ve spent millions on a stunning wellness facility, yet when it comes time to invest in actual strategies, you’re left with little to no money to make wellness work. It’s the reason wellness proposals die on the desk—a...

Ever wondered why some boutique hotels thrive with wellness while others struggle? The difference often isn’t the size of the budget—it’s the expertise behind the vision. For boutique hotel owners, it’s easy to think: 'My project is small; I don’t need all these specialists.' For wellness leaders, the thought might be: 'I have the experience; we can handle this internally.' But...

Why does wellness feel so intangible to both wellness leaders and boutique hotel owners? It's a disconnect I see happening more and more as our industry evolves. For wellness leaders, it's frustrating when owners only focus on numbers. For hotel owners, it's challenging to justify investments when the returns feel hard to measure. In today's episode, I'll break down: → Why...

Why does wellness feel so hard to get right? It’s not because you’re not trying, and it’s not because you don’t care. The truth is, wellness often feels stuck in survival mode because there’s a hidden disconnect between hotel management and wellness leaders—and it’s costing more than just profits. In this episode, I break down: → Why wellness often feels stuck in survival mode—and how to move past...

How do you know if hiring a wellness manager is the right move for your boutique hotel? It’s a question I get asked all the time. For some, it’s the key to growing their wellness offering. For others, it’s an unnecessary expense. The truth is, the decision comes down to your hotel’s unique goals and what wellness really means for your brand. In today’s episode, I’ll explore: → When hiring a wellne...

81% of employees say they’d work harder for a boss who shows gratitude. Let that sink in. What does gratitude have to do with wellness? Everything. Gratitude is about creating a sense of balance and connection. It’s fundamental to achieving overall wellbeing—especially mental wellbeing. When we lead with gratitude, it shifts how we connect with our teams, how we inspire them, and how we show up fo...

How do you know if a brand is the right partner for your wellness offering?   Choosing the right product partner is one of the most important decisions you’ll make.    The wrong choice can lead to inconsistent guest experiences, wasted resources, and even impact your therapists’ performance.    But the right partner can help you deliver meaningful results, strengthen your concept, and build guest...

What does it actually cost to build a wellness facility in your hotel?   This is a question I get asked a fair amount, so today, I’d like to dive into the subject of costs.   If you’re a boutique hotel owner dreaming of creating something special—something that stands the test of time—this episode is for you. And if you’re a wellness leader wanting to understand the owner’s perspective, stick arou...

What if you could fund your wellness project without a bank loan or a big investor? Finding funds to build a wellness retreat is tough. Most boutique hotel owners and wellness leaders need external funding to make their vision real. Traditional methods—loans, big investors, even government grants—are often slow and complex. That is why I have invited my next guest in my Wellness in Hospitality int...

Are we selling time or solving problems? When I first started in this industry, I thought like everyone else—stack your high-yield treatments during peak hours, fill quieter slots with the shorter ones, measure everything down to the minute. But I kept noticing one thing: a guest might receive an incredible treatment, but if it ended a few minutes early, they’d still feel short-changed. A five-min...

Have you ever heard that little voice saying, 'Who are you to be doing this?’ For so many of us—whether we're wellness directors or boutique hotel owners—this doubt creeps in, especially when we're striving for something big. When we’re working in alignment with our purpose, we feel unstoppable. But keeping that mindset strong isn’t a one-and-done; it’s a daily commitment. That’s wh...

Ever felt sandwiched between top management’s demands and your team’s needs?   If you’re a wellness manager, you know what I mean.     You’re constantly balancing what the GM wants with what your team expects—and sometimes, it feels like there’s no winning.   It can feel like you’re juggling endless demands from the top and bottom.   The end result? Burnout - Losing the joy in a profession you onc...

Have you ever found yourself focusing on creating wellness offerings—only to realise that the results aren’t what you expected? Maybe you’re a wellness director, a hotel owner, or a GM, and you’ve been wondering why selling more massages, facials, or yoga sessions doesn’t lead to the transformation you hoped for. The problem isn’t that your services aren’t good enough—it’s that we’re looking at it...

What role does landscape design play in elevating the wellness experience for hotel guests?     It's a significant investment, yet landscaping often receives less attention than it deserves. Too many times, it’s treated as an afterthought rather than a fundamental element of the guest experience.   In today's episode, I'd like to share insights from my conversation with Scott LaMont...

What exactly do you get inside the Wellness Asset Academy?    You've heard me talk extensively about my ESSENCE framework, which is at the core of my signature programme, The Wellness Asset Academy.    And now, you're asking:  → what exactly do I get?  → what results can I expect?  → why is the Wellness Asset Academy different from all the amazing courses out there?    Join me today as I...

Have you ever wondered when to throw in the towel on your wellness concept and when to keep tweaking it? Today, I’d like to talk about one of the biggest challenges wellness and hospitality leaders face: knowing when to fail fast and pivot versus when to hang in and iterate. In this episode, we’ll uncover how to identify if your concept is fundamentally flawed or if it just needs a few tweaks. Man...

What holds your team back from consistently delivering remarkable experiences? You’ve put in the time and effort to build a strong, stable team, training and coaching them through various challenges. Just when things seem to be going well, someone leaves, and you find yourself back at square one. It’s frustrating, and it impacts your ability to provide the level of service you know your guests des...

How do you get your wellness concept back on track when it isn’t performing the way you hoped? Today we're diving deep into a challenge that many wellness leaders face: 👉🏼 what to do when your wellness concept isn’t delivering the results you expected. You’ve put in the work, aligned your vision with key decision-makers, and created a concept that you know is solid. But despite all your eff...

How can you find the right team to do wellness your way? In today's session, we’re diving into the never-ending subject of talent shortage, specifically: how can you find the right people to do wellness the way you want them to. As wellness leaders and hoteliers, our problem doesn’t tend to be our ability to come up with ideas. Our main pain point is finding the people to EXECUTE our vision a...

How can you design a wellness concept that no other hotel can replicate? As wellness leaders aim to craft something extraordinary. We want our approach to not only be different and unique, but also impossible for competitors to copy. In today's episode, here’s what you’ll learn: → Why focusing on how you deliver wellness, rather than what you offer, is the key to creating a unique concept. →...

Can wellness services in hotels really be turned into profit, or are they just perks that guests take for granted? In today's episode, we’re tackling a big question: how can wellness directors make wellness offerings not just a nice addition, but a profitable part of the guest experience? As guests come to expect things like yoga sessions, mindfulness workshops, and healthy meals during their...

Have you ever found yourself excitedly launching a wellness concept, only to watch it stall before even getting past the start line?   Many of us have been there—whether you’re a wellness director, a hotel owner, or a GM with a passion for wellness, the initial thrill can quickly fade when faced with the reality of getting everyone aligned. The excitement is intense, but too often, the sheer numbe...

How can you create a distinctive identity that makes your hotel unforgettable?   Today’s episode is the last of a three-part guide on mastering the creation of impactful wellness concepts. We continue with the million-dollar question: How can you create a distinctive identity that makes your hotel unforgettable?   In the last two episodes, 68 and 69, I talked about the Emotional Cycle of Change an...

What determines the impact and profitability of your wellness concept? Last week, we kicked off the first episode of a 3-part guide on creating impactful wellness concepts. Today, we continue with the million-dollar question: What sets apart those boutique hotel owners who have thrived with wellness from those who haven’t? Before we dive into the second episode of this series, if you haven’t liste...