All Being Well

With the internet now invading that most sacred of offline spaces–the in-flight cabin–the drive to escape and switch off is ever more vital. Arabella Youens examines the rising trend for wellness properties

THE wellness industry is here to stay. From yoga retreats to meditation centres, detox residencies, wellbeing cafés and specially tailored food supplements, the offering grows every year. Currently valued at more than $4 trillion, a newer tranche is emerging in the form of holiday homes that tap into the market. The Global Wellness Institute estimated the value of the wellness property sector as a $134 billion industry in 2017, with a projected growth to $198 billion by 2022.

For Hugo Thistlethwayte, head of Savills International Residential (020–7409 8876), wellness is very much ‘on the radar’ when it comes to his clients searching for second homes overseas. ‘It’s an extension of lifestyle amenities,’ he explains. ‘It started with having a pool, gym and a bit of spa pampering, but now, throughout the higher end of the development market, it has extended to wellness.’ He cites groups such as Six Senses, an early champion of the need to take time out and holiday with ‘no shoes and no news’; others, including the Banyan Tree, have followed in these footsteps.