The New Age Of Corporate Wellness

With India's beauty and wellness market estimated at INR 80,370 crore and showing a compound annual growth rate of 18 per cent, there has been a huge wave of pro-active wellness initiatives in luxury hotels. We find out more.

- Nisha Shroff

Mumbai-based restauranteur and entrepreneur Bunty Arora often takes business trips. When he is travelling to cities within India such as Pune and Delhi, he ensures that he chooses a business hotel that is fully equipped with a functional gym. He says, “Around 30 to 40 minutes of cardio workout before my meetings is important for me. This is because business travel may look exciting on the outside, but it is actually extremely tiring. The feeling of being tired and fatigued is normal and therefore, I feel a short cardio workout once you checkin not only energises you but also makes you fresher for the day ahead. Following a workout, I always take a steam and sauna for 10 to 15 minutes and this completely recharges the body."

Gone are the days of men with a lazy attitude towards personal care. Like Arora there are many business travellers who today prefer to stay active and give great importance to wellness.

As the sphere of wellness is growing, it is no longer only about a massage, a jacuzzi in the hotel or the gym, but the focus now is on the overall rejuvenation of mind, body and soul. Globally, as well as in India, business travellers are looking for such holistic facilities.

In the past few years, the demand of guests has evolved with an increased emphasis on overall well-being. This holds true for both, leisure as well as business travellers from domestic and international markets.

India that is greatly known as the land of Ayurveda, yoga, and alternative medicines, attracts many international travellers. Siddharth Varma, Director of Rooms, Shangri-La’s - Eros Hotel, New Delhi, says, “Wellness tourism is gaining popularity and many global travellers visit India to experience this.”