you are an experienced operator and advisor in the business of medical wellness.
what are the changes you have noticed in the last decade, and those that will be accelerated by the events of the last year and a half?

COVID-19 has shown that when it comes to immunity, prevention is more effective than cure.

The pandemic has put health prevention firmly at the front of people’s minds, something which has always been at the heart of everything we do. Our research has shown that 79%* of people feel that their own health has been affected in some way by Covid-19. Perhaps unsurprisingly, 92%* of people as a result are now consciously taking better care of their health. As a result, I think we will see consumers noticeably prioritizing their wellbeing, both physical and mental, more than ever before.

The key to this is the role technology has to play in the future of global healthcare, developing equipment and products to support this demand. I think we will see a growth in the use of robotics and AI, particularly in emerging economies for the benefit of remote medical diagnosis, subsequently improving the quality of care and lowering costs. Technologies could be used in many ways. Advanced DNA technologies for genetic and epigenetics screening, wellness technologies to follow fitness efforts or to screen skin health, or, to speak about our most recent tech: we have integrated an ultra-small portable cardiac monitoring device.
Tech in nutrition is also predicted to evolve, with the creation of high-tech wearables which can monitor and assess the body’s nutritional needs and lead to the provision of treatments such as nutraceuticals or time release capsules.

At the same time, we also envisage there will be an increased desire for a holistic and long-term approach to health, beyond a single treatment or spa visit. As a result, we expect products such as immune supplements and wearable tech to rise in popularity.

All of this within a scenario of a rising consumer demand for more personalized, more meaningful all-encompassing preventive healthcare, placing the link between the body’s health and the mind’s wellbeing into sharp relief. As a result,

With health front and center, there is a laser-sharp focus on the industry to continue to innovate. We are seeing the boundaries of medicine and science being pushed this year more than ever before.

did your patrons’ demographic change significantly after the lockdown and re-opening?
is the purpose – wellness – more specifically shaping the type of vacations patrons are looking for?

96% of our clients visit the clinic from outside Switzerland, and, before the pandemic, 70% visited from outside Europe. In the Covid-19 period, due to travel restrictions, our clients are increasingly coming from Europe.

We are certainly witnessing a rise in wellness tourism, with a recent study in the UK revealing that 92% of high-net-worth individuals are now taking their health more seriously because of the pandemic.
In terms of expectations and aspirations, I don’t think we can say there are differences between clients or nationalities. Clients come to take care of their health and all-round wellbeing, including immunity, because it has been our mission for the past 90 years.
The higher demand for preventative and longevity-based wellness was already “in the making” but the pandemic further accelerated it. In this context, our mission is to respond to our customers’ needs for reassurance while moving them out of their comfort zones – thus delivering a real transformation for their lifestyle. this is really impacting our clients.

do you perceive forced isolation and a significant amount of time spent online do emphasize the need for the human touch and physical experiences?
what kinds of services and offers are you designing for this time?

The pandemic’s isolating effects have made people question what to do to cultivate their own well-being. And yes, today’s technologies are impacting humanity, and the speed of transformation in our daily lives has accelerated in this past year.

I think that self-awareness about these impacts on our physical and especially mental well-being is crucial.
I am convinced that the rise of technology and time spent online is somehow empowering human connection, because people are increasingly feeling the need for this real reconnection. It’s all about balance: being able to enjoy what tech and digital can offer in innovation and efficiencies, while giving space and importance – again – to a more focused and sustainable self.

From this perspective a human and hyper-personalized approach to preventive medicine is the key to offering services that are truly capable of helping people to live better and longer lives.

even before the pandemic we witnessed an increased attention into nutrition, a return to healthier culinary styles and a significant interest in vegetarian and plant-based options. have you modified your culinary offerings?

The role of nutrition in wellbeing and longevity cannot be overstated, with the gut considered to be our second brain. Microbiota plays a fundamental role in the induction, education and function of the immune system. Therefore, diet is thought to be one of the most influential factors on the microbiome, supporting optimal function of one’s immune system.
Making nutritional changes can also prevent or hinder the age-associated functional decline of cells, decrease cellular oxidative damage, and improve metabolic flexibility. In short, make bodies function better and age slower.

in particular, adopting an anti-inflammatory diet is one of the most important pillars of a healthy life. in this direction, we recommend a detox-focused diet, we’ve now got a period of liquid fasting and several days of vegan diet to help regulate the body’s inflammatory process, reduce toxin load, and boost liver and kidney function.

how do you follow your clients through the omnichannel, before and after their vacation?

At the spa, clients can purchase the line of cosmetics we’re partnering with, this is a product exclusively sold offline that maintains a steady level of purchase from guests.
in April 2021 we launched a new merchandise range of Holistic Health supplements, which is also available at the spa.

in strategy terms, how are you planning the evolution of the business in the next 3 to 5 years?

Our vision is to become a global wellness brand, opening hubs and medical spas in cities around the world so that international clients can continue their journey closer to home. Our most recent openings have been in Madrid and in Bangkok, and we will continue to build centers in other cities around the world so that we can make a real change for our clients and be where they are.
We want to fulfill our mission of “helping and inspiring people to live a longer healthier and better life” wherever they are in each moment of the day.