As recently as five years ago, wellness was classified as a “niche sector” in travel, primarily related to spa vacations and yoga retreats, says Vacayou Wellness Travel, PhocusWire Hot 25's wellness travel booking platform. said Muirgheal Montecalvo, Founder and CEO. Travel startups of 2022.
Now, she said, that's the “central theme.” The projected value of the sector is expected to reach $1.3 trillion in 2025, nearly double the pre-pandemic peak of $720 billion in 2019, according to the Global Wellness Institute.
Wellness-focused travel tech leaders believe technology will further fuel the growing trend of wellness tourism, where people's wellness experiences while traveling and entire trips are built around health and wellness activities. With that, we have our sights set on even bigger things.
Hannes Boller is the CEO of Boddy, a marketplace that helps people find fitness and wellness experiences while traveling, and one of PhocusWire's Hot 25 Travel Startups of 2024. Boller believes many changes are on the horizon.
“we [at] This is the beginning of a potentially revolutionary technology shift,” said Boller, whose company has grown from 300 partner studios to more than 1,500 in just 15 months. “Most of us have little glimpse of the possibilities of the next 12 months.”
The role of AI
Montecalvo said the integration of wellness into travel, especially in conjunction with wellness travel, will only accelerate with the help of artificial intelligence.
“AI, especially generative AI, is revolutionizing the way wellness is integrated into travel, making it much easier for travelers to prioritize their well-being while on the go,” said Montecalvo.
Vacayou has launched a proprietary AI-based solution called TripFusion. Montecalvo said it aims to provide users with a seamless booking experience.
“This comprehensive platform leverages artificial intelligence to make personalized vacation recommendations,” Montecalvo said. “Wellness travel should be invigorating, and that starts with planning. Vacayou makes experiential wellness travel planning more fun, personalized and efficient, setting a new standard. That's what I'm aiming for.
Boller also said Boddy plans to integrate AI technology to improve the user experience and make the interface multimodal. Boler also hopes Bodhi will be able to use AI to improve its search capabilities and reach more targeted users.
Micky Beyer-Clausen, co-founder and CEO of Timeshifter, which focuses on circadian rhythms to help users avoid jet lag, says AI can provide users with better advice. said it could be useful.
we [at] The beginning of a potentially revolutionary technology shift…most of us can barely glimpse the possibilities of the next 12 months.
Hannes Bohler, body
The role of personalization in wellness travel
Personalization, another travel buzzword, will also be one of the biggest benefits of integrating generative artificial intelligence into wellness travel solutions, predicts Montecalvo.
“Personalize your travel itinerary based on your personal health and wellness preferences, and AI will suggest activities, dining options, and recovery experiences tailored to your needs,” Montecalvo said.
Karl Llewellyn, founder of Sanctifly, a 2019 PhocusWire Hot 25 Travel Startup that provides a healthy alternative to travel downtime, also believes that personalization will become easier thanks to AI.
“We're interested in how to personalize a journey based on the traveler's own preferences and itinerary,” Llewellyn said. “It's about working with your itinerary and your preferred options, so you don't have to do any research, we suggest what we know you like.”
The role of wearables
Beyer-Clausen sees opportunity through the use of wearable technology.
For example, there will be sensors that help measure circadian time, and that will be a big change from what's currently available in terms of wearable technology, he said.
“While it can measure sleep, heart rate fluctuations, and body temperature, it cannot accurately record the current time. [in your body]” Beyer Clausen said. “That will definitely happen in the future.”
Boller agreed that wearables make health more tangible. “Wearable devices and mobile apps generally enable the ability to track relevant metrics in real time, both on the go and at home,” he said.
Collaboration and interconnectivity could advance the wellness sector
While Vacayou has developed its own technology to streamline travel wellness bookings, other companies are also looking to collaborate and integrate.
Mr Llewellyn said consolidation was the way forward for his company.
“We want it to be seen as very flexible to integrate with other parts, which keeps the other parts in the puzzle,” Llewellyn said. “What we should be is in flux. And right now, we're not… a lot of our data is hard-coded, hard-pressed into systems, and accessed by queries. So we [have] We had to reposition ourselves to be more flexible. ”
Boller emphasized the interconnectedness of Boddy, which just partnered with LiveWell.
The company is taking technology-related steps related to the partnership.
“We aim to reduce the burden on users by integrating with more systems.”[s] CMS etc. [customer relationship management systems] Fitness operators and hotel or OTA reservation systems [online travel agencies]” Bohler said.
As travelers prioritize holistic wellness approaches and new technology becomes more accessible, wellness providers from spas to gyms to yoga studios will also become more connected, Boler said. . As a result, Boddy will be able to make these services more accessible to users.
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For Llewellyn, the future of wellness and long-term travel from a technology perspective should become increasingly streamlined.
“It’s not about having three or four apps to provide a solution, it’s about having a single solution,” Llewellyn says.
Instead, we envision a single sign-on interface that gives you options and access to determining fitness options, coordinating flights, checking your calendar, and more, rather than downloading multiple apps. Masu.
