Preferred Hotels & Resorts has launched Preferred Wellbeing, a new designation program recognizing more than 50 member hotels and resorts with wellness-focused guest experiences.
The designation program highlights properties that incorporate wellness elements extending beyond traditional spa offerings, including hydrothermal circuits, nature-based programming, nutrition-focused dining and personalized wellness retreats. The launch follows findings from the independent hotel brand company’s recent luxury travel research, which identified wellness as a growing influence in travel decision-making.
According to the report, more than one-third of luxury travelers are seeking transformational wellness experiences, while 77 percent said luxury increasingly means disconnecting from social pressures and digital expectations.
According to the New York, NY-based company, participating hotels are evaluated against five wellness pillars and 12 operational criteria, including rest and recovery, movement, nourishment, connection to place and environmental responsibility. Hotels must meet at least 10 of the 12 criteria to receive the Preferred Wellbeing designation.
“We are thrilled to introduce Preferred Wellbeing, which reflects an elevated focus on holistic wellness across our global portfolio,” Lindsey Ueberroth, CEO of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, said in a statement. “Our latest research shows that travelers are increasingly prioritizing experiences that support physical, mental and transformative wellbeing. Preferred Wellbeing was created to help guests easily discover and book hotels that are defining what’s next in the wellness space.”
Among the participating properties, Amrit Ocean Resort and Residences – Singer Island in Florida features a 100,000-sq.-foot spa integrating Eastern wellness philosophies with Western technologies, while Hotel Las Islas in Cartagena, Colombia, incorporates neurostimulation therapy into its wellness programming.
Other hotels highlighted by the company include Almar Giardino di Costanza Mazara del Vallo in Sicily, which combines Roman-Arab hammam traditions with structured wellness programs. Hydrotherapy also emerged as a key focus area among participating properties. 7132 Hotel in the Swiss Alps offers thermal bathing experiences using mineral-rich spring water, while the Grand Velas Riviera Maya in Mexico incorporates guided hydrotherapy rituals into its wellness programming.