Thailand has spent decades earning its reputation in wellness tourism, but there’s never really been a B2B platform built specifically around it – Bill Barnett, co-founder of Being Thailand 2026 and MD of C9 Hotelworks |
The event will bring together operators, investors, innovators and practitioners
There will be three panel discussions with speakers from Kamalaya, GOCO Hospitality and Six Senses
Access to the full-day event is complimentary but advance registration is required The second annual edition of the wellness conference called Being Thailand will take place on 2 September at Angsana Laguna Phuket, Thailand The full-day event will run from 08.00am am to 6.00pm and brings together operators, investors, practitioners and innovators to discuss the future of the country’s wellness economy The Being Thailand event will host an expo with 27 exhibitors, 12 workshops, three panel conversations with leading industry figures and three movement sessions. Bill Barnett, co-founder of Being Thailand 2026 and MD of C9 Hotelworks, told Spa Business: “Being’s first edition drew over 600 people to Phuket, and it told us this industry has been hungry for a dedicated space to talk about wellness as a business, not just an amenity. The second edition builds directly on that, with more conversations, more workshops, and a wider Wellness Exchange floor connecting operators with the people actually building this sector “Thailand has spent decades earning its reputation in wellness tourism, but there’s never really been a B2B platform built specifically around it, where operators, spa and wellness businesses, and healthcare providers can compare notes and do business in one room. Being exists to fill that gap, and to make sure Thailand keeps leading the conversation on wellness in hospitality, rather than just being known for it.” - Full immersion: wellness redefined in hospitality
Ingo Schweder, founder and CEO, GOCO Hospitality and MD, Horwath HTL Matthew Brennan, chief financial officer, Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary and Holistic Spa Jael Fischer, head of development – Asia Pacific, Six Senses Hotels Resort Spas Christian Pucher (moderator), principal, Ktha Hospitality - Care as currency: how Phuket’s healthcare and wellness ecosystem shapes international appeal
Andrew Giles, executive director, Bumrungrad International Hospital Phuket Helen Clarke, GM, Clinique La Prairie- Phuket Jennifer Sanvictores, GM, Layan Life Phuket Jayne MacDougall, executive director, Phuket Hotels Association - Wellness as demand: the destination health imperative
Patcharavalai Ruangkritya, CEO and executive director, Mira Valley Phuket Christian Noret, MD, Blue Tree Surekha Verspui, founder, Pad Thai Padel Sumi Soorian (moderator), founder, Mrs B Group The 12 workshops will cover topics such as AI integration, longevity science, nutrition technology, recovery protocols, anti-ageing medicine and brand building Event details Access is free, but advance registration is required, which industry members can do here. The conference is organised by hospitality consultancy group C9 Hotelworks, Delivering Asia and Mrs B Group with the support of the Phuket Hotels Association and the Thai Hotels Association Southern Chapter C9 Hotelworks and Delivering Asia are also both involved in an ongoing initiative called the C9 Sessions, which are separate industry gatherings The venue, Angsana Laguna Phuket, will also host the Global Wellness Summit in November Separately, Spa Business recently reported that the Thai Spa Association has similar intentions to boost the country’s wellness economy ranking within the Asia Pacific region from ninth place to within the top five by 2030. Read more about the strategy here Sign up here to get your choice of the Spa Business and Spa Business insider weekly ezines, breaking news alerts and every issue of Spa Business and Spa Business insider magazines FREE on digital. | 
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Gharieni Magazine 01/2025
