Global Spa & Wellness

What Global Spa & Wellness does

Global Wellness Institute (GWI) is a Miami-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit research organization founded in 2014-2015 that produces authoritative data, analysis, and education on the global wellness economy. Its flagship product, the Global Wellness Economy Monitor, sizes and forecasts the $6.8 trillion wellness market across 11 sectors and 218 countries. Supporting products include the Geography of Wellness country-specific reports, the Wellness Real Estate Series, the Wellness Evidence database aggregating clinical research from PubMed and Cochrane, the Initiative Trends Report, and the Wellness Moonshot public-health initiative, alongside the annual Global Wellness Summit and media partnerships with BBC StoryWorks.

The organization distributes nearly all of its research free of charge through its website, newsletter, podcast, and social channels, funded primarily by donations, sponsorships, and strategic partnerships with governments, hospitality brands, healthcare companies, and academic institutions. Recent partnerships include the Singapore Tourism Board, Fountain Life, Aldar (UAE), Bangkok Dusit Medical Services, Johns Hopkins University, and Anytime Fitness, extending GWI's research into country-level economic strategy, real estate, longevity, and public-private wellness alliances. Summit on Demand provides one of the few paid digital offerings, while the in-person Global Wellness Summit operates on an invitation-only basis.

GWI's business model is best understood as a mission-driven research and community platform rather than a commercial enterprise. Its customer base spans wellness businesses and investors seeking market sizing, governments and tourism boards developing wellness strategies, hospitality and real estate brands integrating wellness offerings, and academic and healthcare organizations seeking evidence-based research. With 11-50 employees, no disclosed revenue, and no parent or subsidiary structure, GWI operates as an independent authority shaping global wellness policy, investment, and industry standards.

Name

Global Spa & Wellness

Legal name

Global Wellness Institute

Website

https://globalwellnessinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Global Wellness Institute is a Miami-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that produces authoritative research, data, and education on the $6.8 trillion global wellness economy for governments, investors, hospitality, healthcare, and academic audiences worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wellness Research & Education

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Business Associations (813910), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Health, Wellness & Patient Communities (MPACAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workplace Wellness & Wellbeing Education (EDAAAHAN), Wellness Retreats & Immersions (Multi-day, Digital Detox, Mind-Body Programs) (THAJAHAB)

Keywords

• Wellness economy research
• Wellness market data
• Wellness industry reports
• Wellness sector analysis
• Wellness policy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, GWI relies heavily on donations and charitable contributions to fund its research and operations. The organization runs campaigns such as the 10 for 10 Campaign celebrating their 10th anniversary.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Global Wellness Institute is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that produces and distributes authoritative research, data, and educational resources on the global wellness economy, including flagship reports such as the Global Wellness Economy Monitor, sector-specific studies, country-level Geography of Wellness reports, and the Wellness Evidence database. It complements research output with industry initiatives, the Wellness Moonshot public health program, a podcast, a documentary film series produced with BBC StoryWorks, and the annual Global Wellness Summit.

Product overview

Global Wellness Institute (GWI) operates as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization providing comprehensive wellness research and education through a portfolio of research reports and knowledge platforms. The core offering is the Global Wellness Economy Monitor series, which sizes the $6.8 trillion global wellness economy across 11 sectors. Supporting this are specialized research series including the Wellness Real Estate Series (covering the $584 billion wellness real estate market), Geography of Wellness country-specific reports, and the Initiative Trends Report covering 27 wellness disciplines. GWI also provides the Wellness Evidence database for evidence-based wellness modality research, The Wellness Moonshot educational initiative, The Wellness Roundtable podcast series, and In Pursuit of Wellness documentary content produced with BBC StoryWorks. The organization hosts the annual Global Wellness Summit as a premier industry conference. Together, these products form a research-and-education ecosystem serving wellness industry professionals, investors, policymakers, and researchers worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Global Wellness Economy Monitor Annual flagship research report providing comprehensive data on the global wellness economy, including market sizing, regional analysis, sector breakdowns, and growth projections across all 11 wellness sectors. Aimed at wellness businesses, investors, governments, and researchers.
• Wellness Real Estate Series Research series covering the wellness real estate sector valued at $548 billion in 2024 and projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2029, including market data, case studies, and analysis of wellness-integrated building projects. Targeted at real estate developers, architects, and investors.
• Build Well to Live Well: Case Studies Detailed case studies showcasing exemplary wellness real estate projects, including site visits and analysis of wellness integration in the built environment. Targeted at developers, architects, and planners.
• Geography of Wellness: Country Reports Comprehensive country-specific wellness economy reports providing market sizing, rankings, and analysis for individual nations including USA, UK, UAE, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, Philippines, Portugal, Italy, and Malaysia. Commissioned with national partners such as Singapore Tourism Board, Aldar, and APEE Living Well.
• Global Wellness Country Rankings Report ranking 145 countries by wellness economy size, comparing wellness to overall economy size, examining per capita spending, and exploring five-year growth trends. Used by governments, investors, and tourism boards for benchmarking.
• Wellness Evidence Database Evidence-based database providing research summaries on wellness modalities and practices, with links to PubMed, Cochrane, and other research databases. Targeted at healthcare providers, researchers, and academics.
• The Wellness Moonshot Global initiative aimed at eradicating preventable chronic disease, featuring educational resources, full moon celebrations, ambassador programs, and a wellness calendar. Targeted at the general public and wellness ambassadors.
• Global Wellness Summit Annual premier gathering of global wellness leaders, investors, and academics, featuring research presentations, initiative sessions, and networking opportunities. Invitation-only event valued at over $5,000 per attendance.
• 2026 Initiative Trends Report Annual trend report covering 153 trends across 27 GWI initiatives including real estate, architecture, longevity, mental health, and nutrition, providing inside perspectives on future wellness industry developments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Global wellness market reached $6.8 trillion in 2024, growing 7.9% from 2023
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Singapore Tourism BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2026GWI developed comprehensive research on Singapore's wellness economy in partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board as part of GWI's Geography of Wellness platform. The research shows Singapore's wellness economy reached US$23.2 billion in 2024.
• Fountain LifecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Partnership to produce research showing the US wellness economy has grown to $2.1 trillion, making it the undisputed global leader with the largest market share in nine of eleven wellness sectors.
• Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2026BDMS Wellness Clinic formed a major public-private alliance with the Thai government and international partners to position Thailand as a regional medical tourism and preventive healthcare hub, featuring global biotech firms Illumina, Abbott, Straumann Group, and Gene Solutions.
• Academic Partners (Thammasat University, KMITL, University of Sharjah, Singapore Management University)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2026Partnership with academic institutions including Thammasat University, KMITL, University of Sharjah, and Singapore Management University to develop Thailand's wellness ecosystem and human capital.
• APEE Living WellcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026Partnership to measure Portugal's wellness economy as part of GWI's Geography of Wellness platform, ranking Portugal among 218 countries tracked globally.
• Johns HopkinsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2026New partnership with Johns Hopkins University announced for the 2026 Wellness Real Estate & Communities Symposium, emphasizing the growing importance of wellness in infrastructure design and real estate investment.
• AldarcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2025Partnership to release a detailed country report on the UAE wellness economy highlighting the nation's emergence as a world-class wellness destination blending ancient traditions with modern innovations.
• BBC StoryWorksmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with BBC StoryWorks for the In Pursuit of Wellness film series, reaching broad consumer audiences with wellness content.
• McKinsey & Co.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMcKinsey & Co. identified longevity-focused services, digital detox stays, and cultural wellness rituals as emerging growth areas in the wellness industry.
• FINN PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFINN Partners identified longevity-focused services, digital detox stays, and cultural wellness rituals as emerging wellness growth areas.
• Anytime FitnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Anytime Fitness to produce Australia's wellness market regional report, valued at $194.4 billion and contributing 7.5% of GDP.
• Thailand Convention & Exhibition BureaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment body supporting the Global Wellness Summit 2026 to position Thailand as a global wellness hub and showcase the country's public health capabilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IHRSA (International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association): Trade association for the fitness and health club industry, producing proprietary market sizing reports and consumer trend research. Comparable model as a fee/subscription-supported industry research body in an adjacent wellness vertical.
• International SPA Association (ISPA): Industry trade association for the spa and wellness industry, producing research, advocacy, and events for spa operators globally. Most directly comparable as a nonprofit wellness industry body serving overlapping stakeholders.
• WELCOA (Wellness Councils of America): Nonprofit providing workplace wellness education, benchmarking, and accreditation. Comparable in mission and nonprofit structure, though narrower in scope to workplace wellbeing.
• Wellness Tourism Association (WTA): Nonprofit focused on the wellness tourism segment, producing research and standards for wellness destinations. Closely aligned with GWI's wellness tourism work and country-level economic analysis.

Broad incumbents

• World Economic Forum (WEF): International organization publishing influential research on global health, longevity, and wellbeing (e.g., Healthy Workplaces reports). Overlaps with GWI on macro wellness economy research and convening global leaders.
• World Health Organization (WHO): UN specialized agency for international public health, producing global health statistics, frameworks, and convening member states. Comparable as a globally authoritative health data and policy organization.
• Mayo Clinic Press / Mayo Clinic Wellness: Major academic medical center producing evidence-based wellness and lifestyle content, research, and consumer education. Comparable in combining clinical evidence curation with public-facing wellness education.
• McKinsey & Company (Health & Wellness Practice): Global consultancy producing market research and trend reports on wellness, longevity, and consumer health. Comparable as a producer of authoritative wellness economy insights, though commercial rather than nonprofit.
• Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute: Hospital-integrated wellness program publishing consumer-facing research and lifestyle-medicine content. Comparable as a clinical-credibility-backed wellness research and education platform.

Emerging players

• Mindbody (Wellness Travel / SpaFinder legacy): Software and marketplace platform for spa, wellness, and fitness operators with consumer discovery tools. Adjacent rather than direct — a commercial platform partner where GWI is a research/advocacy body.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/global_gwi
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCCV2J3laUzGBFFTgnzQg8xQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/globalwellnessinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/global-wellness-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/global_wellness_institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Global Spa & Wellness