Wellness + Sustainability News | Hospitality Design

Neil Jacobs Launches Creative Advisory Wild Origins

Stephanie Chen — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 18:49:37 +0000

Following his 13-year tenure as CEO of Six Senses, Neil Jacobs has launched Wild Origins, a creative advisory collective and studio dedicated to bringing soulful, sustainable projects to life.

Guided by instinct over industry, Wild Origins aims to unlock new ways of thinking across hospitality, wellness, regenerative development, lifestyle, and beyond. The purpose-driven platform is built to support founders, developers, and visionaries in creating ventures that matter. Its mission: waste less, wonder more, and build with reverence—for the land, for the people, and for the future.

“Wild Origins is about building what’s next,” says Jacobs. “It is a space to reimagine how we live, create, and connect with each other and the world around us. We are partnering with people and projects that are bold and purposeful. I believe the best ideas feel both inevitable and inspired, while being deeply grounded in purpose.”

Wild Origins services

Wild Origins will provide strategic services—including asset management and financial assessment, operational analysis, brand and marketing strategy, sustainability planning, comprehensive pre-opening planning and concept development—for developers, creatives, and visionaries across the hospitality, residential, retail, and wellness markets.

Among the firm’s first partnerships, Jacobs has been appointed senior strategic advisor to Capella Hotel Group, supporting global expansion and strategic growth. He also serves as advisor to Desa Potato Head, helping guide the Bali brand’s continued evolution.

Additional partnerships across hospitality, retail, and regenerative development will be announced in the coming months.

Under Jacobs’ leadership, Six Senses expanded from eight to 26 properties with a pipeline of 30 additional projects. Prior to that, Jacobs held senior leadership roles at Four Seasons and Starwood Capital Group.

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Basquet Debuts a Design-Forward Market and Café in Miami

Stephanie Chen — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 14:56:15 +0000

Basquet, a wellness-centric online grocery brand, has unveiled its first brick-and-mortar location in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood.

Designed by locally based Gharib Studio as more than just a place to shop, the space acts as a third place—an inviting neighborhood hub that blends retail, hospitality, and wellness. Built-in shelving wraps the perimeter, organizing a curated “grocery aisle” experience while naturally drawing guests toward a central café.

“Basquet was born from a vision to redefine how people experience culture, design, and connection under one roof,” says Basquet founder Nova Kaufman. “Miami, with its energy and diversity, is the perfect home for this concept. This opening is not just about launching a space—it’s about creating a hub where creativity thrives, friends are made, and new ideas take shape.”

Inside Basquet

The interiors juxtapose deep burgundy walls with light wood and cream furnishings, creating a warm yet elevated atmosphere. Custom shelving, archway detailing, and sculptural elements give the space a refined, residential sensibility.

At the heart of the concept is a flexible seating area outfitted with travertine tables and wooden accent chairs, designed to host both everyday café moments and larger community events.

“Designing Basquet was about more than creating a space—it was about crafting an experience that invites people to engage, connect, and feel inspired,” says Nora Gharib, founder of Gharib Studio.

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1 Hotels to Debut Nature-Inspired Property in Copenhagen

Stephanie Chen — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 15:15:19 +0000

1 Hotel Copenhagen, the newest addition to the mission-driven 1 Hotels portfolio, is slated to open this August in the city’s Latin Quarter.

Housed in the former Skt. Petri hotel, the 282-room property marks the brand’s first Nordic location, bringing its signature blend of sustainable luxury and biophilic design to Denmark’s capital.

A design that celebrates nature

A collaboration between architecture and design firms AvroKO, Norm Architects, Arkitema Architects, Synergy Architects, and the in-house 1 Hotels design team, the transformation celebrates Danish craftsmanship through a natural material palette of oak, linen, and limestone. Reclaimed wood, native greenery, and bespoke lighting punctuate the interiors, while handcrafted Danish furnishings nod to the building’s architectural heritage.

Anchored by an expansive atrium lounge filled with tall trees, a grand staircase, and an intimate fireplace, the lobby evokes a forest-like calm in the middle of the city. Lounge seating is nestled among lush plantings, with views of a courtyard garden planted with wildflowers and herbs that blur the boundaries between inside and out.

Across the 252 guestrooms and 30 suites, floor-to-ceiling windows frame the surrounding cityscape, while interiors are outfitted with calming, nature-inspired finishes. Bathrooms feature stone sinks, rainfall showers, and greenery accents meant to evoke the quiet of Denmark’s woodlands.

F&B and wellness at 1 Hotel Copenhagen

The hotel also introduces new culinary venues that highlight local ingredients. PÆRE, a contemporary bar inspired by the Danish word for pear, features a light-filled, convivial atmosphere. Farmstand, a market-style concept, showcases seasonal produce and regional artisanal goods.

Wellness offerings include the Field House Gym, which provides personal training and group fitness classes. Expected to debut early next year, the Bamford Wellness Spa will boast serene treatment spaces clad in oak and stone.

Built with purpose

With sustainability at its core, 1 Hotel Copenhagen is on track for LEED Gold and BREEAM Excellent certifications. The adaptive reuse of the original structure was accomplished with minimal demolition, while energy-efficient systems—including triple-glazed windows and smart occupancy sensors—are integrated throughout.

Additional environmentally conscious elements include a rooftop bee hotel, edible landscaping, and a 10-foot living green wall designed to enhance biodiversity and indoor air quality.

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BLINK Crafts Tranquil Guerlain Spa at One&Only Le Saint Géran

Stephanie Chen — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 15:35:19 +0000

BLINK Design Group has unveiled the Guerlain Spa at One&Only Le Saint Géran, marking the arrival of the French beauty brand’s first location in Mauritius.

The design studio drew inspiration from the island’s vibrant contrasts—volcanic rock, lush jungle, and turquoise lagoons—to craft a serene wellness destination rooted in placemaking and nature.

Island luxe at the new Guerlain Spa

The spa’s interiors channel a sense of grounded luxury with French-inflected design cues layered over an island palette. Soft light and muted tones are paired with warm natural textures like straw marquetry, sisal rugs, and carved timber, alongside local stone, antique bronze, rattan, and shimmering Mother of Pearl wall elements in the single treatment rooms.

Treatment rooms embody a soothing atmosphere thanks to natural ventilation and abundant daylight, while the relaxation lounge opens to a lush spa pool framed by wooden cabanas and gently arched trees.

Green walls and organic materials further blur the lines between indoors and out, creating an immersive, nature-connected experience grounded in the spirit of Mauritius.

“We are delving more and more into specialized spa design,” says BLINK Design Group founding partner Clint Niagara. “It’s a field with unique demands and the focus is on creating spaces where transcendent experiences can occur. We see our role as enhancing and facilitating and extending the treatments and experiences offered to guests through subtle and intelligent design touches and by creating the mood and vibe.”

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1 Hotel Melbourne Debuts Along the Yarra River

Stephanie Chen — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 13:15:15 +0000

1 Hotels has unveiled its latest sustainable luxury property along Melbourne’s waterfront. It includes 277 guestrooms, 36 suites, and 114 private residences under the 1 Homes brand.

Designed by FK Architecture and One Design Office in collaboration with Starwood Capital Group’s in-house team, the project integrates history, nature, and wellness into the new Seafarers mixed-use development.

Anchoring the property is the heritage-listed Goods Shed No. 5, a late-19th-century building that played a crucial role in Melbourne’s early maritime trade.

The asymmetrical façade nods to the site’s past with lower glazing that echoes the shed’s original panels and upper windows that reflect the rippling surface of the Yarra River. More than 2,000 living plants cascade throughout the hotel, blurring the lines between indoors and out.

In the 1 Hotel Melbourne lobby, natural and reclaimed materials set the tone: a reception desk crafted from fallen trees, furnishings made from salvaged timber, and restored elements from the Goods Shed No. 5 conjure a sense of place and history. The arrival experience is anchored by a dramatic rock wall constructed from split-faced granite, an industrial by-product that echoes Victoria’s coastal geology

Guestrooms and residences at 1 Hotel Melbourne

The hotel’s accommodations feature floor-to-ceiling windows with river or city views. Headboards crafted from reclaimed timber railway bridges, preserved moss-paneled doors, and room numbers etched into salvaged wharf wood nod to the site’s maritime legacy as well.

In addition to the rooms and suites, 1 Hotel Melbourne boasts 114 hotel-branded homes with exclusive services such as chef-catered private dinners and in-residence spa treatments. The 18th floor penthouse—designed by Riverlee founder Clement Lee OAM in collaboration with Fender Katsalidis—provides access to a private outdoor terrace, lounge, library, and dining space with sweeping views of the river and the skyline.

Dining and amenities

Dining options include signature restaurant From Here by Mike, Neighbours grab-and-go café, and Upstairs, a hidden cocktail bar on the first floor—all echoing 1 Hotels’ commitment to hyperlocal and nature-inspired experiences.

The 1,000-square-meter Seafarers Event Space can host up to 900 guests, complemented by flexible meeting rooms, a boardroom, and a river-facing lounge.

Wellness is also central to the guest experience, with amenities such as the Field House Gym, indoor pool, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi-style spa, and a Bamford Wellness Spa.

From Here by Mike

1 Hotel Melbourne’s commitment to sustainability

Sustainability is woven throughout the property, which is targeting LEED Silver certification. Integrations include lush, biophilic elements; reclaimed materials to advanced air quality systems; and a zero-waste partnership with Foodprint Group. Single-use plastics have also been eliminated in favor of reusable and compostable alternatives.

In addition, nearly 2,000 reclaimed bluestone pavers form pathways throughout the hotel, while restored trusses and timber from local rail bridges and wharfs maintain the site’s industrial character.

“At 1 Hotels, we believe that luxury and sustainability can—and should—go hand in hand,” says Barry Sternlicht, founder of 1 Hotels and chairman of Starwood Hotels. “With 1 Hotel Melbourne, we’ve created a waterfront destination that immerses guests in nature while celebrating the city’s rich legacy and forward-thinking spirit.”

“This hotel isn’t just about where you stay—this is about how you feel, how you connect, and how travel can inspire a deeper commitment to the world around us,” he adds. “The water inspires calm and serenity, which is what our brand is meant to convey: an oasis for travelers to escape the rigors of travel.”

Penthouse Suite

City Reserve Suite

Pool

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JNcQUOI Club Comporta Brings Coastal Luxury to Portugal’s Shore

Stephanie Chen — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 16:42:22 +0000

Amorim Luxury Group and JNcQUOI have unveiled JNcQUOI Club Comporta, a sprawling 405-acre retreat set along Portugal’s wild Alentejo coastline.

Slated for completion in 2028, the BREEAM-certified destination will redefine immersive living through a fusion of restrained architecture, sustainability, and elevated hospitality.

A natural sanctuary

Envisioned by Vincent Van Duysen—with native landscaping by Vladimir Djurovic—JNcQUOI Club Comporta’s architecture blends abstraction with warmth, marked by pigmented concrete forms, terracotta tile, cork accents, and green roofs that dissolve into the landscape.

“When [founders Paula Amorim and Miguel Guedes De Sousa] approached me, I knew this project was an opportunity to create something truly unique—one driven by deep respect for the land and a vision to craft a sanctuary where design and nature merge effortlessly,” says Van Duysen.

The retreat will offer 64 private villas and 94 freestanding guest pavilions—each designed to dissolve into the native pine forest—as well as 34 hotel pavilions. Each residence embraces a horizontal language of design, with wide openings, rich natural materials, and seamless transitions between indoors and out.

“Every space and detail captures the purity and serenity of its surroundings,” Van Duysen adds, describing the vision as “sensorial, immersive, organic, holistic, pure, and harmonious.”

Lifestyle at JNcQUOI Club Comporta

The property will be anchored by the Clubhouse, a vibrant lifestyle hub with three restaurants, a cigar lounge, two bars, a wine cellar, and a Fashion Clinic retail outpost.

The holistic wellness program will include an athletic club and spa with cryotherapy and high-performance studios, a racket club, and a kids club, while outdoor pursuits range from the family pool to the David McLay Kidd-designed Dunas Golf Course.

Two private access points will lead guests to the Sand Dunes Natural Beach or the JNcQUOI Beach Club, a refined seaside destination that mirrors the architecture’s elemental tone.

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Wellness Real Estate Market Expected To Top $1 Trillion by 2029

Stephanie Chen — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 13:00:36 +0000

The wellness real estate market reached $584 billion in 2024, and it’s just getting started. According to the Global Wellness Institute’s newly released Build Well to Live Well: The Future report, the sector is projected to double by 2029, hitting $1.1 trillion.

A rapidly expanding market

Growing at an annual rate of 19.5 percent—nearly four times faster than general global construction—wellness real estate has evolved from luxury-focused amenities to a multidimensional approach that integrates physical, mental, social, and environmental wellbeing.

Today, the market accounts for 3.3 percent of global construction output, outpacing every other segment in the $6.3 trillion wellness economy.

North America leads the global market, comprising 44 percent of the total, with the U.S. alone representing 41 percent. However, some of the fastest-growing regions include Latin America, the Middle East, and Europe, with countries like the UK, Netherlands, Singapore, and Vietnam showing double-digit annual growth.

What’s in the GWI report

GWI’s 160-page report underscores the sector’s transformation, noting five major shifts: the expansion into new real estate classes (such as senior living and student housing); a shift from physical to holistic wellness; movement beyond luxury to affordable housing; the rise of large-scale, master-planned communities; and the convergence of green and human-centered design.

The report also identifies 12 unmet needs and future market opportunities—from climate-adaptive buildings and wellness-centered co-living models to neuroarchitectural design and health-focused urban regeneration—supported by global project examples.

Download the free report here and find the graphs here.

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Ballers to Debut Design-Forward Social Sports Club in Philadelphia

Stephanie Chen — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:00:52 +0000

Ballers, a new hospitality-infused social sports venue, will make its debut this July in Philadelphia, introducing an experience-forward take on the racquet sports boom.

Founded by wellness entrepreneurs David Gutstadt and Amanda Potter—alumni of Equinox and Fitler Club—and developed by Good City Studio and Vero Capital, the concept pairs world-class courts with dynamic design, recovery spaces, and elevated dining to create a next-generation third space.

The Philadelphia flagship is the first of several planned locations. Venues in Boston (August 2025) and Miami (early 2026) are set to follow.

A $20 million Series A round led by Sharp Alpha and RHC Group—with support from athletes and celebrities including Andre Agassi, Kim Clijsters, and 76ers owner David Blitzer—underscores the brand’s bold expansion plan, which aims to open 50 locations over the next decade.

A new kind of sports club

Housed inside Philadelphia’s landmark Turbine Hall, the 55,000-square-foot spaces features six pickleball courts, three padel courts, squash, turf, and golf simulators, all beneath soaring 75-foot ceilings.

Designed for both casual players and serious athletes, the venue also includes a full-service restaurant, bar, and lounge areas that are configurable for private events.

The experience extends beyond sport with a luxe wellness lounge outfitted with saunas, cold plunges, and compression therapy. Members can access fitness and recovery zones, premium locker rooms, and curated programming, while non-members are welcome to book courts and enjoy the social amenities.

Forthcoming Ballers locations

Ballers Boston, set to open in August in the Seaport, will introduce the city’s first padel courts alongside seasonal programming (including an ice rink in winter). Miami will launch in early 2026, bringing the brand’s signature combination of sport, style, and social energy to a tropical setting near downtown.

“Having played tennis in college, racquet sports have always been a passion of mine,” says Gutstadt, founder and CEO of Ballers. “So when we saw the opportunity to marry the powerful trend and innovations in urban social sports including pickleball, padel, and golf with our unique expertise in design and community-building, we went all in on Ballers.”

“The incredible response to our Philadelphia pop-up last year showed us that people are craving this connection through sports, and we’re excited to show that when paired with unparalleled hospitality, athletics can go beyond just leagues, lessons, or court time,” he adds.

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Banyan Tree Escape Launches in the Bali Jungle

Stephanie Chen — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 18:07:59 +0000

Deep in the Balinese jungle, Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape emerges as an adults-only retreat characterized by a no walls, no doors concept.

Dive into the first Banyan Tree Escape

The debut property under the Banyan Tree Escape brand, the 16-villa luxury resort boasts a design that is in tune with its lush setting.

Built using environmentally friendly techniques and enriched by local design elements, the open-plan villas and secluded outdoor spaces boast 180-degree panoramic views of the surrounding jungle.

The resort’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond aesthetics to its zero-waste ethos and farm-to-table culinary philosophy, which is showcased through dining options like the Open Kitchen as well as garden-to-glass outpost, the Botanist Bar.

Additional offerings include the open-air Toja Spa and a range of experiences such as jungle hikes, yoga, and immersive journeys that tour local villages and the region’s coffee highlands.

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Fahid Island Brings Wellness-Focused Living to Abu Dhabi

Stephanie Chen — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:13:57 +0000

Development company Aldar has revealed the masterplan for Fahid Island, a new luxury destination in Abu Dhabi that blends wellness, culture, and coastal living.

Positioned between the entertainment hub of Yas Island and the cultural district of Saadiyat Island, the mixed-use development will offer 2.8 miles of unspoiled beachfront on one side and tranquil mangrove forests on the other.

Residences at Fahid Island

Aldar has enlisted a roster of global design talent—including Japanese architects Kengo Kuma and Koichi Takada, London-based ACME, and Dubai-based NAGA Architects—to craft the island’s residential components. More than 6,000 units are planned, from apartments and townhouses to ultra-luxury villas.

The first release, Fahid Beach Residences, will introduce seven mid-rise buildings (housing 65 units each) defined by architecture that emphasizes privacy and refined beachfront living.

A design that centers wellness

Conceived as a sanctuary for wellbeing, more than 30 percent of the island will be dedicated to natural spaces, including green trails, lush gardens, and Berm Park, which will double as a wellness corridor. The landscaped park will feature shaded rest areas, water stations, fitness zones, and three cycling routes that link to Abu Dhabi’s larger cycle loop.

The island’s vibrant social hub will be its waterfront promenade, home to an eclectic mix of art, dining, and retail experiences. A boutique shopping street, Coral Drive, will include concept stores, galleries, cafés, and a ballet school, alongside curated street furniture and public art.

Aldar is also partnering with a leading global institution to introduce a school on Fahid Island.

Sustainability on Fahid Island

Fahid Island is the world’s first Fitwel-certified island and has received LEED Cities and Communities Platinum pre-certification, with a target for Estidama 3-Pearl rating.

Pedestrian-first design is central to the masterplan, with shaded walkways, bridges connecting the island’s two sides, and a mobility strategy aimed at reducing reliance on vehicles.

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