The U.S. Is The World's Top Wellness Economy, Report Says

Wellness travel is exploding after the pandemic.

The Global Wellness Institute reports the U.S. is by far the world’s top wellness economy, valued at $1.2 trillion.

The Civana Wellness Resort & Spa lured Denver resident Victoria Hartman to the Arizona desert a couple weeks ago. “My goal was to try new classes and new experiences that I hadn't before,” she said. “And so, I signed up for a lot of activities that I wouldn't normally have done.”

The resort in Scottsdale offers spa therapies like craniosacral massages and dozens of classes a day, including Sound Healing for Joy, Intention Candle Making, and the Journaling for Transformation class Hartman sampled. “I've come home, and I've decided to try my hand at journaling,” she said. “I’ve never done it before.”

Increasingly stays at the resort are focused on a similar experience, according to Civana co-founder, Adam Ross. He says, “We’re seeing more guests participating in our workshop classes, where they can learn about tools they can take home to bring happiness and wellness into their lives at home.”

In a 2023 survey by American Express Travel, over 70% of respondents say they’re more focused on self-care than they were a year ago. And almost 60% are planning to take extended trips centered around wellness. It’s why around 20% of guests at Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa in Interlaken, Switzerland are scheduling four-to-seven-night stays. The hotel’s general manager, Peter Kampfer says, “It’s to find inner calm, to think differently.”

CBS News Correspondent Wendy Gillette stayed at the hotels for special rates including Anantara Layan in Phuket, Thailand, where travelers are seeking calm through the resort’s three-day sleep restoration program.

“Since COVID I think people are coming to an awareness of the importance of sleep and other lifestyle factors and how they impact on the immune system,” said the resort’s nutritionist and wellness counselor, Rachel Bullen.

A few sleep tips from the resort include preparing a good environment in which to rest, eating well and examining your caffeine intake.