How do you know if hiring a wellness manager is the right move for your boutique hotel?

It’s a question I get asked all the time.

For some, it’s the key to growing their wellness offering.

For others, it’s an unnecessary expense.

The truth is, the decision comes down to your hotel’s unique goals and what wellness really means for your brand.

In today’s episode, I’ll explore:
→ When hiring a wellness manager makes sense—and when it doesn’t.
→ The key differences between wellness as a marketing tool and wellness as part of your brand’s DNA.
→ How to avoid the 'revolving door' of managers and ensure long-term success.


By the end of this episode, you’ll know exactly whether hiring for this role aligns with your hotel’s goals—and how to make the best decision for your property.

81% of employees say they’d work harder for a boss who shows gratitude.

Let that sink in.

What does gratitude have to do with wellness? Everything.

Gratitude is about creating a sense of balance and connection. It’s fundamental to achieving overall wellbeing—especially mental wellbeing. When we lead with gratitude, it shifts how we connect with our teams, how we inspire them, and how we show up for ourselves.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Brian Proctor, founder of Leeds Hospitality Group and host of the Tuesday Thanks podcast.

During the pandemic, Brian started a simple project: thanking one person every week on LinkedIn. What began as a personal practice turned into a movement—transforming relationships, team cultures, and even business results.

Today, he’s helping leaders across industries bring gratitude into their daily routines in a way that’s meaningful and impactful.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

→ How small, consistent acts of gratitude—like a handwritten note—can have an outsized impact on your team.

→ Why authenticity matters when expressing gratitude (and how to avoid sounding robotic).

→ The surprising ways gratitude can strengthen team morale, reduce turnover, and even boost productivity.

By the end of this episode, you’ll know exactly how to start using gratitude to inspire your team, boost performance, and create a culture where people feel valued and connected.

How do you know if a brand is the right partner for your wellness offering?

Choosing the right product partner is one of the most important decisions you’ll make.

The wrong choice can lead to inconsistent guest experiences, wasted resources, and even impact your therapists’ performance.

But the right partner can help you deliver meaningful results, strengthen your concept, and build guest loyalty because they trust you to deliver results.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Nick Irani from Subtle Energies—a brand deeply rooted in evidence-based practices.

Nick shares his insights on what makes a partnership successful and why it’s so important to align with brands that truly complement your hotel’s goals.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

→ How to choose product brands that address the real problems your guests face.

→ Why focusing your menu creates better results for guests and therapists alike.

→ The evergreen value of tactile therapies and their impact on your bottom line, even as technology rises.

If you’re a hotelier or wellness leader looking to make smarter decisions about your partnerships, this episode will give you the clarity you need.



________



Are you ready to take wellness to the next level?


Here are 2 ways I can help:


1️⃣ WHO: Wellness directors who want to join 1% of wellness leaders


📌 WHAT: The Wellness Asset Academy
A 10-week online group programme where I guide you through my 7-step ESSENCE framework. Achieve higher pay and secure a genuine seat at the hotel’s big table—so wellness is no longer the most neglected area in the hotel.

→ Join the waitlist here.



2️⃣ WHO: Owners of small, independent hotels with a strong wellbeing focus


📌 WHAT: Asset Builder Mentorship
Exclusive 6-month 1:1 mentorship programme to master creating a wellness asset, build a proud team, and deliver transformative experiences for your guests.

→ Become a steward of true hospitality.



💡 Why work with me?

I know what works with wellness and I also know what doesn’t. I’ve made the mistakes so you don’t need to – saving you thousands of dollars on bad decisions.

✅ #1 best-selling author, global wellness expert
✅ 40+ projects in 20+ countries across Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific
✅ Top brands: Abadía Retuerta, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Accor, Six Senses Resorts & Spas
✅ Interviewed over 150+ hoteliers worldwide

What does it actually cost to build a wellness facility in your hotel?

This is a question I get asked a fair amount, so today, I’d like to dive into the subject of costs.

If you’re a boutique hotel owner dreaming of creating something special—something that stands the test of time—this episode is for you. And if you’re a wellness leader wanting to understand the owner’s perspective, stick around.

Why is this important?

Because wellness is no longer a “nice-to-have.” It’s an essential part of the guest experience. Travellers today expect more than just a room and a bed—they want meaningful experiences. And for boutique hotels, wellness isn’t just about offering treatments; it’s about creating a space that reflects your values and sets you apart.

Here's the truth—full-blown wellness facilities aren’t cheap to build or maintain. And without a clear plan, wellness can quickly turn into a financial drain. That’s why it’s so important to understand the real costs and how to make wellness work as an asset, not a liability.

This isn’t just about numbers; it’s about creating value for your guests, your brand, and your future.

By the end of this episode, you’ll know:

→ The real numbers behind building a comprehensive wellness facility—no sugar-coating.

→ How to balance the high costs of wellness with long-term returns.

→ Why your wellness facility needs to be your hotel’s showroom and how to make it work for you.

By the end of the episode, you’ll feel confident to make the investment in wellness and know exactly what returns to expect.



________



Are you ready to take wellness to the next level?


Here are 2 ways I can help:


1️⃣ WHO: Wellness directors who want to join 1% of wellness leaders


📌 WHAT: The Wellness Asset Academy
A 10-week online group programme where I guide you through my 7-step ESSENCE framework. Achieve higher pay and secure a genuine seat at the hotel’s big table—so wellness is no longer the most neglected area in the hotel.

→ Join the waitlist here.



2️⃣ WHO: Owners of small, independent hotels with a strong wellbeing focus


📌 WHAT: Asset Builder Mentorship
Exclusive 6-month 1:1 mentorship programme to master creating a wellness asset, build a proud team, and deliver transformative experiences for your guests.

→ Become a steward of true hospitality.



💡 Why work with me?

I know what works with wellness and I also know what doesn’t. I’ve made the mistakes so you don’t need to – saving you thousands of dollars on bad decisions.

✅ #1 best-selling author, global wellness expert
✅ 40+ projects in 20+ countries across Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific
✅ Top brands: Abadía Retuerta, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Accor, Six Senses Resorts & Spas
✅ Interviewed over 150+ hoteliers worldwide

What if you could fund your wellness project without a bank loan or a big investor?

Finding funds to build a wellness retreat is tough. Most boutique hotel owners and wellness leaders need external funding to make their vision real. Traditional methods—loans, big investors, even government grants—are often slow and complex.

That is why I have invited my next guest in my Wellness in Hospitality interview series – Kevin Beutler, CEO of a real estate investment firm in Bali.

Kevin Beutler offers a different approach to wellness investment. He calls it tokenisation.

By using tokenisation, he’s made it possible for everyday people to own a piece of a wellness retreat. With hundreds of small investors, he funds wellness properties in Bali.

The result?
A funded retreat with a built-in community that cares about its success.


Today, you’ll learn

→ How Tokenisation works – What tokenisation means and how it lets people buy into wellness real estate, no matter their budget.

→ Funding without traditional loans – How to get funding from a community instead of relying on banks.

→ Community as an asset – How having investors as guests and supporters can keep a retreat full and thriving.

By the end of the episode, you’ll see how tokenisation could change funding for wellness properties. You’ll know how to attract community-driven investment and build a wellness project that’s accessible to everyone.



________



Are you ready to take wellness to the next level?


Here are 2 ways I can help:


1️⃣ WHO: Wellness directors who want to join 1% of wellness leaders


📌 WHAT: The Wellness Asset Academy
A 10-week online group programme where I guide you through my 7-step ESSENCE framework. Achieve higher pay and secure a genuine seat at the hotel’s big table—so wellness is no longer the most neglected area in the hotel.

→ Join the waitlist here.



2️⃣ WHO: Owners of small, independent hotels with a strong wellbeing focus


📌 WHAT: Asset Builder Mentorship
Exclusive 6-month 1:1 mentorship programme to master creating a wellness asset, build a proud team, and deliver transformative experiences for your guests.

→ Become a steward of true hospitality.



💡 Why work with me?

I know what works with wellness and I also know what doesn’t. I’ve made the mistakes so you don’t need to – saving you thousands of dollars on bad decisions.

✅ #1 best-selling author, global wellness expert
✅ 40+ projects in 20+ countries across Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific
✅ Top brands: Abadía Retuerta, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Accor, Six Senses Resorts & Spas
✅ Interviewed over 150+ hoteliers worldwide

Are we selling time or solving problems?


When I first started in this industry, I thought like everyone else—stack your high-yield treatments during peak hours, fill quieter slots with the shorter ones, measure everything down to the minute.

But I kept noticing one thing: a guest might receive an incredible treatment, but if it ended a few minutes early, they’d still feel short-changed. A five-minute difference was enough to overshadow an otherwise fantastic experience.

It got me wondering—Have we built a model that serves time more than it serves transformation? It got me wondering—Have we built a model that serves time more than it serves transformation?

Here’s the problem:
When we sell time, we miss the real value we’re meant to deliver.

The wellness industry has evolved far beyond minutes and prices.

Guests today seek something deeper than a timed treatment.

They’re searching for wellbeing solutions, and when we focus only on time, we’re indirectly training them to measure our value in minutes.


Today, I’ll dive into 3 shifts that change the way we approach wellness:

→ Breaking the time trap: Selling time might keep us organised, but it can cheapen the experience. When guests feel like they’re paying by the minute, it’s easy for them to feel unsatisfied—even when the treatment is exceptional.

→ Making transformation the focus: Instead of asking what treatment a guest wants, we can start with, “How do you want to feel by the end?” and follow up to confirm that outcome. It shifts the experience from a mere treatment to a tailored transformation.

→ Empowering therapists to deliver real value: With time as the focus, therapists often feel pressure to cut or adjust based on a strict protocol. When we empower them to work toward transformation, they can serve guests in a way that’s deeply impactful—and that freedom creates a more memorable experience.

If wellness is going to reach its potential as a 30-40% revenue driver, it won’t be because we’re counting minutes. It’ll be because we’re delivering genuine, life-changing results that leave our guests transformed.



________



Are you ready to take wellness to the next level?


Here are 2 ways I can help:


1️⃣ WHO: Wellness directors who want to join 1% of wellness leaders


📌 WHAT: The Wellness Asset Academy
A 10-week online group programme where I guide you through my 7-step ESSENCE framework. Achieve higher pay and secure a genuine seat at the hotel’s big table—so wellness is no longer the most neglected area in the hotel.

→ Join the waitlist here.



2️⃣ WHO: Owners of small, independent hotels with a strong wellbeing focus


📌 WHAT: Asset Builder Mentorship
Exclusive 6-month 1:1 mentorship programme to master creating a wellness asset, build a proud team, and deliver transformative experiences for your guests.

→ Become a steward of true hospitality.



💡 Why work with me?

I know what works with wellness and I also know what doesn’t. I’ve made the mistakes so you don’t need to – saving you thousands of dollars on bad decisions.

✅ #1 best-selling author, global wellness expert
✅ 40+ projects in 20+ countries across Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific
✅ Top brands: Abadía Retuerta, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Accor, Six Senses Resorts & Spas
✅ Interviewed over 150+ hoteliers worldwide

Have you ever heard that little voice saying, 'Who are you to be doing this?’

For so many of us—whether we're wellness directors or boutique hotel owners—this doubt creeps in, especially when we're striving for something big.

When we’re working in alignment with our purpose, we feel unstoppable.

But keeping that mindset strong isn’t a one-and-done; it’s a daily commitment.


That’s why I’ve invited today’s guest, Jerome Hopkins, to talk about the power of mindset.

Jerome’s journey is unique: a seasoned hotelier with years in high-ranking roles, from GM to investment, and now an author with two powerful books, Seven Keys to Developing a Better Mindset and Silencing Your Inner Critic.

In hospitality, a field that’s not exactly known for mindset training, Jerome's perspective is refreshing—and needed.

It's hard not to wonder: how many other hospitality leaders are searching for this kind of clarity and purpose? Today, Jerome will share:

→ How vision fuels true fulfillment beyond just career success,
→ The meaning of ‘action bias’ and how purposeful action transforms results,
→ And ways to quiet that inner critic, unlocking your potential.

In today’s episode I share a clip from my interview with Jerome Hopkins.


________



Are you ready to take wellness to the next level?


Here are 2 ways I can help:


1️⃣ WHO: Wellness directors who want to join 1% of wellness leaders


📌 WHAT: The Wellness Asset Academy
A 10-week online group programme where I guide you through my 7-step ESSENCE framework. Achieve higher pay and secure a genuine seat at the hotel’s big table—so wellness is no longer the most neglected area in the hotel.

→ Join the waitlist here.



2️⃣ WHO: Owners of small, independent hotels with a strong wellbeing focus


📌 WHAT: Asset Builder Mentorship
Exclusive 6-month 1:1 mentorship programme to master creating a wellness asset, build a proud team, and deliver transformative experiences for your guests.

→ Become a steward of true hospitality.



💡 Why work with me?

I know what works with wellness and I also know what doesn’t. I’ve made the mistakes so you don’t need to – saving you thousands of dollars on bad decisions.

✅ #1 best-selling author, global wellness expert
✅ 40+ projects in 20+ countries across Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific
✅ Top brands: Abadía Retuerta, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Accor, Six Senses Resorts & Spas
✅ Interviewed over 150+ hoteliers worldwide

Ever felt sandwiched between top management’s demands and your team’s needs?

If you’re a wellness manager, you know what I mean.


You’re constantly balancing what the GM wants with what your team expects—and sometimes, it feels like there’s no winning.

It can feel like you’re juggling endless demands from the top and bottom.

The end result?
Burnout - Losing the joy in a profession you once loved.

In today’s session, I’m joined by Kate Sotsenko ⏱️, founder of TheGoodBusy.com

Kate’s whole focus is on taking middle managers—just like you—from bad busy to good busy.


Here’s what we’ll cover:

→ Setting boundaries that serve both your team and your goals.
→ Reframing your GM and Executive Committee as clients—not just the boss.
→ Using data to show the impact of wellness—and speak the GM’s language.


As Kate says, the shift from bad busy to good busy isn’t about being less tired;

it’s about the right kind of tired—where every bit of work feels like progress toward something meaningful.


My biggest takeaway?
Remembering that our GMs and executive leaders are also our clients.




________



Are you ready to take wellness to the next level?


Here are 2 ways I can help:


1️⃣ WHO: Wellness directors who want to join 1% of wellness leaders


📌 WHAT: The Wellness Asset Academy
A 10-week online group programme where I guide you through my 7-step ESSENCE framework. Achieve higher pay and secure a genuine seat at the hotel’s big table—so wellness is no longer the most neglected area in the hotel.

→ Join the waitlist here.



2️⃣ WHO: Owners of small, independent hotels with a strong wellbeing focus


📌 WHAT: Asset Builder Mentorship
Exclusive 6-month 1:1 mentorship programme to master creating a wellness asset, build a proud team, and deliver transformative experiences for your guests.

→ Become a steward of true hospitality.



💡 Why work with me?

I know what works with wellness and I also know what doesn’t. I’ve made the mistakes so you don’t need to – saving you thousands of dollars on bad decisions.

✅ #1 best-selling author, global wellness expert
✅ 40+ projects in 20+ countries across Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific
✅ Top brands: Abadía Retuerta, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Accor, Six Senses Resorts & Spas
✅ Interviewed over 150+ hoteliers worldwide