I board a plane bound for New Delhi in just over 2 weeks. I’ve just organized an information-packed purple folder with my itinerary for almost 6 weeks in India. I was invited to attend the 7th Annual Global Spa and Wellness Summit (GSWS) themed “A Defining Moment” October 5-7, 2013. And I’m attending for the first time.
Maybe it’s just that I can’t get visions from the book Eat, Pray, Love out of my head, but I decided travel around to explore this mystical country where variety and contradiction seem to be the themes. I see this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a few of my passions from where they originated over 5,000 years ago.
I will spend time Northern India at an ashram studying yoga, pranayama and meditation. I will trek on an ancient Hindu pilgrimage route among the mighty Himalayas. I’ll study Ayurvedic medicine in a coconut lagoon. And somewhere in between I will see the Taj Mahal and attend the Global Spa and Wellness Summit.
The GSWS is an international gathering that brings together spa and wellness leaders and visionaries to positively impact and shape the future of the global spa and wellness industries. The agenda features high-profile speakers (including the Dali Lama!) and addresses the timeliest issues related to global events and industry trends. I feel both honored and excited to be a part of this growing industry, one that currently represents almost $2 trillion worldwide.
Now if this isn’t an opportunity, I don’t know what is.
The spirit of the GSWS is one of shared purpose versus individual gain. It is a chance to put aside competitive egos and personal business agendas and spend time together joining and shaping the future of the spa and wellness industries. I find it interesting that it’s modeled in part after the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. It will bring together a group of kick-ass people to exchange ideas, debate and strategize for the good of our industry, the consumers we serve, and the planet we share.
