Belgin Aksoy celebrates Global Wellness Day
with Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson
With the slogan ‘One day can change your whole life’, the Global Wellness Day is celebrated on the second Saturday of June every year. Founded by Turkish entrepreneur Belgin Aksoy, the event is now in its fourth year and is based on the idea of establishing an international day to living healthier lives.
“Living well is the simple necessity for every human being on the planet,” Aksoy says. “To overcome the global problems such as depression and lead a healthier and happier life, we needed an inspiring beginning. That beginning is Global Wellness Day, a day that is now celebrated in more than 100 countries.”
Welcoming wellness A member of the industrialist Aksoy family, Belgin started her career in the hotel business in the 1990s. She sits on the board of the Aksoy Group – whose interests range from hospitality to e-business – and was instrumental in setting up the Richmond Nua Wellness-Spa at Lake Sapanca in northern Turkey, described as Turkey’s first destination spa. She is also the creative director of hotel management company Richmond International in Turkey.
When she speaks about Global Wellness Day, however, it is clear that it the initiative has become her passion. “The main objective of Global Wellness Day is to show that wellness is the right of each individual,” she says. “To make us aware of the value of our lives.”
Aksoy adds that the purpose of the day is to highlight that wellness isn’t a luxury item only on offer to those who can afford it. “Today, the general challenge that we are facing in all world countries is to make the societies aware of the ‘wellness’ concept. Many people think that wellness is a luxury that can’t be reached without the financial power.”
Sporting chances Events during Global Wellness Day will see a number of hospitality groups organise a wide range of activities designed to improve lives – including sport. One of these is luxury hotel operator Mandarin Oriental, whose hotels around the world are offering a variety of complimentary wellness activities for guests. These include a guided jog around the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, a Pilates class in the Spa Garden in Marrakech and a complimentary “sky-high fitness” training circuit with harbour views in Hong Kong.
Elsewhere, another luxury operator, Anantara, is putting on kick-boxing (Muay Thai) classes at sunset, while the Rosewood CordeValle hotel in California, US, will host a 5km run through the property and surrounding area – as well as guided three-mile hikes in the morning and evening. One of the most impressive Global Wellness Day activities will take place in France, where a 42km relay marathon involving 420 people – each running 100m – will create a large human chain.
“Hotels and Spas that choose to celebrate the day are developing new services to present their guests,” Aksoy says. “Providing these complementary activities during the day helps them to enrich their services and improve satisfaction as they give importance to the well-being of their guests.”
As healthcare continues to shift towards prevention, there’s a growing focus on helping
people stay active, independent and feeling good for longer. [more...]
One of the biggest mistakes the fitness industry still makes is advertising almost
exclusively to people who already look and live like gym members. [more...]
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With Orbit4, you’ll always have full visibility
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Belgin Aksoy celebrates Global Wellness Day
with Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson
With the slogan ‘One day can change your whole life’, the Global Wellness Day is celebrated on the second Saturday of June every year. Founded by Turkish entrepreneur Belgin Aksoy, the event is now in its fourth year and is based on the idea of establishing an international day to living healthier lives.
“Living well is the simple necessity for every human being on the planet,” Aksoy says. “To overcome the global problems such as depression and lead a healthier and happier life, we needed an inspiring beginning. That beginning is Global Wellness Day, a day that is now celebrated in more than 100 countries.”
Welcoming wellness A member of the industrialist Aksoy family, Belgin started her career in the hotel business in the 1990s. She sits on the board of the Aksoy Group – whose interests range from hospitality to e-business – and was instrumental in setting up the Richmond Nua Wellness-Spa at Lake Sapanca in northern Turkey, described as Turkey’s first destination spa. She is also the creative director of hotel management company Richmond International in Turkey.
When she speaks about Global Wellness Day, however, it is clear that it the initiative has become her passion. “The main objective of Global Wellness Day is to show that wellness is the right of each individual,” she says. “To make us aware of the value of our lives.”
Aksoy adds that the purpose of the day is to highlight that wellness isn’t a luxury item only on offer to those who can afford it. “Today, the general challenge that we are facing in all world countries is to make the societies aware of the ‘wellness’ concept. Many people think that wellness is a luxury that can’t be reached without the financial power.”
Sporting chances Events during Global Wellness Day will see a number of hospitality groups organise a wide range of activities designed to improve lives – including sport. One of these is luxury hotel operator Mandarin Oriental, whose hotels around the world are offering a variety of complimentary wellness activities for guests. These include a guided jog around the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, a Pilates class in the Spa Garden in Marrakech and a complimentary “sky-high fitness” training circuit with harbour views in Hong Kong.
Elsewhere, another luxury operator, Anantara, is putting on kick-boxing (Muay Thai) classes at sunset, while the Rosewood CordeValle hotel in California, US, will host a 5km run through the property and surrounding area – as well as guided three-mile hikes in the morning and evening. One of the most impressive Global Wellness Day activities will take place in France, where a 42km relay marathon involving 420 people – each running 100m – will create a large human chain.
“Hotels and Spas that choose to celebrate the day are developing new services to present their guests,” Aksoy says. “Providing these complementary activities during the day helps them to enrich their services and improve satisfaction as they give importance to the well-being of their guests.”
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
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Crunch Fitness has announced the launch of Crunch Reform Pilates – its own reformer concept
designed to bring this fast growing, but rather expensive, modality into the mainstream.
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Nuffield Health has told HCM that it takes its responsibilities towards its colleagues seriously
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Technogym has announced the launch of the Run X World Treadmill Championship, the first
world championship for running on connected treadmills over five kilometres.
As healthcare continues to shift towards prevention, there’s a growing focus on helping
people stay active, independent and feeling good for longer. [more...]
One of the biggest mistakes the fitness industry still makes is advertising almost
exclusively to people who already look and live like gym members. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Orbit4 With Orbit4, you’ll always have full visibility
of your equipment inventory, the true
market value [more...]
