Guided Wellness Retreats

After 30 years designing wellness experiences, I just had the most immersive one of my career. But it didn’t happened inside a hotel or spa. I shared recently about my 9 days off the grid in the Sea of Cortez – the personal side of it. But this trip also shifted how I think about the work we do, and I want to share 5 key takeaways: 1. The quality of the person leading the experience changes everything Our guides transformed every moment into something deeper. A geologist explaining 80 million year old rock layers. A marine biologist teaching us that when a whale's tail goes completely vertical, it will be 15 minutes before it surfaces again. I also learned sea lions are closely related to bears! That kind of interpretation is one of the most valuable things you can offer guests. 2. The most effective wellness programming can be very simple Every night, the group sat together and played simple games. Nobody organized it. It happened because the conditions were right. You cannot manufacture that kind of bonding but you can design environments for it. A table, simple food, the right group dynamic, and no distractions. That is wellness programming at its most effective. 3. Luxury can't replicate rawness – which leads to transformation Two billionaire couples followed our group in a catamaran all week. They could watch the same orcas from their deck. They had hot showers and comfortable beds, but they didn't get to experience what we did. And that might be preferable for some! But the most transformative moments came from the vulnerability of contending with nature. One night I thought my tent would blow away. Another night I was in such awe to see millions of stars and the milky way that I couldn’t sleep. Rawness is where transformation lives. 4. The recovery gap Recovery was the missing link. Most of us were between 55 and 65 and very fit, but after days of kayaking, our bodies were hurting. You need recovery woven into these experiences too. Hot and cold therapy, bodywork, ways to restore people so they can do it all again the next day. Intentional “luxury” amenities, not just luxury for the sake of it. Nature takes care of the transformation. But the human body needs support to keep up with it. That recovery gap brought the real shift in my thinking. Maybe the hotel is just the base camp. The place where you sleep, share meals, and recover. And everything else – the immersive, transformative part – happens outside, in nature, on the land the property sits on. 5. You can’t retrofit wellness into a project This trip crystallized that reality even more. Wellness and regeneration must be designed in from day one. This trip reminded me that the same is true for immersive experiences. The environment, the intention, the quality of the people leading the experiences – all of it has to be there from the very beginning. I'm seeing properties in Baja with fresh eyes. The principles haven't changed. But the feeling has been renewed.

“Your body is the smartest doctor in the room, so learn to listen to it” I just spent a week in Ibiza with Mark Hyman, MD at a wellness retreat with YPO (I promise there was no partying despite the location :)) This was my first time doing a retreat like this, so it was a bit outside my comfort zone, BUT it felt so empowering to own one’s health. Here are 5 health hacks: - Food as medicine: We ate clean - tons of colorful vegetables, olive oil, proteins and very little sugar (not even chocolate 😫. 14 hour overnight fast. - Restorative sleep😴, exercise 💪🏽: We ate dinner early and prioritized sleep, then started the day with a walk or hike, then exercise. - Hormesis via cold and head exposure: We did sauna followed by cold plunge - I made it to 4 minutes and 45 seconds 🥶. I also tried cryotherapy, where you’re in a chamber for 3 mins in a temperature of – 85 °C (-150°F). - Most of us lead busy, stressful lives, so I LOVED that we mindfulness work, e.g. breathwork (that was my first and was sooo powerful!), sound healing and a cocoa ceremony. - I tried some new things e.g. red light therapy, hyperbaric oxygen, ozone therapy ++ - We did all this together and in community, which is one of the most important factors in longevity. Today, functional medicine isn’t accessible to everyone. But imagine if we each had an AI co-pilot for our health. This is what Mark’s new company Function Health is building. I found my wheels turning all week. We are at the cusp of a healthspan revolution with the ubiquity of sensors, data and AI … democratizing access to wellness. But perhaps the most powerful part of this experience: My fingers and toes tend to get super cold (my son Adam too!). I always thought that’s just because I’m an Egyptian living in Boston 🤣! I mentioned this to Mark on one of our hikes and he immediately flagged this as “Reynaud’s disease”, which is an autoimmune disease and could be caused by a number of things including a leaky gut. I had NO IDEA anything was wrong with me. But my blood tests confirmed the leaky gut and now I have a game plan on how to address it. This year I set an intention to prioritize my health and wellness, so this retreat was a gift 🙏. Like Mark says, every now and then we need to reset our bodies to the factory settings! Lizanne Falsetto Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas

Everyone flocks to crowded destinations like Sedona for wellness travel. But I think this one state could be America’s hidden gem… Check out: Montana. They’ve quietly assembled some of the top wellness escapes in the country and more people need to know about them! As Napa, Sedona, and the Hamptons battle tourist crowds and packed roads, Montana cracked the code on something they can't replicate: space. Real, uninterrupted connection to nature that actually heals. With 27 million acres of public land and landscapes proven to lower stress, Montana has become home to "cowboy wellness" - a uniquely American approach to recovery. Here are 6 hotels redefining what wellness travel can be: 6. The Ranch at Rock Creek A Forbes Five-Star working ranch on 6,600 acres where Wall Street executives trade spreadsheets for fly fishing. After 12-hour horseback rides through Montana wilderness, guests get massages in wagons by the river. It’s recovery through adventure. 5. Montage Big Sky They built an 11,000 sqft alpine spa with 3,000 sqft of thermal pools, but here's the genius part: every treatment is tailored to mountain athletes. Post-ski recovery sessions, altitude adjustment therapies, and massages designed for bodies taxed by the cold. 4. Sage Lodge Sitting on the Yellowstone River just 35 minutes from the park entrance, they use heated stones from those waters, source essential oils from local artisans, and offer yoga overlooking Emigrant Peak. The location IS the wellness experience. 3. Gravity Haus Big Sky The anti-luxury luxury retreat. Cold plunge, sauna, hot tub. No frills, just results. Community-driven wellness where serious skiers and climbers gather after big mountain days. 2. One&Only Moonlight Basin One&Only's first US resort bringing their signature bespoke spa programs to Montana. Treatments inspired by earth, air, fire, and water plus Chenot-style wellness technology integrated with nature-based therapies. Opening November 2025. 1. The Resort at Paws Up The pioneer of luxury glamping in America. Their "Spa Town" brings IV therapy, breathwork, and sound baths to the wilderness. Bonus: The Green O Paws Up's adults-only retreat features 12 private "hauses" designed for curated solitude where guests detox from digital life. Instead of traditional spa menus, privacy and architecture form the basis of their wellness treatments. Montana's wellness philosophy is refreshingly simple: nature immersion delivers what most guests actually want. They aren't trying to optimize entire lives, they just want guests to feel better than when they arrived. Where would you stay first?

Do you really disconnect? My recent experience at Holistika Tulum, Mexico, was a revelation in true disconnection. With no technological distractions, I immersed myself in yoga, meditation, & nourished my body with wholesome food. This digital #detox was a profound reset, allowing me to #reconnect with my inner self & gain clarity that's impossible to achieve in the daily grind. To be honest, this kind of deep disconnection can feel like a distant dream, especially for those of us in leadership roles. We're constantly "on"-managing teams, making tough calls, & striving for results. But I've come to realize that sometimes the most impactful move a leader can make is to step away from it all. As a leader, you're not only challenged to manage your #business, deliver results, & keep the ship afloat–you also need to consistently bring your best self to work, be energetic, positive, & motivating. But what about yourself? When are you taking care of yourself so you have enough energy? Leadership is not a sprint, it's a marathon... you need to ensure you are physically & mentally fit for it, build in #resilience & longevity. I encourage leaders at all levels to prioritize these types of experiences. It's not about a once-a-year vacation, but rather a commitment to regular "system updates." I personally aim for a retreat every three months, whether it's a long weekend or a full week. Disconnection goes beyond unplugging digitally; it's about nurturing your whole being: 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹-𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴: It can be a chance to detoxify your body from the unhealthy routines of business life. Adopt healthier eating habits, engage in physical activity, & give your body the rest it needs. Remember, a healthy body supports a healthy mind. 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹-𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴: Cultivate mental resilience through meditation, mindfulness practices, or simply spending time in nature. Learn techniques to de-stress, return to the present moment, & cultivate a calmer, more centered state of mind. 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹-𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴: Explore practices that connect you with your deeper self. Meditation, journaling, or quiet reflection can help you access states of mind not typically used in the rational business world. This can lead to personal growth, new skills, & a deeper understanding of yourself. Stepping away from our routines can feel counterintuitive, but it's in these moments of discomfort that true #growth often occurs. In a world that glorifies busyness, taking a break is a radical act of self-care. I challenge you to take a break. Disconnect completely. Find your own Holistika, whether it's a silent retreat, a nature immersion, or simply a technology-free weekend. You might be surprised at the clarity, creativity, & renewed energy you discover. Are you ready for this challenge? How do you disconnect & recharge? Share your experiences in the comments below! #disconnect #recover #recharge #unileverinternational