Newmark Hotels & Reserves has introduced a new wellness pillar to its hospitality service offerings as part of its strategic growth strategy. This will be driven by the Cape Town-based hospitality management company’s newly appointed Director of Wellness, Steve Uria.
“The introduction of wellness offerings at regular touchpoints along the Newmark customer journey is a key strategic focus for us,” says Neil Markovitz, CEO of Newmark Hotels & Reserves.
Markovitz explains that wellness tourism includes activities aimed at improving and enhancing an individual’s physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. “Consumers are more aware of the links between physical and mental health, and this is driving the rise of wellness as a consumer value.”
“Transformative travel is not merely a passing trend, but the very future of the hospitality industry,” comments Uria about the creation of his new position at Newmark.
Quoting American Express Travel’s 2023 Global Travel Trends report, Uria highlighted that the hospitality industry is riding a wellness wave forecast to grow exponentially in the next decade.
Notable findings from this report include a large majority (72%) of respondents citing that they are more focused on self-care than they were a year ago, and 73% planning vacations with the primary intention to better their mental, physical, and emotional health.
Travellers also report that they want to decompress from their busy lives, reduce their screen time, and surround themselves with nature to focus on mental clarity.
“It’s a paradigm shift that underscores a growing demand for more than just accommodation; guests are increasingly seeking transformative experiences,” adds Uria.
Uria, a wellness and fitness expert, will work closely with Newmark’s Business Development team to strategically introduce new wellness concepts within the industry.
He will then oversee the implementation of these initiatives across customer touchpoints within Newmark’s extensive portfolio of hotels and reserves, bringing its pillar of wellness to life.
“I’ve wanted to bring this pillar to life for a while. Many of our properties already have the infrastructure in place to offer exceptional wellness offerings. Uria will bring this all together, working with the hotels to curate wellness offerings to suit the individual character of each Newmark property and the guests that they attract,” says Markovitz.
Newmark staff are also on the radar for wellness development.
“A company that assists employees to implement healthy mental and physical habits can improve its service levels and staff retention while also developing work teams with the ability to perform tasks optimally. I want to bring wellness practices to Newmark’s various teams through the introduction of individual assessments, postural integrity, nutritional education, breathwork, and movement practices,” concludes Uria.
Newmark’s portfolio includes 19 properties in South Africa, two in Mauritius, two in Tanzania and one in Nigeria.
