Nick Downing, general manager at The Siam in Bangkok, shares a similar sentiment. “Guests are seeking ways of accessing a hidden side of Bangkok and not simply following what others have done,” he says.

Its Opium Spa, for example, offers guests the unique experience of receiving a sak yan tattoo, a sacred, 2,000-year-old ritual that is said to impart luck and protection to the wearer. The hotel also offers a guide to restaurants and bars in the surrounding neighbourhood, encouraging its guests to explore the city from a local’s perspective.

“We believe that our guests have always craved creative and authentic experiences beyond simply checking in and out of a hotel. As such, we focus on delivering such experiences within the hotel but also giving access to such experiences around Bangkok.”

Beyond connecting with the local culture, Puri says more guests are looking to foster personal connections as well. “It is interesting to see how many now prefer communal areas, where travellers can connect, share experiences and create a sense of community,” he says. “There’s also a shift towards smaller rooms but bigger sharing areas that combine art, design and local culture.” Desa Potato Head is currently in the process of opening a new design centre, which will feature a gallery and communal spaces to nurture both local and international artistic talent. “Our goal is to create a holistic environment where guests feel immersed, inspired and connected.”

There’s no spa at The Upper House, but the hotel has still managed to curate an exceptional in-house wellness programme. For example, its infrared-heated body-sculpting workout, Family Form, launched by restaurateur-turned-wellness guru Lindsay Jang, has been a resounding success.

“Wellness tourism is growing as more people seek to integrate health and wellness into their travel experiences,” says Snaith-Lense. “Guests are much more aware of the importance of developing a proactive, preventive approach to health, [seeking] more innovative experiences such as contrast therapy [ie hot and cold plunge baths] and hyperbaric oxygen chambers.”

The hotel also regularly curates residencies from and exclusive collaborations with the world’s leading wellness experts, from chiropractic care, astrology and tarot readings to its 10x Longevity residency, which is set to become the city’s foremost pro-ageing, longevity and recovery destination, offering a full suite of cutting-edge equipment and therapies like hyperbaric oxygen therapy, an infra-red sauna, cold plunge and red-light therapy. The hotel also hosts regular runs with local social sports club, Shelter Athletics. 

Having wide-ranging wellness options is becoming increasingly important to hotel guests, and Rosewood Hong Kong—winner of Best City Hotel and Hotel of the Year—has offered this from day one at its dedicated wellness destination, Asaya.

Hugo Montanari, the hotel’s general manager, says, “We are dedicated to providing a comprehensive wellness programme. From offering traditional body treatments and fitness activities to specialised meditation and mindfulness training, including practices like positive psychology and expressive arts therapy, we aim to create a nurturing environment for our guests.”

One of the hotel’s standout offerings is its dedicated wellness accommodations, the Asaya Lodges. These standalone villas are accessed by a private lift, which opens to a tree-lined path—made extra-pretty in the evenings with the soft glow of lanterns—and come equipped with private massage rooms and steam showers.

At Janu Tokyo, Tanaka notes a key wellness trend that’s influencing the hotel’s food and beverage options—sobriety. “There’s a shift toward reduced alcohol consumption, with growing demand for non-alcoholic options,” she says. “Non-alcoholic drink pairings, once rare, are now essential to offering a complete dining experience, especially in Tokyo’s competitive food scene.”

Amanpuri’s Lyons says, “Travellers will increasingly seek eco-conscious stays that respect and protect the environment, valuing properties that adopt sustainable practices. At Amanpuri, solar panels provide renewable energy and electric vehicles that reduce our carbon footprint.”

Its on-site farm consistently works towards soil regeneration, with the gardening team using reclaimed and recycled bamboo from the resort to build tiered terraces, preventing topsoil from deteriorating and retaining as much water as possible from irrigation.

Meanwhile, Snaith-Lense of The Upper House says, “We are proud to be a Founding Collective Member of Belu Hong Kong [a social enterprise that provides water filters, among other bottled water alternatives], with the installation of a water filtration system in our restaurants. All guestrooms are equipped with a water filtration system, purifying local tap water on-site, making it safe for guests to enjoy while eliminating the distribution of single-use water bottles.”

The hotel also works with Soap Cycling to collect lightlyused bathroom amenities for redistribution to those in need while minimising landfill waste. 

Desa Potato Head recently launched its first Community Waste Project—a facility to expand its upcycling operations to the broader community, offering guests and visitors a close-up look at its sustainability efforts. Items in guest rooms—from coasters to tissue box holders and even chairs— are fashioned from upcycled plastic, a unique, multicoloured material that has become a Desa Potato Head signature. 

From its restaurants, green scraps and leftovers are given to local farmers to feed livestock, and cooking oil is turned into biofuel, then donated to Green School’s BioBus Programme to transport children to and from school. And Ijen, Indonesia’s first zero-waste restaurant, uses ingredients sourced locally, from vegetables to handreeled fish. Puri says, “Regenerative tourism will become more and more popular, with guests actively contributing to the local environment and community.” 

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