This year, the beauty world’s focus on visible results has shifted toward longevity, encompassing biomarkers, hormone health, inflammation, and cellular repair. For a growing number of high-spending consumers, this mindset extends to travel, which is increasingly seen as a tool for self-optimization.
This change is clear in how trips are planned. According to Skyscanner’s 2026 Travel Trends report, 27% of Gen Z travelers plan beauty treatments or skincare shopping while abroad, compared to just 4% of baby boomers. While cultural exploration is a factor—27% of travelers seek out local beauty rituals—digital influence is nearly as strong, with 21% citing TikTok and social media as inspiration for beauty-focused trips. Skyscanner has dubbed this type of traveler, who blends holidays with well-being and self-improvement, the “Glowmad,” but the behavior itself spans many consumer types.
What has changed most are expectations. A simple facial or IV drip is no longer enough; travelers now seek treatments once reserved for elite medical settings, from hormone testing and hyperbaric oxygen therapy to stem cell interventions and experimental detox procedures. Celebrity influence has helped normalize this shift, though it remains largely in the realm of figures like the Kardashian-Jenners. Kim Kardashian has shared details of glow-focused trips to South Korea for lasers and skin boosters, while Kylie Jenner has spoken openly about traveling to Mexico for stem cell therapy to address back pain.
“The pandemic fundamentally changed how we think about health and wellness,” says Suzanne Scott, founder of wellness consultancy Seen Group. “It shifted the conversation from treatment to prevention. People began managing their health proactively and viewing aging as something to slow and optimize, not just respond to.” At the same time, attitudes toward downtime have evolved. “Resting is now seen as passive,” Scott adds. “Even time off is expected to deliver returns.”
Hotels as Longevity Hubs
From a business perspective, the merging of longevity, beauty, and hospitality is becoming impossible for hotels to ignore. Wellness offerings lead to longer stays, higher spending per guest, and more repeat visits. As a result, luxury properties are rebranding themselves not just as places to rest, but as platforms for transformation—capable of providing medical-grade services in discreet, comfortable environments.
Importantly, this trend is no longer limited to dedicated wellness resorts. At One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos—traditionally known for golf and beachside luxury—guests can now book high-performance facials and longevity treatments developed in partnership with renowned anti-inflammatory expert Dr. Barbara Sturm. Urban luxury hotels are following suit. The Bvlgari Hotel Tokyo’s spa now combines traditional treatments with advanced options, including a recently added hyperbaric oxygen chamber. Meanwhile, Dubai’s Royal Atlantic hotel features an in-house clinic, Aeon, offering advanced therapies ranging from exosome and stem cell treatments to ozone therapy, the latter designed to filter the blood and reduce toxins, infections, and chemical impurities.
“This consumer chooses hotels because they soften what can otherwise feel very clinical,” Scott says. “But it’s also about efficiency. Time is a resource.” Hotels provide a setting where optimization can happen seamlessly—woven into travel rather than carved out from it.
This philosophy is already in practice at Upper House in Hong Kong, where wellness is designed to fit naturally into the rhythm of a stay rather than operate as a scheduled appointment. With 117 rooms in the heart of the city, the property treats wellness less as an add-on and more as an extension of daily life, allowing guests to engage deeply without feeling pushed through a rigid program. Current highlights iThe Upper House Wellness residency includes 10x Longevity, positioned as a pro-aging, longevity, and recovery treatment, alongside Peak Metabolism by Miles Price, chiropractic care from Up Health, and laser therapy. The program features red-light therapy as part of its 10x Longevity offering.
For Kristina Snaith-Lense, general manager of Upper House Shenzhen and head of wellness for the brand, this integration is where hotels hold a decisive advantage. “What’s so special about our industry, especially our houses, is that we are uniquely placed to integrate wellness seamlessly into travel and everyday life,” she says. “This is what sets us apart from clinics, medspas, or private members’ clubs. Rather than trying to replicate their medical depth or exclusivity, we compete by doing something different—and arguably much more relevant—by making wellness a way of life.”
For many hotel groups, the strongest commercial case for longevity programming lies with women. Women account for an estimated 60% to 80% of solo travelers, and frustration with one-size-fits-all wellness models is growing. Programs that recognize hormonal shifts, aging cycles, and emotional health are not only resonating more deeply but are proving far more engaging than generic offerings.
“Traditionally, wellness has been approached in the same way for both men and women, although this one-size-fits-all approach isn’t doing justice to women’s unique hormonal composition,” says Anna Bjurstam, Six Senses’s wellness pioneer. Bjurstam describes a marked shift in demand: women are no longer passively consuming wellness but are actively reclaiming it. “We’ve moved beyond the outdated model of discipline-based self-improvement into one where connection, pleasure, and feminine wisdom are central.”
That insight has directly shaped Six Senses’s strategy. The luxury wellness brand has sharpened its focus on women’s health with the launch of its Female Wellness Program, developed in collaboration with women’s health advocate Dr. Mindy Pelz and now available at five of its properties. Similarly, Canyon Ranch—one of the US’s most established destination wellness brands—is investing $500 million in a 600-acre Austin property dedicated to women’s health. The property will feature a 40,000-square-foot spa, hormone therapy, and programs addressing everything from sleep to postpartum depression, and is set to open next year.
Partnering with Experts and Making It Work
As hotels move deeper into longevity and medical-grade wellness, few are attempting to build that expertise in-house. Instead, the most effective models are being built through long-term partnerships with trusted practitioners—a strategy that allows hotels to expand their offerings without diluting credibility or overstepping regulatory boundaries.
For practitioners, the appeal is equally clear. Hospitality environments offer something most clinics cannot: time, discretion, and continuity of experience. London-based plastic and reconstructive surgeon Ash Soni has been in residence at The Langham hotel for nearly two years, offering procedures in a setting that allows patients to arrive early, use spa facilities, and recover discreetly on site. “The environment allows me to offer something I simply can’t in a standalone clinic,” he says.
This model also reflects a broader shift in how aesthetic tourism operates. Dr. Soni’s clientele includes A-listers from Los Angeles and New York, as well as ultra-high-net-worth families from the UAE, many of whom travel to London specifically for his approach. “They will travel to see the person they trust,” he notes, adding that demand for aesthetic tourism has increased markedly over the past two to three years. In this context, destination matters less than reputation, and hotels function as a trusted, neutral platform that gains extra business.
The Future of Longevity Tourism
As the Glowma…As the wellness mindset matures, the focus is shifting from experience alone to measurable outcomes. Treatments are becoming more transformative—and more expensive—leading travelers to increasingly seek proof that their investment has paid off.
Measurement is likely to become central. Resorts are already experimenting with biometric tracking, blood testing, and personalized diagnostics, allowing guests to monitor changes in inflammation markers, antioxidant levels, collagen production, sleep quality, and gut health before and after their stay. “If guests can see tangible improvements, they’re far more likely to return,” says Scott of the Seen Group. “It builds loyalty and reinforces the value proposition.”
Food will also play a growing role. Anti-inflammatory, hormone-balancing menus are becoming standard at high-end wellness destinations, and Scott predicts clearer labeling is next. “I wouldn’t be surprised if menus start highlighting hormone-supportive or anti-inflammatory dishes in the same way they currently label vegan or gluten-free options,” she says.
Looking further ahead, integrating at-home-style diagnostics into hotel stays may feel less far-fetched than it sounds. “Who’s to say the future wellness traveler won’t do a microbiome or stool test in their hotel bathroom?” Scott adds. “There’s a huge opportunity for partnerships here, especially as longevity doctors and biohackers become household names.”
Sleep is emerging as one of the most significant—and most underserved—frontiers. Despite being central to longevity, it remains one of the hardest health habits to maintain while traveling. Hotels are increasingly responding by treating sleep as an active pillar of their wellness offerings. At Upper House, for example, sleep optimization is woven into the entire guest journey rather than isolated as a single service. “Sleep continues to be an important factor, but the needs are increasingly unmet,” says Snaith-Lense. “Our health and wellness approach across all our properties is designed to help guests maintain healthy habits while traveling, from a holistic perspective.” This includes sleep assessments conducted in partnership with Up Health chiropractors, alongside in-room support such as complimentary AG1 supplements formulated to support brain, gut, and overall health.
Dr. Barbara Sturm sees these developments as part of a broader shift toward preventative, science-led luxury wellness. “I think it will evolve to offer deeper, more personalized skin-health programs—integrating diagnostics, inflammation-focused treatments, and expert education,” she says. Crucially, Dr. Sturm views skincare as just one component of a wider longevity ecosystem that includes nutrition, recovery, movement, and mental well-being. “The future of luxury wellness lies in combining science with experience,” she adds. “The goal won’t just be to relax—it will be to return home refreshed and renewed, both inside and out.”
What remains consistent is the underlying motivation of today’s wellness traveler: they want access to the best practitioners, the most advanced treatments, and quantifiable results—all delivered within a luxurious setting. As wellness, aesthetics, and hospitality continue to merge, the “glow-up” is no longer just a side effect of travel. For this guest, it is the very purpose of the journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about From Room Service to Stem Cells Exploring the Growth of Longevity Tourism designed to answer questions from basic to advanced
Basics Definitions
1 What exactly is longevity tourism
Its travel with the primary goal of improving health slowing aging and extending ones healthy lifespan It goes beyond standard wellness retreats to include advanced medical diagnostics therapies and preventative treatments not always easily accessible at home
2 How is this different from a regular spa vacation or medical tourism
A spa focuses on relaxation and superficial wellness Medical tourism typically addresses a specific existing illness Longevity tourism is proactive and datadriven using tests and treatments aimed at preventing agerelated decline before you feel sick
3 Who is the typical longevity tourist
Often affluent individuals in their 40s to 70s who are healthconscious proactive about their future and have the resources to invest in cuttingedge preventative care However its becoming more accessible to a broader audience
The Experience What to Expect
4 What does a typical longevity trip include
It usually combines advanced testing with a mix of hightech treatments and foundational wellness
5 Are there real doctors involved or is it just wellness practitioners
Reputable clinics are led by licensed medical doctors Always verify the credentials of the medical team The best programs integrate real medicine with holistic wellness coaching
6 Whats an example of a cuttingedge treatment I might encounter
Treatments like stem cell therapies exosome therapy or peptide regimens are commonly offered at advanced clinics Crucially these are often not FDAapproved for antiaging in many countries which is a key reason people travel for them
Benefits Risks Considerations
7 What are the main benefits people report
Beyond potential biological age reduction people often cite increased energy better mental clarity improved metabolic markers and a deep sense of taking control of their longterm health with a personalized roadmap
8 What are the biggest risks or downsides