Newmark adds a new wellness pillar to its foundational offerings

Newmark Hotels & Reserves is introducing a new wellness pillar to its foundational hospitality service offerings. 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.

He 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 says the hospitality industry is riding a wellness wave forecast to grow exponentially in the next decade. Notable findings from this report include an overwhelming majority (72%) of respondents citing that they are more focused on self-care than they were a year ago. 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. This is indicative of why 73% of report respondents divulged that they are planning vacations with the primary intention to better their mental, physical and emotional health.

“It’s a paradigm shift that underscores a growing demand for more than just accommodation; guests are increasingly seeking transformative experiences,” adds Uria.

Newmark’s golden thread bolsters hospitality offerings

Last year, Newmark bolstered its food and beverage offerings by bringing on board industry leaders Chris Erasmus and Marlvin Gwese as Newmark’s group head chef and group sommelier, respectively.

“Every property, although bearing Newmark standards and service excellence, holds its own essence, providing guests the opportunity to explore, to discover and to be pleasantly surprised by the variety of experiences in its portfolio – and this is exactly what we’re amplifying in new and exciting ways at each dining facility under the Newmark Brand,” comments Markovitz about the appointments at the time.

Similarly, Newmark’s new director of Wellness will be working to bring Newmark’s golden thread of excellence to the wellness offerings that will be introduced at different touchpoints along the customer journey.

“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. Steve 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.

He adds that Newmark is positioning itself to be at the forefront of the integration of wellness and hospitality in Africa. “Our business development team will work closely with Steve to strategically integrate wellness into the offerings of our seven exciting new properties that are currently under development.”

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,” says Uria.