Luxury Group by Marriott International unveils Luxury Wellbeing Series 2025

Source: The Luxury Group by Marriott International. The Luxury Wellbeing Series 2025 is now live.

The Luxury Group by Marriott International will introduce the Luxury Wellbeing Series 2025 from August. According to the Group's latest luxury travel trends report – The Intentional Traveler, 90% of high-net-worth travellers cite wellness offerings as a key factor in their booking decisions.

In addition, wellness travellers are planning to spend more. Beyond just feeling good, there is a growing demand for immersive, holistic wellness journeys over passive pampering, and Asia is the top destination of choice for such experiences.

Spanning multiple cities in Asia, this wellness odyssey integrates the three pillars of wellness — sleep, nutrition, as well as physical and mental wellbeing — with the cultural tapestry and natural splendour of Bali, Maldives, and Goa. The participating properties will each offer a tailored wellness escapade.

"Beyond tranquil retreats, affluent travellers are seeking impeccable, personalised, exceptional wellness experiences," said Oriol Montal, Regional VP, Luxury, Asia Pacific excluding China, Marriott International.

"As the Luxury Group aspires to predict and exceed travellers' ever-evolving expectations, the Luxury Wellbeing Series is more than just a wellness programme — it's a transformative expedition catering to global luxury travellers' growing desire for holistic enrichment."

Bali | Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Sleep: Delve into the traditional use of medicinal plants in the Balinese Medicinal Plants Workshop, exploring how local flora can enhance sleep quality and overall health with centuries-old recipes. Follow this with Yogic Sleep Therapy, a 60-minute session focused on achieving deep relaxation through controlled breathing, gentle yoga techniques, and calming delta wave music.

Nutrition: Explore Bali with the guided Foraging with the Adventure Car tour led by the hotel's Executive Sous Chef Eka Sunarya. This hands-on sensory excursion takes guests through lush greenery where they will taste freshly-picked wild herbs, aromatic spices and tropical fruits while gaining insights into their culinary and cultural significance. 

To further embrace the deep-rooted appreciation of nature in Balinese culture, make your own traditional drinks in the hour-long Balinese Herbal Drink Workshop using local ingredients that are believed to detoxify, energise and heal.

Physical and mental wellbeing: Dive into the depths of self-awareness with the Vipassana meditation sessions, an ancient practice designed to sharpen mindfulness and foster inner tranquility. By closely observing their breath, sensations, thoughts, and emotions, guests can easily regain mental clarity and emotional resilience. 

Guests can let their artistic side shine with the Mandala Art activity, which fosters self-expression and emotional release. 

Maldives | The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands 

At The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, wellness is a deeply personal journey, shaped by each guest's unique path to balance. Rooted in the resort's Deep Blue philosophy, which celebrates the ocean's healing rhythm and the science of the blue mind, the experience draws on the power of water to calm, centre, and inspire. 

From private consultations with the resort's Director of Spa and Wellness and Executive Chef upon arrival to bespoke treatments and personalised nutrition plans, every element is designed to dissolve stresses and restore inner peace.

Sleep: Taking place at the oceanfront bedrooms, the Balance of Stillness workshop will give guests an introduction to sleep cycles and creating their own sleep sanctuary with the curated sleep ritual kits to help establish a calming bedtime routine. Guests will enjoy a personalised turndown service featuring chakra tea and a sound card selected based on their initial wellness consultation.

Nutrition: A Taste of the Maldives cooking class offers guests a chance to delight in the flavours of the Maldives. They will prepare dishes using the day's fish catch alongside a vegetarian option and have a one-on-one session with the in-house wellness guru and the chef for tailored nutrition guidance. 

Following a comprehensive review of the guest's health history, lifestyle, and wellness goals, the professionals will provide guidance on a customised meal plan, portion control, mindful eating, and nutrient timing.

Physical and mental wellbeing: Set the tone with a Sunrise Floating Sound Healing Session, where sound vibrations gently align body and mind. Healing moments will be further elevated by B Strong, a powerful blend of strength training and conscious breathwork to improve resilience and clarity. 

A guided snorkelling trip and private coral regeneration experience further enrich this journey, deepening the connection between wellbeing and the healing power of the ocean.

India | The St Regis Goa Resort 

The newly-renovated St Regis Goa Resort is dedicated to the ancient practices of Ayurveda, designed to address and harmonise guests' overall health and wellbeing. The journey begins with a personalised consultation with a team of in-house wellness consultants to uncover underlying health imbalances, followed by customised treatments delivered by expert therapists.

Sleep: The Sleep Ritual harnesses the calming effects of Yoga Nidra alongside herbal tisanes to promote a deep, restorative sleep. This ritual is specifically crafted to help guests truly unwind.

Nutrition: Guests will indulge in a Dosha-Specific Farm-to-Table Lunch, aligned with individual Ayurvedic profiles using the freshest ingredients from local farms. A visit to the resort's Spice Garden further enriches this experience, offering insights into the healing properties of traditional herbs and spices integral to Ayurvedic cuisine.

Physical and mental wellbeing: The revitalising mornings begin with a therapeutic Sound Bath Session, using Himalayan singing bowls to realign the body's energies. This is further complemented by the Estuary Walk & Yoga, a reflective journey along the water's edge blending tranquil surroundings with the physical and mental discipline of yoga. 

Following the initial consultation upon arrival, The St Regis Spa offers on a series of bespoke Ayurvedic treatments designed to address guests' specific health concerns and promote a profound sense of peace and wellbeing.

Singapore employees feeling challenged at work: Employment Hero

Source: Employment 2024 Hero. Poster for
the 2024 Wellness at Work
Report.

Employment Hero's 2024 Wellness at Work Report* has found that despite ongoing efforts by employers to provide a healthy workplace for their employees, the majority still do not address providing mental health and wellbeing support.

The report, which polled 1,018 Singapore employees, found minimal improvement in burnout levels, with 61% of employees feeling burnt out in 2024 compared to 62% in 2022. This underscores that employers have not done enough to manage employee burnout over the past two years, the people, payroll and benefits software provider said. 

One of the possible reasons for this stagnation is that a large proportion of employees reported that they do not have access to essential wellness services, such as on-site health assessments, mobile health clinics, comprehensive benefits management, physical fitness and wellness programmes, and mental health support initiatives, Employment Hero suggested. 

Only 45% of employees stated that their employer provides access to confidential counselling. These gaps in wellness support and programmes contribute to the persistence of high burnout levels among employees, Employment Hero said. 

The group with the highest rates of burnout is Gen Z, with 68% reporting feeling burnt out at work in the past three months. This is followed by 65% of Millennials, 54% of Gen X, and 36% of Baby Boomers. 

Employment Hero CEO and co-founder Ben Thompson said: “The findings of our 2024 Wellness at Work Report underscore the urgent need for employers to prioritise mental health and wellness programmes. It's clear that current efforts are insufficient, as evidenced by the persistent high levels of burnout and stress, particularly among younger employees. 

"Employers must take proactive steps to provide comprehensive mental health support and wellness initiatives to foster a healthier, more productive workforce. Addressing these issues is not just about improving employee well-being, but also about ensuring sustainable business success in the long term."

Nearly four in 10 (39%) Singaporeans indicated that they had felt stressed at work a few days a week in the last three months, with 36% feeling stressed a few days a month. Again, Gen Zs are struggling the most, with 58% feeling stressed at the workplace a few days a week, compared to 44% of Millennials, 29% of Gen X, and 20% of Baby Boomers. 

“Dealing with stress at work is a common challenge that many employees face, and addressing it effectively is crucial for both personal well-being and professional performance,” shared Sudesh T, Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Manulife Asia. 

“Flexible working arrangements, remote work options, and flexible hours so employees can better manage both personal and professional responsibilities can significantly reduce stress and improve overall job satisfaction.” 

Highlights include:

● Nearly three in 10 (27%) employees said financial stress and the rising cost of living is the biggest cause of stress 

● Under half (47%) of all employees are on track with their financial goals 

● About six in 10 (58%) employees don’t think their workplaces are doing enough to support rising living costs 

Explore 

Download the 2024 Wellness at Work Report report at https://employmenthero.com/sg/resources/wellness-at-work-report/ 

*Employment Hero’s 2024 Wellness at Work Report is based on an analysis of 1,018 Singaporean employees, focusing on mental health, career wellness, and financial wellbeing. To participate in the survey, respondents had to be employed in any capacity (full-time, part-time, casual, fixed term) and not be business owners. The survey collected responses between April 12 and May 1, 2024. Similar research was also conducted in Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.

IHH Healthcare, NUS, Otis and PSA raise the bar on leadership and workplace mental health

WorkWell Leaders (WWL), a Singapore-based registered charity that focuses on workplace wellbeing and mental health as a strategic ESG and leadership priority in private and public sector companies, has announced the winners of the WorkWell Leaders Awards 2024.

The WorkWell Leaders Awards recognise best practice standards in addressing systemic change at a societal level in the biggest catchment area, the workplace. WWL said that they are the only awards that break out the specific elements of workplace wellbeing that drive business outcomes across separate categories, and also recognise leadership behaviours that underpin cultural change within an organisation.

“Singapore needs to address mental health and wellbeing upstream more urgently in promotion and prevention, in addition to supporting caregivers and individuals with mental wellbeing challenges,” said Founder and Chairperson of WorkWell Leaders, Anthea Ong.

“With 70% of people in Singapore working and spending most of their waking hours at work, the workplace is and must be the catalyst to support workers, and in turn their families.”

In a prerecorded video address, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam urged corporate leaders to: "Make your company a role model, a beacon of a culture of empathy, a culture which provides proactive support to those with different shades of anxiety or depression. Make it an enjoyable place for everyone to work.” 

Source: WorkWell Leaders. President Tharman urged the audience at the awards ceremony to make their companies role models for encouraging employee wellbeing.

To dive deep into the critical role of leadership in supporting mental wellbeing, WorkWell Leaders also announced a new national benchmark to be established that will demonstrate the intersection of the business risks of mental health, the role of leadership and culture on workplace wellbeing and the impact on business outcomes and stakeholder value. 

The charity explained that existing global and local workplace mental health benchmarks, while useful, tend to hone in on perceptions of employee support at an individual level. The WorkWell Leaders benchmark will focus on the status of organisation-wide transformation that delivers worker wellbeing, organisational performance and long-term value for stakeholders.

“Whilst the WorkWell Leaders Awards winners are the vanguard of the urgent cultural shift needed in the workplace, the benchmark will establish the progress of institutional change that we are making collectively to help boards, CEOs and businesses chart their own strategic roadmaps for more resilient and happier employees and work communities for sustainable growth,” said Ong.

The Be Well Awards recognise leadership. The winners are:

- Dr Prem Kumar Nair, Group CEO, IHH Healthcare, for the Wellbeing CEO Award. This award is for the CEO (or equivalent) who has made the biggest impact on their organisation by using their own wellbeing journey to enhance understanding and acceptance in addition to committing to executive sponsorship for workplace wellbeing in vision, leadership actions and investment.

- Clarence Ti, Deputy President, National University of Singapore for the CEO’s Wellbeing Partner Award. This is awarded to the senior partner of the CEO (or equivalent) who has shown the strongest commitment to mental health and wellbeing throughout the organisation by integrating mental wellbeing into strategy through developing, implementing and evaluating programmes to drive better health and business outcomes.

The Lead Well Awards recognise organisation-wide strategies and actions. The winners are:

- PSA Corporation for the Wellbeing Innovation Award. This award recognises an organisation that has developed a unique idea or programme to address wellbeing and mental health challenges for employees.

- National University of Singapore for the ESG Wellbeing Strategy Award. This award recognises an organisation that positions employee wellbeing as a strategic opportunity to drive ESG-led business growth that empowers employees and work communities to thrive.

- Otis International Asia Pacific for the Healthy Workplace Culture Award. This award recognises the unique character and personality of an organisation that enhances a safe and supportive environment where employees thrive by living its values every day.

- The overall Wellbeing Organisation of the Year Award was presented to Otis International Asia Pacific. This award recognises the organisation that has done the most to Be Well and Lead Well to drive change towards a thriving workplace for employees and work communities.

Proceeds from the award ceremony will go towards funding the development of tools and programmes for leaders and organisations to take actions on their employees’ mental health and wellbeing, ultimately building thriving workplaces across Singapore.

Singaporeans place mental health as the biggest health problem (46%) facing the country today (Ipsos). Duke-NUS & IMH found that workplace anxiety and depression are costing the local economy S$15.7 B annually, or approximately 2.9% of GDP.

WorkWell Leaders is an action-oriented network of cross-industry private and public sector leaders. It began in 2018 as an informal working group and became a registered charity in Singapore in November 2022. It is the only non-profit collective of CEOs and leaders to champion mental health and workplace wellbeing as a strategic, leadership and ESG priority to drive better employee experience to benefit communities and society, while delivering positive business results.

Fostering mental health resilience in the workplace: International SOS

Source: International SOS. People in a discussion.

Ahead of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, International SOS, the global health and security risk services company, has pointed out that challenges on the mental health of employees has never been more significant given the ongoing poly- and permacrises in the world today. "A global pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, geopolitical challenges and the accelerating rate of change in today’s workplace have placed unprecedented stressors on individuals and organisations worldwide," the company said in a statement.

Without effective support, mental illness can impact an individual’s capacity to work productively, absences and the ease with which they can retain or gain work, International SOS stated. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 15% of working-age adults live with a mental disorder in 2019, and 12 billion working days are lost every year to depression and anxiety alone*. 

International SOS Assistance Centre has already seen a 5% increase in the number of requests for assistance related to mental illness during the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, the company said, noting that poor working environments - including discrimination and inequality, excessive workloads, low job control and job insecurity - all pose a risk to mental health.

Dr Rodrigo Rodriguez-Fernandez, International SOS Global Health Advisor, Wellness and Mental Health, said: "Overlooking mental health issues in the workplace comes with a significant price, both emotionally and financially, and it is a concern we cannot afford to sideline. The repercussions touch everyone, from individual employees to the organisation as a whole. 

"As individuals might face considerable costs when seeking mental health resources, organisations are uniquely positioned to champion preventive strategies and offer affordable counselling and support to their teams.

“Organisations dedicated to fostering a lasting mental health culture understand the critical need to arm every stakeholder with the insights and resources to grasp the depth of mental health. By recognising the significance of mental wellbeing organisations pave the way for holistic employee wellness programmes. Such endeavours aim to build a steadfast and resilient environment, ready to navigate the complexities of today's ever-shifting landscape.”

*World Health Organization, Mental health at work.

Six in 10 working Singaporeans say they are burned out

The pandemic has caused Singaporeans to reassess their priorities and for 49% of Singaporeans, their career is no longer one of them. With 62% of Singaporean employees stating they suffer from burnout and 57% stating that they have an average or even poor work-life balance, new research* by Employment Hero found that employers can play a much bigger role in employee wellbeing in order to maintain and attract talent.

According to the payroll, HR and people management solution provider, burnout can be triggered by a combination of different factors, and amongst the Singaporean workforce, the pandemic’s impact on their job, as well as their mental health seem to be the key drivers. The Employee Wellness Report, which polled 1,005 Singaporean employees, found that as many as 45% of employees said that the pandemic has negatively impacted their career progression. The research also showed that 68% of Singporean workers are stressed about their finances, and 65% of workers had said that their stress levels were severely impacted by the effects of COVID on the workplace. 

Despite financial woes and burnout, mental health support appears to be an area in which Singaporean employers have managed to make impactful changes, with 47% of employees agreeing that their company is very supportive of employees’ mental health. Despite this, it was also found that 53% of employees are uncomfortable discussing mental health issues in the workplace, and 49% of employees are concerned that reporting mental health issues would lead to repercussions in the workplace.

Employment Hero said valuable rewards to be gained by businesses that choose to focus on employee wellness, with employees who rated their employer’s commitment to wellness as good stating they were 45% more likely to say they were loyal to a business.

Source: Employment Hero. Thompson.

“The past couple of years have been eye-opening for a lot of us, so it’s unsurprising that at large, priorities have changed for many. The need for greater work-life balance was already clear before the pandemic, but with many employees feeling the aftermath of these tumultuous years in the forms of mental health issues and burnout, the workplace needs to adapt in order to create a working environment that is able to retain and attract top talent,” said Ben Thompson, CEO and Co-founder of Employment Hero.

“From our report, it’s clear that employees are seeking mental health support, balance, and education, and employers must step up and offer the right resources to create a happy and productive workforce. By taking small steps in the right direction such as increasing mental health support budgets, prioritising financial education, and implementing remote working practices that enable a greater work-life balance, employers can quickly pivot towards the kind of people-first approach that employees will truly be able to appreciate.” 

“Ultimately, workers will stay with companies that support them, and leave the ones that don’t, so in order to retain top-tier talent and foster a successful workforce, it’s critical for employers to take these demands to take action where it’s most needed,” Thompson added.

Report highlights include:

- Employees with poor work-life balance are 52% more likely to feel burnt out.

- Those who feel burnt out are 42% more likely to feel that their productivity is low.

- Employees with poor productivity are 282% more likely to feel a poor sense of work-life balance, creating a vicious cycle of burnout and mental stress.

Details:

Read the report

*Employment Hero’s 2022 Employee Wellness Report analysed 1,005 Singaporean employees to understand employee wellbeing at work especially in relation to mental health, career wellness and financial wellbeing. Research was also conducted in Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

Five years on, Club HEAL continues to promote awareness of mental health

Celebrating Club HEAL's 5th anniversary.

Voluntary welfare organisation Club HEAL recently celebrated its 5th anniversary with a charity gala dinner attended by nearly 600 guests and supporters.

Dr Radiah Salim, founder and President, Club HEAL, said, "Club HEAL aims to fill as many gaps in services as we possibly can."

Some 2,000 clients have benefitted from Club HEAL's support, and she hoped that there will be more Club HEAL outlets while expanding outreach to those with addiction issues, she said.

Zaqy Mohamad, Member of Parliament for Chua Chu Kang GRC and a Club HEAL patron, said the work done by Club HEAL is more significant than many realise. "Mental health issues are sometimes hard to see," he said.

"Anyone can be afflicted by this illness which is no different from any other physical illness," said Singapore President Mdm Halimah Yacob, who has been Chief Patron of Club HEAL from its inception. "With the right kind of support and encouragement people with mental health issues can lead fulfilling lives. Medical treatment and medication are not enough. They need to be supported by other services."

Mdm President Halimah Yacob addresses the audience during Club HEAL's 5th anniversary gala dinner.

Mdm Halimah also called for everyone to make an effort to learn more about mental illness and noted that people who understand the concept of mental health are more likely to fund mental health programmes. "It is if you give of yourself that you truly give," she concluded.

Writer, editor and peer support specialist Yohanna Abdullah launched Club HEAL’s fourth book, A Place in the Sun, and its Malay version Di Bawah Sinaran Mentari. In the foreword to the book Mdm Halimah asked if Singapore society has progressed to being able to accept those with mental illness and made efforts to accommodate them in lives, work, and the community at large. "I believe that we are still very much a work in progress and have a lot more to do," she said.

Yohanna's book, A Place in the Sun, features stories from and about 17 individuals who have dealt with difficulties in their lives. For some of the individuals work stress triggered mental health issues. The chapters are divided into four sections in accordance with the acronym HEAL, or hope, empowerment, acceptance and love.

A second book was launched at the event. Heryani Jamaludin, shared her experiences as a psychiatrist nurse in her inaugural book You Can Do Your Best.

You can be your Best by Heryani Jamaludin (at podium) is another of the books launched at the Club HEAL event. During her launch speech Heryani urged people in difficulty to seek help as soon as possible. "Do not wait, seek treatment," she said.

Stacks of You can be Your Best on sale at the event venue.

Explore:

Club HEAL's new corporate video features sections in accordance with the acronym HEAL, or hope, empowerment, acceptance and love.

View videos from Club HEAL, including the corporate video that was premiered at the event. The new video profiles people whose lives have been touched by Club HEAL and discusses perspectives of mental health.

Hashtag: #clubheal

Singapore employers grapple with stress and mental health issues

Seven in 10 (72%) of employers in Singapore consider stress and mental health an issue affecting productivity, according to the APAC Benefits Strategy Study 2017 by Aon, a global professional services firm providing a broad range of risk, retirement, and health solutions. 

The United Nations International Labor Organization (ILO) has defined stress as a 'global epidemic' and dubbed it the 'silent killer'. It is a growing phenomenon in many Asian countries, especially those with advanced economies and where Western consumerism and lifestyles are prevalent such as Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China.

In its early stages, the physical manifestations of stress include chronic issues such as back pain, fatigue, and headaches. There is also scientific evidence linking stress with depression, cardiovascular disease, and various cancers - resulting in economic impact related to absenteeism, lost productivity, staff turnover, workers' compensation, medical insurance, and related expenses, Aon said.

Encouragingly, the APAC Benefits Strategy Study 2017 found that 74% of Singapore employers have physical wellness programmes in place to help prevent the onset of these chronic issues, though only half (51%) of Singapore employers have emotional and psychological wellness programmes in place. Aon also noted that 62% of the organisations in Singapore which do not currently have such programmes have plans to implement them in the future, a percentage that is six points lower than the Asia Pacific (APAC) average.

Aon Senior Clinician Dr Menandro Sandoval, said: "Through our analysis of client medical plan data, we are able to identify patterns. For instance, a high proportion of visits to general practitioner clinics for upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and various gastrointestinal illnesses are related to suppression of (the) general resistance process, which can be attributed to mental health issues such as stress, depression, and anxiety. By identifying this root cause, we can help employers develop risk management programmes that address employee health holistically and create positive impact."

Tim Dwyer, CEO of Aon Health & Benefits, Asia Pacific, emphasised: "Employers in Asia have proactively implemented physical wellness programmes, but have been unwilling to promote mental health ones. However, our recent study showed that Singapore employers now view their employees' health and well-being - both physical and mental - as a top three focus area. Meanwhile, across Asia, Aon has made significant investments in technology, resources, and people that can transform how organisations think about their employees' physical, mental, financial, and emotional well-being and we will continue to develop solutions that address our clients' holistic employee wellbeing needs."

Interested?

Find out more about the Aon APAC Benefits Strategy Study 2017

*The inaugural Aon APAC Benefits Strategy Study 2017 surveyed 461 respondents across 22 countries and 24 industries, seeking to understand how HR practitioners are executing on their benefits strategy in today's challenging business environment.