Sabah Kaddouri, renowned journalist and editor-at-large, has spent several years covering business innovators, entrepreneurship, women in leadership, and luxury lifestyle. In this exclusive interview with
Alexander Chetchikov, president of World Luxury Chamber of Commerce, Sabah shares insights on the booming wellness and longevity sector, its luxury intersections, and the evolving demands of discerning consumers.
Alexander Chetchikov: A-list celebrities recognized the importance of investing in their health and well-being early on. When did this once-exclusive trend evolve into a major economic force, and why?
Sabah Kaddouri: The global pandemic has reminded us of an implacable truth: our health is our primary asset. People questioned their lifestyles and scrutinized social media, inspired by those who shared their healthy habits. They discovered an economy that already addressed these needs and was just waiting to be stimulated. Thus, starting in late 2020, everyone understood the need to develop their research, their offerings, and their strategies in this area. From hospitality to the world of tech and industry, there is a convergence.
AC: Who have been the key historical pioneers and influencers in the longevity and wellness industry?
SK: The wellness and longevity industries have mutually fueled the quest for the perfect body of highly exposed personalities (artists, models, star entrepreneurs, etc.), but also the demands of high-level athletes. Their careers are conditioned by their physical fitness. This circle of initiates met (and still meet) in medical spas. The Palace Merano in Italy, La Clinique La Prairie in Switzerland, and the Buchinger Wilhelmi Clinic in Germany are pioneers in this field.
AC: With consumers more educated and discerning than ever, what are the expectations and demands shaping the wellness market today?
SK: Today, we want to be able to maintain our good daily habits by visiting medical hubs located in cities. Like a gym where we exercise regularly, these hubs have become the urban extension of medical spas. Recognized addresses have understood this well by setting up in major capitals, offering a holistic approach by supporting the main pillars of our lives: fitness, nutrition, sleep, anti-aging, etc. Increasingly educated consumers expect highly personalized protocols.
AC: How is the luxury sector responding to the growing demand for wellness and longevity solutions?
SK: Med-spas certainly offer the most advanced protocols, but their number is limited, so we’re seeing the rise of luxury hotels that took up the subject four or five years ago. A hotel spa is no longer just a space where you can get a massage or take a dip in the pool, but a true temple of well-being offering a wide range of treatments. Both visiting and local guests have access to experts (facialists, naturopaths, yoga masters, Ayurvedic doctors, etc.), not to mention the catalog of therapies offered (light therapy, vitamin infusions, EMS machines using electrostimulation, etc.). Whether you’re staying at the Park Hyatt London River Thames, the Plaza Athénée in Paris, or the Peninsula Istanbul, we know you’ll find this component.
AC: With icons like Demi Moore, J.Lo, and Julianne Moore redefining aging, is sixty truly becoming the new forty?
SK: Yes. We are witnessing a revolution in the image of women in their fifties and sixties. Led by icons like Demi Moore, J.Lo & co, women aged 50+ have changed the narrative and the way we look at them. Strong and confident, they benefit from the combination of several factors – which their elders did not experience – such as the postponement of the retirement age, the implementation of more egalitarian laws, technological leaps, particularly in medical and aesthetic matters, greater representation of women in positions of power, the evolution of their roles in cinema… All of this has contributed to this new reality. These women like to take care of themselves and are very well supported. Anonymous or famous, they have many role models to identify with.
AC: As a busy editor-at-large for major publications, what are your personal strategies for maintaining balance and prioritizing a healthy lifestyle?
SK: In my hectic daily life, I press pause twice a year by going on a wellness retreat. I often fast in a specialized place or I choose a detox week to cleanse my body of all the toxins accumulated in my diet, because of the pollution. For 7 to 12 days, I perform a real reset of the body and mind to better start again. In my everyday life, I practice yoga and Pilates, which have a thousand benefits. The best way to maintain a good balance in your lifestyle is to read books, articles, listen to podcasts on the subject, or follow dedicated accounts on social networks. This allows, I find, to always keep in mind that health is the key to longevity.
Thank you, Sabah, for sharing your insights! Follow her journey here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabah-kaddouri-45987b65/
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