The inaugural Africa Wellness Congress in Marrakech marked a milestone for networking wellness professionals and promoting health and wellbeing startups Africa-wide. The two-day international event gathered around 100 industry experts from 10 countries, encouraging collaboration and innovation in the continent’s holistic health economy.
Wellbeing as a Catalyst for Africa’s Growth
Opening the congress, Hamid Bentahar, president of the National Tourism Confederation of Morocco, highlighted the nation’s goal to grow from 17 million to 30 million visitors by 2030. He emphasized that Morocco’s natural beauty and cultural heritage form the foundation of restorative tourism, urging participants to “listen to and respect” Africa’s deep-rooted wellbeing traditions.
Bentahar spoke about Morocco’s Bahja spirit—a symbol of joy and hospitality that celebrates the seven dimensions of vitality embedded in the region’s culture.
Trevor Ward of W Hospitality shared insights on Africa’s expanding hotel development: a 13% rise continent-wide and 23% growth in North Africa. He noted that nearly half of Africa’s hotel projects are in Morocco, Egypt, and Nigeria—many with spa and rejuvenation features.
Building Balance Into Business Strategy
Amy McDonald, CEO of Under a Tree Consultancy, discussed positioning Africa within the global wellbeing economy. With 74 million tourists expected in 2024, she said health and wellness startups Africa can thrive by combining hospitality with nature-based self-care experiences. “Africa offers something truly robust and authentic,” McDonald noted.
At the same session, Patrick Saussay of GPSA Vitality Solutions and Rohan Ogale from the Oberoi Marrakech explored how spa design shapes luxury. Ogale emphasized that a sense of renewal isn’t an add-on but an emotional journey for guests—enhancing satisfaction and loyalty.
Training, Inclusion, and Future Growth
Beth Gatonye, founder of Seeing Hands in Rwanda, shared her initiative training visually impaired individuals as massage therapists. She urged hotels to recognize their abilities, noting their “heightened empathy and touch” redefine healing and human connection.
Martin Goldmann of ASPA encouraged adoption of modern health trends—such as cold plunges and flotation pools—while Yuki Kiyono of Aman and Kent Richards of Wellness World Global announced future expansions, including Aman’s Mozambique project near Kruger National Park.
Richards also unveiled the Africa Wellbeing Initiative under the Global Wellbeing Institute, reaffirming Africa’s legacy as a pioneer of holistic health innovation.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Christine Eskandar of HAB France confirmed the next edition of the Africa Wellness Congress will return to Marrakech on October 12–13, 2026, strengthening collaboration across Africa’s growing vitality sector.
“Together, we’ve built a foundation for a sustainable and inclusive ecosystem,” said Eskandar.
This story was first reported by Spa Business. Read the full article here.
