According to the latest “Wellness Real Estate Report” released by RLA Global, hotels with wellness revenues exceeding $1 million generated 126 percent more in total revenue per available room in 2021 than those with wellness revenues of less than $1 million.
Average TRevPAR at properties with significant wellness offerings was still 35 percent below pre-COVID levels in 2019, but this gap was much higher at 44 percent and 55 percent, respectively, at hotels with minor and no wellness offerings.
“After a year of pandemic and extended hotel closures, 2021 was about recovery and hotel performances show a clearly positive trend in 2021 compared to 2020,” said Roger A. Allen, group CEO of RLA Global. “When looking solely from a revenue perspective, hotels with significant wellness offerings seem to have achieved better results than properties with minor or no wellness. The pandemic resulted in new revenue management strategies, giving priorities to average daily rates over occupancy.”
Although properties with major wellness offerings seem to be achieving more progress in recovery, at least in revenue generation, gross operating profit levels counterbalance this process. The report shows that properties with minor wellness operations outperformed major wellness hotels in average monthly occupancy levels throughout 2021 and hotels without wellness had 6 percent wider GOP margin on average.
RLA Global warns that while the analysis of the post-pandemic revenue trends shows that major wellness properties have a competitive advantage, it is important to put that success into context and understand the costs attached to such a recovery in terms of operating costs, payroll and investment.
Michael Grove, COO of HotStats, which participated in the report, said: “High levels of global inflation, combined with supply chain issues in hotel supplies and labor, and compounded by energy cost increases have replaced much of the savings hotels had found during the last two years. These areas largely impact the wellness sector more than most as generally they carry a larger fixed cost base and labor force and higher levels of energy consumption—a key consideration for the coming years.”
Per RLA Global, the differences revealed in bottom-line performances should provide investors with a cautionary note when considering the level of wellness-related investment in a hotel. “We believe there will be a few winners and potentially many losers as the competitive landscape heats up with both new wellness-related properties and as existing hotels try to reposition their offering to compete for the wellness audience,” Allen said.
Lasting Trends
The report also highlighted two industry trends that will last and are expected to continue influencing wellness in real estate. One of them is the sustained appeal of branded residences, which attract renewed customer interest as a result of growing global wealth and the post-COVID demand for real estate in less crowded, non-urban environments.
“For most operators and buyers, wellness amenities will be key going forward," said said Riyan Itani, director and head of consultancy, global residential development at Savills. "Indeed, most wellness amenities can be found in over 50 percent of the branded developments we have studied. And for brands looking to bring new properties to market, they need to consider not only what the current needs are for residents but also what residents will be looking for in terms of amenity offering when the project opens.”
The other lasting industry trend is the increasing popularity of meaningful experiential holidays. Be it adrenaline-fueled experiences, immersive wellbeing offerings or specialized health improvements such as strengthening mental health and specific experience-led pre-packaged holidays, undoubtedly, “experience” should be at the forefront of hotel resorts and destinations.
A version of this story ran on Hotel Management's sister site Luxury Travel Advisor.