What an incredible two days it was at the Tourism Wellness Summit at Elements of Byron last week.
Held in the stunning coastal haven of Byron Bay, the event brought together passionate leaders, innovators and changemakers from across Australia – all united by a shared vision to grow and elevate the wellness tourism sector.
Entertaining MC Casey Beros kept the program flowing with effortless warmth and energy, setting the scene for a stellar line-up of guest speakers.
Emily Griffin (Gaia) led conversation around tailoring individual guests wellness needs, while Tanya Alijan led a moving sound healing session that demonstrated how immersive therapies can become signature guest experiences.
Kate Duncan from Wellbeing Magazine explored editorial trends and how storytelling can empower adoption of a wellness way of life.
Entrepreneur and author Lisa Messenger delivered a rousing keynote on how finding your purpose enhances your alignment and positive flow in life, and Barry Du Bois shared practical insights on building resilience, confidence and shared tips on how to thrive amid life’s challenges.
Damien Charpara represented our New Zealand colleagues, discussing cross-Tasman collaboration and innovations in experiential wellness.
Kate Leff, ex CEO of Revivo Bali, spoke to integrating clinical wellness programs with luxury hospitality, and delegates were left with tangible ideas to elevate their product offerings.
The summit balanced big-picture strategy with hands-on learning. To keep things real delegates could choose to participate in sunrise breathwork and yoga on the beach, a mindful cacao ceremony or sunrise surfing lessons.
Breakout workshops covered regenerative design, rural wellness success stories and commercial models for retreat programming.
Panels focused on sustainability, mental health, inclusivity and measurable outcomes, urging operators to think beyond trends and toward long-term impact.
Networking was more than swapping cards; curated sessions and facilitated meetings sparked immediate collaboration, with several operators reporting new partnerships and pilot programs already in motion.
Local suppliers and wellness practitioners connected directly, highlighting Byron Bay’s natural strengths as a wellness hub and demonstrating the commercial power of purpose-led tourism.
The event closed with a free dance and hug session, a perfect reminder that wellness tourism is as much about human connection as it is about product.
The ideas, energy and momentum in the room signalled that Australia’s wellness travel sector is maturing into something strategic, sustainable and inspiring.
Huge congratulations to everyone who attended and contributed. Until next year!
#WellnessTourism #ByronBay #TourismWellnessSummit #TravelWell
