• The Impact of Extreme Heat on the Wellness Industry: The Winners and Losers
• Wellness Real Estate Case Study: AMAALA Triple Bay, Saudi Arabia
• Study: Single Sauna Session Sends Immune Cells Surging
• Must-Reads from the Wellness World: From the new science of inflammation, to the most important longevity term that you’ve never heard of, to the surprising mental health benefits of travel

The Impact of Extreme Heat on the Wellness Industry: The Winners and Losers

By Thierry Malleret, economist

The relentless recent heat waves in Europe makes it plain: extreme weather events are becoming a structural fiscal issue. By August, the direct cost of the wildfires in the five worst-hit European countries had already reached nearly $3.5 billion. Malleret has been calling attention to how extreme heat will become a primary issue for the wellness industry, as a source of both competitive advantage and disadvantage. He lays out the future "winners" and "losers" in wellness.

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GWI’s Build Well to Live Well: Case Studies, Volume 2 details important wellness real estate projects in Saudi Arabia and the UAE—a region defined by its vast projects and unusually powerful commitments to sustainability, community wellbeing and local heritage. We spotlight one case study in each Brief.

Wellness Real Estate Case Study: AMAALA Triple Bay, Saudi Arabia

AMAALA is a comprehensive, integrated and master-planned global wellness destination located along the previously undeveloped Red Sea coastline of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The project is the first of its kind in both the region and the world, for its scale, scope, speed of development and audacious commitment to wellness and sustainability. Created over a span of eight years, AMAALA is one of the flagship tourism developments launched under the auspices of KSA’s Vision 2030, supporting the national goals of economic diversification, high-quality tourism development and sustainability. The mandate of AMAALA is to create a regenerative tourism destination anchored in wellness, sports and nature. It is designed as a family-friendly, year-round wellness destination that integrates evidence-based wellness experiences, luxury hospitality and environmental stewardship.

AMAALA Triple Bay features several innovative approaches for wellness:

• Designing a comprehensive, master-planned global wellness destination from the ground up

• Integrating wellness with sustainability and regenerative tourism

• Embedding workforce wellness throughout the value chain, from construction to operations

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Wellness Evidence

GWI’s website (www.wellnessevidence.com) is the only resource dedicated to the medical evidence for wellness approaches.

Single Sauna Session Sends Immune Cells Surging

A new study from the University of Eastern Finland (on 51 healthy adults) found that 30 minutes in a dry sauna sent every type of immune cell rushing into the bloodstream, including key infection fighters such as neutrophils and lymphocytes. A similar surge in white blood cells happens during exercise, as the body responds to possible threats. Regular sauna use has previously been linked to a range of health benefits and the temporary immune boost found in this study could help researchers understand some of the biological processes behind those benefits. Still, the researchers cautioned that the study measured only the immediate effects of one sauna session and more research is needed on whether repeated sauna bathing produces lasting changes in immune function.

NEW WELLNESS EVIDENCE MODALITY: Myofascial release has been added to the site. Check it out here.

Must-Reads from The Wellness World

The New Science of Inflammation: It’s All Interconnected 

– The New York Times

The Surprising Mental Health Benefits of Travel

– The Wall Street Journal

The Most Important Longevity Term You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

– The New York Times

Welcome to the Scrolling Backlash

– The Atlantic podcast

GLP-1 Weight-Loss Medication Could Slow Aging and Extend Lifespan

– Scientific American

A Striking Stat

82% of Asians report that holistic health is “very” or “extremely important” to them now. Nearly three-quarters say it matters more than it did three years ago.

Source: Herbalife APAC Wellness Culture Survey 2026 (10K respondents in 11 APAC nations)