About the WTA
OUR STORY
The Wellness Tourism Association (WTA) was founded in 2018 to bring clarity, connection, and credibility to a growing global industry. As interest in wellness-focused travel surged, so did the need for a professional organization dedicated solely to this space.
WTA was launched by a group of wellness travel leaders who shared a vision: to establish common definitions, build meaningful collaborations, and elevate standards across wellness tourism.
Since then, we’ve grown into a respected global network of members, partners and media – from hotels and tour operators to destinations and advisors – all committed to the shared mission of supporting well-being through trave. Together, we advocate for the industry, educate professionals, and set the foundation for wellness tourism to thrive in a sustainable, inclusive, and impactful way.
MILESTONES
2018
- Wellness Tourism Association is officially incorporated as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to wellness tourism
- Founding Partners: Accor, Canyon Ranch, The Art of Living Retreat Center, The Monaco Government Tourism Office and Anne Dimon (Founding President & CEO)
- Published first Wellness Travel Consumer Survey, offering industry-shaping insights into the needs and motivations of wellness travelers
- Launch of the first-of-its-kind global Glossary of Wellness Tourism Terms, to establish a common language across the industry
2019
- Introduced pioneering framework for defining Wellness Destinations, outlining the key criteria a region must meet to be authentically positioned as wellness-focused
2021
- In partnership with The Travel Institute, WTA launches Wellness Travel Specialist Course, offering the first professional certification for travel advisors in the sector
- Hosted inaugural International Wellness Tourism Conference (IWTC) in Miami, Florida, USA, convening global changemakers and industry experts to explore the future of wellness tourism
2022
- Leading Light Awards are launched to recognize and honor individuals making exceptional contributions to the wellness tourism industry
2023
- Released second edition of the Wellness Travel Specialist Course, reflecting updated best practices and a changing post-pandemic landscape
2024
- Antigua & Barbuda is named the first-ever WTA-recognized Wellness Destination, setting a new standard in destination certification and marketing
2025
- Released the Core Wellness Standards for Hotels initative in partnership with WITT (Wellness in Travel & Tourism) Certification
- WTA is relaunched as a for-profit LLC under new ownership, entering a dynamic new era of leadership and global expansion, while continuing its legacy as a trusted voice and visionary force in wellness tourism
2026
- Released the Six Principles for Responsible Retreats, establishing the first framework designed to elevate trust, transparency, and participant well-being across the global retreat ecosystem
Our Team
Robin Ruiz
President & CEO
Brigit Nickol
Member Services & Operations
Sara Fausette
Programming & Partnerships
Marina George
WTA Committees & Councils
Leadership Council
David T. Stevens
WTA Programming & Events Committee Chair
David T. Stevens is a wellness-first event strategist, keynote speaker, and co-founder of Olympian Meeting. With more than 20 years of experience across events, media, sports, and associations, he helps organizations design meetings that support performance, well-being, and lasting impact.
Sheri Rosenthal
WTA Retreat
Committee Chair
Dr. Sheri Rosenthal is the founder of Wanderlust Entrepreneur® and CEO of Journeys of the Spirit®. For more than 25 years, she has designed and led transformational retreats worldwide, planning over 1,000 retreats and training more than 25,000 retreat leaders, coaches, and travel professionals in the art and business of transformational travel.
Laszlo Puczko
WTA Data, Research & Insights Committee Chair
László Puczko is a wellbeing strategist, mentor, and trainer with expertise across wellness tourism, hospitality and spa. He has led trainings in over 40 countries and has authored major industry reports and publications including UNWTO and the Global Spa Summit.
Sahara Rose de Vore
WTA Membership & Community Committee Chair
Sahara Rose De Vore is Founder and CEO of The Travel Coach Network and creator of the world’s first ICF-accredited certification program for travel coaches. A TEDx speaker, author, and global travel expert, she has visited 84 countries and been featured in Forbes, CNN Travel, Condé Nast Traveler, and over 300 media outlets.
Lisa Caruso
WTA Marketing & Communications Committee Chair
Lisa Caruso is the Founder and Chief Joy Officer of JoyWelle, bringing more than 25 years of experience in wellness, branding, and strategic communications. A wellness consultant, keynote speaker, author, and intuitive healer, she helps luxury travel, hospitality, and lifestyle brands integrate wellness into their identity and guest experience.
Aubrey Closson
WTA Marketing & Communications Committee Co-Chair
Aubrey Closson is a wellness marketing strategist with 12+ years of experience across wellness, retail, consumer brands, and nonprofits. A certified corporate wellness expert and award-winning marketer, she helps purpose-driven organizations grow through strategic storytelling and engagement.
Rochelle Reiter
WTA Marketing & Communications Committee Co-Chair
Rochelle Reiter is CEO of Well Connected Brands Inc. and a marketing strategist with 30+ years of experience building purpose-driven brands. She specializes in wellness marketing and has led award-winning campaigns for healthcare, hospitality, education, and consumer brands.
Rosalyn Acosta
Wellness Practitioner
Committee Chair
Rosalyn Acosta is the founder of Live Heal Travel, an Energetic Alchemist, and a sustainable tourism expert with more than 15 years of experience in global travel. She combines expertise in tourism, wellness, and energy work to create transformative experiences and custom eco-wellness retreats for individuals, families, and organizations.
A Message from Our CEO
Welcome to the next chapter of the Wellness Tourism Association.
Since its founding in 2018, the WTA has played a vital role in shaping a fast-evolving global industry – one built on the intersection of travel, wellness, and purpose. I want to begin by acknowledging the foundational efforts of the association’s early leaders and members. Their work in defining benchmarks, creating the industry’s first glossary of terms, establishing a voice for wellness tourism and much more, has set the stage for what comes next.
As we step into a new era, I am honored to carry that legacy forward, and believe the opportunity in front of us as a community is nothing short of transformational.
Wellness tourism is no longer a trend—it is a global movement that’s here to stay. One that calls for clarity, connection, and credibility. At the WTA, our mission is to support responsible growth of the sector by building a trusted ecosystem of wellness-minded stakeholders, partners, advocates and supporters. Together, we are setting a higher bar: for integrity, for impact, and for the wellness experiences travelers seek and industry professionals deserve.
Our work is rooted in three guiding goals:
- To establish and uphold meaningful industry benchmarks
- To educate, inform, and empower wellness-minded professionals
- To connect and elevate a global community committed to wellness in travel
Whether you’re a hotelier, tour operator, travel advisor, destination marketer, wellness practitioner, researcher, writer or simply passionate about the power of travel to foster well-being, WTA is your home. A place to contribute, collaborate, and help shape the future of wellness tourism for the better.
We believe the more aligned we are as an industry, the more meaningful and accessible wellness travel becomes for all.
“The future of wellness tourism will be shaped not by the loudest voices, but by the most intentional.”
— Robin Ruiz, CEO & President, Wellness Tourism Association
