About the Wellness Tourism Association

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

WTA Founded

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

Wellness Destination Framework Introduced

Introduced pioneering framework for defining Wellness Destinations, outlining the key criteria a region must meet to be authentically positioned as wellness-focused.

2021

Wellness Travel Specialist Course & IWTC Launch

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 Launch

Leading Light Awards are launched to recognize and honor individuals making exceptional contributions to the wellness tourism industry.

2023

Second Edition of Specialist Course

Released second edition of the Wellness Travel Specialist Course, reflecting updated best practices and a changing post-pandemic landscape.

2024

First WTA-Recognized Wellness Destination

Antigua & Barbuda is named the first-ever WTA-recognized Wellness Destination, setting a new standard in destination certification and marketing.

2025

WTA Relaunch & Core Wellness Standards

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.

Released the Core Wellness Standards for Hotels initiative in partnership with WITT (Wellness in Travel & Tourism) Certification

2026

Leadership Council & Responsible Retreats Framework Introduced

Inaugural Leadership Council is appointed to serve as committee chairs, helping guide the programs, initiatives, and priorities that strengthen our community and advance the future of wellness tourism.

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

Sara Fausette

Marina George

Leadership Council

Kendra Kobler is Director of the Standards Advisory Committee for WITT, bringing extensive expertise in wellness, hospitality, and program development. Previously, she served as Director of Programs & Operations at the Global Wellness Institute, leading initiatives including the Global Wellness Trends Report, Shark Tank of Wellness, and the Wellness Moonshot. She also spent five years at Delos, supporting wellness solutions across hotels, resorts, offices, spas, and airports.

Kendra Kobler

Director

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.

Rosalyn Acosta

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.

Lisa Caruso

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.

Aubrey Closson

Co-Chair

Sébastien Desnoyers Picard is a member of the Wendat Nation, former elected Chief, entrepreneur, and internationally recognized Indigenous tourism leader with 20+ years of experience. As Co-Founder and CEO of Yatista Consulting Group, he works with Indigenous communities, tourism organizations, destinations, governments, and international partners to strengthen Indigenous tourism ecosystems and create sustainable pathways to market.

Sebastien Desnoyers

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.

Sahara Rose de Vore

Chair

Marina George is a Certified Transformational Travel Coach who supports women in reconnecting with themselves and gaining clarity through intentional travel. She creates culturally immersive wellness group experiences, supports solo journeys, and offers astrocartography-informed travel planning. Her work is designed to inspire meaningful connection, personal growth, and lasting transformation.

Marina George

Co Chair

Caroline Lavoie is a trilingual wellness tourism strategist and writer with more than 25 years of experience across hotels, destinations, retreats, tour operators, and aviation. Founder of Caroline Lavoie Wellness, she combines expertise in wellness tourism, hospitality, and sales to help hotels and corporations create signature wellness experiences. She has negotiated with thousands of suppliers, led sales for major hotel brands, and supported retreat leaders in launching their own transformative retreats.

Caroline Lavoie

Vice Chair

Brent Manning is a search and AI visibility strategist with 20 years of experience in travel and digital marketing. A former Head of SEO at Expedia ANZ, he has worked with leading brands including Lonely Planet, Hyatt Hotels, Sydney Airport, Ovolo, Crystalbrook Collection, and Naumi. Today, he helps travel and wellness organizations strengthen their visibility across Google and AI search, turning their expertise into stronger content, trust, and demand.

Brent Manning

Member

Lauren Pronger is the Founder & CEO of Well Inspired Travels and Founder of SUPERWELL. Since 2018, she has led luxury wellness travel, advising hotels, resorts, travel companies, and wellness brands on transformative guest experiences, wellness programming, retreats, and longevity-focused concepts. A wellness consultant, speaker, educator, and founding member of the Wellness Tourism Association, Lauren is dedicated to advancing education, collaboration, and standards across the global wellness travel industry.

Lauren Pronger

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.

Laszlo Puczko

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.

Rochelle Reiter

Co-Chair

Sahara Rodriguez is an intuitive empath, Reiki Master, and meditation instructor based in Tampa, Florida, with over 25 years of experience in bodywork and holistic healing. She regularly leads LIFTS (Living From The Source) meditation retreats and co-hosts international yoga and wellness retreats in destinations including Costa Rica. Today, she helps others deepen their connection to themselves through meditation, energy healing, and transformative wellness experiences.

Sahara Rodriguez

Member

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.

Sheri Rosenthal

Chair

Annette Nero Stellhorn is Founder & President of Accent on Travel with 37+ years of travel industry experience. She specializes in cruise, yacht, and wellness travel, having experienced 98+ ships and yachts and visited 130+ countries. As Chair of the WTA’s Cruise & Yacht Committee, she is committed to redefining wellness at sea through nature, movement, mindfulness, and restorative wellbeing.

Annette Stellhorn

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.

David T. Stevens

Chair

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

A Message from WTA President & 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.

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.

Be Part of the Global Wellness Tourism Community

Connect with professionals and organizations from across the global wellness tourism industry through membership, partnership and professional recognition.

become a wta member

Become a WTA Member

Join a global community of wellness tourism professionals, organizations, and destinations working together to shape the future of wellness tourism.

Become a Member

Partner With Us

Collaborate with WTA to create meaningful connections, initiatives, and opportunities across the global wellness tourism community.

Partner With Us

Become A Verified Retreat Leader

Gain trusted global recognition as a retreat leader committed to meaningful, responsible, and high-quality wellness experiences.

Become Verified

Let’s Connect

Whether you’re interested in membership, partnership opportunities, WTA initiatives or collaborating with us, we welcome the conversation.