Priyanka Khanna
16-Oct-2026
Understanding the growing intersection of well being and luxury.
By Priyanka Khanna, Experiential Curator and Director, Khanna Hotels, Pvt. Ltd. (Taj Bekal, Kerala & The Club, Mumbai)
As a well-heeled traveller, I have watched the meaning of luxury change quite dramatically over the years. Today, I find the signals of luxury becoming much quieter. The ability to sleep well. Being physically fit without looking obsessed by it. Having the time to exercise, eat well, switch off and spend time with family. We have access to extraordinary food, medical expertise and fitness technology, yet modern lifestyles are leaving many people exhausted. For me, this is where the definition of luxury begins to change.
Longevity may be the ultimate luxury. I think longevity will increasingly become one of the defining themes of luxury travel. The ability to travel comfortably at 70, 80 or beyond; to continue playing sport; to spend time with children and grandchildren; to remain mentally sharp; to wake up feeling energetic; these are forms of wealth that become increasingly valuable with age. And unlike a handbag or a car, they cannot simply be replaced. This is why I believe the next generation of luxury travellers will increasingly invest in healthspan rather than simply lifespan. The objective isn't merely to live longer; It is to live well for longer.
Wellness is becoming the new currency of luxury. Sleep patterns, recovery, metabolic health, nutrition, fitness, stress levels and biological markers are all becoming part of the conversation. Longevity clinics and advanced wellness centres are bringing together doctors, nutritionists, fitness experts, therapists and technology to create highly personalised experiences. This is very different from simply booking a massage earlier on. The new wellness consumer may arrive with data from a wearable device, undergo health assessments for their gut, consult specialists and leave with a personalized programme before, during and after.
Wellness was once associated with simplicity. Yoga, meditation, walking, healthy food and time in nature were relatively uncomplicated pursuits. Today, wellness can involve expensive retreats, biometric testing, personalised nutrition, specialist practitioners, sophisticated equipment and exclusive memberships. A week at a luxury wellness retreat can cost considerably more than a traditional luxury holiday. Even being “healthy” can become something that is performed socially.
But I think there is an important difference. The most sophisticated wellness experiences are not necessarily the ones with the highest price tags. They are the ones that provide privacy, expertise, authenticity and meaningful results.
There is also a Social & Community Wellness. Fitness has become more community-oriented. Padel, pickleball, Hyrox, running clubs, Pilates and other activities have created new social environments where people meet through shared interests rather than simply through traditional social circles. Wellness is no longer necessarily solitary - It can be about belonging.
The modern luxury club is increasingly becoming a place where people can exercise, socialise, eat, recover and spend time with their families, all within the same ecosystem. In that sense, wellness is becoming less about an occasional spa treatment and more about a way of living. And perhaps more of the things that are increasingly difficult to find are health, energy, privacy, connection and peace.
As a traveller, I find that the experiences I remember most are not necessarily the most extravagant ones. They are the ones where I slept deeply, woke up feeling energised, spent time in beautiful surroundings, moved my body, ate well and somehow felt that the world had slowed down. That, to me, is the new luxury.
Wellness may indeed have become a status symbol. But I hope its most sophisticated expression remains something quieter than that. Not something we display, but something we feel. Because ultimately, the greatest luxury isn't looking like you have everything. It is having the health, time and freedom to genuinely enjoy what you have.
All image credits: Unsplash
