Wellness tourism is the fastest-growing sector in the hospitality and tourism industry. It centers on travel aimed at improving personal well-being, and BYUH–Hawaii students are preparing to help shape its future.
"When people hear 'wellness tourism,' they often think of massages or spa treatments,” said Jeff Christensen, program director for hospitality and tourism management at BYU–Hawaii. While those experiences can be part of wellness, spa tourism focuses primarily on relaxation and physical care, while wellness tourism encompasses much more.
“Wellness tourism is more transformational,” he said. “It's about bringing together the mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical aspects of a person's life and helping them find balance."
To help students better understand this emerging field, the hospitality & tourism management (HTM) program at BYU–Hawaii hosted a wellness retreat at the Wellness Retreat Center in Hauula on May 23, giving participants firsthand experience with the transformative practices that are shaping the future of travel.
Purposeful Retreat
Elaborating on the retreat’s objectives, Christensen expounded on the transformative practices he hopes the students will apply in their future endeavors and in their daily lives. "It's difficult to bring something to life that you haven't experienced yourself. Having students participate in the consumer side of tourism is essential to them going out and creating meaningful tourist experiences for their guests," he said.
"I also know how stressful student life can be,” Christensen continued. “You're balancing classes, work, church responsibilities, relationships, and extracurricular activities, so having mechanisms or tools that help students better manage stress is really important. At the same time, I wanted them to see the professional side of it. This is something they could potentially bring back to their home countries."
Adding to that sentiment, Angel Lyn, a BYU–Hawaii alumna and life coach who presented to the students during the retreat, said that wellness tourism allows students to see the value in their own cultural practices while learning from others. "Many students don't realize that the wellness practices they grew up with—the things their parents and grandparents taught them—may be valuable to people from other parts of the world. Wellness tourism creates opportunities for communities to share those traditions and cultural practices with travelers seeking greater well-being."
"I believe students who come to BYU–Hawaii are led here for a reason. There is something unique about this place—a spirit of aloha, truth, and love. As students spend time here, they learn to lead from that light and carry it with them wherever they go," Lyn shared.
Wellness and Leadership
For students, the retreat became more than an academic exercise—it became an experience that reshaped how they think about wellness and leadership. Students spent several hours diving into activities such as guided discussions, an eye-gazing exercise, posture and alignment exercises, and a sound bath meditation to top it all off.
One of the biggest takeaways for Heiranie Lacour, a sophomore from Tahiti majoring in hospitality and tourism management, was the difference between human standards and divine standards. “We often define success, beauty, and happiness according to what society tells us, but the retreat reminded me that Heavenly Father's standards are much greater. It encouraged me to focus on finding peace, purpose, and personal growth rather than chasing worldly expectations."
Taking this practice to heart, Lacour found that the days following the retreat, she spent less time on her phone, slept better, and felt more present with her family. “My husband actually told me, 'Wow, I can tell that the retreat really did something to you.' That experience helped me slow down and focus on what truly matters,” she shared. "I learned that if you're not taking care of yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically, it's difficult to serve others effectively. As a leader, I need to make sure I'm in a healthy place so I can better help the people who depend on me."
The retreat also left a lasting impression on students outside the HTM program. Rory Pilkington, a senior from Australia studying business management and supply chain, said the experience encouraged him to think beyond academics and future careers and reflect on what creates a meaningful and balanced life.
One of the activities that stood out most to Pilkington was the eye-gazing exercise. During this exercise, students were invited to maintain unbroken eye contact with a partner. “The eye-gazing activity reminded me that there's more to people than we often acknowledge,” he said. “On a university campus, we spend a lot of time making small talk about majors, classes, and the weather. This activity helped us move past those surface-level conversations and connect with who people really are.”
Pilkington said that being a leader is about understanding and helping the people around you. What he appreciated about the retreat was that it focused on becoming a better person and helping others recognize their potential while also recognizing their own.
Lasting Learning
As wellness tourism continues to grow, Christensen hopes experiences like the retreat will help students develop both personally and professionally. Beyond introducing students to an emerging sector of the tourism industry, the retreat encouraged participants to reflect on their well-being, strengthen their leadership skills, and build meaningful connections with others.
“Some of the most powerful learning happens outside the classroom,” Christensen said. “I would encourage students to step outside their comfort zones and take advantage of opportunities like this. There are lessons you simply can't learn from a textbook, a lecture, or a case study. Experiences like these often create the most meaningful and lasting learning.”
The retreat reflects BYU–Hawaii’s emphasis on experiential learning, providing students with opportunities that will help them grow emotionally, personally, and spiritually.