The first-ever Longevity & Hospitality Summit, held as part of FIBO 2025, brought together global leaders in hospitality, wellness, science, and innovation to explore one defining question: how can hospitality help people not just live longer – but live better?

Held on 10 April in an exclusive conference venue above FIBO’s new Hall 1 – a space dedicated to the Future of Wellness, Hospitality and Longevity – the summit marked a pivotal moment in reimagining the role of hospitality in the age of longevity. It was a standout feature of FIBO 2025, the world’s largest trade show for health, fitness and wellness, held from 10–13 April at the Exhibition Centre Cologne.

Expertly curated by Judith Cartwright, Founder & Managing Director of Black Coral Consulting, and Yves Preissler, Founder & CEO of YP Business Consulting, in collaboration with FIBO Project Manager Anke Brendt who said “The summit attracted a high-quality global audience of hoteliers, developers, investors and wellness leaders – all eager to decode what longevity means for their businesses and brands and we are proud to have launched this inaugural event.”

Moderated by Gemma Greenwood, Director of Content Inc., a strategic communications consultant to the global tourism industry, the day delivered powerful insights, bold provocations, and practical roadmaps for transformation.

The future of hospitality is transformational
Longevity is no longer the concern of the medical world alone. With 1.4 billion people expected to be aged over 60 by 2030, or 1 in 6 people (WHO) and Gen Z also demanding purpose-driven, wellness-centred travel, not to mention science-backed longevity treatments, the opportunity for hospitality is clear.

The longevity market, valued at $366 billion in 2023, is forecast to hit $610 billion by 2025 (GWI) while the global wellness economy reached a new peak of $6.3 trillion in 2023 ($830 billion attributed to wellness tourism) and is forecast to hit $9 trillion in 2028 (GWI). Rather than treating longevity as a product or a luxury upsell, the summit challenged hospitality leaders to embed it systemically – through sleep optimisation, movement, nutrition, recovery, design, transformational experiences, and much more.

A high-impact line-up of global thought leaders
The summit featured a carefully curated roster of pioneers shaping the future of longevity, hospitality and guest experience:
• Dr. George Gaitanos, Chief Scientific & Operating Officer, Chenot Group – on the science of energy, performance, and the Chenot Method of medical wellness.
• Aradhana Khowala, CEO, Aptamind Partners – on democratising longevity, avoiding the costly pitfalls of “longevity-washing’, and creating hospitality spaces conducive to longevity.
• John Sanei, Global Futurist & Author – on how shifting our mindset and frequency can transform how we age and how we travel.
• Mia Kyricos, Founder, Kyricos & Associates – on sleep as an essential guest service and how hotels can lead the recovery revolution.
• Derek Stark, Founder, Evexiya – on AI, biometrics, and hyper-personalised wellness experiences that can be translated to the hotel environment.
• Celine Vadam, Retreat Expert, Blue Zones, and Mattheos Georgiou, SVP, SIRO & Rare Finds (Kerzner International) – on embedding wellbeing into hospitality strategies to enhance guest experiences and getting brand identity and operational culture right.
• Piers Schmidt, Founder, Luxury Branding – on the industry’s ‘Wellness Gap’ and ‘The Longevity Lever’ for more authentic wellness strategies and credible, longevity led branding.
• Christine Clinton, Chair, Wellness for Children (Global Wellness Institute) – on designing inclusive, multi-generational wellness experiences, including spa services for teenagers.
• Judith Cartwright, Founder, Black Coral Consulting – on the commercial case for longevity as the new luxury, and how to embed it into hospitality strategy.
• Yves Preissler, Founder & CEO, YP Business Consulting – on building profitable, fitness- and wellness-led business models and shifting from services to systems.

A surprise star: Eva Schippers steals the spotlight
One of the most talked-about moments of the summit came courtesy of Eva Schippers, an energetic and inspiring 96-year-old who shared her personal secrets to longevity: “A balanced diet, positive mind, mobility daily – and travel, always.”

Living independently and travelling the world with her daughter, Eva reminded delegates that vitality is not just about science and systems – but about joy, adventure, and attitude. Her message resonated deeply, offering a human face to the summit’s big ideas.

Key takeaways: bold ideas, real tools, immediate action
The day delivered a clear and compelling message for hospitality leaders:
• Longevity is not about lifespan – it’s about healthspan
• It must be delivered as a holistic system, not sold as a service
• Behavioural change is at the heart of real transformation
• Sleep, nutrition, movement and recovery should be built into every guest experience
• Substance beats slogans – no more longevity washing

“This summit created a dynamic platform for hoteliers to understand what longevity really means –
and how to translate it into real commercial opportunity,” said Judith Cartwright. “From elevating the guest journey to unlocking new revenue streams, the event addressed topics that made it a must-attend for anyone serious about the future of hospitality.”

Yves Preissler added: “We’ve entered an era where travellers seek personal transformation – not just fitness and relaxation. This summit showed how longevity can be operationalised in hospitality – from design and tech to training and culture. It’s where the next big wave of growth will come from.”

Moderator Gemma Greenwood concluded: “This wasn’t a summit about trends; it was about truths. It gave the industry clarity, energy and direction. If you want to understand what the future of hospitality looks like, you’ll want to be in the room next year.”

To close the day, Longevity & Hospitality Summit guests gathered for a gala dinner at stunning venue Flora Cologne, where guest speaker Nelly Attar – extreme sports athlete and entrepreneur – shared how sport transformed her life and fuels her mission to inspire change. The first Arab woman to summit K2, she spoke of resilience, teamwork, and the power of embracing the unknown.

FIBO 2026: the Longevity & Hospitality Summit returns
Following its successful launch, the Longevity & Hospitality Summit will return next year, taking place during FIBO 2026, set for 16–19 April at the Exhibition Centre Cologne. For hoteliers, developers and wellness innovators alike, it’s an unmissable opportunity to help shape the future of travel, health and human connection.