121. You Can't Have 40% Wellness Revenue from 10% Wellness Facilities with Vickum Nawagamuwage

 What happens when a burned-out strategy consultant travels the world seeking wellness solutions, only to discover they're all treating symptoms instead of root causes?  

Vickum Nawagamuwage's journey from corporate burnout to founding Santani Wellness in Sri Lanka reveals his much-needed approach to wellness that challenges everything hotels think they know about spa and wellness programming. 

From visiting wellness destinations across four continents to developing what Time Magazine recognised as one of the greatest places in the world, Vickum discovered that modern stress isn't a situational problem, it's evolutionary.  

Vickum advocates that we stop focusing on the body and start treating the mind as your primary wellness asset. 

In today’s episode, here are the 3 things we’ll cover: 


1. The Evolutionary Mismatch Crisis 

Why traditional wellness approaches fail in our modern world and how the 1800% increase in information consumption over 25 years has created an unprecedented cognitive overload that no amount of massage or cold plunging can solve. 

 
2. The Architecture of Mental Wellness 

How physical spaces profoundly impact mental health and why designing environments that create mental calm rather than just housing wellness equipment are key. 


3. The Business Reality Check 

Why expecting 40% wellness revenue from 10% wellness facilities is impossible, and how to authentically scale wellness offerings that match your commitment level and guest expectations. 

By the end of this episode you'll understand: 


→ Why modern stress requires a completely different wellness approach 
→ How space design can become your primary wellness tool 
→ The real investment needed to generate meaningful wellness revenue 

_______



Are you ready to take wellness to the next level?


Here are 2 ways I can help:


1️⃣  WHO: Wellness directors who want to join 1% of wellness leaders


📌 WHAT: The Wellness Asset Academy
A 10-week online group programme where I guide you through my 7-step ESSENCE framework. Achieve higher pay and secure a genuine seat at the hotel’s big table—so wellness is no longer the most neglected area in the hotel.

→  Join the waitlist here.



2️⃣  WHO: Owners of small, independent hotels with a strong wellbeing focus


📌 WHAT: Asset Builder Mentorship
Exclusive 6-month 1:1 mentorship programme to master creating a wellness asset, build a proud team, and deliver transformative experiences for your guests.

→  Become a steward of true hospitality.



💡 Why work with me?

I know what works with wellness and I also know what doesn’t. I’ve made the mistakes so you don’t need to – saving you thousands of dollars on bad decisions.

✅ #1 best-selling author, global wellness expert 
✅ 40+ projects in 20+ countries across Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific 
✅ Top brands: Abadía Retuerta, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Accor, Six Senses Resorts & Spas 
✅ Interviewed over 150+ hoteliers worldwide