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Each episode of GAIN Momentum focuses on timeless lessons to help grow and scale a business in hospitality, travel, and technology. Whether you’re a veteran industry leader looking for some inspiration to guide the next phase of growth or an aspiring executive looking to fast-track the learning process, this podcast is here with key lessons centered around four questions we ask each guest.
GAIN Momentum episode #77: The Joy of Wellness and Transformational Guest Journeys | with Andrew Barnard
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Adam Mogelonsky: Welcome to GAIN Momentum Podcast, focusing on timeless lessons from senior leaders in hospitality, food service, travel, and technology. We have a very special conversation today. I'm joined by the CEO of SunSwept Resorts, Andrew Barnard coming from St. Lucia. Andrew, how are you?
Andrew Barnard: Very well, thanks, Adam. Pleasure to be here.
Adam Mogelonsky: It's fantastic to have you on. We're gonna have a delightful conversation about wellness, about the resorts that you manage and where the world is going with this huge focus on health and wellbeing. So, to start off with, I'm wondering if you could give us some background. Um, you've now been with SunSwept Resorts for 24 years, but it's a family enterprise.
I'm wondering if you could start at the beginning with, uh, [00:01:00] the work that your family's done all the way back in the fifties and sixties, and bring us forward to modern day.
Andrew Barnard: Absolutely. So. Back in the, back in the 19, actually, in the 1940s, um, my grandfather who had married a Barbadian woman, was convinced by his wife to buy some land on the beach in cia. Now, sun's a very mountainous island, and normally, um, people tend to try and live up on the hills above, particularly before the days of air conditioning, um, where it's very cool and windy.
And so he was, convinced by his wife to buy some beachfront land, um, which he did. It was completely isolated, um, on the northwest coast of Sania. And, um, and eventually built a be beach house there, and it became the family's weekend retreat. So they would, um, cross the island on horseback and get in some rowboats from ancillary village and row up the island to, [00:02:00] um, access this beach house that was, um, or isolated on, um, Malibu Beach in St.
Lucia. And, um, you know, uh, some years later the government built an airport nearby and, um, travelers started to come in and, um, this was one of the very only, um, places on the island. Um, and it was very close to the airport. So he built, um, 12 cottages next to the, the, the main house. And then, um, so we're talking in the 1960s now, and slowly started to incorporate it.
And in 1966 he created Malibu Beach Hotel. And um, basically the guests would go and stay in the cottages and come down to the house. And, um, he would entertain them with his butler around the bar and um, have a good time. And so there within was the birth of our family in hospitality, that carried on.
And my father, um, had [00:03:00] been inspired by, um, hospitality and went moved to sw, he went to Switzerland to do Losan Hotel School and then he, having returned to the Caribbean, he was working in Grenada and other places, Ireland of all places in Europe. And, um, finally came back to run the family hotel in 1975.
Um, I was actually just after I was born, so, I found myself back in St. Lucia's baby, um, and grew up there in the heart of that. Um, so Caribou Beach Hotel, um, carried on. Um, he carried on running it from 1975 to 81. Um, we were getting about $12 a bed night, $12 a room night, um, back then. And so we needed to break out and find a differentiator that, um, uh, that would uh, help us to, um, become, the masters of our destiny, if you like.
And we came across, uh, uh, the ISA family in [00:04:00] Jamaica who had just started the couples franchise. They had just opened Couples Jamaica, the first couples. My dad flew up there, introduced himself, said hello. And persuaded them to give him a franchise in St. Lucia. And so, um, in 1981, we opened Couples St. Lucia.
Um, and at that time, that was one of the very first fully all inclusive resorts in the whole of the West Indies. And, um, so this is right, right back at the birth of the concept of all inclusive. It, these hotels went beyond what Club met have been doing, um, in Europe. Um, because we had no beads anymore.
Everything was completely inclusive as, as, as it would come to define all inclusive across the Caribbean. And um, so we ran that for 1981 through to, uh, for 10 years to 91. Um, and during that period, um, we had an opportunity to purchase [00:05:00] an old, um, ailing hotel, on the North Coast Sun, Lucia, which was called Caribou Beach Hotel.
Um, and we. My father and a couple of his friends working for a concept for it, and they thought that they would do something around rejuvenation and there was something happening in the market. They identified a friend about people wanting to feel healthier, um, retire well, um, and strive for, um, uh, longevity.
And so they termed it a holiday of rejuvenation. They came up with a concept around that and, um, designed that concept. We opened body holiday then in 1988. So we bought the hotel in 1987. Um, and we spent, um, a long time building a very large farm, um, and wellness facilities and adding and changing the resort around and then opened, uh, this holiday of rejuvenation body holiday, but we called it List Sport, the body holiday.
In 1988, [00:06:00] um, then as the couples franchise came to an end in 1991, there, we saw the birth of what of the Brand Rendezvous, which was a couples only all inclusive, continuing in the vein of, of the couples idea. And we ran that until as a boutique, um, escape for couples, um, through to about three years ago, um, just coming out of COVID when we decided to, um, rethink, um, rendezvous.
And we, um, we gave birth to a new idea called Stolen Time, which is a small, intimate wellness resort focused on relaxation and rest restorative life practices. and there we are. That's, um, in essence that's where we are. I came into the picture, um, obviously I've been working in the hotel since I was a kid, um, you know, since I was sort of 8, 9, 10 years old.
[00:07:00] Um, and then through my teens, every school vacation period, I was, um, in the hotel working. Um, and so I know our business pretty much inside out by the time I came back to it. Um, having gone to Lozano Hotel School myself, um, in the, in the late nineties, um, by the time I came back in the early two thousands, I was, um, you know, fairly, uh, familiar already with the whole, um, of our operations.
So there's a bit of history.
Adam Mogelonsky: We're, we're fully up to speed. And I'm wondering, just to set the scene for everyone who's listening from an international audience, what's so special about St. Lucia as an island in your mind?
Andrew Barnard: St. Lucia is a very interesting, Alan, because it's one of the few islands in the West Indies, uh, that brings together all of the sort of typical ideas of what you'd want from an island. Um, it's volcanic, it has volcano, it has dramatic mountains, valleys, gorges, rivers, um, [00:08:00] waterfalls, um, uh, a sense of that tropical, um, idea of lost, you know, the island environment.
Um, but. As well as being volcanic. The volcano is fairly isolated in the, we southwestern part of the island. Um, and, but a lot of the north and northwestern part and the eastern part are white, white, whiter beaches. So you get this beautiful combination of some dark beaches, some white beaches or more honeycomb beaches as we like to call them, um, with the, the idea of this forest and natural beauty coming right down to the water's edge.
So, and then peppered with beautiful, charming little fishing villages, um, that are populated with the most charming and beautiful people you'll meet in the Hall of the West Indies. I've traveled up and down the islands and solutions have a natural warmth and welcome to them. That is rare on this earth.
It's, it's impressive. So you've got this fabulous, it's an envelope [00:09:00] of, of love and fun and joy, um, in an absolutely magnificent physical setting.
Adam Mogelonsky: You know, that's, that's the universal truth of hospitality is it's, it, it always comes down to the people. And the phrase I use is, the core mission of hospitality is the generation of joy. And that comes forward from the people that are, that are there and, and, and it, it, it halos out this, this energy radiates.
and, and I'm wondering, you know, the, this is, this is an expression of your family and I am wondering, uh, as somebody who works with my father as well, is what's it like to work in a family run enterprise? Um, you know, don't hold back. it can be troubling at times. It can be fun at times.
Uh, and then how, how do you make decisions as a family? Mm-hmm.
Andrew Barnard: Um, you know, I think that, a multi-generational family business, so, you know, shareholding has been, um, uh, diluted among, um, [00:10:00] brothers and cousins, um, over the generations. I just happen to be the guy who, um, found the passion for hospitality and, and invested my life in it. Um, and so I do this side of the family business.
you know, I think that, um, making sure that communication is there is absolutely fundamental. Um, you know, I work with my father, um, you know, he's, he's, uh, semi, really semi-retired now, but, um, plays a, a fairly active role in all the major decision making. He likes to be fully appraised. He's, um, you know, he is, he is sharp as a whistle and sort of has excellent, um, background and judgment after, you know, decades in the business and in the region.
you know, there's, it's really great to have that support. Um, you know, always there, um, a wise, um, conse, uh, you know, that can just guide, um. And he and I really, um, you know, over the years, I think we've had a [00:11:00] fantastic working relationship. We see eye to eye on 95% of the decisions and, and the ideas that we have in the business.
Um, you know, and the 5% that we don't agree on, um, you know, makes for healthy debate. You know, and I, I think that, um, if you agree on everything, um, perhaps you're not really gonna advance as, as well as you might if you're not challenging each other, um, sometimes. And so you've gotta have that respectful challenge.
Um, and you've gotta have the right conduits for challenge as well, so that, you know, um, uh, shareholders who are not necessarily involved in the business need to be able to voice concern, voice ideas, um, you know, contribute, be heard, um, and, and have those those actively addressed, um, you know, in the business.
Um, so. And there are ways to do that through family councils and, you know, proper communication and forums and everything, um, to, to make those things [00:12:00] work. And, um, we've tried to model ourselves on some of the great family dynasties of, um, the United States, um, that you know of provided, you know, case studies and models, um, about how to make that successful.
Um, because, you know, a lot of family businesses don't make it to the third generation, um, and the fourth generation in today's world. Um, and a lot of it's because, um, they can't find their way through as, as a team, you know, uh, forget the word. Family is a team you know, and, and, and align interest. Um, and have trust.
So, a big part of it.
Adam Mogelonsky: Yeah, the, I guess the expression is for the third generation is mold it, hold it, fold it, as they say. But establishing a multi-generational hospitality dynasty and that 5% friction that you have, oftentimes the best ideas will result from butting heads and really speaking your mind in a passionate, yet [00:13:00] constructive way.
Andrew Barnard: I, I fully agree. Totally. So important.
Adam Mogelonsky: how does that pay forward into establishing a great team culture? Knowing that the core of any wellness programming for your resorts is dependent on the team that goes from your family out to the whole team, and then out onto every single guest that comes and stays with you.
Andrew Barnard: well, I think that, um, you know, that's what we've been about from, from, uh, the get go. Um, you know, when, when my grandfather founded, um, our business, you know, he founded it based on his home. you know, those ideas, um, and the relevance of that has not escaped us culturally over the years. And so when new people come and join us, um, we like to think that they're joining our family and they're joining, um, a team who are here to welcome guests into our home.
And we see our [00:14:00] resort. As where we live and play and, and where we, uh, where we've enjoy and, and a place that represents our values, you know, and reflects those values. And right at the top of that is, you know, looking after our guests as people coming into our home. And so what that's, you know, in large part that's a core message that our teams, um, receive in the induction program when they join us, is really like you are representatives of now of this family and that this is what we do.
We, we run family hospitality. Um, and, you know, it's so important to, To differentiate oneself, um, as well in today's world where you, where we're facing the pressure of, um, large international chains, um, who have, um, regimented systems of welcome and hospitality, um, to be authentic, um, to, and to bring that across.
I know that's a really important thing for [00:15:00] us. Really
important.
Adam Mogelonsky: No, it's, it's, it's everything. Right? And, uh, that is, that is why I asked the question about St. Lucia as a sense of place, because that helps to give that authenticity that's so important.
so one, one other, uh, background question for you is, you were the director of this St. Lucia Tourism Board before and during the pandemic, is that correct?
Andrew Barnard: I was on the board, I was
the board. director. Right. And, uh, that must have come with its own challenges as well as tourism numbers went from, you know, uh, whatever the airlift was down to, whatever the airlift became, and then back up again, right? Yeah. This one.
Yeah. You know, solutions economy is, is largely driven, um, by tourism, you know, uh, 50% of our GDP, more or less directly is driven by tourism. Indirectly, it goes up to about 60, 64%. Um, so it's [00:16:00] an enormous, um, enormously important sector, um, for the island, um, as it is from many of the Caribbean islands. Um, many of the islands that cross this West Indies.
And, um, it was a period of uncertainty. Um, but we did what we had to do. Um, I think Once things started to come back, um, we really tried to see it as an opportunity. Um, I think, uh, our government was balanced and responsive, um, and, um, fairly quick on their feet.
Um, we sort of set the policy in place, the policy sat and didn't move. So, um, one of the things that really was, um, the key in all of, of building rebuilding was consistency. Um, so we set our policy in place and we didn't shift it. So the airlines knew where we were, the operators knew where we were, the, um, travel counselors knew where we were, [00:17:00] um, where we stood on everything.
Um, and travelers knew what it was. So, you know, there was that, that sense of certainty that, um, that the travelers were looking for people wanting to get out, um, needed at the time. And then. Um, I remember as a board, we, we, um, conscientiously started to work, um, very actively and, uh, proactively, I would say, um, with the airlines. Um, and, um, promised to really help support them with marketing and all the different, um, uh, regions of the United States. Um, so as they started to put on new flights, um, and build back airlift and get planes back flying in the air again, because of course the airline industry took it even worse than we did.
I mean, you know, as it was terrible. So, um, it was about helping them get back in the air as well, um, and trying to build a partnership relationship. Um, and Sun actually managed to build airlift coming out of, [00:18:00] out of the pandemic. We ended up with a net increase in see surviving in Suno of the United States, um, than, than where we were in 2019.
Um, so, you know, by 2022, uh, 21, we, we were really doing, we were cranking it again, um, and we needed it because, you know, the island had lost millions in GDP. Um, millions in wealth, you know, um, debt had had, was climbing. Um, you know, and a lot of these islands are still handicapped by that. Um, you know, it's, uh, it's the legacy of COVID.
Um, it's like the, the illness that won't go away. We got long COVID. We say that
Adam Mogelonsky: Long COVID in the debt market, but, um,
Andrew Barnard: that's probably, it's, it's brutal. And being small island nations is, is very tough. You know? Um, there's not any kind of like white charger coming over the hill to save us, you know? Um, we're there, we're out on our own in the middle of the ocean. Um, [00:19:00] we just gotta fight for what we can. So, you know, it's tough.
It's tough.
Adam Mogelonsky: well, I think your, uh, your concept, that you came up with as, as a board of consistency in messaging and policies. Um, we're certainly seeing the effects right now of certain countries who are inconsistent. in Their messaging. Um, we're recording on July, uh, what is the date today? July 11th. Uh, and there's some countries that are being inconsistent in their messaging and it is resulting in, uh, false in their, in their tourism, numbers, right?
So
consistency is so critical in everything. You know, you, you measure twice, drill once, come up with a plan, and then stick with it and have a framework for any sort of pivoting, but don't, don't throw the, uh, the, the proverbial baby out with the bath water and just, uh, flip flop around.
Andrew Barnard: that's right. That it's well put. [00:20:00] Um, well summarized. Yeah,
Adam Mogelonsky: if, we could dive into body holiday specifically, because this is, it is the progenitor of, uh, modern day wellness resorts and now there are thousands of resorts around the world that are.
Are essentially trying to do what body holiday figured out, uh, 40 years ago. And, um, you know, we could go through the whole litany of all the different programs you, you run, but I'm wondering if we could start, uh, just on one particular program that you wanna focus on and then talk about the story behind that, and then how that helps to reflect on everything that's great about the resort and makes it unique and really helps give that incredible guest experience.
Andrew Barnard: well, yeah, you know, there are, the body hold, ace, the programming is, is insane. Um, you know, I've, I've traveled a lot 'cause I love [00:21:00] sports and exercise and, um, and passionate about wellbeing. Um, and I've never found a resort that provides the, the range and depth of what we do here at Body Hold a, um, for people of all abilities, levels, um, ages, sexes and everything else, you know, um, it's, um, it's really quite incredible.
In terms of, um, a particular program, one of the, I mean, we have amazing Ayurvedic programs, um, you know, with the, the cover nutrition, diet, exercise, um, yoga, meditation, you know, sort of all the tick all those boxes, and we'll guide people through on a personalized level, um, uh, you know, so that they find exactly what they need.
Um, one of the things that I've been quite excited about over the last couple of years, and particularly coming out of COVID, was the Joy of Wellness program, um, that we put together. Um, which, you know, [00:22:00] essentially, um, starts out with the idea that, you know, in today's world, um, connection and human connection is, um, fundamental, um, to our wellbeing.
Um, you know, we are social animals and, you know, that's, that's in our core, um, solitude, kills Um, and connectivity and community, um, love, oxytocin and serotonin, um, bring us alive and, and bring meaning to our lives. And so, you know, BodyHoliday is voraciously social. Um, you know, it's dancing and fun and gathering around the bar and swapping stories, uh, at afternoon tea about the adventures of the day and what's been happening and the revelations that each person's been having as they've been, um, going along this, this journey of, of wellness and transformation.
And then it talks about movement, um, you know, and how [00:23:00] movement, um, gives you, um, the, the exercise brings about that, um, dopamine hit, you know, and, the sense of satisfaction with self, um, of achievement. Um, and the metaphors at that. You know, has for one's own life. Um, and then of course there's the whole, the mindfulness part.
Um, you know, being conscious of who we are, um, particularly of, consciously taking a moment to be grateful, um, and to bring gratitude into our lives because, you know, quite often, um, you know, there are great things that happen in our lives, but we just focus on the bad things. And so, you know, you can start with being grateful for the little things, you know, grateful for good night's lead.
Um, grateful to wake up and there's a bird on the window [00:24:00] sill. And it's beautiful and grateful for the little things. And, you know, quite often people who, who are suffering from, um, mental affliction. Um, and then that can be, you know, long term. It can be grief, it can be heartbreak, it can be all sorts of things.
Um, can start, you know, that little point of gratitude. Um, and so the Joy of Wellness program, um, wants, you know, you to bring all of that into, into an idea and then to appreciate nature and, and then do activities in, in the basin of nature that help connect you to the earth again, in a really meaningful way.
Swimming, um, getting your toes in the sand, um, walking in the dirt, walking on the grass, um, you know, doing yoga on a wooden deck, you know, feeling the earth again. Um. These sort of, I think, you know, you combine all of that together in, in a singular experience, um, obviously supported by amazing treatments and, and, and personalized diet and you all these [00:25:00] things.
Um, it, I think it's so important, you know, ultimately that you said at the very beginning you used the word joy, um, as a reference to, to, to wellbeing. Um, it is wellbeing. It, it transcends wellness, um, because it allows us to build the quality of our life, right? It defines a quality of how we wanna live.
You know, wellness is just a, a journey and a tool that we're on. Uh, it's a permanent journey towards a greater state of mental, physical, spiritual, um, wellbeing. Um, and for me, joy is just the quality of my life. You know, it's the sum of all those little things. How much do I enjoy my work? How much purpose do I do?
I does, does it drive me? You know, I go around my wife and my kids and my family and my friends and the luck that I have to eat, the food that I eat and the, and the fabulous wine and the chocolate and the indulgences, as well as the [00:26:00] piety of drinking a green juice and feeling great for it.
You know? so, um, yeah, that's a program that, that, that, um, we spent a lot of time on pulling together. at a body holiday and stolen time in the wake of the, um, pandemic as people sort of reassessed the way they want to live their lives. Um, and gave a new meaning to, and put a new weight on health and wellbeing overall in the marketplace.
You know, people suddenly, the value that adopting wellness as a value, core value in one's life suddenly became much, much more of a priority across the board. um, I think that that program really went deep for me. Um, I think it really hit the spot.
Adam Mogelonsky: Yeah. You know, wellness is, is having a moment, but I'd say we're just entering the elbow of the curve in terms of how it's appreciated and talking about the loving kindness and the gratitude of being thankful for all the small things. Um, you know, me [00:27:00] personally, it's, uh, waking up and hearing birds in the morning.
that's a very personal, relaxing moment that just sets you and engages you as a for, for the reality that we have. One thing I did wanna touch on within there is making all this approachable because, uh, you know, you and I, we've, we've, we've drunk the Wellness Kool-Aid and we're already a little bit further on, on our path for mindfulness and understanding that the littlest things can give us joy.
But somebody else maybe is coming with, you know, another mindset and, you know, maybe of the 80,000 thoughts per day they're having, 60,000 of them are negative. How do you make these programs approachable and to account for people, uh, the individual who has, can be, can run the full spectrum of, you know, bad to good, uh, [00:28:00] beginner, intermediate advance.
How do you make everything approachable and scalable for both, uh, for, for body holiday as well as, uh, stolen time?
Andrew Barnard: that's a really good question. Um, and that's sort of, that's maybe part of the secret source of, of how we make our business run, right? Um, the, you know, at its core what we're about is life change, right? whether it's just a little bit or quite a lot. Um, people coming to a destination spa, um, are coming because they wish to, um, feel better or change their lives to the better in some manner or form.
Um, they're responding to something. It's either that they're on a journey or they actually need to get on it. Um, or, you know, so it's about improvement on their journey, learning better things, learning new ways. at stolen time and body holiday, there's this idea that, um, [00:29:00] it doesn't matter where you are and what status you are in, in, on that journey.
Um, we are not here to preach it at you, and we're not here to, um, to instruct you what, be condescending about it. We're here to provide a, a place and a platform and the tools, um, with which you can improve lots of different avenues of your life. So we, we don't want you to be, we want you to find the inspiration to improve your life.
And because when it comes from within. Um, life change, um, is a choice and it has to come from within and from within you, right? So, um, lecturing people and telling them what you must eat and telling them how much exercise they have to do every day and, um, that they have to go and get some sleep and do this, it doesn't, it, it can work in the short term when you put them on a [00:30:00] regimented program, but, um, I find it much more effective.
Um, and this is what BodyHoliday does and more differentiates. It really is if you can actually make people want to do it, you know, by themselves. Um, and so, and it doesn't have to be, it doesn't have to be groundbreaking, it has to be lots of little inspirations that add up to a, a great increase in the quality of your life, you know?
Um, the British Olympic team, uh, cycling team, um, that dominated the Olympics in 2012. Um, they were coached by, um, uh, an amazing leader, um, who, and, and, and there was something that I was reflecting upon, um, as I was thinking about how, what we do at Body whole day. And I suddenly realized that there was a lesson in what he was doing, you know, and he said, you know, [00:31:00] um, he said to his athletes, guys, I just want you to sit, you know, I wanted your posture to be 2% better.
Let's work on posture. I just want 2% on of you, you know, and then in power and acceleration, I want like 4%. Um, and they would work on me. They'd get 4%. And then, and then I want like, um, endurance and, and, and to be 3%. And I want your finishing last lap, finishing time to be 2% better. And I want, so he didn't try and transform them into some mega athletes, this or that.
He gave them small little things, um, than men that overall they ended up at 10% better. Right? It wasn't about like, it's about, it's all the little things, you know, to your point, you know, how do I wake up in the morning and feel 4% more grateful, generally across the day by just a few times pausing to think, [00:32:00] look at that, that is great for me and my life.
That, that look at the way my wife just smiled at me or my daughter's hug when I got home, or, you know. the interaction I had with some guy down the, uh, at the donut shop, or, you know, let's not talk donuts, but you know,
you know the interactions that you have on a daily basis. You know, feel more joy.
Connect with your, with your colleagues, um, you know, connect with your family. Have more meaningful relationships in your life. Breathe, take a moment. Um, be mindful of the things around you. Make better choices in how and what and when you eat, um, exercise perhaps a little bit more efficiently than what you are already doing.
You know, change your posture a little bit in the gym and suddenly you're cranking out like five, 6% better performance, perform. Um, think, you know, learn about your hydration, nutrition before and after you work out. Um, you know, to get this little bit extra out of it. And, you know, what are you [00:33:00] supplementing?
Is it suiting your body? Um, you know, ayurvedically is this food that you're putting into your body, suited for your body type, your metabolism. You know, if you tune just a couple of things, drop off a couple of ingredients and replace 'em with a couple of things, you know, how's that gonna change the way you feel?
You know, and it's all just little marginal improvements, you know, I like to think that body whole day changes lives by giving people the inspiration to change 'em.
You know, um, you come here and you enveloped in an atmosphere of support and love and friendship and camaraderie and um, and, and joy.
And from that you go, you know, this is something I wanna feel part of, you know? yeah, the, the secret and it's, I, I make it sound simple like that, but actually, um, the delivery of that is, is very complicated. Um, but we've been doing it for 40 years and, you know, we're listening to our guests, um, listening to the feedback, um, going [00:34:00] back and revising, rethinking what we're doing.
Um, not trying to over complicate it, not rushing down every channel, every sort of new fad, um, rushing behind each new fad, sort of trying to introduce that and this and everything else when in actual fad, you know, it's, it's humans that make the difference.
Adam Mogelonsky: The expression I use is 0.1% better every day. And
that's, I think that's, you know, reasonable. You don't wanna set the expectations too high, but 0.1%. And with these life changes, these personal transformations, you are bringing people in to show them what's possible over a, you know, an average length of stay of let's say 3, 3, 3 nights a week.
Andrew Barnard: Yeah. Uh, a US stay is actually longer than you think. It's, um, nearly a week.
Adam Mogelonsky: wow. That's great.
Andrew Barnard: really, people really do commit. Um, you know, obviously we've got people coming in for long weekends, four nights, [00:35:00] three, four nights over the weekends, over Thursday to Sunday, Thursday and Monday. Um, but a lot of people, you know, understand that, you know, if you really want to get the best out of a destination spa, your body needs a little bit longer.
Um, to allow the, the metabolism to fundamentally change, to reset. Um, you know, and so that's why, you know, I promise give us your body for a week and we'll give you back Your mind, um, is intentional. It's like if you give your body seven days, you have time to, um, a couple of days of reset and, and to start a detoxification around day three, day four, you crash with the sort of the release toxins start plotting out, you know, um, you've been doing your yoga, you're doing your stretching, your exercise, fresh food, um, enjoying yourself suddenly.
And then day five, day six is like, wow, you feel it growing inside of you. You know, in day seven, you're ready to go back and hit the world ring again, and you've had that transformational experience. Um, you know, [00:36:00] to try and think that you can, um, you can do it in three days. Yeah. You know, you can, you can make progress and you can, you can get a good feeling, but, um, you're not gonna get quite the, the transformational, um, edge that, uh, a seven night stay is gonna give you.
So I just need, sorry for the interjection, but
um,
I just think it's,
an important point to bring across.
Adam Mogelonsky: it's a perfect illustration because, you know, the assumption here, uh, me is thinking like the average consumer is saying, well, we're just gonna go for a long weekend to a resort, and then we're gonna have a great experience and then come back, and we're gonna be magically changed and forever transformed.
But really, the body, the body needs more time. And, uh, or dare I say that the, the body mind needs more time to bring in the, uh, Deepak Chopra term in terms of how everything's connected. So having that as your motto then informs the marketing and the commercialization of the product to ensure that you're getting [00:37:00] guests in for that length of stay where you know you can deliver a true transformational experience.
Andrew Barnard: That's right.
Adam Mogelonsky: Yeah.
on that note is, so guests are coming to you, and then part of the transformation is, is the after effect, what they bring home and then initiate the change afterwards. And, um, I imagine that body holiday has a regular group of people. They, they come back time and again, they're, they're your customers for, for going on decades.
Um, how do you build upon past, past stays so that way people can keep coming back to you and have a, have a continual transformation throughout the course of their life.
Andrew Barnard: just finished A, B, B, C. Collaboration, um, a couple of days, uh, a couple of weeks ago, um, covering, um, a friend, a, a guest who's become a friend over the years. Um, she started coming when she was 21 in the early nineties, um, [00:38:00] and returned, um, on this trip, um, over the past, uh, earlier in the year with her daughter, um, who was also 21.
So, um, she's returning, she's bringing her daughter for the first time at the same age that she was when she first came, when she was 21. Um, and I won't tell you what her, what her age is currently, but, um, she's been coming since the early nineties when she was 21. So you can, you kind of, you can figure it out.
Um, and, you know, she's, body holidays meant different things for her, um, at different stages of her life. Um, through marriage, through family, through divorce, um, through professional stress and turbulence. Um, the challenges, um, through bringing friends here, meeting with friends over the years, um, and, and having loads of me, uh, memorable experiences.
because of the breadth of the program, [00:39:00] um, one can lean on different things and different expertise and different facilities, um, at different types of one's life, right? Um, so, you know, um, uh, different things become relevant and, and important at different times of our lives. I, you know, one of the key things that, um, uh, in our, in our ideas body whole day really, is that you can't cookie cut health and you can't really cookie cut.
Programs and journeys very easily. Um, you, uh, the guests, every single guest who comes is an individual and has a different history and has different ideas about their future, and you need to be able to, um, look after and cater for them at where they are on that journey. Um, over the, throughout the year, uh, body holiday does well over 50% return guest ratio.
Um, [00:40:00] you know, and in the high season it can be sort of 60, 70% upwards, um, return guess so it feels once you start coming, um, you, you often, you come the same week, year on year, because often, you know, that's your life schedule. Um, and some of our guests comes two and three and four times a year, you know, every quarter they come or once, you know, twice during the year, once in the spring, and.
Once in the winter or whatever, you know, uh, in the fall. So, you know, there's, um, there's a cadence to it, and they meet up with all these same people. They start making friends, and, um, the community starts. And, um, you know, over the last 40 years, our guests have, you know, formed communities and they host cities.
And so, you know, there are lunches and dinners and, um, events that happen, you know, in New York, London, Toronto, and, and, uh, some of the large cities where I get photographs sent to me, um, from friends, you know, at, um, dining tables from all over, um, the world [00:41:00] saying, Hey, we're all getting together. Hi Andrew, how you doing?
You know, it's a community, you know. Um, so, uh, you know, I think there's much of it that there's, that's as much as it is. Um, you know, the, the programs are there. In the resort, you know, um, for all ages, um, from, you know, teenage spa programs right through to, um, you know, uh, going into some of the older clients in menopause and, you know, into, um, you know, we're, we're in, we're actually working on a new program right now, um, for, um, you know, the over sixties, um, which is specifically for them, um, about hotel mobility, um, skeletal strength, um, you know, and all those kind of things.
Um, and these are the facilities and the expertise is all here, is just how we [00:42:00] reimagine it all the time. Um, and then we put those ideas into play, um, and then we see what the guests have to say about it. Um, you know, and then we feed back loop and we go back at it again. So, it's, you know, it's.
body holiday and stolen time are both, um, resorts with heritage and culture, um, and strong, a strong sense of, um, business culture, um, you know, that defines them. And, um, you know, it, that's what it is. They look after our guests, we listen to them.
Adam Mogelonsky: Yeah. It's, it's, um, it's like one giant bar that your grandfather has, uh. You know, everyone around and, uh, you know, back at Malabar Beach in the, in the sixties. Right. Just on a very larger scale with a lot of different permutations happening,
uh,
with people from all around the world.
Andrew Barnard: yeah, those core ideas remain, you know,
Adam Mogelonsky: Yeah. That's amazing. Uh, so [00:43:00] to, to focus on one other aspect, you mentioned food and of course, you know, uh, allowing the body to really heal itself, uh, under this food as medicine, um, mantra. And you have one experience on site that I am a huge fan of, which is the Ital experience or the Ital restaurant. Um, I'm wondering, could you talk about, uh, what that is, uh, in terms of a farm to table experience and how that ties into this whole idea of personal transformations?
Andrew Barnard: When I was, I was in India, um, a number of years ago, um, staying, um, at an Vedic center. And they had, you know, Ayurveda, an Ayurvedic cuisine generally is vegan. Um, and I was, um, enjoying programs over there. And they had a, um, a, a farmed, I would farm a garden, um, and they were picking from the garden and cooking it and stuff like that.[00:44:00]
Um, and, you know, my mind was sort like, well, you know, actually we could really do that in the West Indies as well. Um, and in the context of hotel, I think we could do it even better. I think, you know, let's, let's really explore this. When I got back home, I started digging into it and thinking about it. Um, and of course, you know, lot of the, the cuisine in this part of the world was over from India.
Um, with IND labor and, um, and, uh, vegan cuisine. Um, vegan food, um, has been a big part of Western Indian culture, um, for, um, for centuries. And, um, ital actually is a derivative. It's, it's, um, in Rastafarians refer to Ital as being vital. Um, they just drop the v um, and they put an I in front to, um, bring a consciousness and mindfulness to the word vital.
Um, so it becomes Ital. Um, and [00:45:00] so Ital cuisine, um, which defines the raser way of eating, um, is about, um, fresh, plant dense, um, nutrition, um, to feed, uh, body, mind, and soul. And, um, so, you know. It seemed like the, the natural way for, for us to, um, take forward a, uh, a farm. And we started building it, um, many, many years ago, um, at Body Holiday.
Um, and the, the building and foundation of the farm with all the trees and everything else took mainly 10 years. Um, so, um, it, it didn't just happen overnight. It, it was a very much a long-term project. We cut terraces and, and made tree roots dig in and then cut more terraces and then built up the, uh, things.
'cause we're quite a, mountainous. We're in a valley here at Body whole day surrounded by things. And we ended up with, um, four acres, um, [00:46:00] you know, under planting, um, with, um, everything from citrus to tamarind to mangoes to papayas to. Um, you know, moringa and like, and then you've got all the beans and the, the peppers and the, you know, and the, the small leaves and fresh leaves and, you know, um, carrots and tomatoes and, you know, on and on it goes.
And so we've, we've ended up with this absolutely fabulous, um, organic garden. but um, it's really, you know, um, and then the guests are, um, bought through the, the garden with, um, RS Ferion hosts, um, who are experts in tro tropical organic agronomy. And they're would speak about how all different plants interact with each other, how it, it nourishes the soil.
Um, you know, how each plant nourishes the soil for the next one next to us and the crop rotations and how we deal with pests in a [00:47:00] natural way and all that. And they're invited to actually, do the, the culling, you know, not the culling to, to, um, gather all their, um, all the food that they're gonna need for the d for the lunch.
And some people are in the salad area, some people are doing beans, some people are doing tomatoes and this and that. And as we get to the top, um, as a washing area and all the produces washed and the guests kind of can wipe their heads, their sweaty brow down, um, with a lime towel and, um, and some kafi lime water and some coconut water to re rehydrate.
And then they go into the main restaurant where they participate in cutting and helping to prepare the salads and stuff like that while the cooks are working on cooking out some of the, the various ingredients that have been cooked. And then, um, it's all served to them right there. Um, so it's, it's literally a, um, farm to table, um, direct experience in which they very much participate.[00:48:00]
Um. And it's delicious. And it's amazing. And when you put the food in your mouth, the quality of it, of the ingredients and the density and nutritional, um, you taste the nutritional value of, of the food. And it's just like unbelievable. You, you can't believe how how fabulous it is and, um, and the guests leave, you know, blown away.
Um, it really is one of, for me, the, the, the best, um, dining experiences in the Eastern Caribbean. It's really quite unique. Um, and importantly in the context of what we do at at Body Holiday, um, is the idea again of inspiring people to make better choices. Um, and this is, um, an, an ital as a metaphor, um, for feeling vital in your life.
Um, making sure that you are nourishing your body with. Vital minerals, vital [00:49:00] vitamins, um, vital roughage, and, and, a certain strong percentage of natural, um, organic food, real food, um, in your daily diet. Um, if you can, and if we can inspire guests just to push again, just that little bit more and enjoy that just a little bit more, and feel the value and the piety and the good that, that is bringing into their lives than I tell has done it's job.
Um, and, and that's what it is, you know, um, it's not a particularly economic endeavor. Um, you know, it doesn't make great economic sense, I can promise you that. But in the context of what we do, it makes complete like. Heart sets, um, to our guests, to the people who participate in it. Um, it's, and, and how it transforms lives.
It's a metaphor, um, that has reverberations way beyond its size. and for that, I love it. I, this, it's fabulous. Fabulous.[00:50:00]
Adam Mogelonsky: Uh, there, there's a lot to pick out there, but I love that you, you use the term piety when you're describing nutrient dense foods. And there are a lot of people in North America specifically, um, who, because they are getting their ingredients from these large mono crops fields. They'll go to Italy or Greece for the first time and they'll say something like, wow, I never knew that.
That's what a tomato is supposed to taste like.
Andrew Barnard: Right, Right,
Adam Mogelonsky: Right.
Andrew Barnard: Or that this is what kale could be or that, you know. I could eat that. I could eat salad. That's as spicy as this. Like,
like it's making my whole tugs, making me sweat, you know,
the, the power of this, of what's going into my mouth, you know?
Adam Mogelonsky: you forget that, you know, us as omnivores, we're, we're meant to taste. Right. And, and every, everything taste [00:51:00] is designed to sense nutrients. So when you're eating these nutrient dense foods, it's activating more of your taste, which then
elicits more joy. hundred percent. A hundred percent. And the great thing about Ital as well, you do as a, as a group, as a team, like it's maximum 12 people at the table. Um, it's three days and three evenings a week. That's it. 'cause that's what the farm can sustain in terms of cons. Um, so it's just 12 people and you sit around this one table and you just share experiences.
Andrew Barnard: You share experiences about life, about what this means to you. Um, and Ro Toya, our host, um, our Ian host, she, she just, um, inspires people to sort of, I mean, she's beautiful, um, you know, inside now. And she, um, she inspires people just to like, come alive with, with this stuff. And the way she speaks about it with such passion and, and, and authenticity, you know, to your point, the, the, the whole thing is [00:52:00] just, it's awesome.
Just grows. Yeah.
Adam Mogelonsky: Yeah. And, and you know, it's interesting, we, there's so much focus now on the Blue Zones and all all five of the blue zones identified, they're all, they're all farmers, right? They're all have this skill of. Understanding, understanding agricultural practices and, and horticulture. And that is part of, it's, it's, it's food, it's nutrition, it's it's exercise, it's social, but it's also a new skill for a lot of people to learn and be inspired about just maybe having their own garden back at home or, or doing something in the soil.
Andrew Barnard: That's so true.
Yeah. And it, it really, it, um, it makes people, you know, it makes people feel very special. Um, you know, connecting to the earth and, and gardening, um, is, is a very important thing. Yeah.
Adam Mogelonsky: It's, it's immensely important. Um, but that is a segue. Um, a large part of health now is also [00:53:00] the learning of new skills, whether it is gardening, but also skills can. Connecting with your creative side, uh, in various ways that could be dance, painting, journaling, um, even archery as a skill. And there's a lot of new evidence coming out to support how the learning of new skills and creative endeavors help to prevent or even reverse signs of dementia.
So, whether we can talk about that in clinical sense or medical sense, but just the wellbeing sense of new skills. I'm wondering if you could talk a little bit about some of the new skills programs that you have at Body Holiday as well as at stolen time.
Andrew Barnard: Yeah, sure. I'm a big believer in that. Um, I believe that, um, using your hands, using your feet, um, coordinating them, um, at different stages of your life, um, helps to promote brain health. [00:54:00] You know, it, it encourages, um, neurons to keep on working, to keep on talking to each other, um, and, opens up new, pathways in the brain that, um, that are key for, for mental wellbeing.
Um, so Donna, stolen time particularly, um, where we focus a lot on mental wellbeing, um, we use the creative arts to, um, to help drive it. Um. Dance, for example, it is a physical activity and it's great for your health. But very importantly, um, dance is a coordination pro process in the brain. You are listening to music, you're listening to a beat, um, which is as old as time.
And every culture on the planet has dance integrated into it in some, in some important manner and form. Um, it's ritualistic. often it defines, um, you [00:55:00] know, men and women courting. Um, it defines, um. Partners bonding. Um, it defines joy and fun. It can be, it can be men challenging each other. Um, it's, it's so many different manifestations, um, dance in that process.
As you learn dance and you learn cult different dance from different cultures, you know, like tango and salsa and all dancing and line dancing and all this stuff. The coordination and the movements and the music and the everything else is actually working your brain as much as anything else. And so, um, the dance program of both of our resorts, um, is is, important and significant and really, uh, a really great part of health.
And moee of course, um, painting and art and all of that, the creative expression, um, you know, really helps people, mentally, spiritually, um, to express themselves and, [00:56:00] And I think it's a really important part of feeling good about oneself. Um, you know, when you finish creating a really great piece of art or you know, some kind of expression out on a page, there's a certain feeling that comes inside of you.
Um, it's unavoidable and it's part of the creative process, and our brains need to be exercising that creative element. Um, you know, that's why art and, and it's a culture behind all of that is so important, um, across the planet. You know, um, yes, we need business and yes, we need, um, technology and all these kind of things, but we must not let it replace, our creative process and, um, giving people the opportunity to sit down in front of, um.
A canvas and a piece of paper and, and draw something out or paint something out is, is rare for a lot of people these days. They don't, they don't get the opportunity to do it and they suddenly do it. And it comes with excitement, it comes with stress relief. Um, you know, [00:57:00] it comes with, um, people often start thinking about what they wanna do in the future.
You know, it promotes a lot of, um, onward thought. Um, so, um, we do a lot of that stuff as well. Um, so yeah, it's, it's very cool. Very cool.
Adam Mogelonsky: It is very cool. And you mentioned that, uh, you know, we used to do those things as, as children, but. Now we are, we are seeing a movement around adult play and the acceptance of the fact that we need to be playful beings well into our adult life. Like, we can't just be serious all the time. That's not how we're designed, you know,
Andrew Barnard: that is correct.
Adam Mogelonsky: it's, it's, it's truly, it opens this horizon for so many different experiences and so many different ways to make wellness approachable for people.
Maybe some people want a doodle, maybe some people want to, uh, uh, dance to a musical instrument, uh, a drum circle, whichever. But they can decide as long as you have those programs available [00:58:00] to them. It's really, it's, it's fantastic that way.
Beautifully constructed.
Andrew Barnard: You know, and when you tie that in with like sound healing and meditation and, and yoga and visioning sessions, um, and stuff like that, when you combine it in with that, that, um, creative process, um, it amplifies it massively, you know, it's not just the individual activity on its own. It's having.
Um, given yourself the opportunity to do that and then have it amplified. Um, and, and so the, that's part of the secret of what Stolen time does, um, in its approach to, um, sort of a mental health and relaxation, um, and, and resetting yourself in a mindful way, in a, in a noisy and confusing world. Um, it's about giving you lots and lots of tools that, again, make [00:59:00] lots of little differences, but combined, um, the sense of relaxation and reset, um, and, and rejuvenation is significant.
Adam Mogelonsky: Yeah. You know, there's so many different terms we could use there. Compound interest of all these experiences or their super additive effect, you know, one plus one equals three.
Andrew Barnard: That exactly.
Adam Mogelonsky: yeah, it's, you really have to be there to experience it, to believe it.
And um, speaking of visioning, you are expanding, um, you've just, I believe, selected a site in Portugal, is that correct?
Andrew Barnard: That is correct. Yeah. Um, I'm not talking about it too much 'cause it's really early stage, you know, but like, um, it's very early stage. But, um, you know, I think that, um, the body hold day has a big future. Um, and it's body hold day is the brand that we're gonna bring to, um, to [01:00:00] Portugal. Um, we found a site in Southeastern Elgar and, um, uh, we've, uh, been working on that and we'd like, you know, we're still three, four years away.
Um, you know, but, um, rumors are happening and you've clearly heard it, so, you know, um, it's exciting times. Um. We'll, you know, there's a lot to, there's a lot of lot to reveal there, let me just say that. Um, but it's my intention to make, um, the best wellness holding in the world.
Adam Mogelonsky: Uh, and, and you know, you have 40 years of experience to make that happen, so it's gonna.
Andrew Barnard: Absolutely.
Adam Mogelonsky: It's, it's gonna be a lot of work over the next four years to make that happen because to, to be the best there, there is a lot of competition in Europe, right. Uh, without
listing,
Andrew Barnard: There is indeed. Um, you know, but I think that, you know, we've, we've got, um, you know, the, this, um, the history behind us. Um, [01:01:00] you know, and I've grown up in this business, in, in wellness, um, catering to the European, American, Canadian markets, um, in particular. Um, and, um, you know, it's, it, I just kind of know it in my bones.
I know it in, in the pitch. I know it in the, in, in the way that the, the, the team have to interact. I know, you know, all of it. And, um, and I'm, I've been building, um, diligently a, uh, a team of really professional management around me. Um, you know, European hoteliers, north American hoteliers, um, you know, who, uh, are, um, amazing people, um, you know, with, with amazing experiences behind them, um, who are really gonna help me, um, to deliver this idea of, um, uh, a life-changing experience of wellness, um, [01:02:00] in its core to change people's lives, one person at a time.
Um, that, that purpose, this drive to, um, make the world a better place. and these, you know, so it's, I see, I feel very confident, very, in a great place, um, about this project and what we're doing. So, um, it's, it is very exciting things to come.
Lemme just
say that,
Adam Mogelonsky: forward to reading every piece of
news,
Andrew Barnard: yeah. Thank you.
Out of,
Adam Mogelonsky: to close out on some broad thoughts. Um, you know, there is a vision here, which is something that's being called the Longevity Eco Economy, which is to say that, uh, we now have the wherewithal, both, both in medicine and in a wellness oriented mindset to live well for a very long time.
Whether we define that as age 100, getting to triple digits, age one 20. Uh, we aren't sure, but we know that people are gonna be living longer and [01:03:00] living for a healthier part of that, of that lifespan.
So. With the longevity economy in mind, you have this, uh, term you've used called Gray Panthers, and you've also said that you've, you've, making a program specifically for people over 60.
Can you describe where you see Body Holiday fitting into this longevity economy with its programs that are aimed at these great Panthers, uh, people, more or less over the age of 60?
Andrew Barnard: Yeah. the first thing is, is that I think that it's quite important to, um, let's dissect the market a little bit here. Um, I think that it's quite important to, um, say that what we're selling here at Body Holiday is wellness, right? Um, I'm not selling luxury. Um, and I think that, um. In today's world, the, [01:04:00] the longevity economy, um, or this idea has been attached to sort of a five star, um, luxury delivery of longevity for the relatively wealthy, um, you know, um, top 5% of the of, of, um, of society.
I don't want that to be the case too much. I like to think of, um, uh, the, the longevity economy as being a bit more ubiquitous. And I'd like to see, uh, our ability to touch society and inspire change at, at a, at a wider range, um, across, across society. And that is, is. It's not just the uber wealthy who get to live, um, long and prosperous lives, but, um, that it starts to seep down into, um, you know, into the lower classes, um, and people who have with a little less means.
Um, so having [01:05:00] said that, um, I think that. There is on one side you have this sort of very clinic clinical approach to longevity with, you know, watches like this that are measuring everything about my body on an ongoing basis and, you know, and, um, patches that are giving me my, my glucose and my, my exact metabolism rates and, you know, all kinds of, um, uh, biomarkers on an ongoing basis that lead me to make better decisions, um, on an ongoing basis.
But then also facilities, clinical facilities that, um, you know, checking my genes and checking my, the gene expression and, you know, um, and all that kind of stuff. And as all this works, um, you know, we're, we're slowly eroding, um, uh, the death by preventable disease. Um, and so, you know, trying to, um. Uh, get people to eat better and exercise [01:06:00] and, um, and build a sense of community that's perhaps been lost in, you know, because of the advent of antisocial media and all that kind of stuff.
Um, you know, we, we can rid the world a bit more of the, of preventable diseases, you know, um, you know, a lot of diabetes and heart conditions and, and all of that directly linked to diet, to exercise and to, and to lifestyle. So, um, I'm, I'm kind of ling on a bit about this, but I'm, I feel quite, um, passionate about it, um, because, you know, it's not, a lot of these things are, um, are small wins.
Um, they don't have to be big. Um, uh, you know, we now have the knowledge. Just how many people can we get to adopt it? Right? And it doesn't have to be big, fancy diagnostic machines and all that kind of stuff to bring a population as a whole to a healthier and better place. A place where the quality of life, [01:07:00] um, for everyone is better.
Where, um, you know, healthcare is less burdened by, um, obesity and, um, diabetes and, and mental health problems that are preventable from the onset with the right community spirit, the right nutrition, the right exercise facilities, the right architecture, and building an, an interaction and all of these elements, um, all play part in the longevity economy.
You know, um, the, the Global Wellness Summit has a global wellness Institute as a moonshot to be rid of preventable disease. Um, and, you know, I think it's a noble thing. You know, that's, that's where we need to be bringing the whole population. Um, so in, in our idea, um, uh, at Sun Sweat from the body holding and the stolen time, um, you know, a lot of, um, you know, we do have the clinics and we do have the blood draws and the endocrine analysis and all the different things, [01:08:00] but I, I, for me, you know, just don't get rid of the basics.
Encourage people to eat well, exercise, feel community spirituality, um, and, and stay fit through their lives. And the longevity economy will fly. You know, we're all trying to make money on it, but in actual fact, it's a value set, right? you know, that's, that's really what I, that's really what I have to say about it.
I think, um, the biohacking industry, is great. You know, I, I supplement, I look after what I. Um, look at what I eat and how I eat and, and I indulge with purpose, but, you know, and bits and, you know, I exercise and all that kind of stuff. But, um, you know, it's living well and mindfully is, is the greatest biohack you can do.
Right. Um, you know, so if, if anything, what we stand for as a business is actually just keeping it simple, inspiring people [01:09:00] themselves to make the right choices every day. Um, so, you know, that's, that's the kind of the, the, the longevity economy and then the, the, the idea of Great Panthers as sort of over sixties who are, you know, living a good life and well life and intend on living long, um, with active, um, retirements.
Um, you know, those fundamental ideas are the ideas with which my father started. Body holiday in 1988 when he turned, when he coined a holiday of rejuvenation, it was aimed at the baby boomers, um, you know, who were becoming conscious. It was the first generation in the history of mankind who actually had disposable income and the time to invest in longevity, you know, in, in living, in, in expanding the, the length of their lives, um, in a very proactive and different way.
And that's been supported by transformational technology, [01:10:00] um, and medicine. Um, that, that, um. Now accompanies us in our lives, um, you know, our ability to replace our body parts, to grow new, grow the organ growth to, you know, everything is coming down the line at a rapid rate or not. And, um, so, you know, responding to that market, and what they're gonna need is, um, you know, is, is what we do that's gonna be part of the future of, of wellness and wellbeing.
And, um, and, you know, I'm thrilled to be a part of this industry that, um, I think is just gonna have such a massive impact on the world. It's, is what, um, drives me and my, my purpose and my sense of purpose in this business. You know, when I wake up in the morning, you know, I actually think, you know, we're changing lives here, you know, um, we're doing good.
And, um, and that feeling's really, really very deep and satisfying. And, um, I think my team share it with me, we're all driven by this idea. And so it's, um, it's, it's an awesome, it's an awesome piece, awesome place to [01:11:00] be.
Adam Mogelonsky: Yeah, and it's that, that's an incredible place to finish off, just talking about the sense of purpose for hospitality and what it can be and how that can drive you and drive your family, drive your. Team and also drive your guests to have the best experience and how that reflects in the longevity of the business, how it's expanding and, and, uh, how it's gonna help bring joy to now people in Europe or or wherever else they're gonna fly into Portugal for.
it's,
it's, truly a fantastic place to be and, uh, I think that's a great place to finish off. I've taken more than enough of your time, but, uh, Andrew,
Andrew Barnard: Adam. It's been a total pleasure.
Adam Mogelonsky: yeah. Thank you so much for coming on the show. Is there anything else, uh, that you wanna mention at all before we close out?
Andrew Barnard: I would just say, you know, um, feel free to come visit us in St. Lucia
at Body Hold there. I've
stolen time. And, um, to all those listeners out there, thank you for listening. Um, I'm very humbled, [01:12:00] um, for taking time and, um, yeah, we would be more than happy to welcome you to, um, help you improve and change your life.
Um, going forward. That's what we do, so
we do it with love and care, so happy days.
Adam Mogelonsky: Yeah. And I think, uh, for every Hotelier who's listening here, you know, of, of one week stay at body holidays a month to understand what's possible and what it, what it can mean for changing the lives of every single guest, every single travel around the world. So Andrew, thank you so much. It's been a absolute delight.
Thank you for making the time.
Andrew Barnard: Thank you Adam, and thanks for everybody out there. You guys take care. All the best. Bye-bye.