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“Shark Tank of Wellness” Finalists Announced for 2020 Global Wellness Summit at The Breakers Palm Beach, November 8–11, 2020
Wellness thought leaders from Chiva-Som, Exhale Enterprises, Hyatt Hotels and ResortSuite to “grill” three student finalists as they compete for $10,000 in total prize money to fund innovative new wellness concepts
Miami, FL – August 26, 2020 – The Global Wellness Summit (GWS), the foremost gathering of international leaders in the $4.5 trillion global wellness economy, today announced the three finalists in its annual “Shark Tank of Wellness” competition. The three students were chosen from a global pool of 121 submissions, spanning 36 countries.
The Shark Tank of Wellness competition furthers the Summit’s mission to support and encourage future wellness leaders worldwide.
“2020 has been a remarkable year for our always popular student competition. We launched the call for submissions just as the pandemic was taking hold in the world and as ‘wellness’ and ‘self-care’ became a rallying cry across the globe,” said Nancy Davis, chief creative officer and executive director of the GWS. “I think GWS delegates will be incredibly interested in learning how the next generation of wellness thought leaders and entrepreneurs are resetting and reimagining wellness.”
Finalists include Balazs Csatlos from Hungary’s University of Pannonia for the Sleeping Beauty sleep mask, a new high-tech solution for getting a good night’s sleep; Krysta Mendes Silva from Atlanta, GA’s Savannah College of Art and Design for Samii, a set of utensils that detects and alerts users of allergenic proteins in food; and Liam James Campbell also from Atlanta, GA’s Savannah College of Art and Design for Melo, a multi-functional pregnancy pillow to enhance sleep/rest.
The finalists will be grilled on-stage, “shark-tank style,” in front of delegates at the GWS conference being held November 8–11, 2020, at The Breakers Palm Beach. This year’s “Wellness Sharks” are investors and executives from an array of wellness industries:
- Karen Campbell, business development consultant at Chiva-Som (Thailand), a pioneer in health and wellness resorts
- Julia Sutton, COO, Exhale Enterprises, which operates as the boutique fitness and spa brand Exhale Spa, a wellness business that was acquired by Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
- Frank Pitsikalis, founder and CEO of ResortSuite (Canada), software for managing guest information and streamlining operations in spas, clubs, hotels and resorts
“As a wellness entrepreneur myself, I can’t help but be intrigued by this competition, and I can’t wait to see what the future of wellness looks like through these young entrepreneurs’ eyes,” said Julia Sutton, chief operating officer of Exhale Enterprises, who is representing both Exhale and its parent company, Hyatt Hotels, as a 2020 Wellness Shark.
The theme of the 2020 GWS is a global call to action: “Resetting the World with Wellness.” The 2020 conference is a historic opportunity for wellness business leaders, government and policymakers, and the medical and technology worlds to come together to explore how more comprehensive and inclusive wellness concepts can remake the world post-pandemic.
Every aspect of the Summit will be curated to deliver a safe, hygienic way for people to meet again. Dr. Richard Carmona, former US Surgeon General, is serving as medical advisor and working closely with the GWS and The Breakers team, along with local and federal government agencies, to ensure that the GWS exceeds all standards for a safe gathering. The Breakers, the site of the successful 2017 GWS, is a sprawling beachfront property that will enable appropriate physical distancing and generous use of outdoor space.
To learn more about the Summit or to register, click here.
About the Global Wellness Summit: The Global Wellness Summit is an invitation-only international gathering that brings together leaders and visionaries to positively shape the future of the $4.5 trillion global wellness economy. Held in a different location each year, Summits have taken place in the US, Switzerland, Turkey, Bali, India, Morocco, Mexico, Austria, Italy and Singapore. The 14th annual Summit will take place at The Breakers Palm Beach, FL, from November 8–11, 2020. The 2021 GWS will be held in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 15–18.
