The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) and Global Wellness Institute (GWI) have been acquired by Informa, the international events, digital services and academic research group, marking a significant new chapter for the global wellness industry.
The acquisition brings the highly respected Global Wellness brands, community, research and events under the Informa umbrella, creating new opportunities to expand their global reach and influence at a time when wellness, prevention, longevity and whole-person health are increasingly converging.
Headquartered in London and operating across more than 30 countries, Informa has an established presence across the medical, longevity and aesthetics sectors. The addition of wellness to its portfolio reflects the growing scale and importance of the global wellness economy and Informa’s ambition to build a broader health ecosystem.
For the Global Wellness Summit and Global Wellness Institute, the acquisition represents the culmination of nearly two decades of work to establish wellness as a significant global economic and societal force.
Importantly, the Global Wellness brands, vision and team will remain in place, ensuring continuity for delegates, sponsors, partners and the wider wellness community, while providing access to Informa’s infrastructure, international network and resources.
The transition also marks a planned leadership succession. Nancy Davis, who has played a central role as the creative architect and director of the organisations and their events, will take over leadership of The Global Wellness Group within Informa’s Medical Division from 1 January 2027.
Susie Ellis will step away from leadership at the beginning of 2027, bringing to a close a defining chapter in the development of the global wellness movement.
The acquisition will also coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Global Wellness Summit, which will take place in Phuket, Thailand, from 10–13 November 2026. The landmark event will provide an opportunity for delegates and sponsors to celebrate two decades of the global wellness movement while looking ahead to the next phase of its development.
For the global spa and wellness community, the acquisition signals growing recognition of wellness as a major international industry and creates the potential for greater collaboration between the medical, longevity, aesthetics and wellness sectors.
