Skift Take
Austin may be best known for its music bona fides, but wellness is also becoming instrumental in bringing an eclectic mix of visitors to the Texas capital city. It must be something in the water ... or in the hills.
For many years, the tourism slogan of the capital of Texas has been “Keep Austin Weird.”
But given recent developments, that slogan could easily be “Keep Austin Well,” and no one would bat an eye.
One of the city’s main luxury spa resorts is undergoing a $150 million facelift, while another continues to get regular shots of Botox. Furthermore, the first Miraval spa resort to open outside of the Tucson, Arizona, flagship comes to Austin at the end of this year.
And one more thing – this year, South by Southwest added a Wellness Expo to its agenda for the first time. Brittani Mathis, Senior Exhibitions Manager said that as SXSW transforms along with society, the Wellness Expo is a response to the public’s growing attention to health.
So, what’s in the water in Austin? According to Hyatt's Marc Ellin, global head of Miraval Group and Exhale Enterprises, "Austin is becoming a mecca for everything. Music, high tech, hospitality. Wellness is just another deliverable."
Janis Clapoff, managing director of Lake Austin Spa Resort, shares that view.
“More types of people are seeking out Austin because it’s Austin. It’s grown into a mega-c
