Queen of Thailand to open Global Wellness Summit

The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) has revealed that Her Majesty the Queen of Thailand will open the 2026 Summit.

Taking place at Angsana Laguna Phuket in Thailand from November 10-13, the annual four-day summit’s theme is the Science, Art and Soul of Wellness.

As an athlete and national advocate for fitness, Queen Suthida Bajrasudha Bimalalakshana brings a deep personal connection to wellness. She will officially open the event, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, on the morning of November 11.

An ambassador for wellness

Married to His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Queen Suthida has redefined modern Thai royalty around health, sports and fitness.

She helped lead Thailand’s sailing team (as strategist and navigator) to a gold medal at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games and was named the first Women’s Global Ambassador by the International Ice Hockey Federation.

As a long-distance runner, she ran a half marathon alongside Olympic legend Eliud Kipchoge, at the Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok 2025.

The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness

The GWS is an annual meeting where leaders from business, government, academia and science come together to shape the 11 sectors of the wellness economy.

This year’s summit will provide a platform for discussions across wellness in all its guises, from its traditional and spiritual dimensions to high-tech medical wellness and longevity.

Topics under the microscope will include women’s health, wellness tourism and the relationship between creativity, science and human wellbeing.

Keynote speakers include Emmy Award-winning producer and New York Times bestselling author Dan Buettner plus founder and chairman of Minor International, William Heinecke.

Professor of medicine and co-founder of NUS Academy of Healthy Longevity, Andrea Maier, will be joined by Anna Bjurstam, founder of Wahayla, and Diego Carrete, chief wellness officer at First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Ronald Akili, co-founder of Potato Head Bali, and Cathy Feliciano-Chon, managing partner of Finn Partners in Greater China will explore how Asia’s indie hospitality brands are developing a different form of wellness travel.

Other speakers of note include Ramona Chiriac, VP global impact at Therme Group, Romania, Chenot’s chief operating and scientific officer George Gaitanos and Clinique La Prairie’s CEO, Simone Gibertoni.

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