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The Global Wellness Institute and the Global Wellness Summit have been acquired by Informa, an international events, digital services and academic research group. GWI is a nonprofit organization that aims to bring wellness to the forefront worldwide through research, education and collaboration.
The Global Wellness assets match well with their new parent company, as Informa works in the medical, longevity and aesthetics arenas, as well as in sustainability, areas on which GWI and GWS also have been focusing. According to a letter from GWS chair and CEO Susie Ellis that announced the purchase, Informa had been looking to add wellness to its portfolio, recognizing the size and impact of the wellness economy, which reached $6.8 trillion in 2025, according to GWI's Global Wellness Economy Monitor.
"This is the inflection point we've all known was coming after years of dedication from our delegates and sponsors," Ellis wrote. "Everyone we've had advanced discussions with is thrilled that our community now has a far bigger infrastructure and reach to grow our partner businesses, our knowledge and research, and to impact consumers. It’s quite incredible."
Status quo for the Global Wellness team
The Global Wellness brands will continue within Informa's medial division starting Jan. 1, 2027, and the entire team will stay on, according to Ellis. "Nothing changes about what has made our work so special, but Informa gives us the resources and global platform to grow our organization in ways we’ve envisioned for years," she wrote.
Ellis herself will be stepping down on Jan. 1, passing the leadership baton to Nancy Davis, who currently is the organizations' chief creative officer and executive director.
"The timing of this acquisition could not be better. Medicine and wellness are moving closer together, as prevention, longevity and whole-person health increasingly become part of the same conversation," Ellis added. "These new resources and reach will create unprecedented opportunities for our team, delegates, sponsors and partners — and for the entire wellness community."
The 20th anniversary Global Wellness Summit will take place in Phuket, Thailand, Nov. 10-13.