The deal brings two leading wellness organisations into Informa’s medical division, with new leadership planned for 2027.
Informa has acquired the Global Wellness Summit (GWS) and Global Wellness Institute (GWI), bringing the two wellness organisations into the London-based events and research group’s medical division, which includes its healthcare, longevity and aesthetics businesses.
The transaction will also mark a change in leadership. Susie Ellis, Chair and CEO of the Global Wellness Summit, will step down from her role on January 1, 2027, after nearly two decades at the helm of both organisations. Nancy Davis, who has held leadership positions within the organisations and helped direct their events and initiatives, will lead The Global Wellness Group within Informa’s Medical Division from 2027.
Financial terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed.
The Global Wellness Summit and Global Wellness Institute will retain their existing brands, while their current teams will remain in place, according to Ellis. She said the association with Informa would provide additional resources and international reach for the organisations’ future events, research and education programmes.
The acquisition brings together two established names in the wellness sector with a company that operates across professional events, research and information services. Informa’s medical portfolio already includes activities in healthcare, longevity and aesthetics, areas that increasingly overlap with wellness.
The Global Wellness Summit is an annual gathering for executives, investors, researchers and business leaders from the spa, wellness and hospitality sectors. The Global Wellness Institute is known for its research on the wellness economy, including market development and consumer trends.
The deal comes as wellness businesses expand beyond traditional spa services into recovery treatments, preventive health programmes and longevity-focused offerings. It also reflects the growing commercial links between wellness, healthcare and aesthetics, with businesses and consumers showing greater interest in services that support long-term health and wellbeing.
For GWS and GWI, the acquisition is expected to create opportunities to expand their international activities while maintaining their existing identity and leadership structure. Davis’s appointment provides continuity as Ellis prepares to leave the organisations she helped build.
The announcement comes ahead of the Global Wellness Summit’s 20th anniversary event, which is scheduled to take place in Phuket, Thailand, from November 10 to 13. The gathering is expected to bring together industry leaders and provide an opportunity to discuss the organisations’ future under Informa.
Ellis’s departure will take effect at the start of 2027, when Davis assumes responsibility for The Global Wellness Group. The transition comes at a time when wellness is becoming increasingly connected to broader conversations around healthcare, longevity and preventive health.
The acquisition gives Informa a stronger position in the global wellness sector, while GWS and GWI gain access to the resources of a larger international organisation. Both sides are expected to outline their plans for the next phase of the businesses at the upcoming anniversary summit.
