Daily Signals 31.12.2025

Signals

LS:N Global’s 2025 coverage of travel and hospitality explores the rise of social wellness experiences, where entertainment and community converge to help people disconnect from screens, reconnect with others and enjoy purposeful, p-leisure.

The Trend: Masculinity Reset Retreats

Photography by Thirdman, Belarus Photography by Thirdman, Belarus

Men’s mental wellbeing retreats are reshaping modern masculinity, focusing on mindfulness, movement and meaningful male friendships. Rising rates of loneliness and male suicide – particularly in the UK, where men accounted for three-quarters of 2023 suicides, according to the Office for National Statistics – highlight an urgent need for spaces where men can connect and reflect. 

Emerging initiatives, from immersive weekend retreats to grassroots communities, address this need. Boys Will Be Boys in the UK offers fitness, bushcraft and restorative practices, while Men’s Reset Retreat in Ibiza combines physical challenges with breath work, workshops and intimate group bonding. Pilla, a UK-based wellness community, brings accessible day retreats and events to cities, combining yoga, meditation and social interaction for men and non-binary participants. Rainbow Men Retreats provide queer men with inclusive, spirituality-focused experiences. 

These retreats are a response to declining male friendships and increasing societal pressures on men, and provide spaces for vulnerability, self-discovery and emotional resilience. While high-intensity or ‘warrior’-framed programmes risk reinforcing traditional masculine stereotypes, experts advocate approaches that embrace emotional openness and 21st-century realities of gender. 

The trend signals opportunities for brands to champion men’s mental health by creating experiences that prioritise connection, community and holistic wellbeing over power, aggression or outdated masculine ideals, redefining what it means to be a man today. 

The Big Idea: Brand Innovation Debrief: Aman

Aman epitomises ultra-luxury hospitality, blending serene design, bespoke service and rare experiences for a devoted high-net-worth clientele. Founded in 1988 in Phuket by Adrian Zecha, Aman, Sanskrit for ‘peace’, prioritises intimacy, calm and deep connection to place over conventional five-star formality.  

Its retreats, from Bhutan’s Himalayan forests to Utah’s desert mesas, exemplify biophilic, place-based design, creating immersive environments that harmonise with local culture and nature. 

Aman attracts a loyal ‘Aman junkie’ following, with repeat guests accounting for about 50% of business, according to Town & Country. The brand rarely advertises or lowers rates, instead cultivating exclusivity and emotional attachment.  

Expansion includes wellness products, furniture collaborations and Janu, a socially dynamic sister brand appealing to younger audiences. Aman Essentials and Aman Interiors extend its philosophy into daily life, enabling clients to bring the brand’s serene aesthetic and rituals into their homes. 

Experiential travel is central, with bespoke journeys like Jet Expeditions and Driving Journeys offering intimate, transformative experiences. Wellness and personal growth are woven into every touchpoint, reinforced by high-profile ambassadors such as Novak Djokovic. 

Aman is defined by subtlety, anticipatory service, cultural authenticity and connection to place. Whether through spiritual lodges, yachts or Aman’s contemporary re-interpretations of local traditions, the brand offers an eco-system of experiences that extend far beyond a stay, creating a lifestyle and a sense of belonging. 

Read the full Brand Innovation Debrief on the ultra-luxury brand.

Aman Kyoto, Japan Aman Kyoto, Japan

The Campaign: Unplugged and Munya Chawawa turn to humour to tackle Britain’s screen addiction

Unplugged x Munya Chawawa, UK

In October 2025, Unplugged, the digital detox brand behind off-grid cabins that lock away phones and reconnect guests with nature, teamed up with comedian Munya Chawawa and agency 10 Days London to launch a playful campaign promoting screen-free wellbeing. 

Framed as a parody flight-safety video, Chawawa stars as a ‘digital safety officer’, guiding viewers through the essentials of disconnecting – from enjoying time in nature and reading books to navigating with paper maps and using a cassette player. 

The satirical video pokes fun at modern society’s technology addiction, while leaning into what we call the Unhinged Humour Opportunity – using humour as a uniquely human growth strategy to stand out in an oversaturated, AI-heavy marketing landscape. 

To find out more about Unplugged, head to our Digital Detox Destinations report, which explores the rise of analogue experiences and tech-free stays in the travel and hospitality sector

The Viewpoint: The New Youth Club

Moot, London, UK Moot, London, UK

Opened in April 2025, Moot is a membership-based youth space in northwest London redefining the concept of youth clubs for a generation seeking real-world connection beyond screens. Founded by ex-advertising executives Cheryl Calverley and Paul Billingsley, Moot offers teenagers aged 12–17 a safe, inspiring third space to socialise, play games, enjoy pizza nights and attend curated events, open Thursday to Sunday. Membership costs £39.99 ($53.60, €45.60) per month, with each teen allowed to bring two guests. 

The co-founders created Moot in response to the decline of traditional youth clubs, which have largely relied on government or charity funding, with 800 closing over the past decade. Moot’s model prioritises inclusion, engagement and social development, helping teens practise face-to-face interaction in a guided environment. Spaces are co-designed with local teenagers, ensuring that décor, activities and programming appeal to their peers. 

Moot also challenges negative stereotypes about teenagers, providing an environment where they are respected and empowered rather than labelled as ‘trouble’. By blending mentorship, creative workshops and social play, Moot helps teens ‘find their tribe’ and develop confidence in real-life interactions. The founders hope to expand the concept across London and beyond, using brand partnerships and investment schemes to maintain affordability while delivering meaningful, community-focused experiences. 

Overall, Moot represents a fresh model of social wellness for young people, promoting connection, autonomy and personal growth. LS:N Global spoke to co-founders Cheryl Calverley and Paul Billingsley – read the full interview here.  

The Space: Mad Swans ushers in a new era for golf and hospitality in the UK

Photo by Jopwell via Pexels Photo by Jopwell via Pexels

Mad Swans is an innovative countryside destination by Longshot on the Mendip Hills in southwest England that opened in October 2025 to offer a fresh take on sports-focused hospitality. 
 
The centrepiece is a 12-hole golf course designed by architect Tom Mackenzie from Mackenzie & Ebert, which is known for its work on courses including Royal Portrush and Turnberry. The course is designed to be flexible and is playable as six, 12 or 18 holes, to cater for seasoned golfers and newcomers.  

Beyond golf, Mad Swans features eco-cabins, a state-of-the-art driving range, padel and pickleball courts, a mini-golf putt patch, darts and a gym. Dining options include The Potting Shed, offering modern countryside cuisine, and The Hangout, serving casual fare and cocktails. Sustainability is a core focus, with initiatives such as rewilding and solar energy.  

Mad Swans aims to create an inclusive, social environment where play transcends age and experience to challenge traditional notions of golf and leisure.  

As outlined in our Sports Tourism Market and Game-Changers: The Future of Sports Fandom reports, the rise of sports tourism continues to reshape how consumers engage with travel, wellness and leisure. 

Previous Daily Signals Articles
Mongolia brings ancient dress systems to the Winter Olympics

Daily Signals

Mongolia brings ancient dress systems to the Winter Olympics

Mongolia has unveiled the ceremonial and casual outfits for its team at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, using the global sporting sta...
Sport : Fashion : Luxury
Foresight Friday: Alison Farrington, foresight content manager

Daily Signals

Foresight Friday: Alison Farrington, foresight content manager

Every Friday, we offer an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues and ideas we’re all talking about. This week, foresight content manager Alison ...
China : Lunar New Year : Foresight Friday
Stat: Gen Z switches off the news feed

Daily Signals

Stat: Gen Z switches off the news feed

New research from Adobe Express points to a shift in how information is accessed in the UK. Just 8% of Gen Z adults consume news content, according...
Media : Technology : Statistic
Can mixed-reality theatre re-invent the stage?

Daily Signals

Can mixed-reality theatre re-invent the stage?

An Ark, a mixed-reality theatre experience at The Shed in New York, is exploring how digital technology can transform live performance while preser...
Immersive Theatre : Media : Entertainment
Prada excavates the past to shape menswear’s future

Daily Signals

Prada excavates the past to shape menswear’s future

Raf Simons and Miuccia Prada’s autumn/winter 2026 menswear collection presented at Fondazione Prada in Milan, Italy, was an exercise in layered arc...
Fashion : Luxury : Society
Stat: Youth employment anxiety rises as AI threatens entry-level roles

Daily Signals

Stat: Youth employment anxiety rises as AI threatens entry-level roles

A growing majority of young people in the UK are entering work with deep anxiety about their career prospects, according to new research from the K...
Workplace : Society : Statistic
Will.i.am launches Trinity EV as AI-first solution for urban mobility

Daily Signals

Will.i.am launches Trinity EV as AI-first solution for urban mobility

Musician and entrepreneur Will.i.am has launched Trinity, a single-passenger, three-wheeled electric vehicle (EV) that is designed around an AI agent.
Mobility : Technology : Sustainability
Gap creates chief entertainment officer role to drive fashiontainment

Daily Signals

Gap creates chief entertainment officer role to drive fashiontainment

Gap Inc has appointed Pam Kaufman as its first-ever chief entertainment officer, a newly created role designed to develop a ‘fashiontainment’ platf...
Fashion : Entertainment : Media
Stat: Nearly a third of children starting school are struggling with basic analogue skills

Daily Signals

Stat: Nearly a third of children starting school are struggling with basic analogue skills

Nearly a third of children starting reception in England and Wales are struggling with basic analogue skills, revealing a widening gap between home...
Screen Time : Technology : Child Development
How building Bishoftu Airport positions Ethiopia as African travel epicentre

Daily Signals

How building Bishoftu Airport positions Ethiopia as African travel epicentre

Ethiopia has broken ground at Bishoftu International Airport, a new mega-hub designed by Zaha Hadid Architects that aims to become the largest avia...
Travel : Infrastructure : Airport
You have 0 free Daily Signals remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN