The Global Wellness Institute™ (GWI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to empower wellness worldwide, today launched the first in a series of weekly Q&A interviews with wellness leaders and thinkers across the globe seeking to discover the impact of COVID-19—now and far into the future. The series is part of GWI’s PositivelyWell online resource and initiative to empower health and wellness in the age of Coronavirus; the interviews will be conducted and curated by Beth McGroarty, VP research & forecasting.

In the first Wellness Q&A, world-renowned architect Bill Bensley explores how the travel industry will change post-virus and cites critical silver linings that will emerge from the COVID-19 crisis, not only for the tourism industry but also for human health and the planet.

Click to read the Q&A with Bill Bensley.

“We’re thrilled to kick off the Q&As with the always candid, always humorous, Bill Bensley, who has made his mark by designing 200+ boundary-pushing, jaw-dropping hotels in 40 countries. He has completely redefined and “rewilded” luxury hospitality in Asia and is a true, greenwash-hating sustainability pioneer,” says McGroarty.

The second Wellness Q&A in the series will be with Martin Palmer, president of FaithInvest, an organization helping faiths of all types move their investments into environmental and sustainable development investing. Palmer will discuss the role and impact of faith in the Coronavirus crisis and how faith will evolve post-virus. He will also look at the crucial lessons humanity will learn; the divisive dangers of the “science" versus “faith” clashes happening in some nations; and how new faiths, beliefs and narratives will emerge post-COVID-19.

“The goal of the series is to explore—in a short, easy-to-digest format—how these thought leaders see the COVID-19 pandemic impacting their worlds today and exploring their predictions for how this dramatic global event will alter the wellness markets of the future,” said McGroarty.