Renowned hotelier Kristina Snaith-Lense transformed The Upper House into the healthiest urban hotel in the world during her tenure. As she moves on to her next chapter with Swire Hotels, helming wellness for the group and overseeing the first new house opening in a decade, we find out what’s next on her award-winning journey.
Your wellness vision transformed The Upper House. How are you reimagining well-being across Swire Hotels’ spaces?
We’re redefining wellness—not as an escape, but as a deeper connection to mind and soul. While a deep tissue massage is always welcome, today’s wellness goes beyond physical relief. People are increasingly seeking support for their mental and emotional wellbeing too.
Wellness isn’t just personal—it’s communal. Connection and shared growth are becoming essential parts of the wellness experience. That’s why we’re inviting innovators from around the world to introduce fresh practices, while staying rooted in time-honoured Eastern traditions.
What inspired you to champion wellness at Swire Hotels, and how does your personal wellness philosophy shape this?
I’ve been very lucky to grow up in an active household with healthy role models in my parents. They instilled strong lifestyle habits in my brothers and me from a young age, and those same values are now shaping how we raise our own children. My husband and I love spending time in nature with our kids—we’re a big hiking family. Our older boys have even started joining us in trail races here in Hong Kong, which we absolutely love.
Wellness has been a heartfelt passion of mine since my teenage years. Much to my parents’ dismay, I chose to study PE for A-levels and even tried to leave traditional secondary education to pursue a career as a professional dancer!
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I love movement and the mind-body connection it creates. Throughout my own spiritual journey, I’ve explored a wide range of practices, including Reiki and other forms of energy healing. A chance meeting 15 years ago with Pervin and Stephen Clasper at their centre, Shakti Healing Circle in Hong Kong, was truly life-changing. They’ve since become mentors to me, enriching countless aspects of my life through their profound teachings, deep knowledge, and extraordinary gifts as healers.
Being part of a team that encourages me to keep exploring new approaches to wellbeing is something I deeply value. At the start of the pandemic, we began experimenting with different wellness experiences at The Upper House to deepen our connection with guests and the local Hong Kong community, offering meaningful support during an incredibly challenging time.
Wellness is now an integral part of our Houses and the overall guest experience. From curated residencies to exclusive collaborations with some of the world’s leading wellness experts, we offer unique programming that prioritises not just health, but social connection—nurturing the body, mind, heart, and soul.
Wellness is deeply personal and can mean something entirely different to each individual. It’s a privilege to support our guests and community in discovering what resonates most with them and to help cultivate a shared sense of wellbeing. On a personal level, I find real purpose in helping others embark on their own journey of self-discovery—just as I continue to walk mine.
As a mother and leader, how do you weave work-life balance into Swire Hotels’ wellness initiatives for staff?
The most important thing to me is that wellness is inclusive, accessible, and flexible—designed to foster a sense of purpose and build community. Everyone is welcome!
We actively encourage our team members to take part in all our wellness initiatives. We host trial sessions to introduce new offerings, and our partners are always generous in sharing experiences and training, inviting the team to engage firsthand. At our in-residence chiropractic clinic, Up!Health, all team members in Hong Kong receive a complimentary spinal assessment and ongoing chiropractic care—especially beneficial for those in operational roles. This initiative has been incredibly popular. Similarly, our weekly evening runs and hikes with SHELTER Athletics are often joined by several team members.
Across our hotels, our people are amazing at creating small wellness moments—like surprising us with energising wellness drinks during busy days or ensuring fresh, healthy salads are prepared daily in the team dining room. Emotional wellbeing and psychological safety are deeply valued pillars of our culture. Over the past two years, we’ve launched an appreciation programme that celebrates how we show up for each other, nurturing a workplace that’s genuinely supportive and human at its core.
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What role do community partnerships, like those you built at The Upper House, play in Swire Hotels’ wellness strategy?
Our partners mean everything to us. We believe in the power of collaboration and collective growth. In a fast-paced city like Hong Kong, people are increasingly seeking ways to connect on a deeper level. Our wellness residencies aim to create a one-stop programme for those looking to integrate self-care into their social lives—bringing multiple disciplines together under one roof. This holistic approach allows us to offer guests personalised wellness plans tailored to their individual needs and goals.
Our #WellnessOnTheRoad monthly fireside panel discussions provide both our guests and the local community with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of longevity and holistic wellbeing through insights from leading experts. In June, we welcomed the authors of Why Women Aren’t Winning at Health (But Can)—Dr. Alyson McGregor, Dr. Marjorie Jenkins, and Anca Griffiths—to explore the hidden biases, broken systems, and silent pressures that prevent women from achieving true health, wellbeing, and longevity. Last year, we were honoured to host David Stewart, founder of Ageist, who captivated our audience with his inspiring views on wellness, fitness, style, and relationships—liberated from the limitations of age, location, or culture.
A recent highlight has been our partnership with the award-winning The Farm at San Benito in the Philippines. Renowned for its pioneering work in transformative healing, The Farm delivered a series of signature experiences, wellness talks on integrative medicine and holistic healing, and traditional remedial practices. They also led cooking classes focused on achieving optimal health.
What wellness trends excite you most, and how might they shape Swire Hotels’ future offerings?
For me personally, it’s incredibly exciting to see how wellness is shaping the future of luxury hospitality—and disrupting our industry in the best possible way. Social wellness, in particular, is a top priority. We’re building a community that motivates and inspires one another, whether through intimate conversations, group healing sessions, or simply by creating spaces where wellness becomes a shared joy and a source of genuine connection.
We’ve observed that wellness is a key priority for many of our guests—especially when it comes to effective, data-driven, and science-backed health solutions. With advancements in technology enabling greater personalisation in the wellness space, we’re proud to offer highly tailored and innovative services that meet the evolving needs of our guests.
Our wellness offerings are designed to be flexible and accessible, making it easy for guests to integrate wellness into their busy schedules—whether they’re visiting for business or leisure. We provide in-room fitness videos and treatments, allowing guests to squeeze in a quick workout before heading out or unwind with a relaxing session after a day of exploring. Many of our wellness residencies are conveniently located right within our House, bringing everything close to home. Our goal is to offer a holistic approach to health, ensuring that guests can enjoy a rejuvenating experience, even in the heart of the city.
There has also been a growing demand for wellness services that support recovery, pro-ageing, and longevity. Our longevity suite, developed in partnership with 10x Longevity, features an array of state-of-the-art equipment and technology—from a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to red-light therapy and an infrared sauna. Together, these offer a results-driven, individualised approach to evidence-based wellness that prioritises long-term vitality.
Sleep remains a vital component of wellbeing, yet many people increasingly struggle to meet their sleep needs. Our health and wellness journey across all our Houses is designed to help guests maintain healthy habits while travelling, taking a holistic approach. Our comprehensive chiropractic care by Up!Health includes sleep assessments to ensure guests get the rest they need. Additionally, every suite offers complimentary health supplements from AG1, specially formulated to support the body, brain, and gut health.
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You’ve worked with wellness innovators like Lindsay Jang. Are new collaborations on the horizon for Swire Hotels?
We are incredibly grateful for our collaboration with Lindsay Jang, founder of FAMILY FORM, who launched our very first wellness residency at the House over four years ago. Since then, FAMILY FORM has developed a cult-like following—not only among Hong Kong locals but also guests working out remotely online! It’s a dynamic, immersive 55-minute full-body sculpting experience on an infrared-heated mat, set to the absolute best music. I’ve been a convert from day one. FAMILY FORM is a vibrant community hub that helps both women and men feel stronger and more empowered through movement. We were absolutely thrilled to see them open their third location at The Middle House in Shanghai earlier this year—an exciting milestone as we look forward to growing this community together across our new openings over the next five years.
We’re always open to new partnerships that allow us to collaborate and create meaningful experiences. As part of our latest Wellness Residencies, we recently welcomed renowned meditation teacher and author Manoj Dias, whose residency runs through September 3rd. Manoj combines Buddhist roots, breathwork techniques like the physiological sigh, and overtone soundscapes in guided sessions that calm the nervous system and offer relief to anyone dealing with the high stress of city life.
As advocates of the 7-step K-Beauty regimen, we are exploring its integration into our offerings, along with Scalp Spa services, with plans to launch these first in Shanghai by the end of the year.
How do you plan to support mental health across Swire Hotels’ properties in our post-COVID world?
We’re excited to continue expanding our offerings to foster meaningful interactions and build a close-knit community that supports and grows together. In March, we hosted our inaugural House of Healing event in Hong Kong—a thoughtfully curated one-day retreat showcasing our exceptional partners and wellness residencies. This one-stop “taster” programme helps individuals seamlessly integrate self-care with their social lives. Our holistic approach ensures guests receive personalised wellness plans tailored to their unique needs and goals.
We’re thrilled to be launching this event in Shanghai at The Middle House this September, bringing some of our Hong Kong-based residencies—including Stone & Star, UP!Health, and GOOD Yoga—north for a two-day wellness retreat!
Earlier this summer, we welcomed The Market by Stone & Star, offering a variety of holistic experiences designed to nurture the mind, body, and soul. Guests can immerse themselves in interactive meditation stations with guided sessions, promoting mindfulness and relaxation within the peaceful atmosphere of the House.
This August, our longtime partner SHELTER Athletics transformed the Tea Room at The Upper House with a special wellness-focused café menu and retail pop-up. Every Monday, we co-host their weekly Girls Night series, fostering a local community of women united by a shared passion for connection and wellness.
This November, we’re launching our first-ever TCM Clinic in partnership with CHAINS in Hong Kong, running for three months. The initiative continues our commitment to emotional wellbeing, while creating spaces of connection, calm, and care within our Houses.
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What does your own wellness regime look like?
On my personal wellness journey, I’ve learned that daily outdoor movement is essential to my overall wellbeing and sense of balance. As someone who’s always been deeply sensitive, I find movement to be a powerful tool for staying regulated and grounded. After a particularly challenging day, nothing helps me decompress quite like an evening walk after dinner, followed by a long oil bath and a good book.
Every day, I carve out an hour for myself to hit the trail for a run or go for a swim before getting my boys off to school and heading to work. On weekends, this often looks like night hikes with Andre after the kids are asleep. Together, we’re currently training for our first 100km race in January, as part of our ongoing commitment to our fundraising campaign, Running for Dignity.
I like to focus on conditioning throughout the week to keep building strength and flexibility. I usually do FAMILY FORM twice a week—it’s the best workout with the best music—along with a mobility session led by Stephanie Cuvelier of GOOD Yoga, and weight training at The Gym. I’ve been training at The Gym for five years with Jen Mackay and Muk—it’s truly a hidden gem in the city!
I use the Recovery Room at 10x Longevity or The Gym two to three times a week to keep myself feeling refreshed and energised—I love a good sweat! I also continue to lean into my spiritual practices, including meditation, sound healing, and reiki. I’m fortunate to still have monthly check-ins with my reiki master and guru, Pervin Clasper, and regular readings with the magical Joyce, founder of Stone & Star. I deeply value the ongoing learning I gain from both of these practices—especially how the planets may be influencing us and what we can do to strengthen and support ourselves.
For balance and ongoing health, I see Dr. Samantha at the CHAINS TCM Clinic in Central once a month. I’ve been a firm believer in the benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine and have been visiting CHAINS for nearly a decade. To support my immune system, I also go regularly for bioresonance treatments at Waveworks.
When it comes to supplements and nutrition, I’ve been working with nutritional therapist Katia Demekhina for the past two years.
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