A health facility promising a ‘Caribbean-like experience’ could be coming to D.C.
Washington, D.C., is taking a healthier approach to tourism. During a recent press conference, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the country’s capital has partnered with the Therme Group to bring a new health and wellness destination to Washington, D.C. The news was shared during the annual Destination D.C. Travel rally.
The proposed fitness facility will have amenities such as a water park, indoor pool and sauna.
Bowser stated the new facility would be an all-around positive for the city, stimulating the economy and job force.
“When we create destinations that not only bring more visitors to our city, but also create new experiences, jobs, and opportunities for our residents – that is a win-win,” the mayor said.
She added, “We know that people are the key to our comeback, so we love that more visitors are coming back to D.C. More visitors means more people supporting our local businesses, more jobs for our residents, and more activity in our city. Our comeback is underway – let’s keep pushing.”
The aforementioned comeback included over 21 million people visiting Washington D.C. in 2022, a 10% increase from 2021.
During the rally, the organization claimed the city’s domestic tourism had seen a 91% rebound post-pandemic. The $8.1 billion income made from visitors supported that statistic. The organization also mentioned that 84,000 jobs were generated throughout the city to keep up with the tourists.
“As an economic development organization, we have a reason to celebrate the increase in domestic visitation, near pre-pandemic levels of visitor spending, and record jobs for Washington, D.C. last year,” said Elliott Ferguson, President and CEO of Destination D.C. “But it’s important to grow domestic market share and be aggressive as D.C. is still behind when it comes to international and business travel. Additional funding through Tourism Recovery District legislation allows us to compete with other top-tier destinations with larger budgets. We appreciate our city’s leaders who recognize the importance of investing in tourism and marketing our destination.”
The Therme Group is known for its immersive wellness destinations. According to the Washington Post, the projected size of the D.C. facility will be between 450,000 to 600,000 square feet. Amenities will include full-service spas with indulgent treatments, a “next-generation waterpark,” and a Caribbean-like experience in the heart of the metropolitan city.
Travel Noire reports that within a 12-month partnership, the Therme Group will work with city officials to locate the perfect location in D.C. to house the expansive facility. The company must refrain from “exploring options in neighboring Maryland and Virginia within the planning term. The goal is to underscore D.C.’s commitment to securing this exclusive partnership.”
The wellness facility’s announcement aligns with Mayor Bowser’s “Comeback Plan” for D.C. The plan aims to boost the city’s economic recovery efforts.
Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her favorite things to cover include “person of interest” pieces, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything about Beyoncé. Her bylines can be found in Blavity, Black Excellence, Signature Bride, Black Wall Street Times, and HipHop Weekly. Martie can be reached via email at martiebowser@detourxp.com.
This story was originally published May 22, 2023 at 9:40 AM with the headline "A health facility promising a ‘Caribbean-like experience’ could be coming to D.C.."