2026 Delegate FAQ

Phuket, Thailand | November 10-13, 2026

Please find below essential information for delegates attending the 20th Global Wellness Summit, held November 10–13, 2026, at Angsana Laguna Phuket, Thailand. Helpful details are provided on venue, schedule, travel, transportation, parking, registration, dress code, morning activities, wellness experiences, dining, Wi-Fi, translation, mobile app, spa offerings, and Thailand essentials. Kindly review this information before your arrival. The official Summit Agenda will be released about two weeks prior to the event. Exact times and room locations are subject to change.

Entry Requirements

All Summit delegates travel as tourists, so tourist entry rules apply.

  • Passport: valid for at least 6 months beyond the entry date, with at least one blank page.
  • Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC): complete it online at tdac.immigration.go.th within the 72 hours before arrival. It cannot be submitted earlier. Select tourism/holiday as the purpose of travel, and keep the QR code or confirmation to show at immigration.
  • Visa: US citizens and many other nationalities (EU, UK, Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore and more) enter visa-free for up to 30 days when arriving by air. Some nationalities need a visa on arrival or a visa in advance. Check by nationality at thaievisa.go.th; most tourist e-visas are approved in 3–10 business days.
  • Do not bring vapes or e-cigarettes. They are illegal in Thailand. Carry documentation for larger quantities of prescription medication.

Airport Transportation

Delegates fly into Phuket International Airport (HKT). After immigration, baggage claim and customs, SIM card counters, ATMs and ride pickups are in the arrivals area.

  • Hotel transfer: book through the resort. Angsana Laguna Phuket: reservations-lagunaphuket@angsana.com or +66 76 358 500. Hotel transfers cost more than ride apps but are the simplest option after a long flight.
  • Grab: works well in Phuket; the airport to the Laguna area runs about US$20–30. Pickup is usually at the domestic arrivals pickup zone. Bolt is sometimes cheaper. Uber does not operate in Thailand.
  • Airport taxis: often expensive and may not use the meter. Agree the fare before getting in, or use Grab.

Dress Code

The Summit dress code is business casual. No jackets or ties are required.

Phuket in November is hot and humid, 77–88°F (25–31°C), with occasional short showers. Recommend that delegates pack:

  • Lightweight, breathable fabrics such as linen and cotton
  • A light layer for air-conditioned meeting rooms
  • A light rain jacket or travel umbrella
  • Comfortable sandals or shoes for walking between resort venues, some of them outdoors
  • Activewear for the 6:30 AM morning activities, and swimwear for the pool and beach
  • Sunscreen (SPF 50), a hat and sunglasses
  • A shawl or scarf, plus a long skirt or trousers, for temple visits. Shoulders and knees must be covered, and shoes come off before entering.

Swimwear, shorts and sundresses are fine around the resort and beach. In town and at restaurants, casual resort wear works well.

Onsite Parking

There is no self-parking at Angsana Laguna Phuket. Valet parking is available.

GWS Registration

The registration desk is in the Club Lounge at Angsana Laguna Phuket. Delegates can pick up their name badge, delegate directory, agenda and sponsor tote bag with gifts.

  • Tuesday, November 10: 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
  • Wednesday, November 11 and Thursday, November 12: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
  • Friday, November 13: 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Delegates can change their registration or add morning activities at any time through the Modify Registration link.

Key Venues

Conference Venue and Host Resort
Angsana Laguna Phuket
Address: 10 Moo 4, Srisoonthorn Road, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket 83110, Thailand
Telephone: +66 76 358 500

Partner Resort
Anantara Layan Phuket
Address: 168 Moo 6, Layan Beach Soi 4, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket 83110, Thailand

Tuesday, November 10: All Delegate Welcome Reception
Poolside Garden, Angsana Laguna Phuket, 7:00–9:00 PM (tentative).

Wednesday, November 11: Delegate Dinner
Poolside Garden, Angsana Laguna Phuket, 6:30–9:30 PM (tentative). Dinner is on site, so no transportation is needed.

Thursday, November 12: Happiness Hour / Gala Evening
Happiness Hour is at Loy Krathong Bar, 6:00–7:00 PM (tentative), timed for sunset. The Gala follows beachside at Angsana Laguna Phuket in a clear tent: a seated Thai dinner with dancing, entertainment and a live auction benefiting the nonprofit Global Wellness Institute. The Gala starts at 7:00 PM (tentative).

Schedule at a Glance

All events are at Angsana Laguna Phuket. ACES is the main plenary ballroom. Please find the schedule here.

Event Transportation

All Summit sessions take place on site at Angsana Laguna Phuket, so delegates staying at the host resort can walk to everything.

  • Evening events: the Welcome Reception (Nov 10), Delegate Dinner (Nov 11) and Gala (Nov 12) are all on site at Angsana, so no event transportation is needed.
  • Anantara Layan Phuket: transportation is provided to and from Angsana Laguna for delegates staying at the partner resort. Anantara will provide the shuttle schedule.
  • Within Laguna Phuket: the resort complex runs shuttle bus and boat services between its properties.
  • Outside the shuttle schedule: delegates can book a Grab or Bolt ride, or arrange a car through the concierge, at their own expense. Advise against street taxis without an agreed fare, and against renting scooters or jet skis.

Morning Activities

All sessions start at 6:30 AM (tentative) and need pre-registration, on a first come, first served basis. To sign up, delegates log back in to their registration through Modify Registration and select the sessions they would like to join. Locations are subject to final confirmation with Angsana Laguna; beach sessions have an indoor rain plan.

Wednesday, November 11

  • Sanctum Signature Sequence: You Are Not Alone (55 min) — Led by Luuk Melisse, Sanctum — Meet at The Beach
  • Technogym Bench360: Strength & Motion (45 min) — Led by Technogym Thailand — Meet at The Beach, Grass Area
  • Muay Thai: Energy, Strength & Balance (45 min) — Led by Angsana Recreation Team — Meet at Poolside Garden
  • WalkShop: The Power of Walking, Beach Route (30–45 min) — Led by Thierry & Mary Anne Malleret — Meet at Market Place, Angsana

Thursday, November 12

  • Sanctum Signature Sequence: The Dance of Vibrations (55 min) — Led by Luuk Melisse, Sanctum — Meet at The Beach
  • Hybrid Hive by Technogym: Energy, Movement & Motivation (45 min) — Led by Technogym Thailand — Meet at Angsana Gym
  • RETURN: A Morning Sound Ritual — Led by Lauren Cureton, BuDhaGirl Wellness Collective — Meet at Poolside Garden
  • WalkShop: The Power of Walking, Laguna Route (30–45 min) — Led by Thierry & Mary Anne Malleret — Meet at Angsana Lobby

Friday, November 13

  • Technogym Mind & Body Movement: Flow, Hold & Breathe (30 min) — Led by Technogym Thailand — Meet at The Beach
  • RETURN: A Morning Sound Ritual — Led by Lauren Cureton, BuDhaGirl Wellness Collective — Meet at Poolside Garden

All sessions suit all levels. Recommend comfortable activewear, walking shoes for the WalkShop, water and mosquito repellent for outdoor sessions. Full descriptions are on the Morning Activities page.

Pre- and Post-Summit Experiences

All experiences must be pre-booked through the linked pages. The deadline to book is Monday, November 2. Local Thai Excursions run on both November 9 and November 14, and prices include government taxes.

The Wellness Business Day Tour visits five wellness businesses, drawn from Clinique La Prairie Health Resort, Tri Vananda, JARA Wellness Center at Trisara, Layan LIFE by Anantara and BDMS Wellness Clinic. Destinations are subject to change.

Spa and Wellness Experiences

At Angsana Laguna Phuket: delegates have access to Angsana Spa, the 323-metre free-form pool (the longest on the island), a 24-hour fitness centre, daily recreation activities, non-motorized water sports and direct access to Bang Tao Beach. Delegates can book treatments at the Spa or at the Front Desk, and should show their Summit badge to receive a discount.

At Anantara Layan Phuket (promo code GWS26): delegates staying at the partner resort receive:

  • A complimentary US$100 wellness credit (THB 3,000 toward a treatment, or a 30-minute Pain Relief or Stress Recovery treatment)
  • 20% off Anantara Spa treatments and 20% off Layan LIFE treatments (aesthetic injectables excluded)
  • 15% off wellness and longevity menu selections at Breeze, Cocoon and Dara
  • Access to Layan LIFE facilities: Himalayan salt sauna, herbal steam chamber, hot and cold hydrotherapy pool, Technogym fitness area, yoga and Pilates studios (advance booking required)
  • A Post-Summit Wellness Day and a Stargazing Experience & Cocktail Night on November 14 for in-house delegates

Golfing

Delegates receive a 20% discount on tee times at Banyan Tree. Booking contact and how to claim the discount to be confirmed.

Dining at Angsana

  • Market Place: International buffet breakfast
  • Azzurra: Italian and Mediterranean
  • Bodega & Grill: Eastern and Western cuisines, steak
  • Seafood Market: Fresh, sustainable seafood
  • XANA: Beachside leisure and dining
  • Poolside: Pool bar and casual daytime dining
  • Loy Krathong Bar: Lobby bar

Wifi Info

Network name and password to be confirmed.

Live Translation

Real-time translation into more than 30 languages is available at the Summit. Translation is provided via Wordly, and delegates scan a QR code to access it. QR code to follow. Details are on the real-time translation page.

GWI Ambassadors

Support the nonprofit Global Wellness Institute and become an Ambassador. For questions, reach out to Jane Kitchen at jane.kitchen@globalwellnesssummit.com or +44.7518.401294.

GWS Mobile App

Delegates will receive an email with instructions for accessing the Summit App a few weeks prior to the Summit. Delegates should download the app for speaker profiles, messaging, the agenda and more. Coming soon!

Staying Connected

The simplest option is to add an international plan to your current mobile plan before you travel. As an alternative, tourist SIM cards are sold at Phuket Airport, typically US$10–20 for 15–30 days of unlimited data (AIS has the best coverage), and an eSIM such as Airalo works too.

Thailand runs on 220V with Type A, B and C outlets. Most hotel rooms accept US plugs, but a universal adapter is recommended. Phuket is on Indochina Time (ICT, GMT+7).

Thailand Essentials

  • Weather: November is the turn from rainy to dry season: 77–88°F (25–31°C), 70–90% humidity, occasional short showers.
  • Drinking water: Do not drink tap water. Bottled and hotel-filtered water are safe, brushing teeth with tap water is generally fine, and restaurant ice is usually safe. Drink plenty of water in the heat. Bottled water will be provided in your accommodations daily.
  • Currency: Thai Baht (THB), roughly 34–36 THB to US$1. Withdraw cash from an ATM in Thailand (about 220 THB fee per withdrawal) and avoid exchanging large sums at the airport.
  • Cards and cash: Cards are widely accepted at hotels and restaurants. Smaller vendors and markets are cash only.
  • Tipping: Not mandatory but appreciated. Restaurants: round up or 5–10%. Hotel staff: 50–100 THB. Spa: 10–15%. Drivers: round up.
  • Sun: The sun is very strong. SPF 50, hat and sunglasses.
  • Mosquitoes: Still present in November. Use repellent with DEET or picaridin, especially at dawn and dusk.
  • Food: Street food is usually safe when cooked fresh at a busy stall. Avoid raw seafood from street vendors.
  • Typical prices: Thai massage US$10–15. Nice dinner US$20–40 per person. Cocktails US$8–15.
  • Emergencies: Tourist Police 1155 (English-speaking). Ambulance 1669. Police 191.

Cultural Etiquette

  • The wai: the Thai greeting is hands together with a slight bow. Visitors need not initiate it, but returning it is appreciated.
  • Heads and feet: do not touch anyone’s head, and avoid pointing feet at people or at Buddha images.
  • The monarchy: Thailand has strict lèse-majesté laws. Never joke about or criticize the king or royal family.
  • Shoes: remove them before entering temples, homes and some shops.
  • Temples: cover shoulders and knees.
  • Demeanour: Thai culture is polite and calm. A smile and a patient tone go a long way.

Helpful Thai Phrases

  • Hello: Sawasdee ka (women) / Sawasdee krub (men)
  • Thank you: Khob khun ka / Khob khun krub
  • Yes: Chai
  • No: Mai

Around the Island
Laguna and Bang Tao are quiet, with luxury resorts and long beaches. Surin is boutique and upscale, Kamala relaxed and scenic, Patong busy with nightlife, and Old Town Phuket historic and colourful with great restaurants.