Miami – October 13, 2026 -- Queen Suthida of Thailand will open the 2026 Global Wellness Summit (GWS) on the morning of November 11 at the Angsana Laguna Phuket, the organization announced. The appearance marks the conference's 20th anniversary.
Summit runs November 10-13 in Phuket
The four-day event convenes leaders from what GWS describes as a $6.8 trillion global wellness economy. Accredited media can apply to attend.
Queen's athletic record anchors the wellness link
GWS cited Suthida's sporting credentials as the basis for the invitation. She served as strategist and navigator on Thailand's sailing team, which won gold at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) named her its first Women's Global Ambassador. She also ran the half marathon alongside Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge at the Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok 2025.
GWS leadership frames the opening as a milestone for the industry
GWS Chair and CEO Susie Ellis called the welcome "the honor of a lifetime" and said she expects delegates to remember it.
Jiří Dvořák, 2026 GWS co-chair, professor of neurology at Schulthess Clinic Zurich and a physician at Thailand's BDMS Wellness Clinic (BWC), said he has known the Queen for years. He supervises her training at the BWC Musculoskeletal Department, where her team trains alongside her.