Simon Lee Saunders

Simon Lee Saunders serves as RLA Global’s VP of Strategic Health & Wellness advisory.  His multi-decade experience has been finely crafted through both professional and personal wellbeing experiences that distinguish his ability to connect with the most diverse projects.    

Simon led the development and opening of a chain of several health clubs and spas for Europe’s largest operator of thermal spas and resort with Danubius Hotels Group. Furthermore, he integrated the sports activities, adventure & fitness into the wider hotel operations and the re-launch of the group spa offering.

He has worked in the capacity of sales and marketing for the pre-opening of multiple stand-alone and hotel-based health clubs for the LivingWell brand (then part of Hilton Hotels) including exclusive clubs with celebrity, media and political membership bases in St. Johns Wood, The Langham Hilton Hotel and No.1 Millbank – Westminster in the UK.  

Simon has worked with the iconic Gold’s Gym brand in Iberia and Russia providing senior management, operational training and support for general managers & franchisees across the expanded territory.  His health club experience also includes site selection, lease negotiations, tender, planning and fit-out processes for wellness clubs around the world.  

On a personal level Simon went through his own personal wellbeing journey in 2011, a year after running the world’s toughest footrace the Marathon de Sables in the Sahara, he overcame the greater challenge of cancer. Learning to thrive mentally and physically has become his personal focus.

Simon was educated at the University of West London in Leisure & Finance and is a qualified personal trainer and athletics coach.