Anne Biging, co-founder and CEO of Healing Hotels of the World, has been named ‘Woman of the Decade in Business & Leadership’ at the Women’s Economic Forum (WEF) in New Delhi, India.

Biging was honoured last week at a gala ceremony by the network of All Ladies League (ALL), which organises the event, and she also spoke on ‘Reimagining Societies: Reclaiming Humanity With Gender Equality’ in the opening session of the conference.

“ALL is committed to building bridges, celebrating diversity, energising businesses, and creative collaborations through global sisterhood and connections beyond borders, boundaries, and bias, and Anne Biging’s leadership at Healing Hotels of the World is a shining example of this,” said Dr Harbeen Arora, founder & global chair of ALL and the Women’s Economic Forum. “Our collective capacity for transformation and change is infinite, and Healing Hotels is helping women and men all over the world realise that ecosystems of healing are integral for reclaiming balance in self and society.”

Biging commented: “I am so honoured to receive this award, which recognises not only my work with Healing Hotels, but also the impact that our ‘travel to heal’ movement has had on women around the world. When we founded Healing Hotels of the World, we did so because we saw the universal human desire to pursue a state of good health, happiness, joy, personal satisfaction and fulfilment – no matter what our circumstances. My hope is that every guest at a Healing Hotel is able become whole again in body, mind and soul. For the Women’s Economic Forum to recognise my work towards this is such a profound honour.”

Biging grew up in post-war Germany, and from an early age developed a strong sense that healing can indeed happen, and that life should not be filled with fear and depression. Naturally curious, Biging learned about health and wellbeing through the study of yoga, meditation, ancient Indian scriptures and multiple healing techniques.

After travelling the world as a journalist and book author, she successfully established her career in international tourism destination marketing and hotel consulting. In 2006, with Elisabeth Ixmeier, Biging co-founded the Healing Hotels of the World, a member-based global brand uniting over 100 of the best healing hotels and resorts around the world under one umbrella.

In 2014, Biging and Ixmeier created the Healing Summit, a conference that serves as a platform for professionals striving for a holistic approach to life and business, with the aim to create a global community of influencers who are committed to doing good.

The annual Summit is set to take place this year from 5-7 May at the Pine Cliffs Resort on Portugal’s Algarve coast, with a theme of ‘Taking a Quantum Leap.’ Speakers at this year’s event include investor, philosopher, and philanthropist Adam Rockefeller Growald, who is also a fifth-generation descendant of John D. Rockefeller; and Stephen Kennedy Smith, investor, entrepreneur and author of JFK: A Vision for America.

“I am humbled to have been presented with this award in the company of this group of amazing, highly professional women – and a few outstanding men – from around the world,” said Biging. “I felt such a deep connection with so many people at the Women’s Economic Forum – it’s amazing how the energy flows when people are focused on giving rather than competing.”