Latest news with #WorldHappinessReport2025
Forbes
15-05-2025
- Forbes
Capella Taipei Is Taiwan's Hottest New Luxury Stay — Here's Why
View of the Taipei 101 tower from the Deluxe Skyline Suite. Taipei, home to 2.6 million people, is one of the most scintillating metropoles in Asia. A mix of Chinese influence, Japanese heritage and indigenous tradition, it's not only fun but also highly functional, earning it 'the happiest place' in Asia, according to the World Happiness Report 2025. From bustling markets and urban parks to some of Asia's best shopping and eats, it's worth more than just a stopover. And now, with the opening of Capella Taipei in April 2025, travelers have a compelling new reason to extend their stay. Plume, the hotel's all-day lobby lounge. A "modern mansion" that sits at the heart of Taipei, it was designed by acclaimed superstar architect Andrè Fu, the Hong Kong based studio behind many impressive projects in cities like Bangkok, London and Tokyo. An urban sanctuary with Eastern flair paired with a contemporary European atmosphere, it invites you to slow down and reset amidst the big city bustle. The atmosphere is welcoming and serene, with soft neutral hues, modern curves and bright, airy spaces adorned with evocative works of art. The hotel boasts 86 rooms, including 6 pool suites, featuring bright interiors with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Taipei's impressive skyline. Starting at 46m², they offer comfortable luxury with thoughtful amenities, while suites have generously sized 106m2 open-air layouts with separate living and dining areas and standalone bathtubs. Deluxe Suite A large rooftop swimming pool on the 10th floor is the perfect place to unwind surrounded by manicured hedges and vibrant bougainvillea — the property brings the outside in with potted trees and shrubs adding texture to the urban oasis. Numerous artists were tapped to create art pieces on display throughout the hotel. Elsa Rameau, a French Hong Kong-based artist, created a beautiful modern collage panels featuring vibrant blue magpies, Taiwan's national bird, on view at Plume, the hotel's all-day lobby lounge. A spiral staircase is an arresting feature that creates a sense of movement and flow, accompanied by a vertical sculpture by Joel Escalona, a Mexican artist, that complements the design. The entrance of the hotel. The property has five dining venues: Plume, which sits at the heart of the hotel, serves artisanal coffee and an à la carte breakfast in the mornings, lunch or tea in the afternoons, and transforms into a cozy cocktail bar in the evening. Heartier meals are served at Rong Ju, a Cantonese restaurant that focuses on elevated dim sum and regional specialties and Mizue, a Japanese restaurant designed to resemble a Ryokan. Rong Ju, the hotel's Cantonese restaurant. Ember 28, named for the symbolic importance of fire in Taiwanese culture, is Capella Taipei's international grill serving neo-classic cuisine alongside innovative cocktails. And Atelier Plume, a delightful pastry shop that will transport you to Paris with decadent French pastries. Capella hotels are one of the best when it comes to wellness programming, designing thoughtful experiences that are at once innovative and grounding. You can enjoy customized spa treatments aligned with the cycles of the moon, invigorating massages or relaxing in a floatation pod or Hinoki bathtub. The spa's design, with barrel-vaulted ceilings and gentle, flowing curves, is guaranteed to transport you to a different realm of relaxation. Left: the spiral staircase. Right: the spa. Capella Taipei is nestled in the city's vibrant Songshan district, a leafy neighborhood with historic temples and modern galleries and a residential feel. As with other Capella properties, you can join on-and-off site activities through "Capella Curates", a selection of unique experiences designed to give you a sense of place. The Songshan city walk, often escorted by the hotel's General Manager, Dennis Laubenstein, gives a great sense of the neighborhood and includes stops to visit hip boutiques, cafes and local businesses that give Taipei its signature creative energy. If you have time for a daytrip, don't miss the tea trails experience that takes you to the Pinglin District where you can learn about Taiwan's celebrated oolong tea cultivation and processing methods while enjoying sweeping mountain views. Learn more about Capella Tapiei on its website.
NDTV
09-05-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Why Eating With Others Could Be The Key To Your Happiness, Science Says
We all know that good food equals happiness, right? When you've been craving a certain dish for days and finally get to taste it, that first bite is pure joy. But here's something interesting: did you know that the way we eat, whether alone or with others, can change how we feel overall? It is true, according to the World Happiness Report 2025. Every year, this report ranks countries by how happy and healthy their people are. Finland has once again topped the list, ranking as the happiest country for the seventh consecutive year. Meanwhile, India ranks 118th, showing there's still some work to do. The rankings consider factors like social support, health, freedom, generosity, perception of corruption, and GDP. This year, the report also explored how sharing meals can affect happiness. The findings were clear: people in countries where eating together is common consistently report feeling happier, no matter their age, gender, or culture. How Sharing Meals Boosts Happiness And Reduces Stress: 1. Strengthens Personal Connections Eating together is one of the best ways to build meaningful connections. Whether you are chatting about the food or sharing stories, meals provide a relaxed atmosphere to bond. It is an easy way to connect with others. 2. Fosters A Sense Of Community The World Happiness Report 2025 found that communal dining is linked to stronger social support, more acts of kindness, and fewer feelings of isolation. Countries where people share meals tend to feel more united. 3. Reduces Stress And Loneliness Eating alone can sometimes leave you feeling disconnected. But when you share meals with friends, family, or colleagues, it brings comfort and a sense of belonging. It can also help reduce stress, loneliness, and sadness. 4. An Act Of Love And Care When you share food with someone, whether at home, at work, or in a restaurant, you show care. It promotes unity, support, and kindness, making everyone feel a little more connected. 4 Easy Ways to Share Meals in Daily Life 1. Make Time for Family Meals Try to set aside at least one meal a day to eat together without any distractions. If the day is busy, make dinner a time to catch up with each other. 2. Host Potlucks Or Community Dinners It's not just about your immediate family. Make plans to share meals with friends, neighbours, or extended family. Weekend potlucks or casual dinner parties are a fun way to connect. 3. Catch Up With Friends Over Food Sharing meals is a great way to strengthen friendships. Meet up for a coffee date or lunch with old friends to stay connected and keep the bond strong. 4. Practice Meal Sharing At Work Since we spend so much time at work, eating with colleagues can improve job satisfaction and make you feel more connected to your workplace. If you're used to eating alone and feel that sharing meals could make you happier, give these tips a try. As the World Happiness Report 2025 shows us, sometimes, the happiest moments happen around the table.
Time Out
07-05-2025
- General
- Time Out
Can you guess? These two Asian cities are officially among the happiest in the world
Happiness is one of the hardest things in the world to quantify, but that's not stopping the folks behind the Happy City Index. Every year, they evaluate and rank global cities on themes like governance, environment, economy, and health to determine which have the policies – and are actually taking action – to improve citizens' quality of life and happiness. In 2025, Singapore emerged as the happiest city in Asia, ranking third on the global list. The report lauds it as "a global beacon of economic prosperity, governance, and urban innovation", highlighting Singapore's world-renowned universities, high levels of voter turnout, and its commitment to smart urban development. There's a lot else going for the city, like its fantastic public health system, efficient public transport infrastructure, not to mention charming parks in every neighbourhood and an ever-evolving roster of things to do. Seoul is the only other Asian city on the Gold Cities list, ranking No. 6. Like Singapore, it excels in education, innovation, and governance. But where it really stands out is in sustainability, which the report states is "deeply integrated into Seoul's urban framework" via renewable energy solutions, strong biodiversity protection, efficient waste management, high recycling rates, and low pollution. Anyone who's been to Seoul will also know it's remarkably green, with sprawling parks like Namsan Park and Banpo Hangang Park. What's notable is the number of Taiwanese cities that appear on the Happy City Index. Three of its cities made it to the Silver Cities list, while five are in the Bronze Cities list – which tracks with the World Happiness Report 2025, which named Taiwan the happiest country in the world. It's matched by China, which also totals eight cities on the Happy City Index, led by its capital, Beijing, at No. 54. Besides Singapore, Southeast Asia is represented by Kuala Lumpur (No. 167) and Petaling Jaya (No. 183) in Malaysia, as well as a handful of cities in the Philippines, like Quezon City (No. 169), Cebu City (No. 174), and Makati City (No. 193). Curious about how the rest of the world fared? Check out the full Happy City Index 2025 here. Here's how cities in Asia ranked on the 2025 Happy City Index Gold "Happiest" Cities in Asia (1-31): 3. Singapore (979 points) 6. Seoul, South Korea (942 points) Silver Cities in Asia (32-100) 42. Tokyo, Japan (814 points) 54. Beijing, China (784 points) 55. Busan, South Korea (782 points) 59. Ulsan, South Korea (776 points) 72. Incheon, South Korea (756 points) 75. Hsinchu, Taiwan (754 points) 87. Changhua, Taiwan (773 points) 91. Kaohsiung, Taiwan (725 points) Bronze cities in Asia (101-200) 110. Wuhan, China (700 points) 113. Taichung, Taiwan (698 points) 115. Taoyuan, Taiwan (695 points) 128. Shanghai, China (677 points) 129. Osaka, Japan (675 points) 134. Tainan, Taiwan (669 points) 136. Dalian, China (658 points) 137. Jinan, China (654 points) 153. Sapporo, Japan (620 points) 155. Suzhou, China (618 points) 164. Kobe, Japan (606 points) 167. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (602 points) 168. Chengdu, China (601 points) 169. Quezon City, Philippines (598 points) 172. Chiayi, Taiwan (591 points) 172. Keelung, Taiwan (591 points) 174. Cebu City, Philippines (586 points) 183. Petaling Jaya, Malaysia (573 points) 190. Kunming, China (562 points) 193. Makati City, Philippines (556 points)
Fashion Value Chain
05-05-2025
- Health
- Fashion Value Chain
Nordic Happiness Summit 2025 Explores Joy Through Unity
The first-ever Nordic Happiness Summit (NHS) took place in Helsinki from March 24–25, 2025, bringing together students, academics, artists, policymakers, and businesses to explore the theme of 'Togetherness.' Organized by students from Hanken Business Lab and the Center for Wellbeing, Welfare, and Happiness at the Stockholm School of Economics, this pioneering event aims to reimagine happiness from a Nordic perspective. The summit was conceived in the basement of Hanken School of Economics by Markus Wartiovaara, who recognized a gap despite the Nordic countries' consistent top rankings in the World Happiness Report. NHS was born from this vision—to create a space dedicated to exploring why Nordic countries rank so highly in happiness and how those values translate into practice. By integrating perspectives from academia, business, culture, and policy, the summit addressed key issues such as workplace burnout, societal stress, and emotional resilience. The focus was not just on dialogue but also on solutions for a more connected, fulfilled society. A Unique Student-Led Platform NHS 2025 stood out as a fully student-driven initiative. From concept to execution, students were deeply involved. Markus Wartiovaara emphasized that NHS reflects the best of higher education—learning beyond classrooms through real-world collaboration and shared experiences. Project leaders Onni Larri and Anton Mattsson highlighted how the World Happiness Report 2025 inspired discussions on empowerment and wellbeing. Larri noted the summit's goal was to go beyond superficial joy and explore deeper, lasting happiness. Mattsson emphasized how the Nordic education system cultivates empowerment through critical thinking and curiosity—fundamentals that support both personal fulfillment and societal resilience. Looking Ahead Following the success of the 2025 summit, NHS is set to become an annual event, rotating between Helsinki and Stockholm. The next edition will be hosted in Stockholm in 2026. Micael Dahlen, a key organizer from the Stockholm School of Economics, called the 2025 edition a 'mjukstart'—a soft, safe space to try, fall, and grow together. As NHS takes root, it promises to foster ongoing dialogue and practical action around happiness in the Nordic region and beyond. Key Themes from NHS 2025: National Trends: Reflections on the World Happiness Report 2025 Workplace Wellbeing: Strategies for better organizational culture Personal Resilience: Tools for mental health and self-care Educational Impact: How universities foster happiness through learning and research For updates on NHS 2026, visit
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
This Country Is the Happiest Place in East Asia—and It Has Incredible Street Food, Beautiful National Parks, and Bubbling Hot Springs
Taiwan was named the happiest country in the World Happiness Report 2025. The island country stood out with strong marks in perceived and actual benevolence. In Taiwan, travelers can experience gorgeous national parks, hot springs, and incredible street food culture. Taiwan has claimed the top spot as the happiest nation in East Asia, according to Gallup's World Happiness Report 2025. The island nation ranked 27th globally and outperformed its neighbors, such as Japan, South Korea, and China. 147 countries were analyzed in this year's report. In 2024, Taiwan came in at 31st, but this year, the island overtook Singapore as the happiest country in East Asia. Finland—for the eighth consecutive time in a row—ranked as the happiest country in the world overall. For its report, Gallup collected self-assessments from more than 100,000 international participants. For its analysis, the polling organization also took into account six factors: healthy life expectancy, GDP per capita, the feeling of having someone to count on, the average frequency of donations, having a sense of freedom to make key life decisions, and individuals' perceptions of corruption in government and business. One of the standout findings of this year's report is that much of our sense of well-being depends on our perception of others' benevolence—it's a stronger predictor of happiness than actual or expected harms. Taiwan stands out with strong scores in both perceived and actual benevolence. "... when society is more benevolent, the people who benefit most are those who are least happy," a Gallup report shared with Travel + Leisure stated. "As a result, happiness is more equally distributed in countries with higher levels of expected benevolence." Taiwan is perhaps best known for its vibrant street food culture, robust national park system (which includes the easily accessible Yangmingshan National Park), and colorful history. Taipei, the nation's capital, is known for its night markets, towering skyscrapers, and attractions like the National Palace Museum, home to one of the world's largest collections of Chinese art. Tainan, often called Taiwan's cultural capital, is a great place to enjoy centuries-old architecture, Southern-style Taiwanese food, and a more laid-back lifestyle. Food, of course, is central to the Taiwanese experience. Night markets offer fresh tastings of local dishes like oyster omelets, braised pork rice, and stinky tofu. The country is also the birthplace of bubble tea, now a global phenomenon. You can further explore Taiwan's tea culture by taking a day trip from Taipei to tour Maokong's hillside farms. But if you want to take it easy on your next vacation, consider taking a dip in one of Taiwan's many natural hot springs. Beitou, just outside Taipei, is a great day-trip destination from the capital and has Japanese-style public bathhouses, private rooms, and higher-end resorts. For something more low-key, visit the small towns of Wulai or Ruisui, where you can enjoy a soak with mountainous views. Despite Taiwan's small size, there's so much to see around the island. But thanks to its robust train and high-speed rail network, it's easy to get around the country and experience a spectrum of environments. Other East Asian countries that made the top 10, respectively, include Singapore, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Malaysia, and China. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
