The 102-room Lodge at Koele on Lana'i will be getting an upgrade this year, said Four Seasons Resorts Lanai, the company that manages the facility. The company would not confirm whether that includes a new wellness center.

Business 2.0, published by the Fortune Group at Time Inc., reported that Dole Food Co. plans to open a wellness center on Lana'i next year.

The magazine last week said the fruit-brand company formed a joint venture with healthcare insurer WellPoint and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts to open a California Wellbeing Institute, a $300 million resort, in August near Dole's headquarters in Westlake Village, Calif.

The magazine said Dole plans to open a similar center next year on Lana'i. The Wellbeing Institute is an extension of the Dole Nutrition Institute, which offers health, diet and nutrition information.

A Dole spokesman yesterday said he couldn't comment on plans for a wellness center on Lana'i.

"I don't have any information on that," said Marty Ordman, Dole Food Co. vice president of marketing and communications.

Ordman referred questions to the California Wellbeing Institute general manager, who could not be reached.

Four Seasons Resorts Lanai public-relations director Brad Packer said he could not confirm Dole's plans for a wellness center on the island.

"What I am able to tell you ... is there is an enhancement scheduled for the Lodge at Koele, and the details of what will be included in that are yet to be determined," he said.

According to Business 2.0, the California Wellbeing Institute will include a fitness center, spa and a medical facility where physicians and nutritionists offer dieting and cooking programs. WellPoint has a 15-percent stake in the resort, and lodging operations will be managed by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the magazine said.

With health and wellness being a growing niche market in the tourism industry, there's likely to be appeal for such a wellbeing center on Lana'i, said Joseph Toy, president of Hospitality Advisors LLC.

"I think the destination certainly plays to that because of the natural setting and the hiking and water activities that we offer," he said. "And Lana'i, you have the mountain retreat aspects at the lodge. ... Hawai'i is one of those destinations where you have healthy living outdoors. Health and fitness is just a part of the branding that Hawai'i has. It's considered a healthy, active destination. ... There's a certain segment that's already coming to Hawai'i for this. And these sorts of programs provide more complete and organized packaging for this segment."

Toy pointed to the Holistica Hawaii Preventive Medicine center that opened at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa in 2000. The center's offerings include heart and full-body scans.