FAIRMONT WINDSOR PARK, UK: Fit for a queen

European Spa reports exclusively from Fairmont Windsor Park, UK where a blend of traditional and clinical approaches is raising the bar for transformative experiences

REPORT BY MARK SMITH

Situated a short walk from Great Windsor Park and Windsor Castle in Berkshire, UK, Fairmont Windsor Park is the latest opening for Accor in Europe. Built on the site of the Saville Court Hotel, formerly part of the MacDonald Group, the existing hotel was demolished to make way for the new building, which broke ground in 2017.

Built and owned by The Arora Group, a UK-based business with property, construction and hotel divisions, Fairmont Windsor Park’s development has been spearheaded by the group’s founder and chairman, Surinder Arora. It is the latest addition to a portfolio that boasts 12 hotels, including ten airport hotels and its most recent acquisition, Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa.

From left: The cherry blossom centrepiece of the thermal suite

Fairmont Windsor Park is operated in partnership with Accor, the largest hospitality company in Europe, and the sixth largest worldwide. Accor has 40 hotel brands in 5,199 locations in over 110 countries. Fairmont, one of its luxury marques, boasts 82 hotels in 30 countries with 26 new hotels in the pipeline.

“We are delighted to welcome guests to the spa at Fairmont Windsor Park – a place of great restoration, healing and tranquillity that adds a brilliant new facet to the Fairmont portfolio,” says Emlyn Brown, global vice president Well-being, Accor. (see interview on p26).

Wellbeing at the heart of hospitality

The hotel’s design draws inspiration from the Jacobean architecture of the former building, adding two floors, a new wing and the 2,500sqm Fairmont Spa & Wellness facility, conceived by Lisa Barden, group director of spa and wellness at the Arora Group. The interiors of the hotel are elegant and modern as is the spa, enhanced with design cues taken from the hotel’s woodland setting with leaves, bark and dew-drop motifs lining the walls of the reception and relaxation areas.

“We wanted to create the ultimate wellness experience within our facilities, one that transpires throughout the entire hotel and offers our guests an unparalleled opportunity to focus on the balance of body, mind and spirit,” explains Fairmont Windsor Park’s general manager, Ryan Nicholls.

Active wellbeing is a core element of the brand’s key pillars and this is evident in the concept and design for Fairmont Spa & Wellness at Fairmont Windsor Park.

Ryan Nicholls, General manager, Fairmont Windsor Park

“Our spa and wellness facilities and services elevate the UK as an international wellness destination and is a crucial part of our overall hotel guest experience.”

Authentic experiences

“The spa is authentic and community-based for people who are focused on becoming the best versions of themselves,” explains Barden. Expectations were set to the highest level with high-net-worth individuals and royalty expected as guests, says Barden: “Surinder asked me to create something that is different to the competitor set and must be fit for kings and queens.”

A refreshing experience shower in the comprehensive thermal suite

The vision for the project was to bridge the gap between a traditional pampering spa experience and a clinical wellness offering. A key goal was to be authentic and offer transformative experiences for members and guests.

“Our goal is to aid better sleep and improve mood with inspiring food and increased movement,” says Barden. “We have created a world-class facility to provide a place of recovery and rehabilitation for the mind, body and spirit.”

Lisa Barden, Group director of spa and wellness, Arora Group

The spa is transformational, authentic and community-based for people that are focused on becoming the best versions of themselves.

“The spa is currently open to hotel guests as well as members who pay an annual subscription fee. Member numbers are expected to settle around 300, but this will be driven by the guest experience,” says Barden.

“We see the local membership model and destination wellness programming becoming a leading component of the hotel experience and key revenue driver,” adds Brown.

Sommerhuber infrared loungers in the therapeutic Himalayan salt room

Designed as a day spa, guests wanting to visit in this way will have to wait a while longer until the final soft furnishings have been installed and the spa team is fully operational. Barden is currently recruiting to boost the ranks of her 31-strong team and reach a full complement of 62 people dedicated to spa and wellness.

Partnering for perfection

Integrating luxurious spa services with a sharp focus on health and wellness requires planning, research and in this case a commitment to sustainability, with a focus on eco-friendly policies. La Sultane de Saba, which enhances the hammam experience and offers its Akwaterra massage, is expected to have broad appeal to both European and Middle Eastern guests.

Luxurious curved day beds are perfect for poolside relaxation

Meanwhile [comfort zone] provides a European massage and skincare concept with proven green credentials, and Mauli Rituals elevates the spa rituals. “We wanted to offer an Ayurveda experience and Mauli Rituals ticks all the boxes you would want,” says Barden. “Delightfully decadent, they take it to another level.”

Ayurveda is a recurring theme through the treatment menu and this will work in synergy with Green’s Café, which has smoothies designed to pair with treatments and each person’s particular dosha. For example, a kapha stimulating smoothie or a pitta pacifying smoothie. These are currently offered alongside wellness bowls with recipes such as the golden beetroot, hazelnut and pear salad. The café’s offering is scheduled to be enhanced with a fully Ayurveda-inspired menu that will promote wellness through healthy eating.

A view of the thermal suite, located at the end of the indoor pool

To educate and inform guests, this space will also host a series of wellness talks with visiting experts. These will complement the work of the wellness hosts, who offer body analysis in the 4D.Me scanner, consultations and targeted programmes to achieve individual goals. The plan is to introduce residential retreats within the first year of opening, from short three-day escapes to immersive two-week transformative programmes.

Health and aesthetics

The team at Fairmont Spa & Wellness take a 360-degree approach to health and wellness. Resident GP, Dr Raj Arora conducts health checks, consultation services, blood tests, IV infusions, smear tests and prostate check-ups. Her work is complemented by that of a specialist osteopath, a nutritional therapist, an acupuncturist and a colon hydrotherapy expert.

A range of mani-pedi services are available in the finishing studio

With an office in the spa’s facial aesthetic clinic, known as The Face Bible, Dr Arora conducts invasive facial treatments, including anti-wrinkle injections, dermal fillers, sculpting, non-surgical rhinoplasty and lip fillers. CQC-compliant, the high-tech, results-driven treatment menu includes some of the latest laser and sculpting equipment on the market.

High-tech skin health system HydraFacial is offered alongside micro-needling by Skin Pen to help reduce wrinkles and improve hyperpigmentation and redness. The Harmony XL Pro system also provides a range of skin rejuvenation therapies that can additionally facilitate tattoo removal.

Truefitt & Hill offers services for discerning gents

The menu in this part of the spa specialises in an array of facial peels from leading doctor-led brands including AlumierMD, Dr Schrammek and Obagi. Guests can also access Aqualyx fat-dissolving injections, laser hair removal and Profhilo injectable skin remodelling treatments to boost collagen and address ageing skin.

Across the corridor, Truefitt & Hill, said to be the oldest traditional gentlemen’s barber and perfumer in London, offers barbering services for discerning gents. A hair salon opposite attends to high-level coiffuring with resident stylists using Davines professional products.

Next to this is a dedicated manicure and pedicure area offering Nailberry and Evo gel treatments.

Natural motifs adorn the décor of the spa reception area

Into the spa

Beyond reception, the guest journey leads to the electric Mecotec Cryo Chamber, a popular addition to the menu. The multi-person experience offers guests a three-minute burst of ultra-cold air to a temperature of -110°C. The session is said to boost metabolism, reduce migraines and muscle pain, enhance energy and athletic performance, and improve both sleep and mood. It’s already a best-seller, especially with members, and currently sits at number two in bookings, just behind the popular bamboo massage.

Large changing rooms lead onto a 20m indoor pool under natural daylight and lined on one side with bespoke hand-carved marble heated loungers designed by Fabio Alemanno, which create the illusion of floating on the water. The space includes a Jacuzzi and a series of curved day beds offering an element of privacy from neighbouring guests. Each is fitted with electric sockets and USB phone-charging points.

At the end of the pool, in the shadow of an artificial cherry blossom tree, the thermal suite features a Finnish sauna, a steam room, experience showers, an ice fountain, a Japanese Ashiyu foot ritual bath and an open-sided heated tepidarium.

“The concept behind the Ashiyu foot bath was to create a thermal experience that was inclusive for all,” says Barden. “People with certain conditions can’t enjoy the sauna and steam room, but this enables everyone to enjoy the thermal suite and remain sociable with their party.”

Soothing dark tones in one of the spa’s treatment rooms

Treatments, fitness and wellness For guests who have booked treatments, the facilities continue in a separate wing of the spa and include a Himalayan salt room with Sommerhuber infrared heated loungers, an outdoor hydrotherapy pool, a hammam, relaxation areas and a tea station offering bespoke Camellia’s Tea House infusions. A deep relaxation space is equipped with Gharieni Evo beds, cocooned in purpose-built pods each has its own weighted blanket to aid post-treatment relaxation.

All 18 treatment rooms are designed to create a harmonious experience for the guest and feature Florence treatment beds by Lemi, while the comfort of guests is improved by BC Softwear’s bespoke spa slippers created from coconut core and hessian, which are recyclable and compostable.

A VIP spa, called the Salutaris Suite, meaning ‘health giving’ in Latin, offers all spa services in the utmost comfort and seclusion, including therapeutic, aesthetic and wellness treatments. The suite boasts a hot tub, a steam room, day beds, changing rooms and private access to the hammam.

The Mind and Body Studio is set up for an aerial yoga class

On the lower ground floor, fitness and movement are key priorities. Members receive four free 4D.Me body scans per year to help set goals and achieve personal health and wellness outcomes supported by the wellness team. At 272sqm, the Wellness Suite has been designed by industry experts and is equipped with the Technogym Artis cardio and strength range. UK gym specialist Jigsaw Fitness have also contributed their expertise as well as a bespoke gym rig, outdoor gym, and other specialist equipment. A Mind & Body Studio focuses on mind-to-muscle connection with hatha, aerial and hot yoga, mat-based Pilates and meditation. The Reformer Pilates and Cycling Studio are also proving popular with guests.

www.fairmont-windsorpark.com | www.thearoragroup.com

SPA STATISTICS

Owner: The Arora Group Hotel general manager: Ryan Nicholls Group director of spa and wellness, Arora Group: Lisa Barden Spa size: 2,500sqm Treatment rooms: 18 Staff: 31 Architects: The UNUM partnership Interior design: Margaret Morgan, Arora Group Thermal Suite: Barr + Wray Equipment: Lemi, Gharieni, BC Softwear, Sommerhuber, MESOTEC, Spa Vision, Comphy, 4D.Me, Fabio Alemanno Fitness: Technogym, Jigsaw Fitness, Hyperice Product houses: [comfort zone], Mauli Rituals, Evo and Nailberry, Davines, 72 Hair, Camellia’s Tea House, Truefitt & Hill, La Sultane de Saba Facial aesthetics: HydraFacial, ABC Lasers, SkinPen, Emsculpt Neo, Profhilo, AlumierMD, Melanostop Peel, Mesoestetic, Dr Schrammek, Obagi, Cosmelan Peel, ZO Skin Health, Soprano Titanium, Aqualyx, Harmony XL Pro System