9 minute read
EUROPEAN SPA'S WELLNESS TRENDS 2022
Waking up to wellness
As the demand for healing healthcare and integrative programming grows, Mark Smith highlights the four most influential trends shaping the wellness industry
Preventative healthcare and mental wellbeing came into sharp focus during the pandemic as everyone reflected on their personal health. Spa and wellness providers responded with innovation and collaboration, pushing the boundaries of product development, treatment protocols and medical expertise. European Spa has identified four key trends that are propelling the industry forward:
1. CBD goes mainstream
The rise of CBD products and treatments shows how this ingredient was truly embraced by the spa and wellness world this year
OTO Wellbeing has achieved CIBTAC-accreditation for its spa treatments
Following a year of upheaval, increased anxiety levels and amplified mental wellness issues, therapeutic CBD products and treatments gained traction in 2021, which is set to continue. This previously niche ingredient has found a welcoming home in the spa market, offering a range of benefits said to help with stress, anxiety, depression and sleep problems.
ila was a trailblazer, launching its range in late-2020, followed by Temple Spa, which debuted Stress Not, an all-over balm, and Light Relief, a skin-soothing oil, as well as a spa treatment this year.
Temple Spa has debuted Stress Not, an all-over balm, and Light Relief, a skin-soothing oil
KLORIS entered the spa market with CBD-infused products and treatments, debuting at Bulgari Hotel London. Ground Wellbeing also launched a CBD Balm to help alleviate the side-effects of menopause with a formula of therapeutic-grade essential oils including ashwagandha, clary sage and geranium.
Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square in London launched a CBD-infused hammam treatment that incorporates an exfoliation before a lymphatic massage using a body oil from Apothem Labs that contains CBD.
Ground Wellbeing launched a CBD Balmto help alleviate the side-effects of menopause
OTO Wellbeing achieved CIBTAC-accreditation for its spa treatments, which are now available in the UK at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London; Cliveden House, Berkshire; Nàdarra Spa at The Coniston; and Bokeh Spa at Montcalm East, Shoreditch.
In the green room
Luxury Scottish hotel Kimpton Blythswood Square in Glasgow launched ‘La Chambre Verte’, an immersive in-room experiment promoting the psychological and physical benefits of biophilic design and forest bathing.
Developed in partnership with CBD expert La Rue Verte, leading horticulturalists Benholm Group and award- winning DJ Brian d’Souza, this multi-sensory experience combines biophilic principles with CBD rituals, meditation and sound therapy.
La Rue Verte at Kimpton Blythswood Square
Elsewhere in the UK both Rudding Park and Cowshed partner with MariPharm for their CBD therapies, with the former offering CBD as an add-on to treatments in the form of oral and body applications, including massages, sprays and CBD-enhanced tea and hot chocolate.
The new Six Senses Shaharut in the Israeli desert is also offering CBD-infused camel milk massages, while Serenity Spa at Pine Cliffs is said to be the first Portuguese spa offering CBD therapies.
SchlossHotel Zermatt in Switzerland unveiled what it says is the first CBD spa in Europe
Taking it to another level, SchlossHotel Zermatt in Switzerland unveiled what it says is the first CBD spa in Europe. Developed with the care line SwissCBD, the spa uses hemp in its herbal sauna and teas and CBD-infused products in all of its treatments.
CONNECT WITH CBD LEADERS
www.ila-spa.com www.templespa.com www.kloriscbd.com www.groundwellbeing.com www.fourseasons.com/tentrinity www.apothemlabs.com www.otocbd.com www.mandarinoriental.com/london/hyde-park www.clivedenhouse.co.uk www.theconistonhotel.com www.montcalmeast.com www.kimptonblythswoodsquare.com www.lrvskincare.co.uk www.benholm.com www.ruddingpark.co.uk www.cowshed.com www.maripharm.com www.sixsenses.com www.pinecliffs.com www.schlosshotelzermatt.ch
2. Rise of the super supplements
The popularity of nutritional supplements designed for spa and wellness retailing is booming and looks set to continue to grow
Aman has introduced a range of nutritional supplements, named SVA
As health and wellness came into sharp focus during 2021, a number of wellness brands and spa operators entered the supplement market to answer the increase in consumer demand for beauty and wellness enhancements.
According to market research company Kantar, sales of beauty supplements in the UK increased 11 per cent in 2020 and 3 per cent of females included beauty supplements as part of their daily routines. This presents new and exciting opportunities for spa operators, particularly in retail add-ons when recommending aftercare to clients.
Clinique La Prairie's Holistic Health is a collection of Swiss-madesupplements to support guest health in-clinic and at home.
A closer look at the data reveals that the market for millennials is booming. Kantar saw an increased demand among younger females in the UK, with sales from women under 34 increasing 140 per cent in 2020. But this is more than a UK phenomenon, with Mordor Intelligence forecasting that the global nutricosmetics market will grow by 8 per cent between 2020-2025.
Global wellness brand Aman has introduced a range of nutritional supplements, named SVA, into its global network of 32 hotels and resorts. Traditional Chinese Medicine has informed seven exclusive formulas, which use vegan herbal ingredients to support Balance, Vitality, Uplift and Calm. The collection also includes Respiratory Support, Immune Support and Nourish to aid digestion.
Lanserhof's supplements products draw on the latest scientific knowledge and over 30 years’ experience from the LANS Medical concept
Luxury spa and wellness brand Clinique La Prairie launched Holistic Health, a collection of Swiss-made supplements to support guest health in-clinic and at home. The four products – Age-Defy, Balance, Energy, and Purity – have been created by a team of life-science experts focusing on immunity, stress management, anti-inflammation, rejuvenation and cellular longevity.
Renowned medical spa Lanserhof also introduced a range of four naturopathic health supplements to boost its preventative healthcare programmes. Designed to support conditions ranging from skin health to poor sleep, the products draw on the latest scientific knowledge and over 30 years’ experience from the LANS Medical concept.
Voya’s Sea Or offer sclients the benefits of pure seaweed in capsule form
Meanwhile, The Organic Pharmacy addressed health concerns with the launch of immunity-boosting supplements; ishga products and Voya’s Sea Or offer clients the many health benefits of pure seaweed in capsule form; and from a beauty perspective 111SKIN, Thalgo and Advanced Nutrition Programme launched high-tech vitamin and mineral supplements for the skin.
Reflecting this growth, Shiseido recently announced the launch of new ingestible beauty brand, Inryu, which is part of its aim to become a personal beauty wellness company.
111SKIN's high-tech vitamin and mineral supplements for the skin
SUPER SUPPLEMENT BRANDS
www.kantar.com www.mordorintelligence.com www.aman.com www.cliniquelaprairie.com www.lanserhof.com www.theorganicpharmacy.com www.ishga.com www.voya.ie www.111skin.co.uk www.thalgo.co.uk www.advancednutritionprogramme.com www.shiseido.com
3. Health in focus in the age of Long Covid
Medi-spas and wellness clinics opened their doors to guests after lockdown with a range of new programmes designed to boost health and immunity
Park Igls in Austria has adapted its offer
The Global Wellness Summit identified immune health as a key trend in its report, Future of Wellness 2021. Noting growth in the market, it also emphasised the need for evidence-backed approaches to immunity-boosting treatments with metabolic health, the gut microbiome and personalised nutrition leading the trend.
As medi-spas and wellness clinics around the world welcomed their returning guests, immunity-boosting therapies were in high demand, particularly for people suffering the ill effects of Long Covid. Fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, memory issues, depression, anxiety and insomnia are listed by the UK’s National Health Service as possible effects of this illness.
A challenging condition to treat, leading medical-led spa and wellness properties worked to draw on their in-house medical expertise to introduce a series of symptom-specific retreats.
SHA Wellness Clinic in Spain has an integrative approach to health
One of the first was the five-star Waldhotel Health & Medical Excellence at Bürgenstock Hotel & Resort in Switzerland, which launched a comprehensive Covid Bounce Back Programme. The centre combines Swiss medical expertise and state-of-the-art technology tailored to enable guests to recover post-pandemic and attain a more balanced and sustained level of personal health.
SHA Wellness Clinic in Spain unveiled a programme aimed at people experiencing lingering Covid-19 symptoms following historical diagnosis. An integrative approach to health overseen by the medical team has established different rehabilitation therapies and clinical treatments to address each persistent symptom on physical, immunological, respiratory, cognitive, digestive or emotional levels. Cutting-edge therapies with proven effectiveness are applied, such as intravenous laser therapy, cryotherapy, stem-cell treatments, breathing techniques, reflexology, Watsu, isometric training, and specific nutrition.
Long Covid is being addressed at Lanserhof Lans
Leading European medical wellbeing group Lanserhof introduced a series of packages designed to tackle Long Covid at its Austrian facility, Lanserhof Lans. Combining extensive diagnostics with exercise, fasting, nutritional supplementation and CellGym metabolic activation, the programmes are aimed at fighting neuro-inflammation.
Combining Traditional Thai Medicine and western medicine, RAKxa – an integrative wellness and medical retreat in Bangkok – has also launched a new package designed for Long Covid sufferers.
Clinique La Prairie
Meanwhile, Clinique La Prairie in Switzerland, Park Igls in Austria, Buchinger Wilhelmi in Germany and Chiva-Som in Thailand have all adapted their existing programmes and introduced new concepts and retreats to boost their guests’ health and immunity.
IMMUNE-BOOSTING PIONEERS
www.globalwellnesssummit.com www.buergenstock-waldhotel.ch www.shawellnessclinic.com www.lanserhof.com www.rakxawellness.com www.cliniquelaprairie.com www.park-igls.at www.buchinger-wilhelmi.com www.chivasom.com
4. Matters of the heart
The growth of emotional healing retreats has taken the spa and wellness industry to another level, nurturing mind, body and spirit
Euphoria Retreat in Greece offers the Meaningful Relationships Mini Retreat
Emotional healing has been a buzz word in the industry over the past 12 months as spa and wellness operators adapted their offering to support guests with specific mental wellbeing needs.
Support and coaching in the spa environment is not brand new – The Original FX Mayr offers coaching with Claudia Waldner on its fasting cure to help people understand and resolve a wide range of personal issues that arise during the programme. Vair Spa at Borgo Egnazia in Italy also offers a Tarant retreat for empowering women and the Happiness Break.
Original FX Mayr method offers coaching with Claudia Waldner on its fasting cure
But a new wave of retreats places greater emphasis on personal reflection and growth with modalities as diverse as talking therapy, movement, dance, role play, sound healing and one-to-one coaching.
Addressing sadness, negativity, pain and a lack of confidence, the retreats can range from releasing trauma held in the body to heartbreak, relationship and marital problems, and much more. Bridging the space between counselling and therapeutic healing, these retreats add a spa-like quality to the experience with complementary therapies including yoga and mindfulness, energy healing, reiki, reflexology and daily exercise and gym classes.
Vair Spa at Borgo Egnazia in Italy also offers a Tarant retreat for empowering women
Euphoria Retreat in Greece offers the Meaningful Relationships Mini Retreat, helping people to understand why they may be experiencing a lack of satisfaction in relationships. Guests can learn to dissolve any blocks in this area and feel confident in attracting joyful and trusting relationships in the future.
Kamalaya in Thailand offers an Embracing Change retreat over five or seven days, exploring the inner self and emotional patterns with compassion to overcome negative habits, explore past trauma and find fulfilment in relationships within oneself and with others.
Heartbreak Hotel has been held at Barsham Barns, UK
Champneys in the UK has planned a series of programmes and retreats centred around self-healing, developing positivity and attitudinal change. Drawing on the expertise of visiting practitioners, the sessions include Attitude Is All with Tanya Wheway; Awake Your Awareness with Sandra Crathern and Roberta Pagliarulo; and the Living The Wisdom Retreat with Neil Seligman.
The Heartbreak Hotel is another new concept in the UK offering transformational therapy over a three-day residential retreat. Founded by counselling psychologist and lecturer Alice Haddon, it addresses anger and emotional pain following heartbreak with a series of therapies including CBT and NLP while guests enjoy downtime exercising in nature.
EMOTIONAL RESCUE PROVIDERS
www.original-mayr.com www.borgoegnazia.com www.euphoriaretreat.com www.kamalaya.com www.champneys.com www.theheartbreakhotel.co.uk
