30 minute read

THE EUROPEAN SPA GOLD LIST 2022

from European Spa Magazine - Winter Issue 86

from European Spa Magazine - Winter Issue 86, page 100

Spa spotlight: Adler Spa Resor...

We highlight 21 leading properties that have invested in the latest equipment and cutting-edge design to deliver world-class spa experiences

To recognise the very best in spa investment and innovation, the European Spa Gold List highlights the exceptional projects that made waves in 2022. These developments reflect the growing popularity of wellness tourism, and each property has pushed the boundaries of design and service delivery to offer guests an elevated customer journey.

Architects and designers continue to connect guests with nature, enhancing the indoor/outdoor spa experience with clever space planning and biophilic concepts; international corporates are investing heavily in new projects in the UK and across Europe; and leading medi-wellness operators are expanding their footprint into new territories. Post-pandemic, resorts are embracing wellness in a totally inclusive way, allowing families to take a break together while one or more members participates in a retreat or programme to boost their wellbeing.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers and cryotherapy are key preventative healthcare trends, along with the rise of facial aesthetics. We have seen the launch of successful stand-alone medical-aesthetic clinics in spas and a profusion of IV therapy, both as a wellness treatment and as an add-on to facials. All of these developments will continue into 2023 and beyond.

BEST FOR: CLINICAL WELLNESS

Fairmont Spa & Wellness, UK

Built and owned by The Arora Group, Fairmont Windsor Park’s spa and wellness facility offers traditional spa and clinical wellness, complete with authentic and transformative experiences for members and guests.

Body analysis is provided by a 4D.Me scanner and 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.

High-tech skin health system HydraFacial is offered alongside micro-needling by SkinPen and the menu in this part of the spa specialises in facial peels, fat-dissolving injections, laser hair removal and injectable skin remodelling treatments to boost collagen and address ageing skin.

Truefitt & Hill offers barbering services and a hair salon attends to high-level coiffures. There is also a dedicated manicure and pedicure area.

Treatments, fitness and wellness

Beyond reception, the guest journey leads to the electric MECOTEC cryo chamber, a multi-person experience that offers guests a three-minute burst of ultra-cold air to a temperature of -110°C.

A 20m indoor pool is lined on one side with bespoke hand-carved marble heated loungers designed by Fabio Alemanno, and the space includes a Jacuzzi and a series of curved day beds by Sommerhuber. A 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.

For guests who have booked into one of the 18 treatment rooms, additional facilities include a Himalayan salt room with heated loungers, an outdoor hydrotherapy pool, a hammam, relaxation areas and a tea station. A VIP spa, the Salutaris Suite, boasts a hot tub, a steam room, day beds, changing rooms and private access to the hammam.

On the lower ground floor, a 272sqm Wellness Suite includes fitness equipment and a Mind & Body Studio for hatha, aerial and hot yoga, mat-based Pilates and meditation. Reformer Pilates and a Cycling Studio complete the offering.

SPA STATISTICS

fairmont-windsorpark.com | thearoragroup.com

Spa size: 2,500sqm Product partners: [comfort zone], Mauli Rituals, Evo and Nailberry, Davines, 72 Hair, Camellia’s Tea House, Truefitt & Hill, La Sultane de Saba, HydraFacial, ABC Lasers, SkinPen, Emsculpt Neo, Profhilo, AlumierMD, Mesoestetic, Dr Schrammek, Obagi, Cosmelan Peel, ZO Skin Health, Soprano Titanium, Aqualyx, Harmony XL Pro System Spa suppliers: Barr + Wray Lemi, Gharieni, BC Softwear, Sommerhuber, MECOTEC, Spa Vision, Comphy, 4D.Me, Technogym, Jigsaw Fitness, Hyperice

BEST FOR: NATURAL INSPIRATION

Adler Spa Resort, Italy

The 90-room Adler Spa Resort sits on a secluded plateau overlooking Sicily’s southern-most coastline. Its dispersive singlestorey buildings are designed to have minimal impact on the landscape and sustainability is at the resort’s core: many interior walls are clad in natural unbaked Sicilian clay, which promotes natural humidity control, and floors are finished with Opus Signinum, an ecological material made from minutely crushed bricks and lime mortar. A cutting-edge heat pump recovers and redistributes energy within the resort.

The large spa complex features three specialist pools – a freshwater infinity pool, a saltwater hydromassage pool and a thalassotherapy area – as well as 15 treatment rooms with sea and garden views.

The spa’s ethos centres around a sense of lightness and light-heartedness, providing a balanced environment in which each sense is indulged to help guests embody the brand’s ‘let your soul fly’ motto.

Designed by the Sanoner family and architect Hugo Demetz, the spa also features a 25m sports pool, a secluded garden yoga platform and three independent saunas – Turkish, bio and Finnish – plus relaxation, spa and fitness, and wellbeing zones.

“Water is the key element connecting the spa interior to the gardens,” says spa manager Giulia Ciccarello Spitaleri. “A small river flows through the spa and to reach the treatment rooms guests must cross a bridge. We’ve also introduced typical Sicilian ingredients, such as essential oils of lemon, mandarin and prickly pear, many of which are made by local artisans.”

SPA STATISTICS

www.adler-resorts.com

Spa size: 3,200sqm Product partners: Adler Spa & Med product line, Adler Thalasso collection, Spa suppliers: Technogym, Oltremodo, Lichtfabrik-halotech, Rier

BEST FOR: A EUROPEAN ISLAND RETREAT

Lanserhof Sylt, Germany

Renowned health resort leader Lanserhof opened its all-new wellness retreat in ‘the Hamptons of Germany’ in the spring of 2022. It is located on an island in the Wadden Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site long heralded for its healing and restorative climate and sea air. Guests are constantly connected with nature and the property affords impressive panoramic views of the sea and protected landscape area.

The latest in Lanserhof’s expanding portfolio, which includes properties in Austria, Germany and London, services at Lanserhof Sylt include medical consultations and individual therapies, as well as CT and MRI scans, and the brand’s signature LANS Med Concept.

The resort combines the group’s trademark cutting-edge diagnostics and naturopathic healing methods with programming focused on cardiological rehabilitation for acute or chronic diseases, as well as treatments for respiratory and skin issues. Guests are offered a tailored programme of wellness specialities combining the most effective elements of naturopathy, energy medicine, psychology, psychoneuroimmunology, chronomedicine and modern cutting-edge medicine.

Framed by nature

Constructed using entirely sustainable, non-emitting materials, the medical spa has been designed to ensure its magnificent setting takes centre-stage. Facilities include saunas, steam baths, a relaxation area, interconnected indoor and outdoor saltwater pools with a counter-current system and a sun terrace. Designed by internationally renowned Düsseldorf architect Christoph Ingenhoven, Lanserhof Sylt has 68 guest rooms and covers a floor area of 20,000sqm, of which 5,000sqm are treatment and therapy rooms.

"Our new health resort provides cutting-edge medicine, state-of-the-art equipment and alternative naturopathy,” says medical director and cardiologist, Dr Jan Stritzke. “For this new Lanserhof experience, we’ve built a great team of physicians, therapists, sports and nutrition scientists and beauticians. This is something very unique.”

SPA STATISTICS

www.lanserhof.com/en/lanserhof-sylt

Resort size: Combined guest area of over 20,000sqm with a spa treatment area of 5,000sqm Product partners and spa suppliers: BWT Pool & Water Technology, hsb Germany, KLAFS, KG, KONE, ELIN Architect and designer: Christoph Ingenhoven for Ingenhoven Architects

BEST FOR: A GREEK ODYSSEY

KĒPOS by Goco, Crete

Daios Cove, a stunning resort near Agios Nikolaos in eastern Crete, is home to the KĒPOS by Goco integrative wellness concept. An existing spa, which has been managed by GOCO Hospitality since 2018, was recently transformed over six months.

The new concept developed by Ingo Schweder, founder and CEO of GOCO Hospitality, realises the vision of resort owner Dimitris Daios and includes the creation of a wellness reception, a modern retail area and consultation rooms for a doctor and nutritionist. A guest waiting area and a relaxation/IV lounge for vitamin infusions were also created. The vitality pool area was remodelled and the spa’s treatment rooms were fully refurbished.

The facilities have all been staged to reflect their unique location by lead designer Elastic Architects, using earthy tones to reflect a golden light through the spa. An outdoor functional area and BXR Arena training area complement an infrared sauna and the latest in medical-led treatments, including hyperbaric oxygen and cryotherapy chambers.

The spa also offers an indoor pool and hammam, plus a colon hydrotherapy room, Finnish and soft saunas, a steam room and an experience shower walk. A hairdressing salon, manicure and pedicure area, nine private single multifunctional treatment rooms, two double wellness suites and a double Thai massage suite are also present.

Transformative programmes

The spa’s high-tech systems are overseen by resident doctor Masoud Fawzi and wellness consultant and nutritionist George Fokas. Treatment programming is based around six pillars of healing that include care, movement, nourishment, rest, treatment and bathing.

Three key diagnostic and consultation elements include a Styku 3D body scanner, a non-invasive Cell Wellbeing epigenetic test and a Pnoē breath analysis system.

All journeys begin with a consultation to understand the guest’s physical state and discuss their individual needs and objectives. The medical and nutrition team can then prepare a strict dietary regime if needed, partnered with exercise, movement and more traditional spa treatments. These incorporate classic and alternative therapeutic facials and body rituals to support guests’ overall wellbeing.

SPA STATISTICS

www.daioscovecrete.com

Spa size: 2,620sqm Product partners: 111SKIN, [comfort zone], Authentic Beauty Concept Spa suppliers: Extra Unitex, Salvini, Barr+Wray, Oxyhelp, MECOTEC, Salachi, Manduka, Gharieni, Almeco, Deloudis, BXR London, Life Fitness, Technogym, Rogue Fitness Europe, Pnoē, Styku, Cell Wellbeing, Dr. pen

BEST FOR: A SUSTAINABLE VISION

The Spa at Breedon Priory, UK

The contemporary new Spa at Breedon Priory in Derbyshire, owned by Elaine and Graham Blunt, opened in June 2022, offering guests an ecologically focused and exclusive wellness retreat. As well as its Tranquillity gardens – designed by Lush Garden Design – and vitality and infinity relaxation pools, there are seven treatment rooms, including a couples’ room, plus a Wellbeing Suite with six thermal experiences.

The spa also offers experience showers, an ice fountain and several thermal cabins supplied by Anapos, offering various heat strengths. There is also a ‘pure’ relaxation room, a quiet slumber lounge and a second relaxation area.

A further standout feature, designed by architects YMD Boon, is the private ‘Hideaway’ spa within the spa, an intimate space that offers exclusive treatments, a lounge and a secluded terrace with a hot tub and fire pit. “The Spa at Breedon Priory’s philosophy is to be a sanctuary where guests can completely relax,” says spa director Jemma Whitney. “We recognise that space is luxury and limit our capacity to ensure exclusivity. Every detail offers our guests somewhere to do nothing other than focus on themselves.”

Eco-friendly credentials

The spa has been constructed with sustainability at its core. When it comes to water, the property has its own source in the form of a borehole descending more than 85m below ground, which means the facility is self-sustaining in this respect. An air source heat pump and heat recovery unit work alongside high-spec insulation to help the building achieve 96% energy efficiency.

In addition to a guarantee of no single-use plastics being used on the property, fully compostable, complimentary cosmetic items are made available in the changing rooms and there are ambitious plans to plant a kitchen garden to further boost the spa’s sustainability credentials.

SPA STATISTICS

www.breedonprioryspa.co.uk

Size: 3,400sqm Product partners: TempleSpa, Tribe517, Pinks Boutique, Proverb Spa suppliers: Anapos, Unique Pool, Curveline, BC SoftWear, Ellisons, Akula Living, Spa Vision, Coco Wolf, Crown Lockers, Paragon Oak, Epicuri, Jeremy Hastings (water features), Graeme Mitcheson, ADA Cosmetics, Florence Roby

BEST FOR: CONNECTION TO NATURE

Schloss Roxburghe, UK

Set in 300 acres of land in the Scottish Borders, Schloss Roxburghe this year announced the opening of the new 1,100sqm Schloss Spa. The wellness facilities were part of an extensive expansion at the Destination by Hyatt collection hotel, which also included an additional 58 rooms, a purposebuilt banqueting suite and several cottages in the grounds.

The new spa, designed by Kitzig Design Studios, includes a heated outdoor infinity pool complete with LED lighting and an underwater sound system. Indoor and outdoor relaxation areas have been created along with an additional plunge pool.

The spa’s thermal suite and pools were provided by Aquateq. A Finnish dry sauna sits half-sunken into the ground and is complete with a larch exterior finish and large landscape windows that offer stunning outdoor views. The facilities also include an aromatic sauna with the option for guests to select their own fragrance for a personalised experience. A modern fitness suite has been created with a range of Technogym equipment.

Spa partnerships

The spa’s holistic approach is said to support total wellbeing, mindfulness and rejuvenation and will serve hotel guests and a local membership.

Three treatment rooms each boast therapy beds supplied by Gharieni. James Allan, spa director at Schloss Roxburghe, says: “All of our treatments and rituals have been carefully chosen to provide the most exclusive and unforgettable experience and we are excited to have partnered with both Aromatherapy Associates and Kloris.”

The relaxation areas include suspended open fireplaces and large cabana day beds hung from the ceiling and panoramic windows overlooking the parkland. Spa management is provided by TAC | The Assistant Company and Fashionizer Spa supplied the team’s uniforms.

SPA STATISTICS

www.schlosshotel-roxburghe.com

Spa size: 1,100sqm Product partners: Aromatherapy Associates, CND, Kloris Spa suppliers: TAC | The Assistant Company, Gharieni, Fashionizer Spa, Aquatec, Technogym, Richard Howorth

BEST FOR: JAPANESE FLAIR

Claridge’s Spa, UK

Located three floors below the Mayfair property, iconic London hotel Claridge’s recently opened the doors to a hotly anticipated 7,000sqm Japanese-inspired spa. Led by spa director Hattie David-Wilkinson, the spa concept was conceived by Inge Theron, creative director of spa and wellness at Claridge’s operator, Maybourne Hotel Group, and founder of FaceGym. Renowned interior architect André Fu’s creative vision was inspired by traditional Japanese temples. Guests receive kimonos and a welcoming foot ritual on entry, while the treatment menu pays tribute to the culture’s art of ceremony, with all experiences including thoughtful opening and closing rituals.

Seven luxurious treatment rooms have Gharieni treatment beds and private bathrooms, and a wet room is outfitted with a hand-carved, pink onyx stone bed. The wellness facilities are anchored by a thermal treatment area with a heated pool, private relaxation cabanas, steam rooms and saunas.

A connected-fitness gym is equipped with state-of-the-art cardio and weight training equipment from brands such as Peloton, NOHrd and Pent, as well as a personal training area. A hair salon offering appointment-only hair services by celebrity stylist Josh Wood completes the line-up.

Experts in residence

“We have created a spa where guests will find holistic practices and results-driven high-tech all under one roof,” says Theron. An extensive treatment menu includes body and facial rituals from brands such as Augustinus Bader, La-Eva and FaceGym, as well as a range of signature treatments including the omakase-inspired Bespoke ritual that is crafted entirely to each individual guest’s needs.

The spa plans to host expert residencies throughout the year with some of the most celebrated names in wellness, including as acupuncturist Ross J. Barr and nail artist Harriet Westmoreland.

SPA STATISTICS

www.claridges.co.uk/spa

Spa size: 7,000sqm Product partners: Augustinus Bader, La-Eva and FaceGym Spa suppliers: Gharieni, Carolina K, RKF Luxury Linen, Book4Time, Jalin, Design for Leisure, Technogym, Peloton, NOHrD by WaterRower, Concept2, Pent

BEST FOR: HIGH-END REJUVENATION

Spa Bellefontaine, Mandarin Oriental Palace Luzern, Switzerland

Overlooking Lake Lucerne, Mandarin Oriental Palace, Luzern is housed inside a Belle Époque landmark built in 1906, which has been extensively renovated by local architecture firm Iwan Bühler Architekten and London-based interior designs Jestico + Whiles.

A cornerstone of the hotel’s offering, Spa Bellefontaine is described as a ‘serene and rejuvenating sanctuary’ and offers several treatment rooms and relaxation spaces, as well as a range of thermal experiences, including a steam bath, sauna and experience showers, and a 24-hour Fitness Salon complete with state-of-the-art equipment from Life Fitness. “Honouring the uniqueness of each client, Spa Bellefontaine offers an exceptional bespoke haute rejuvenation experience for the spa world,” says spa manager Maartje Raaijmakers.

Locally inspired treatments

The spa menu features exclusive and tailored rituals from high-end Swiss skincare brand Bellefontaine, including the Bespoke 360° Discovery ritual, which begins with a skin analysis before a therapist selects targeted products to leave it fresh and glowing. An Anti-Ageing Cellular Treatment incorporates precious edelweiss stem cells and uses energising and detoxifying massage techniques to reshape and rejuvenate the face, neck and décolleté.

Other experiences include the Bellefontaine Instant Glow Facial, the Oxytherapy Treatment by Bellefontaine and the Signature Luzern Palace treatment.

The treatments are powered by the brand’s signature Edelgen complex, which features extract of edelweiss, a mountain flower native to Switzerland. It is designed to boost collagen, block the release of free radicals, reduce the appearance of ageing, strengthen the skin’s barrier and stimulate its defence system.

SPA STATISTICS

www.mandarinoriental.com/en/luzern/ palace/spa

Spa size: 270sqm Product partners: Bellefontaine

BEST FOR: ECO-FRIENDLY ELEGANCE

Spa at Cashel Place, Ireland

Asumptuous stand-alone property in Ireland’s Golden Vale, Cashel Palace is owned by the Magnier family – also part-owners of Sandy Lane in Barbados – and is a member of the Relais & Châteaux family. The restored Palladian manor, built in 1732, now has a multi-million-euro spa created in conjunction with London-based designer Emma Pearson and spa consultant Greg Payne.

Facilities include a light-flooded 17m swim-out pool as well as two outdoor seaweed baths. Three hot and cold experience showers, a hot tub, a KLAFS starry sky-ceiling steam room and a bespoke Himalayan salt wall sauna enhance the offering. Guests can also access a fully equipped gym, hair salon and yoga studio, as well as a relaxation room and outside spa terrace overlooking the gardens.

A blueprint for green spas

Sustainability and the environment have been central to the spa’s design and execution, and as much as possible is eco-friendly and recyclable, with best practices in construction, restoration and energy followed to ensure its blueprint for sustainability stands up to the highest scrutiny.

Cashel Palace’s director of spa and wellness, Tara De Courcey, and her team offer Bamford’s signature body and face experiences across four treatment rooms. The Irish spa also exclusively offers Skin by Olga facials.

“It’s a great privilege to be a part of such an amazing project – a spa designed to provide the best possible guest experience,” says De Courcey. “The purpose built facilities overlook the historic mulberry trees and iconic Rock of Cashel; it’s an incredibly tranquil area, filled with natural light that encourages an oasis of calm for the body, mind and soul. Guests also have the opportunity to relax in our pristine pool and al fresco baths – it really is a perfect place to rejuvenate.”

SPA STATISTICS

www.cashelpalacehotel.ie

Spa size: Approx. 350sqm Product partners: Bamford, Voya, Skin by Olga Experience, La Maison Valmont Spa suppliers: NOHrD by WaterRower, Kenko, Hennessy Hair & Beauty, Gharieni, Xpert Professional

BEST FOR: HOLISTIC MEETS HIGH-TECH

Maybourne Riviera Spa, France

Set high on a clifftop with views across the Côte d’Azur, the newly unveiled spa at the 69-room Maybourne Riviera, part of the Maybourne Hotel Group, draws together ancient ceremonies, restorative bodywork and the latest in bio-innovation to amplify guests’ emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing. Offering personalised treatments to complement high-performance lifestyles, the spa has been created by internationally acclaimed designer André Fu, who also worked on Claridge’s Spa in London.

“Inspired by the meandering coastline and fluidity of the ocean, I sought to bring a calm tranquillity into my design, crafting a compelling setting by juxtaposing the shapes and textures of the rocks outside the hotel with contrasting curving and sculptured walls,” Fu says of the French project.

Eight treatment rooms are accompanied by a steam room, a sauna, a relaxation terrace and a beauty and hair space. The spa is connected by a staircase to the hotel’s infinity pool.

A unique treatment offering

Three standout facials have been designed by Augustinus Bader, while FaceGym makes its French debut, offering signature workouts to tone facial muscles and lift the skin combining cryotherapy, radiofrequency and Electrical Muscle Stimulation.

“We’ve worked on a very unique treatment menu to offer the most magical experience to our guests,” says spa manager Alice Peyret. “Take our Comme sur un Nuage treatment: first you enter into a magnificent cabin with a sea view, which is already like being among the clouds. Then you lie down on a hot water mattress, which envelops you while fluid manoeuvres and deep strokes encourage you to completely let go. It is like being on a boat in the middle of the Mediterranean – a cocoon of luxury and serenity.”

SPA STATISTICS

www.maybourneriviera.com

Spa size: 400sqm Product partners: Augustinus Bader, La-Eva, FaceGym, La bouche rouge, Oribe, Morjana Spa suppliers: Gharieni, Technogym, Design for Leisure, Jalin, Book4Time, Beltrami, Têxteis

BEST FOR: CONTEMPORARY SCANDI DESIGN

The Spa at Laceby Manor, UK

The Spa at Laceby Manor, set in the sprawling landscape of the Lincolnshire Wolds, is a £4 million purpose-built spa and wellness operation that aims to elevate the bathing ritual to a new level. A Scandi-inspired design, overseen by spa director Alex Burnett, creates a relaxing space with clean lines, a minimalist look and contemporary furnishings offering a unique sense of place.

“There was a desire to create a more grounded design that connects with the natural surroundings to deliver guest comfort and provide points of interest throughout their experience,” explains Burnett. The team worked with spa consultant Claire Caddick on the concept and guest journey. Caddick partnered with Curveline Design’s Mark Green who oversaw the interior architecture of the project. Exterior architecture was delivered by Keir Architecture.

Bringing the outside in

The stand-alone spa features seven treatment rooms, one of which is a double, with treatments from 111SKIN, Voya and Tribe517. Guest can also enjoy rituals in a bathing room with a private Japanese-inspired garden.

Bringing the outside in with beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows set over two floors, the spa also takes guests outside with an outdoor café, an outdoor heated pool and a terrace for sun loungers. A natural swimming pond is filled using an innovative rainwater harvesting and filtration system.

The Spa at Laceby Manor is one of the first venues to feature the new collaboration between VitrA and Tom Dixon in its bathrooms. British designer Dixon’s products, including lighting, also feature in other areas of the spa.

SPA STATISTICS

www.lacebymanor.co.uk

Spa size: 1,900sqm Product partners: 111SKIN, Voya, Tribe517 Spa suppliers: Carl Hansen, Skagerak, HAY & Muuto, B&B Italia, Pedrali, Santa & Cole, Vibia, Tom Dixon, VitrA

BEST FOR: ENGLISH GARDEN DELIGHTS

Manor House Alsager, UK

The Manor House Alsager Hotel in Cheshire unveiled the second phase of its 2,000sqm spa in 2022, with three new treatment rooms, including two couples’ suites, and new changing rooms as well as a spa dining area and relaxation spaces.

The additions complement a 15m serenity swimming pool surrounded by a boardwalk with a glass ceiling and a luxurious hanging day bed.

Led by spa manager Hannah Swain, it offers treatments from British spa brands Tribe517 and TempleSpa, as well as indoor and outdoor wellness experiences including a new Salt Shed, with a Himalayan salt wall, lavender cauldron and ergonomic seating.

The spa’s signature English Spa Garden experience includes a panoramic sauna, a steam room, a spa pool and an open-air vitality pool, as well as heated outdoor sensory seating areas.

Mosiac Spa supplied two outdoor pools, and BC Softwear provide the spa’s robes, towels and flip-flops.

www.manorhousealsager.com/spa

BEST FOR: THERMAL JOURNEYS

The Spa at Ardencote, UK

An independent countryside retreat in Warwickshire, Ardencote’s 500sqm spa is set apart from the hotel, inside a former Victorian coach house.

The Spa at Ardencote offers eight treatment rooms and a relaxation lounge with stylish spa pods. An extensive thermal suite, comprises an aromatherapy steam room, Himalayan salt sauna, tepidarium, ice fountain, monsoon experience shower and foot spa. A host of outdoor facilities includes a heated swimming pool, a hot tub and a Tyrolean Kilo sauna.

The treatment menu features nail services by OPI and facial and body rituals from Elemis, including the signature Ardencote Country Wellbeing Ritual.

Spa and wellness consultancy Schletterer supplied the thermal features, while uniforms come from Buttercups and towels and robes from Johnsons Stalbridge. Fitness equipment is from Life Fitness and spa software from Premier Software, while interiors were by Curveline Design overseen by owner Dale Huckerby.

www.ardencote.com

BEST FOR: REST & RELAXATION

Signet Spa, The Retreat at Elcot Park, UK

Wellness and fitness go hand in hand in The Retreat at Elcot Park’s new Signet Spa. In addition to an infinity heated outdoor swimming pool with views of the north Wessex downs, there is an indoor vitality pool with bubbling loungers, water massage cannons and a reflexology volcano.

A Himalayan sauna and an aroma essence steam room, a salt flotation chamber and drench showers, complement a relaxation area and three treatment rooms as well as a gym, fitness studio, tennis courts and a hair and nail salon.

Yoga and Pilates classes are held in the studio and, when weather permits, outside in the tranquil walled garden or under the age-old oak trees.

“The Signet Spa is a retreat within The Retreat,” says spa manager Kirsty Pienaar. “Since we opened in the newly re-imagined 18th-century country house hotel in May 2022, our focus has been on wellness, but always with a side order of fun. We like our guests and members to kick back and relax.”

www.retreatelcotpark.com/spa

BEST FOR HONOURING ROMAN BATHING

La Spa, Helvetia & Bristol, Italy

Inspired by ancient Roman bathing traditions, La Spa at Helvetia & Bristol Firenze, a Starhotels Collection hotel, is built in what was once the vault of the Banco di Roma.

The 540sqm spa features a comprehensive hydrothermal zone with a caldarium, an aquamotus (Vichy shower), emotional showers, a sudatorium (Finnish sauna), a frigidarium and a tepidarium (salt room) set on a glass floor so guests can see the building’s medieval foundations beneath.

The spa also features several treatment rooms, a gym, a wellness suite equipped with a Turkish bath and two pools, one of which features a video installation, created by artist Felice Limosani, that reflects off the walls and mirrors providing a multi-sensory experience.

The treatment menu features rituals and experiences from luxury French skincare brand Cinq Mondes and draws inspiration from centuries old wellness traditions from India, China, Japan, Indonesia and Morocco.

www.collezione.starhotels. com/en/our-hotels/la-spa/

BEST FOR: SOCIAL CONNECTIONS

AWAY Spa at W Algarve, Portugal

The 1,065sqm AWAY Spa at W Algarve debuted in June 2022 and was designed by Divercity Architects and AB Concept. The spa’s Wet Lounge features hydrothermal facilities including a sauna at 85-90C, a steam room at 46-48C, an ice crunch fountain and a sensorial shower. A fire tub is set at 37-39C with warm hydrotherapy water jet massages to relax the muscles, while a cold plunge tub is fixed at 12C.

The social Beauty Bar offers hair, nail and beauty treatments from [comfort zone], Natura Bissé, Skin Regimen and Ignae, a luxury Portuguese cosmetic brand. Six treatment rooms and a couple’s room offer intimate treatments and massage experiences.

The spa retails Comporta Perfumes, allSisters, DCK and Keune, and uniforms are supplied by Gio Rodrigues with towels and robes by JF Almeida.

High-intensity workouts and boot camps are offered at the FIT facility, with 134sqm of indoor and 320sqm of outdoor space equipped by Technogym and featuring an Olympic power rack.

www.awayspawalgarve.com

BEST FOR: HERITAGE EXPERIENCES

Vestkantbadet, Sommerro, Norway

Designed as a tribute to Norway’s cultural heritage, Nordic Hotels & Resorts’ Sommerro is housed in an art deco building in Oslo’s West End. The property was recently sensitively restored by local firm LPO Arkitekter in partnership with London and New York-based studio GrecoDeco and Haptic architects.

Described as a ‘haven for health and mindfullness’, the 1,400sqm Vestkantbadet spa offers a rooftop pool, sauna and terrace, swimming and plunge pools and a gym with Woodway, Hammer Strength and Technogym equipment.

Treatments are performed on Gharieni couches and incorporate products from Elemis, SkinBetter Science, Babor, Skinceuticals, Meline, Noon Aesthetics and Dr Dennis Gross Skincare.

As well as reflexology, massage, chemical peels, algae wraps, micro needling and LED light experiences, specialist medical aesthetic treatments using Fotona Lasers and Candela Medical are overseen by the property’s in-house doctors.

www.sommerrohouse.com

BEST FOR: SPA LIKE A QUEEN

Cleopatra Spa, Cap St Georges, Paphos

Part of a new 202-room five-star luxury resort, Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort, on the southwest side of the Akamas Peninsula in Paphos, Cleopatra Spa has eight treatment rooms, a VIP sensory lounge and two VIP couples’ suites.

Named after Queen Cleopatra of Egypt, who was once gifted the island, facilities include an indoor spa pool, hydrotherapy whirlpool and cold plunge pools as well as thermal saunas, steam rooms, aromatherapy experience showers and signature rasuls.

The spa has partnered with La Maison Valmont, Cinq Mondes, Kypwell and Alma Spa to offer guests treatments that include the signature Akamas Journey, which draws from the resort’s location. Secrets of a Legendary Beauty is a Cleopatra-inspired bathing ritual that includes a milk hydrotherapy bath with local bio honey.

www.capstgeorges.com/ cleopatra-spa-paphos

BEST FOR: AN URBAN OASIS

Spa des Prés, Pavillon Faubourg Saint-Germain, France

Family-run hotel operator Chevalier Paris opened the 47-key boutique hotel, Pavillon Faubourg Saint-Germain, in the heart of Paris in 2022, including the state-of-the art Spa des Prés. Billed as a ‘cavern of tranquility beneath the city’s bustling left bank’, Spa des Prés is located in a vaulted cellar that was previously home to Le Quod Libet, a legendary cabaret that launched the career of composer and poet Léo Ferré.

The urban oasis is accessed by stone steps that are designated as a historical monument. At just 140sqm it offers two treatment rooms, a swimming pool, a hammam, a fitness suite with Technogym equipment and a meditation and yoga room.

The spa treatment menu offers rituals from Codage Paris and includes personalised experiences that combine custom products with purposeful gestures to relax, stimulate and detoxify the body.

The spa was created by interior designer Didier Benderli, who developed the design for the entire hotel, in partnership with architect Vincent Bestie.

www.en.pavillon-faubourg-saint-germain.com

BEST FOR: CITY VIEWS

Asaya Spa, Rosewood Vienna, Austria

Located on Petersplatz in Vienna’s Old Town, Rosewood Vienna is Rosewood Hotels & Resorts’ fifth property in Europe and is home to a superb Asaya Spa.

The 450sqm wellbeing space provides stunning views of the city and offers four treatment rooms, a sauna, a steam room, an experience shower as well as a Technogym-equipped fitness centre and a hair salon.

Locally inspired treatments promote total wellbeing for guests and incorporate product partners including Augustinus Bader, Less is More Organic and Günsberg candles.

Rosewood Vienna is a collaboration between A2K Architects, BEHF Architects and interior designer Alexander Waterworth. With suppliers including Starpool, Living Earth Crafts, Rivolta Carmignani and TAC | The Assistant Company, the spa’s design features clean architectural lines with stone and carved wood elements, and a soothing colour palette chosen to convey a tranquil experience.

www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/vienna

BEST FOR: BATHING RITUALS

Anantara New York Palace, Budapest, Hungary

Anantara New York Palace is located on the Pest side of the Danube in a building dating back to 1894. Built in the Belle Époque style, it first opened as a hotel in 2006 and was added to the Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas portfolio in 2020.

The 500sqm spa, which opened in late 2022, designed by Dsign Vertti Kivi & Co-Team, features a cave-like network of thermal facilities that lead onto a softly lit 15m indoor relaxation pool. Created and supplied in collaboration with Technogym, Smart Shop Design, IKI, Libero and SAP, facilities include a gym, a sauna, a steam room and a tea lounge, with five single treatment rooms and one couples’ suite offering private bathing rituals.

**Anantara New York Palace, Budapest, Hungary**

An extensive collection of therapeutic, anti-ageing and cosmetic treatments is offered with Kaviczky and Thalion. With a combination of hands-on and high-tech modalities, many treatments include locally sourced ingredients and rituals that reflect Hungarian bathing traditions.

www.anantara.com/ en/new-york-palace-budapest

This article is from:

European Spa Magazine - Winter Issue 86

by European Spa magazine