European Spa Magazine - Winter Issue 90

THE NO.1 MAGAZINE FOR SPA AND WELLNESS LEADERS

LUXURY REDEFINED

FITNESS EVOLUTION

How

MEDICAL WELLNESS

New properties delivering world-class experiences

Inside the Guerlain Spa at Raffles London at The OWO

movement is becoming a mainstream spa offering

The future of wellbeing at Lanserhof Sylt, Germany

5 SPAS FOR WINTER

Our innovative BIOTEC facial treatments combine ground-breaking technology, active ingredients and transformative touch to bring you elevated results.

The pioneering BIOTEC machine works to switch skin back on, increasing its natural cellular energy and using advanced technology to turbocharge touch. The clinically proven result? Thriving, healthy-looking, energised skin.

20 22

World's Best Spa Brand

Heart of gold

One in two people will develop cancer during their lifetime. This stark statistic empowered spa professional Laura Broady (pictured above) to join forces with cancer activist Amanda Winwood, founder of the Made for Life Foundation. Sadly, Laura passed away in November, but she was an integral part of an extraordinary legacy that has trained over 2,000 spa therapists to deliver Cancer Touch treatments. In this issue we pay tribute to Laura – an accomplished aromatherapist who was loved by so many in our industry (p16).

This year has been exceptional for spa development, which is something for all to celebrate. In an exclusive report, we take you behind the scenes of one of the most hotly anticipated hotel spa launches of the year, Raffles London at The OWO (p18). We look into the latest advances in preventative health at Germany’s Lanserhof Sylt (p66) and also spotlight five of our favourite new spas across Europe (p76).

As we move into 2024, a host of experts provide thought leadership on topics set to shape the future. Hilton’s Louise Moore examines wellness travel trends (p28); Dorchester Collection’s Teresa O’Farrell encourages operators to ‘dare to be different’ in their spa development (p62); and Ground Wellbeing founder Peigin Crowley offers a positive view on protecting your team from burnout (p88). We also ask a host of fitness and wellbeing experts about how movement is influencing spa programming (p32).

We hope you enjoy this special issue, which is dedicated to beautiful Laura. The European Spa team and I wish you a peaceful Christmas and a joyful New Year.

Sarah Camilleri Editorial director & publisher sarah.camilleri@spapublishing.com

Image: Laura Broady photographed by Mark Walker for the Made for Life Foundation 2024 calendar

Photo courtesy of Mark Walker, MK Photography (Image subject to copyright)

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Meet the team

European Spa is the No.1 business magazine for spa and wellness leaders

A respected magazine editor with over 30 years’ experience, Sarah founded European Spa in 2007 to help the spa industry grow and flourish. An influential voice in the global wellness community, she serves on the advisory board of the British Beauty Council and supports the Global Wellness Institute’s Living Well From Within coalition.

The founder of UK meditation concept Kalm Horizons, Mark has contributed beauty and wellness news to European Spa and europeanspamagazine.com for over a decade. In this issue he brings us the latest Menu launches and property reports from Lanserhof Sylt, Germany and the Guerlain Spa at Raffles London at The OWO, UK.

Constantly up to date with the latest spa trends, property openings, redevelopments and appointments, our news editor Wendy pays tribute to the late Laura Broady. She also reports on how movement is becoming a mainstream part of the spa offering, as well as providing a selection of the best new equipment in our Style section.

With thanks to our expert contributors...

Louise Moore

Director of spa operations, Hilton

Responsible for delivering Hilton’s European spa strategy, spa and wellness pipeline, and operations throughout the multi-brand portfolio, in this issue Louise shares insights from the brand’s latest travel trends report, which identifies wellness as a key driver. www.Hilton.com

Teresa O’Farrell

Global head of wellness and spa, Dorchester Collection

Tasked with developing the Dorchester Collection’s global wellness initiatives across its nine properties globally, Teresa offers practical and strategic advice on how to develop your facilities for the best business results and avoid change for change sake. www.dorchestercollection.com

Peigin Crowley

Founder, Ground Wellbeing, co-founder, Irish Spa Association

A renowned spa consultant with a passion for promoting spa businesses with strength and compassion, Peigin explores how to identify burnout in your therapist and management teams and suggests steps you can take to avoid or combat its negative effects. www.groundwellbeing.com

On the cover: The Guerlain Spa at Raffles London at The OWO

Editorial director & publisher

Sarah Camilleri sarah.camilleri@spapublishing.com

Deputy editor

Mark Smith

mark.smith@spapublishing.com

News editor

Wendy Golledge wendy.golledge@spapublishing.com

Art director

Richard Page richard@spapublishing.com

Production and online editor

David Fagan david.fagan@spapublishing.com

Production and proofing Angela Sharpe subscribe@spapublishing.com

Accounts manager

Julie Jones accounts@spapublishing.com

Spa Publishing Ltd

Registered in England. Company No. 6293825

www.europeanspamagazine.com

Mark Smith Deputy editor

Sarah Camilleri Editorial director & publisher

Wendy Golledge News editor

ON THE COVER

Inside the much-anticipated Guerlain Spa at Raffles London at The OWO

16 A TRIBUTE TO LAURA BROADY

We celebrate the life of spa industry leader, aromatherapist and European Spa contributor Laura Broady

SPA SPOTLIGHT

18 GUERLAIN SPA AT RAFFLES LONDON AT THE OWO, UK

We explore the exclusive Guerlain Spa at the recently opened flagship property in the UK capital, and speak to the team about how this new concept has raised the bar for wellness in a luxury urban hotel setting

66 LANSERHOF SYLT, GERMANY

We go behind the scenes at the German island project to find out how medical wellness is being refined for a younger clientele seeking preventative health programming and the Lanserhof Cure

76 5 SPAS FOR WINTER

As spa investment continues apace, we spotlight the most exceptional offerings around Europe, including 1 Hotel Mayfair and Aqua Sana Center Parcs Elveden Forest in the UK; Castelfalfi Spa’s partnership with Thai integrative wellness retreat RAKxa Wellness Spa in Italy; the new Dior Spa at Dorchester Collection’s Hôtel Plaza Athénée in France; and Rosewood Hotels & Resorts Asaya Spa in Germany

BUSINESS INSIGHT

28 RISE OF THE WELLNESS TRAVELLER

Louise Moore, Hilton’s director of spa operations, offers her insight into the future of international wellness travel following the release of the hotel group’s latest trends report

32 MOVEMENT EVOLUTION

We ask eight industry experts how they think spa operators can deliver authentic activity programmes with movement as a key wellness pillar

62 DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

Teresa O’Farrell, global head of wellness and spa at the Dorchester Collection and spa director of Coworth Park Spa, examines how to develop your facilities for the best business results and avoid change for change sake

88 TACKLING BURNOUT IN YOUR TEAM

Peigin Crowley, founder of Ground Wellbeing and co-founder of the Irish Spa Association, offers advice on how to identify and avoid burnout in therapists and spa managers

BRANDS TO WATCH

26 ESPA: ELEVATE YOUR SPA OFFER

Hayley Warman, head of Europe and rest of world spa operations at ESPA, explains how the brand offers spa partners innovative ways to raise their offer

30 BIOLOGIQUE RECHERCHE: THE PERFECT FINISH

Dr Philippe Allouche, co-chairman, head of creation and research and development at Biologique Recherche, reveals how the brand is responding to demand for post-treatment skincare makeup

46 VOYA: SUSTAINABLE AT HEART

We talk to VOYA co-founder and managing director Mark Walton about the brand’s eco-friendly initiatives and its leading role in spa industry environmental responsibility

60 MYBLEND: DEFY THE FUTURE OF YOUR SKIN

We look at how innovative medical-led skincare brand myBlend achieves its uncompromising aims of efficacy, results and an ultra-personalised approach

64 DERMALOGICA: RESURFACED AND RENEWED

Dermalogica presents its new LuminFusion advanced skin treatment, formulated for radiance and luminosity

SPA SPECIFIER

49 ON THE MENU

Our round-up of the best new products and treatment innovations welcomes in winter with ESPA’s Warming Wellness Ritual and showcases intense skin nourishment from Germaine de Capuccini as well as two new retail products from Natura Bissé

90 WELLNESS TRENDS

Among the modalities making waves in the world of wellness, we explore how spas around the world are opening their doors to the whole family with dedicated offerings for children and their parents

98 SPA STYLE

A selection of the latest stylish equipment and leading-edge technology, including the Infrared Square Heated Massage table from Fabio Alemanno and Kelda’s BubbleSpa, which disperses air-filled droplets for a soothing shower experience

49

In memory of Laura Broady

European Spa pays tribute to

Laura Broady: 1973-2023

We celebrate the life of the spa industry leader and European Spa contributor

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of the aromatherapist, European Spa columnist – and friend – Laura Broady, on November 23, 2023.

After more than 25 years in the spa industry, Laura was a well-known and much-loved figure. She began her career with Decléor & Carita UK, working within the ground-floor beauty hall at Harrods in London. Laura then went on to become an account manager for the brand at Rackham’s in Birmingham, before moving on to a role as regional sales manager.

Moving to Grafton International, she worked as national sales manager for its salon division before switching to Shiseido and then progressing to ila Spa as head of global spa business

When Laura returned to work with Decléor as senior national account manager, she led the brand to become a significant presence within the spa sector. She encouraged operators including Center Parcs Aqua Sana, Champneys and De Vere to use Decléor in their spas, elevating the brand’s industry status. Her deep knowledge of products then led to her becoming a hugely popular part-time presenter on the QVC shopping channel.

A qualified aromatherapist, Laura’s next role took her to international brand Aromatherapy Associates, as new business and spa business development manager.

Made for Life Foundation

In 2016, Laura joined the Made for Life Foundation, which provides support and access to wellbeing for those experiencing cancer. Her colleague and friend Amanda Winwood, managing director of Made for Life Organics and

founder of the Foundation, said: “Laura was simply sunshine and joy wrapped up in a human being. I met her on a bus in Spain at Spatec and we just connected. She was the inspiration for the Made for Life Foundation.”

Laura was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer ten years ago and again in 2020. During her time at the Made for Life Foundation, she helped to develop the Cancer Touch Therapy concept and train more than 2,000 therapists on how to safely treat guests living with or recovering from the illness.

A beacon of positivity

Laura met spa industry colleague Emma Stewart in 1993 on the Decléor counter in Rackham’s, Birmingham. “I am privileged to say we became best friends through thick and thin, spanning 30 amazing years,” said Stewart. “She radiated positivity, experienced by anyone lucky enough to cross paths with her. Strong, caring,

empowering, loving, energetic and passionate, Laura shaped my whole heart. I will forever love and cherish our memories together.”

Sam Keegan, founder of Helping All Animals in Rural Towns (HAART) in South Africa, worked with Laura at Decléor & Carita UK. “I can honestly say Laura was the purest, kindest person I have ever had the privilege to call my friend and colleague,” said Keegan. “The utmost professional, with sincerity in all she touched – ambitious and determined, positive and always able to find the beauty in every cloud. Laura, you were and always will be my inspiration, my supporter, and my reminder to love.”

Sharing the power of essential oils

As founder of her own aromatherapy business, Scented Saviours, Laura wrote a series of columns for European Spa. She created Scented Saviours to offer consumers and professionals alike access to information on the safe and effective use of essentials oils. Her firm belief – and personal experience – was that they could offer comfort and deep relief, particularly during cancer care.

“Laura was an extraordinary woman – a talented aromatherapist and treasured friend,” said Sarah Camilleri, founding editor of European Spa. “Her popular column delivered timely advice on how to use essential oils to empower guest and team wellbeing.”

Laura features in the Made for Life Foundation’s 2024 Inner Goddess calendar, all profits from which support people living with cancer. To purchase a copy, visit: www.madeforlifeorganics. com/products/made-for-lifefoundation-calendar

Tribute by Wendy Golledge

In memory of Laura Broady

“Laura was my partner and my inspiration. She was hugely modest and sincere. I don’t believe she ever considered how truly talented and admired she was. Whether the subject was high-end skincare, aromatherapy, spa development or just talking about people in general, I was always awed by the depth of her knowledge and her genuine passion for what she was working on. I adored her and always will.”

Rob Broady, Laura’s husband

IMAGES: John Athimaritis

Eastern-inspired design in the Guerlain Spa at Raffles London at The OWO

Redefining luxury

Raffles London at The OWO has raised the bar for wellness in a luxury urban hotel setting. We explore the exclusive Guerlain Spa and speak to the team about how this new concept was curated

REPORT BY MARK SMITH

The launch of the highly anticipated Raffles London at The OWO marks a significant point for the Raffles brand and the Accor Group. It has established Raffles in a central London location and brought the first Guerlain Spa to the capital – a real statement of intent as the luxury hotel brand embraces wellness on a deeper level with its new partnership with Pillar Wellbeing.

“Raffles London at The OWO celebrates a new era for Raffles, allowing us to bring the brand’s legendary service and glamour together with one of the city’s most culturally significant landmarks,” says Omer Acar, CEO of Raffles & Orient Express.

“Through this debut we are sharing with guests an exceptional destination, offering them an experience unlike any other.”

History in the making

Now housing one of the best spas in London, Raffles London at The OWO – part of the £1.4 billion (€1.63 billion) eight-year redevelopment of the Old War Office spearheaded by The Hinduja Group and partners Onex Holding – is one of a swathe of new luxury developments in London. The spa at The Peninsula London debuted in December 2023 and next year will see the opening of Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair and Six Senses London. It’s an exciting time for wellness investment in the UK capital.

The OWO is a grade II-listed building in Whitehall that was previously the offices of influential political and military leaders including Winston Churchill. A destination in its own right, it now boasts nine restaurants and three bars – including signature dining experiences by chef Mauro Colagreco – as well as 85 private Raffles-branded Residences designed by studio 1508. Raffles London at The OWO, designed by Thierry Despont, comprises 120 spacious guest rooms and suites as well as a grand ballroom and its 2,500sqm spa, located over four floors, created by London-based Goddard Littlefair. Guerlain Spa debuts in London

The Guerlain Spa at Raffles London at The OWO is one of the largest hotel spas in the capital and has been designed to offer a distinct, personalised wellness journey for hotel guests, members and residents. It brings together the expertise and heritage of Guerlain with personalised health programming from Pillar Wellbeing.

“Serenity, harmony, relaxation, recovery and pleasure are the pursuits of wellbeing that fuel and rejuvenate luxury travellers globally,” says Emlyn Brown, global senior vice-president of wellbeing strategy, design, development at Accor. “They are the touchstones for wellness at Raffles Hotels & Resorts and immersed in every inch of the Raffles London spa.”

Elegance by design

Renowned interior design company Goddard Littlefair has created an elegant, yet understated space that cocoons guests with a sense of calm and serenity. In the heart of the building, the spa offers an impressive range of wellness and wellbeing services. In the ground-floor beauty and treatment space, L’Atelier Guerlain features hair and makeup stations offering express beauty treatments alongside a curated selection of Guerlain’s top beauty products. Pillar Kitchen is also located on this floor.

One level below is the spa reception with corridors that lead to changing rooms, nine treatment suites (including two doubles and three VIP suites) and a relaxation lounge with tea station.

The design offers a nod to the building’s history and a subtle reference to the brand’s Asian heritage. “Stacked, smoked oak timber arches were used to create a perspective and rhythm down the length of the treatment room corridor, a nod to the arches and columns of the historical building’s features,”

“Raffles London at The OWO celebrates a new era for Raffles, allowing us to bring the brand’s legendary service and glamour together with one of the city’s most culturally significant landmarks.”

Omer Acar CEO, Raffles & Orient Express

says Jo Littlefair, co-founder and director of Goddard Littlefair. “Hardwood timber floors and panelling, polished plaster, antiqued brass, and feature stones were used to create a rich palette that is reminiscent of the original materials.”

Thermal excellence

The cutting-edge gym and movement studio, equipped by Technogym for members and hotel guests, occupies a large section of the floor below, and this leads to the pools and thermal areas. The centrepiece of the spa is a stunning 20m indoor

Spa Spotlight Raffles London at The OWO

Clockwise from right: French spa expertise in one of the Guerlain treatment rooms; the 20m pool under a double-height ceiling; Raffles London at The OWO

Luxury wellness in focus with Pillar Wellbeing

Harry Jameson, CEO of Pillar Wellbeing, is an entrepreneur with over 18 years’ experience in the fitness and hospitality industries. Working with executives, celebrities and politicians, he has a column as the wellness editor at The Times and is a global brand ambassador for lululemon and Technogym.

Empowering clients to optimise health and wellness, Pillar Wellbeing operates around the three core pillars of movement, nourishment and recovery. Taking a highly personalised approach backed by Pillar Kitchen concept and recovery techniques, its programming raises the bar for wellness in a luxury hotel setting in London.

“What we wanted to do with Raffles London at The OWO was challenge traditional spa,” says Jameson. “The ultra-high net worth individual cares about their health and wellbeing almost more than they care about anything else.”

The wellness offering at Guerlain Spa at Raffles at The OWO is open to hotel guests, members and people living in the residences. “From a commercial perspective, what properties have often struggled to do outside of food and beverage is get local community people to come in on a consistent basis,” explains Jameson. “I think the future of our business is to use elevated wellbeing services as the core anchor to a membership to get people to come back every day.” www.pillarwellbeing.com

Spa Spotlight Raffles London at The OWO

swimming pool with a double-height ceiling, overlooked by the gym. At one end of the wet area is a large vitality pool that leads to the thermal suite with a Finnish Sauna and steam room. The space has been designed to ensure that guest journeys are seamless and flowing.

“Striking the right balance between relaxation zones and active areas was essential and the two should never cross,” says Martin Goddard, co-founder and director of designers Goddard Littlefair. “The unique architectural constraints of this historical property also added a layer of intricacy to our planning. The journey should feel natural, yet not overly predictable. Our aim was to craft an environment that encourages guests to truly disconnect and immerse themselves in the experience.”

Day spa guests have a different check in desk to members and this pathway is managed very well within the design of the spa.

Luxury hospitality experience

Aimed squarely at the luxury wellness traveller, the Guerlain Spa at Raffles at The OWO has set the bar

“I’m most proud of the team that we’ve put together and especially how they’ve done with the opening of the Guerlain Spa.”

Robert

Jeffers Director of wellbeing, Guerlain Spa, Raffles London at The OWO

high in its guest journey. Director of wellbeing at the spa, Robert Jeffers has created a truly unique experience. A passionate advocate for wellness, Jeffers brings over 17 years’ experience to the role. He understands the needs of the luxury traveller having previously been director of spa and wellness at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong and has held senior management positions at BodyHoliday in St. Lucia and Forte Village Resort

The Guerlain method tailored to Raffles London at The OWO

Amélie Demange, international spa aesthetic and wellness creation director at Guerlain, explains the unique treatment offering at Raffles London at The OWO

The Art of Touch by Guerlain is powerful, effective, precise and always perfectly choreographed

For the vibrant city of London and Raffles London at The OWO, I wanted to offer exclusive experiences for face, body, mind.

Guerlain’s expertise offers a collection of 500 gestures: 200 for the face and 300 for the body. The objective is to design innovative experiences addressing guests’ needs at the present moment and reinventing this unique journey at every visit to act for the long term.

For the Spirit of London Signature Treatment, I wanted to create a powerful and holistic experience

This is designed for people who want to relieve body tensions, alleviate stress and rebalance energies. The

idea was to infuse a sense of lightness and peace with the use of stones, and blend it with the power of the LED applied over the face and the body during the experience.

The uniqueness of Guerlain treatments leans on a strong facialist and body expertise

Combining the mastery of skin, morphology, bodywork and energies, we design experiences based on a tailor-made approach to wellness, and it all starts with a precise assessment of the client.

Since 1939, with its first Institute on the Champs-Élysées, Guerlain has been acting for the longevity of beauty and keeps on developing this holistic expertise together with its Board of Wellness Experts.

www.guerlain.com

Spa Spotlight Raffles London at The OWO

w ellbein g

FALL BACK IN LOVE WITH MASSAGE

Purpose driven, GROUND specialises in advanced massage training to understand and harness the power of touch in relation to sleep, stress, compromised health and support in times of transition menopause and pregnancy.

Luxury urban wellness

Nathalie Delclos, vice-president of global spa and wellness at Raffles & Orient Express, discusses urban wellness trends

How are people prioritising their holistic wellbeing?

The range of new luxury wellness experiences across London is a true testament to the demand for these offerings. People are seeking out activities, offerings and spaces that promote physical and emotional health. This is true both for people visiting the city as well as from those who call it home.

With Raffles London at The OWO we are proud to have developed a wellness offering that is unmatched, by creating a rejuvenating space that reflects the brand’s effortless elegance in addition to best-in-class partners.

How can urban hotels create a strong identity and distinct point of view when it comes to wellness?

Across the Raffles portfolio, we are focused on all aspects of our guests’ wellbeing, from creating an atmosphere that allows for relaxation and recovery to providing a truly personalised approach to wellness.

For Raffles London at The OWO, our vision was to provide an exceptional wellness destination for residents, members, and hotel guests that was also reflective of a world-class hospitality experience.

in Sardinia. “The spa is a wellbeing destination, an urban sanctuary right in the centre of the city,” says Jeffers. “It gives people the opportunity to unwind, switch off and to destress. That’s what we find they’re looking for in London, but in a different kind of environment.”

The concept of the spa is based around Guerlain’s restorative beauty philosophy that partners with the Pillar Wellbeing promotion of movement, recovery and nutrition in equal measure. The Guerlain treatment menu, developed by international spa aesthetic and wellness creation director Amélie Demange, features signature treatments created exclusively for the London property. Every option on the menu has a different protocol.

Signature treatments for the spa include: Spirit of London, a holistic massage to boost energy and help guests reconnect with their inner selves; Coastal Escape, a sensorial journey to reset the mind; and the Royal Glow Tech Facial, an innovative facial that uses advanced technologies to promote a feeling of renewal.

The team’s training took five consecutive weeks with three one-week follow up sessions, and the dedication to perfection in service delivery is evident throughout the guest journey.

Above: Guerlain’s restorative beauty concept is delivered in sumptuous surroundings

Movement, nourishment and recovery

Pillar Wellbeing oversees training and health programming throughout the active wellness spaces at the spa for guests, members and residents. Developed by founder Harry Jameson, it is the cornerstone of the members health club offering.

With numbers capped at just 250, a highly personalised approach is taken for each guest, with consultations, tailored fitness programming and a range of activities to balance movement and recovery. Membership starts at £6,250 per annum with the platinum membership set at £25,000.

“Wellbeing and recovery have often been quite poorly understood, even within our own industry,” says Jameson. “So we have an opportunity to redefine the way people look at those things.”

Nutrition and psychological fitness coaching sit alongside acupuncture, physiotherapy – with recovery sessions including percussion and compression therapy plus hot and cold contrast – breath work and assisted stretching. For one in every three sessions in the Pillar concept, clients are encouraged to take a recovery session.

In the movement studio there are two different kinds of yoga, Pilates, strength conditioning and boxing classes on offer.

Nutrition plays a vital role in the philosophy of the Pillar Wellbeing concept, and twice Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton will be creating Pillar Kitchen’s quarterly menus which aim to positively impact gut health and energy.

SPA STATISTICS

Guerlain Spa at Raffles London at The OWO

www.raffles.com/london

Owner Hinduja Group

Managing director Philippe Leboeuf

Director of wellbeing Robert Jeffers

Assistant director of wellbeing Debbie Lowry

Spa Size 2,500sqm

Staff 28

Suppliers Cheshire Wellness, Dressed Best Uniforms, BC Softwear, Gharieni, Technogym, Harvia, ISIS Technologies, Book4Time, Camellia’s Tea House

Products: Exclusively Guerlain

Spa Spotlight Raffles London at The OWO

Right from top: the spa’s vitality pool; finishing touches are provided in L’Atelier Guerlain; traditional spa features include a Finnish sauna

Elevate your spa offer

Hayley Warman, head of Europe and rest of world spa operations at ESPA, explains how the brand offers spa partners innovative ways to elevate their offer

ESPA has always offered a bespoke approach to spa operational management and business consultancy.

According to Hayley Warman, head of Europe and ROW spa operations, the team offers every spa it works with a unique approach. “After careful evaluation, our spa associate team creates personalised business agreements tailored to the needs of each individual spa we work with,” she says. “These services can include quality assurance, bespoke marketing solutions, business strategies, spa operational training and advanced technical training. We also help implement KPI reports and assist with revenue analysis, such as P&L and budget reviews.”

What else do ESPA account holders get as part of the spa operations package?

Every spa we work with is assigned a dedicated ESPA spa associate – an expert in spa operational management. These associates work closely with spa directors, senior leadership teams and property owners for the operational and revenue success of each spa.

Are there varying levels of support?

We manage a portfolio of leading global spas, such as ESPA Life at Waldorf Astoria Lusail, Doha; ESPA Life at Corinthia London; Ritz-Carlton hotels; and One&Only resorts. Each property receives varying business consultancy, depending on its requirements.

Spas that receive ESPA’s operational

Hayley Warman

ESPA Life, Corinthia London

ESPA Life Waldorf Astoria, Qatar

ESPA Life Waldorf Astoria, Qatar

management and business consultancy services are recognised as the most prestigious in the world.

Our two most popular business models are Business Support and Management Services. Business Support primarily focuses on spa quality assurance. Having created spas of distinction for more than 30 years, we have a thorough understanding of what it means to deliver an exceptional customer experience. This understanding encompasses every touchpoint we create for our partners.

For this reason, spas often request our audit services to help them achieve exceptional standards. We review every part of the customer journey, including fitness, memberships, back-of-house operations and pre-arrival experiences. The report equates to around 500 touchpoints – the most comprehensive quality assurance report within the industry.

Audit reviews can be conducted up to four times a year and visits conclude with two detailed reports identifying strengths, areas for improvement and emotional engagement.

Our spa associates can also provide a full behind-the-scenes spa Management Services programme. This

can include the creation of operating procedures, benchmarking, competitor reviews, industry trend reports and train-the-trainer programmes, as well as sales and marketing plans.

Our skilled technical team can also create signature treatments and transformational wellness journeys, encompassing each spa’s philosophy and scenography.

What pre-opening support is offered?

ESPA’s pre-opening programme can include financial planning, concept creation, pre-opening audit checks and recruitment support. We also offer elevated pre-opening services for spa partners on product supply only agreements. This can include operational training, menu creation, OS&E lists and critical paths.

How do you support therapist sales?

To provide genuine product recommendations, spa teams must be passionate about the products they’re using. ESPA ensures all team members receive a full immersion into the brand and its product knowledge programme. We can also provide active retail training, including natural sales

techniques and best practices.

We work with spa directors to set tangible individual and team targets, which are supported with ESPA product incentives. Our spa associates all come from wellness backgrounds, so we understand what motivates and brings out the best in teams. We enjoy being creative when it comes to incentives, and often run competitions that include special prizes and experiences. Operationally, we also incentivise customers to purchase retail through gift-with-purchase campaigns.

Finally, we grow therapists’ confidence by helping them to find their own unique retail style. The ‘E’ in ESPA stands for ‘education’, so being able to train, motivate and coach team members from different cultures, countries and backgrounds is a key element that we factor into all retail training sessions.

BE INFORMED...

For details of how ESPA’s product and consultancy services can support your spa, contact enquiries@espainternational.co.uk

The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Mexico City

Rise of the wellness traveller

The coming year is set to be a tipping point for wellness travel across the globe. Louise Moore, Hilton’s director of spa operations, shares her insight into the recent Hilton 2024 trends report and what it means for spas

ALouise Moore

Louise Moore has more than 20 years’ experience in leading teams, creating and implementing strategies and achieving results. She is currently responsible for defining and delivering Hilton’s European spa strategy, spa and wellness pipeline, and operations throughout the multi-brand portfolio. She oversees more than 60 spas, including award-winning properties such as Guerlain Spa at Waldorf Astoria Berlin, Hilton Baku and DoubleTree by Hilton Oradea, which showcases Hilton’s new global concept for full-service spas, eforea: spa at Hilton. www.hilton.com

new trends report released by Hilton, entitled What Millennials, Gen Z, Gen X and Baby Boomers Tell Us About Travel in the Year Ahead, reveals that the primary motivation behind global travel in 2024 will be the pursuit of rest and relaxation. Next year, we anticipate that travellers will invest in their overall wellbeing, leading to a transformative shift towards more holistic and accessible wellness offerings within the hospitality industry. This change in priorities presents a crucial opportunity for spa businesses.

To remain at the forefront, spa operators need to align with these evolving expectations, embracing wellness not as an indulgent luxury, but as an essential aspect of their service. Tapping into this growing demand, spas should consider rest, movement, nourishment and mindfulness when building out their offerings.

Energising rest and sleep

Hilton’s 2024 trends report highlights that a substantial number of travellers – including 55% of Gen Z and 60% of millennials – are placing rest and relaxation at the top of their travel agendas and seeking accommodation that offers more than just a place to rest their head. Spas embracing sleep enhancing programmes, products and offerings are creating a transformative experience that resonates with the modern traveller’s quest for rest.

Wellness in motion

As we advance into an era where wellness is linked to movement, spas are evolving to include a wider variety of kinetic experiences. Hilton guests

are increasingly looking for ways they can improve both their physical and mental health while travelling. We are currently working on a new project in London that will celebrate the demand for thermal bathing, movement and holistic wellness practices, which answers this call.

Nourishing experiences

Nourishment is becoming a centrepiece of modern travel, as evidenced by the report’s finding that an overwhelming 86% of travellers are eager to delve into local and regional cuisines.

The presence of a quality on-site restaurant is a decisive accommodation factor for 82% of guests, signalling that people are looking for experiences that marry better-for-you menu items with culinary exploration. Spas are responding by incorporating food journeys that complement their therapeutic offerings.

Mindful retreats

The quest for mindfulness in travel is shaping a new dimension in the spa industry. As travellers prioritise serene escapes that nurture the mind and body, Hilton is pioneering this shift with initiatives like Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus’s In-Room Tranquility Program. This offers meditation guides in partnership with Headspace, designed to enrich the guest’s journey regardless of their experience with mindfulness training. For spas, the integration of mindfulness is an imperative step in their evolution.

Deep rest

The definition of rest varies from guest to guest, placing the responsibility on

EXPERT CONTRIBUTOR

the industry to adapt to these varied preferences and ensure every traveller can find their path to rejuvenation. With a deep-seated understanding of how wellness is a driving factor in consumer choices, spa operators can be ready to cater to these needs, aspiring to infuse holistic experiences into every aspect of a stay, from check-in to check-out.

In a world where travel increasingly revolves around the pursuit of rest and relaxation, the hospitality industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation, with wellness emerging as a central theme. Within this evolving landscape, spa businesses find themselves at a pivotal crossroads, ready to redefine wellness from a mere indulgence to an essential pillar of the guest experience – a vision fully embraced by Hilton.

To thrive in this era of wellness driven travel, spa operators must embrace the holistic principles of rest, movement, nourishment and mindfulness within their offerings.

Louise Moore shares five ways to elevate spa and wellness services

n Integrate wellness throughout the spa experience

Think about broadening the scope of your spa services beyond traditional boundaries. Implement comprehensive initiatives like sleeping, eating, meeting, moving, relaxing and being well to offer a complete wellness experience.

n Prioritise mental and immune health

Develop mental and immune health services to meet growing consumer demand. This acknowledges the ongoing impact of the last few years and responds to heightened awareness of holistic health.

n Leverage technology

Combine modern technology with personalised care to craft innovative, tailored spa experiences. This also provides data-driven

insights to tailor services to individual guest needs, enhancing satisfaction and loyalty.

n Embed mindfulness practices

Incorporate mindful retreats and holistic practices that enrich guest stays and appeal to a diverse range of wellness preferences.

n Leverage historical best practices

Consider traditional techniques with a modern interpretation. Thermal bathing provides a host of both mental and physical health benefits and is also great for those seeking connection.

To read What Millennials, Gen Z, Gen X and Baby Boomers Tell Us About Travel in the Year Ahead, visit: https://stories.hilton. com/2024trends

The indoor pool at eforea-Hilton Istanbul Bomonti

The perfect finish

Dr Philippe Allouche, co-chairman, head of creation and research and development at Biologique Recherche, reveals how the brand is responding to demand for post-treatment skincare makeup

Biologique Recherche has a global reputation for excellence in skincare based on a clinical, aesthetic and personalised approach that incorporates raw active ingredients, effective formulas and unique techniques.

The French luxury brand’s renowned facial treatments bring together over four decades of innovation, research and development. It should be no surprise then, that after recently seeing increased demand for skincare makeup to treat, conceal and perfect the complexion post-treatment, Biologique Recherche has curated an innovative line of products that offer a light-touch, skin-enhancing concealing effect.

We asked co-chairman, head

“The back-to-natural trend means it’s important that consumers look after their skin.”

Dr Philippe Allouche Co-chairman, head of creation and research and development

of creation and research and development, Dr Philippe Allouche, about the brand’s new tinted serums – Sérum Teinté – and its innovative Eye Care Concealers.

Why did you develop the brand’s new line of tinted serums?

We want to take advantage of our skincare expertise to provide additional makeup benefits. By creating two-in-one skincare products to treat, conceal and perfect the complexion, Biologique Recherche’s promise is to offer an alliance of high-performance, unifying care and natural coverage with a formula rich in moisturising and protective active ingredients. Our methodology is based on

personalisation, so it was natural for the brand that we should also add new colours to the range, so it can adapt to each complexion.

Why is applying the correct post-facial skin products so important?

Beauty and health can be complementary. We used to call a ‘healthy skin’ one with a radiant, fresh and unified complexion. Skin that does not have any particular sensitivity has thin texture and is unable to defend itself. With the products we create, we help the skin to reanimate its own potential of being healthy – we help it to defend and to rebuild itself. As the last step of the Biologique Recherche methodology, it is necessary to use the correct product so it will prolong the effects of products applied earlier.

Tell us about the Eye Care Concealers. This innovation is a two-in-one revitalising tinted eye contour cream. It covers and lastingly corrects the appearance of dark circles, and

helps to reduce puffiness. The match between Eye Care Concealer and tinted serum offers a very adapted result in terms of healthcare and makeup.

Are these products incorporated into your professional treatments?

Following Biologique Recherche’s methodology, both the Eye Care Concealers and our tinted serums can be used in the professional treatment room or at home after the treatment has concluded.

What does the ‘skinification’ of makeup mean for the professional skincare market?

With this ‘back to the natural’ trend, it has become important for consumers to take care of themselves and their skin – by choosing natural products, rich in active ingredients, that provide real skincare, while offering a mattifying, covering effect.

As it usually is the final step in a skincare routine, tinted skincare brings real benefits and new opportunities

to the skincare, wellness and makeup sectors, reducing the boundaries between them.

What advice would you give to therapists to help retail these items?

Today, we think in terms of benefits and these all-in-one products are time-saving. The tinted treatments combine the benefits of wearing makeup with in-depth skincare.

Eye Care Concealer and Sérum Teinté represent the final touch of a daily treatment: both are finishing serums, either for the face or for the eyes. They complete a personalised skincare methodology, be it in the spa or as part of a daily at-home treatment routine.

BE INFORMED...

To find out more about Biologique Recherche’s Sérum Teinté and Eye Care Concealer, visit www.biologique-recherche.com

Brands such as Peloton Outdoor are helping spas meet the demand for movement

Movement evolution

Spas everywhere are revolutionising their fitness delivery. We ask eight experts for their opinion on what’s new, exciting and essential for active programming in 2024

REPORT BY WENDY GOLLEDGE

Movement is having a moment. The way spas approach fitness and active wellness is changing, with many straying far from the well-trodden path of a token small gym and studio offering.

At The Bothy by Wildsmith at Heckfield Place, for example, movement is anything but an afterthought. Regenerative therapies integrate seamlessly onto the treatment menu, with mindful movement sessions including Farm Fit (functional fitness using traditional farm tools, milk churns and loaded wheelbarrows), forest bathing and cold-water immersion therapy.

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London is also pushing the boundaries with Movementum, its premium wellness studio that offers innovative spa rituals, EMS training and functional treatments, as well as small group classes.

And at the newly opened Raffles London at The OWO, contemporary movement specialist Pillar Wellbeing’s members-only health club is a key ingredient to complement the Guerlain spa offering.

Movement and growth

The Global Wellness Institute’s 2023 Global Wellness Economy report states that physical activity will be one of the biggest projected wellness growth leaders between now and 2027. It currently surpasses its 2019 market size by 111% and the report projects physical activity is one of the four wellness sectors that will exceed $1 trillion in market size by 2024.

So how can spas get on board with the ‘movement’ movement, and push the boundaries to offer valuable physical activity experiences? European Spa speaks with leaders in the field about how movement is going mainstream and how to tailor your spa offer for the future.

Smart equipment should be part of the equation

Why do you think movement therapies are changing in spas?

The definition of wellness has shifted; it’s become more holistic and encompasses fitness, sleep, recovery, nutrition and mindfulness.

Spa guests around the world now seek not only to maintain their wellbeing through relaxing therapies, but also to enhance it through physical activity, strength and meditation practices.

The consumers’ conscious pursuit of comprehensive holistic wellness has naturally led spas to seek out new combinations of movement and fitness offerings.

How can a spa build fitness into its menu?

From a facility point of view, effective use of space is crucial. Adding smart, practical, state-of-the-art equipment into the wellness equation can complement guests’ physical and mental wellness journey, but that offer can’t take away space from more traditional wellness.

Peloton Bike+ is a compact way for spas to offer full-body workouts without the need for a dedicated fitness space. Guests can go from a cardio workout on the bike to strength, yoga or mediation with the turn of a screen in UK properties including Raffles London at The OWO, Claridges and The Savoy.

App-based fitness is here to stay. Creating your own app can be costly and fraught with problems, but utilising an existing service like the Peloton App enables everyone to try thousands of curated classes from outdoor runs to yoga and meditation.

Spas that perhaps lack space and facilities can still personalise their guests’ fitness journey with an app, ensuring they’re able to push themselves physically before setting aside some time to rejuvenate and unwind. www.onepeloton.co.uk

“The conscious pursuit of comprehensive holistic wellness has naturally led spas to seek out new combinations of wellness and fitness offerings.”

Daniel Sprung Senior director, partnerships and commercial Peloton Commercial EMEA

Daniel Sprung

Movement can bring a new type of guest to your

spa

How is David Lloyd merging fitness and wellness?

We’d noticed a trend that our clubs with thermal spa facilities performed better, so we built a wellness and spa strategy around this. The proposition is about overall wellbeing. We offer heat and cool therapies, and relaxation opportunities, intertwining with mind and body classes.

What we’re providing is holistic wellbeing as opposed to hands-on treatments. This is an offering that reaches more people, especially men, which is good for attracting new clientele.

How can spas upsell fitness and movement to bridge the gap?

Spas with outside spaces have the ideal opportunity to combine a wider movement offering with time in nature. At David Lloyd we’re building outdoor meditation huts to complement our wellness offerings. Our unique outdoor spaces are very sought after so we’re doing all we can to utilise these.

Wellness that’s more than just treatments appeals to a different psychographic profile – people who value moving to relax and exercising to destress. Run one-off events to test your ideas with existing users, so you’re market testing new concepts to guests as part of the bigger picture without pushing them too far out of their comfort zone. Retreats are a great example – offer wellness elements your guests are accustomed to, with a side order of movement. Ease into a hybrid to see if there’s an appetite for it. www.davidlloyd.co.uk

“What we are providing is holistic wellbeing as opposed to hands-on treatments. This is an offering that reaches more people, especially men, which is good for attacting new clientele.”

Stephanie Holland Creative director David Lloyd Clubs

Clockwise from left: Peloton Bike+ offers the possibility of movement without the need for dedicated space; David Lloyd Clubs provide a holistic wellness, including thermal experiences; physical activity is becoming a key part of the spa offering

Stephanie Holland

Exercise is one of the best ways to control ageing

George Gaitanos

What’s the connection between movement and ageing well?

Engaging in regular physical activity plays a crucial role in promoting healthy ageing – physically and mentally. At first glance, it might be too simplistic to label muscles as ‘longevity organs’ but there’s strong evidence to suggest that maintaining muscle health through regular exercise, particularly endurance and strength training, can positively impact our health, longevity and quality of life.

How should spas incorporate exercise?

Integrating fitness options aligns with the holistic approach to wellness and

“By stressing the body in everyday life we can reduce or even reverse ageing inside; exercise is one of the best tools we have to regulate and combat ageing.”

George Gaitanos, chief operating and scientific officer Chenot Group

wellbeing that many spas aim to provide. On-site gyms, outdoor activities, personal training, aquatic programmes, mind-body studios, educational resources and fitness assessments can all cater for guests seeking a wellness experience. The wellness industry needs to be communicating the importance of movement to stop chronic diseases; we need to be the educators for change.

Tell us more about neo medicine. It is not a standardised term, rather it’s how I refer to emerging trends, advancements in the field of medical science and practices that deviate from traditional or conventional approaches. It indicates a more holistic approach to healthcare, in which the individual has the authority to define ‘optimal’. Doctors – and spas – become the supportive partner to the individual, helping them adapt to forces of change in their transformative journey. www.chenot.com

Above from left: Endurance and strength training joins ozone and hydro-jet therapy as part of the offer at Chenot spas

Movement can be used as a valuable treatment tool

Kirstie Sherriff

Are spas currently connecting the movement space with the treatment room?

I think we’re early to the trend but it’s coming in a big way. It’s exactly why we created Proverb, to meld gym and spa; it’s crazy they’re not already intrinsically linked!

To perform at your best, whether you’re an athlete or just want to bend down to unload the washing machine, you need 360-degree movement. For years, exercise has been about being thin or muscly but it’s really not that. Movement doesn’t have to mean high-intensity workouts; it’s about feeling confident. People don’t move enough because they’re scared or it hurts; this is where spa can help.

How does this work in practice?

We work with properties to create a new kind of guest journey. Journeys have been curated for years in spas, but rarely in the gym. Proverb offers movement-centric treatments in the gym and the spa. We train PTs to offer revenue-generating options such as assisted stretches, while therapists are taught traditional treatments but reworked with whole-body stretches. In treatments, we help therapists to make every movement full and deliberate. So, when the client needs to roll mid-massage, we position them on all fours in a child’s pose and then assist the stretch before we lie them down again. We’ve worked with physiotherapists to balance treatments, within the realm of what a therapist is still allowed to do, by unashamedly moving the body.

https://proverbskin.com

“We help therapists to make every movement full and deliberate. So, when the client needs to roll mid-massage, we position them on all fours in a child’s pose and then assist the stretch before we lie them down again.”

Kirstie Sherriff Co-founder Proverb

Physical exercise is crucial for longevity and recovery

Harry Jameson

Why do you think there’s a growing trend for spas to incorporate fitness?

For a long time, spas – especially in the hospitality space – have been beauty-led. To encapsulate true wellness, they need to look at how the body moves, nourishes and recovers; these principles are what Pillar Wellbeing at Raffles London at The OWO is built on.

Relaxation and beauty alone can’t be defined as wellness. Fitness for aesthetics has long been a focus; now we need to look at fitness for longevity, and movement for injury prevention. Pillar Wellbeing offers physiotherapy services that go hand in hand with more traditional spa therapies.

How is Pillar merging fitness and wellness?

Fitness is only one part of wellness. We merge fitness – classes and personal performance coaching – with recovery and nutrition through Pillar Kitchen and recovery processes. We collaborate with partners such as Hyperice to offer compression leggings and percussion guns, and have upskilled our practitioners to deliver one-to-one recovery services such as hot-cold contrast therapy and mindfulness.

How can spas upsell fitness and bridge the gap?

Spas have traditionally relied on day guests seeking occasional pampering. We want people to use our spaces consistently, so fitness is a key driver to our membership offering. It’s helpful in driving memberships that stick, reducing churn and building a real community that will make you invaluable. www.pillarwellbeing.com

“Fitness for aesthetics has long been a focus; now we need to look at fitness for longevity and movement for injury prevention.”

Harry Jameson CEO, Pillar Wellbeing Raffles London at The OWO

Clockwise from left: Proverb aims to create synergies between the gym and the spa; nutrition should be a focus alongside movement to benefit guests; Pillar Wellbeing brings fitness into the spa setting

Movement should benefit spa staff as well as guests

Iain Bell

Why is a culture of integrated wellness so important in spas?

Movement offerings are a huge business objective but it’s client-focused. It’s just as important to consider the benefits of mobility and movement for staff, especially massage therapists, given the physical and mental demands of what they do. Hands-on wellness is extremely wearing on professionals, so employers must drive the culture of integrated movement inwardly, too.

How can a spa promote movement in the work of its team members?

There should be regular, meaningful

“The onus is on employers to integrate movement into therapists’ days. The cost of non-conformance is absenteeism, long-term sickness and disenchantment.”

Iain Bell Founder Executive Fitness Foundation

conversations and need-assessments for the therapy team. Ask therapists what will help them to move more at work. Create wellness checklists for before and after treatments, and include mobility exercises to prepare therapists for the treatment, and the physical and mental state of the client. Then adjust your business culture so it becomes part of the everyday.

Many training agencies help with proper ergonomics but you can also teach therapists mobility stretches they can do before and after a treatment, and five-minute meditation techniques to balance their breathing and energy.

The onus is on employers to integrate movement into therapists’ days. The cost of non-conformance is absenteeism, long-term sickness and disenchanted staff. Therapists trying to deliver quality treatments when they’re exhausted leads to customer complaints, and that costs the business.

https://ef1.com

This page: the Executive Fitness Foundation has curated a wellness toolkit for spas to help their staff cope with daily pressures

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Strength training boosts wellness and longevity

How is miha’s fitness offering being leveraged in spas?

In a world where rejuvenation and relaxation are becoming synonymous with health, there’s mounting demand for fitness within spas. Stephen Price’s Movementum at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London is a unique example of blended spa and movement.

miha bodytec’s Whole Body EMS (electro muscular stimulation) training system is an integral part of Movementum’s methodology, promoting the importance of strength alongside recovery and hands-on spa rituals.

“EMS bridges the realms of strength training and spa, focusing on movement-orientated exercises, crafting tailored experiences that meet clients precisely where they are on their fitness journey.”

Phil Horton Country director UK miha bodytec

Three further high-end London spas have partnered with us for 2024, showing a growing understanding of how strength training impacts wellness and longevity.

Why should strength training be part of any spa’s movement offering?

Strength is integral to human wellbeing and it’s the linchpin of our ageing process. But the daunting image of conventional weight training overshadows it.

EMS bridges the gap for spas, focusing on movement orientated tailored exercise sessions that meet clients precisely where they are on their fitness journey. EMS caters to all and it’s kind to joints, ensuring inclusive strength-building regardless of age. Just 20 minutes a week can be transformative.

As the boundaries between relaxation and fitness blur, movement must be integrated into spas to soothe the guest’s senses and fortify their soul.

www.miha-bodytec.com

This page: miha bodytec’s EMS system in action at Movementum at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London

Phil Horton

SAUNA 360 PROJECTS. THE LEADING SAUNA, STEAM AND WELLNESS

PROVIDING EXPERT DESIGN CONSULTATION, MANUFACTURING

Spa gym spaces are the start of a wellbeing journey

How are you seeing spas develop their movement offer?

I believe the trend for spas to incorporate movement into their offering has been growing for a decade, but most fitness facilities have remained separated. It’s only since wellness and wellbeing became buzzwords that the merging of the two has accelerated. Now you can’t have a serious conversation about wellness without discussing movement and nutrition, they’re the three pillars.

At Matrix we’re no longer just discussing gym kit. It’s about providing a holistic movement offer that appeals to everyone;

“We see spas offering mobility and mindfulness sessions in the gym, walking groups outside that move in during the winter months

and functional group classes on the gym floor.”

Nigel Tapping Head of sales, hospitality and residential Matrix Fitness UK

every spa we meet wants to advance the ways they incorporate movement. Many are taking movement outside with trim trails and assault courses for getting close to nature. We’ve just worked with Hoar Cross Hall in Staffordshire, UK, to refurbish the gym but also create outdoor fitness areas with cold plunges, trim trails and various activities in different locations.

Is there still a function for a traditional gym in the spa setting?

While most facilities have had gyms, they’re now actually using them. We see spas offering gym-based mobility and mindfulness sessions, in addition to outdoor walking groups that move inside during the winter months to make use of the advanced tech consoles now offer. Add to this the benefits of heat, ice, grounding and breathwork, and spas are lining up to be an unstoppable force for wellness.

www.matrixfitness.com

This page: Matrix Fitness is working with spas to extend their exercise offering into natural outdoor settings as well as traditional indoor gym spaces

Nigel Tapping

Sustainable at heart

We talk to VOYA founder and managing director Mark Walton about the brand’s eco-friendly initiatives and its leading role in spa industry environmental responsibility

VOYA has been at the forefront of sustainability initiatives in the spa market for over 15 years. Hand-harvesting seaweed for its range of certified organic beauty products, the brand is an ocean activist and participates in carbon balance programmes to reduce the environmental impact of its travel and manufacturing activities.

VOYA’s products are packaged using recycled, recyclable or biodegradable materials, and its exterior packaging features a blend of FSC-certified pulp that uses its own harvested seaweed. These boxes can also be composted and the ink used for printing is a water-soluble vegetable dye.

VOYA’s efforts have been recognised

“Every brand needs to present a defensible sustainability programme – consumers are now demanding this.”

Mark Walton Managing director, VOYA

by the Hip & Healthy Sustainability Awards, where it won Favourite Sustainable Beauty Brand. It was also highly commended in the Marie Claire Sustainability Awards.

Its latest beauty innovation, Renewal Eyes 100% Organic Seaweed Eye Masks, is made from pure hand harvested, sustainably sourced Irish Laminaria Digitata seaweed. Packaged in dried form, the eye masks are super lightweight. Once prepared in warm water they spring back to life, expanding to regenerate and release their nourishing seaweed gels.

We talk exclusive to VOYA’s co-founder and managing director, Mark Walton, about the importance of sustainability in today’s spa market.

Why is sustainability such a hot topic?

It’s very simple – because consumers are demanding it. Every brand needs to present a defensible sustainability programme. Even though we are industry leaders, we are being challenged. However, we also challenge ourselves. Our company motto is ‘There has to be a better way’ – and invariably there is. It’s not always easy but it’s a great challenge and very satisfying, personally. Needless to say, consumers subsequently buy into your brand and your efforts.

How does VOYA work to reduce its impact on the environment?

We partner with Plastic Bank and as part of our Ocean Steward partnership help to stop the equivalent of over two million single-use plastic bottles from entering the ocean. Every VOYA product sold helps to prevent three plastic bottles from polluting the seas.

We also carbon-balance tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from energy consumption associated with our operations and business travel to support the World Land Trust, an international conservation charity that protects the world’s most biologically important and threatened habitats.

We are a member of the Repak Green Team, complying with Irish and EU Packaging Regulations and playing our part in reducing and recycling packaging waste in Ireland.

How has this eco-friendly approach shaped your manufacturing operations?

In the warehouse we have introduced a scanning system digitalising the process and are currently in the process of digitalising all batch control records, SOPs and logs, thereby reducing our paper usage. We also have a partnership with Shred-It services, so all our paper is sustainably

recycled. Even our brown packaging tape is now paper instead of plastic.

In our facilities we have installed a humidity-controlled drying process to reduce energy usage. We have LED lights in our buildings and have moved from drinking water containers to filter taps to reduce plastic use.

With regards to new launches, in January 2024 we are removing the plastic netting in our best-selling Lazy Days retail product in favour of an organic cotton bag. While each of these is a small step, cumulatively they help reduce our overall carbon footprint.

BE INFORMED...

To discover how partnering with VOYA can help to improve your spa’s environmental credentials, email sales@voya.ie or visit www.voya.ie

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On the Menu

OUR PICK OF THE LATEST SPA PRODUCTS AND TREATMENT INNOVATIONS

Edited by Mark Smith

EDITOR’S PICK

Welcome winter with ESPA Warming Wellness Ritual

ESPA Warming Wellness Ritual has been created to nurture the skin while adding selfcare elements for the body and mind. Melting away tension, the new treatment uses signature techniques to calm and relax the client.

“The Warming Wellness Ritual has been developed to encourage guests to take care of themselves during the winter months, a task which can be easily overlooked in the hustle and bustle of the season,” says Joanne Browne, training director, ESPA. “Guests can escape the gloomy weather,

nurturing and uplifting the mind and body through this therapeutic experience.”

The 50-minute therapy begins with a hot mitt foot cleanse and then a body brush from head to toe followed by a body exfoliation. Clients are offered a choice between a Relaxing or Detoxifying Salt Scrub for this stage. A dry

hot towel is squeezed at the shoulders and stretching elements include a relaxing back massage with warmed volcanic stones.

After a short sensory test, guests are invited to choose their preferred oil, Restorative or Restful. The therapy concludes with a scalp massage using Pink Hair and Scalp Mud. During the treatment, ESPA products are gently warmed to enhance the sensorial elements of the protocol.

www.espaskincare.com

Germaine de Capuccini promises intense skin nourishment

Designed to treat dehydrated skin caused by pollution, cold, wind, UV radiation or stress, Germaine de Capuccini has launched Timexpert Hydraluronic Hydra-Nourishing Mask.

It contains three different weights of hyaluronic acid that work to deeply hydrate the skin, regulate water loss and protect against external aggression. Reducing dehydration lines and increasing suppleness and firmness, the mask also contains a patented HLG Nanopolymer. Combining hyaluronic acid, lysine and polyglutamic acid, this nourishes skin cells, hydrates and stimulates cell metabolism.

Apply a thin layer of the mask over the face and neck without massaging, then leave on for five to ten minutes. Massage and do not rinse. Use during the day for an extra boost of skin comfort, or at night as a deeply moisturising and nourishing treatment, harnessing the skin’s activated natural cellular repair mechanisms during sleep.

www.germaine-de-capuccini.co.uk

Alqvimia targets anti-ageing skin rejuvenation with its new beauty kit

Alqvimia’s Beauty Treatments Rejuvenate Kit is an at-home face care ritual collection combining hero products from the Essentially Beautiful and Absolute Beauty ranges.

Designed to boost skin radiance, the products offer an illuminating anti-ageing effect.

Micellar Water with ylang ylang and Bamboo cleanses and refreshes. The Rejuvenate Moisturising Anti-Fatigue Mask boosts tired skin with a blend of essential oils of frankincense, myrrh, lemon, orange, patchouli and rosewood. New formulas for Essentially Beautiful Serum and Moisturising Cream nourish and regenerate, smoothing fine lines and wrinkles.

A gua sha stone, made from bian, helps to increase blood circulation, enhance lymphatic drainage, refine and smooth the skin. Used in conjunction with the skin-enhancing products, this mini spa ritual for the face offers an immediate lifting look, reduces the appearance of expression lines, detoxifies the skin and diminishes puffiness and dark circles under the eyes. The kit also contains a head band and organic cotton discs.

www.alqvimia.com

Restructure and redensify skin with Biologique Recherche

A green caviar-infused biocellulose face mask from Biologique Recherche offers spa clients an immediate restructuring and redensifying effect, leaving the skin firmer and more toned.

Masque Caviar Vert is based on green caviar, also known as caulerpa lentillifera, a seaweed that grows naturally in the warm waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans, but is also cultivated off the coast of Vietnam. It is rich in essential minerals, iodine, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and copper, which are beneficial for the skin.

To combat cutaneous ageing, collagen segment boosts collagen synthesis by stimulating fibroblasts. This helps prevent the formation of wrinkles while making the skin firmer for a smoother, fuller appearance. The mask also contains marine exopolysaccharide and blue agave yeast extract to smooth skin and plump fine lines.

Lift Matrix 3D with red seaweed and tara fruit extract offers a tightening, lifting effect. www.biologique-recherche.com

TempleSpa launches clinically proven skin brightening, radiance boosting cleanser

Designed to balance the skin’s complexion, brighten, refresh and revive dull skin, and support a healthy microbiome, TempleSpa has introduced Easy Glowing. The daily-use cleansing gel removes the build-up of dirt and grime, and gently cleanses the skin and removes eye makeup.

Enriched with vitamins A, C and E, this melting, silky-gel cleanser transforms into an oil and then a sensorial hydrating cleansing milk.

Antioxidant, nutrient-rich oils and vitamins plus natural prebiotic sugars from dragon fruit offer radiance-boosting results. The dragon fruit extract helps to support the skin’s microbiome by feeding healthy bacteria.

Botanical extracts of blood orange, mango, tomato and broccoli – plus astaxanthin – help to leave skin with a healthy-looking glow. The aroma of sweet orange oil boosts and uplifts the mood.

Clinically tested with proven skin-brightening and radiance-boosting results, trials of the product are said to demonstrate instant results on application and continued improvement after four weeks of use.

www.templespa.com

Natura Bissé presents popular amenities in retail sizes

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the launch of Natura Bissé’s amenities in luxury hotels, the brand has introduced two products to its retail range in partnership with La Bottega.

A leader in hospitality luxury amenities, La Bottega originally created a selection of products that would recreate the sensory experience of the Natura Bissé spa treatments in luxury hotel rooms.

Marking a decade-long partnership with the renowned Italian company, Rosemary and White Tea Repairing Shampoo and Smooth Conditioner offer a unique signature scent, leaving the hair nourished, soft and shiny.

“Natura Bissé amenities are high-quality designer products that are in complete alignment with our characteristic excellence,” says Juan Albanell, chief commercial officer at Natura Bissé. “We are delighted to be making a selection of these amenities available to our clients in a retail format.” www.naturabisse.com

Tea-based rituals inspire Sothys seasonal treatments

A new seasonal treatment concept from Sothys combines chronobiology and vibrant ingredients specifically for the professional market. Featuring black tea and bergamot, the launch is a collaboration with the prestigious tea manufacturer Compagnie & Co.

Designed to revitalise, detoxify, purify and brighten, the treatments boost the skin’s defences while cocooning and nourishing the skin. A 45-minute oxygenating facial with delicate notes of black tea and bergamot includes gentle exfoliation, a mask and a relaxing massage.

A seasonal body massage offers a personalised experience, where the guest can choose their own texture from oil, cream, balm or shea butter, with the added essence of black tea and bergamot.

A retail range comprises Revitalizing Lotion with tea infusion and bergamot hydrolat, 2-in-1 Mask Exfoliant, Nourishing Body Balm and Sothys Bergamot Black Tea. www.sothys.com

Spa

TREATMENT FOCUS

Ground Wellbeing Cleansing Ritual

Designed to bring balance and harmony to the gut, Ground Wellbeing has partnered with Lime Wood hotel, UK to launch the Cleansing Ritual.

The protocol gently stimulates the circulation of energy, lymph and fresh blood to the digestive organs through a full body aromatic scrub and a back and abdominal massage. The movement is said to help bring the body’s core back to homeostasis and balance.

With castor and cardamom in the brand’s new Cleanse Abdominal Body Oil, this warming treatment relaxes and soothes the abdomen. The oil is also blended with ginger, marjoram, caraway, peppermint and fennel, ingredients renowned for calming the digestion.

Massage techniques are used to release stagnated energy and emotions from the abdominal area while acupressure points on the face and feet are worked on to further promote digestion and metabolism.

www.groundwellbeing.com

Boosted retinol a landmark for iS Clinical

The result of more than 20 years of research, iS Clinical has introduced Retinol+ Emulsion, a fast-acting keratolytic formula featuring encapsulated and bio-identical lipids, phosphatidylcholine and triglycerides.

Available in two strengths, 0.3% and 1%, the resurfacing treatment works to transform the skin, delivering impressive results with its blend of pharmaceutical-grade botanically derived ingredients.

The products use an encapsulated, stable form of retinol shea butter, which improves delivery into the skin. This works alongside bakuchiol, a retinol of botanical origin, to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

The formula is boosted with vitamins and antioxidants including ascorbic acid, a stable form of vitamin C, which provides deeper penetration. Copper tripeptide stimulates and boosts collagen production for a smooth, radiant complexion. Ectoin 2% protects against environmental aggression. It contains hyaluronic acid 4.5%, which is capable of attracting and binding many times its molecular weight in water, and is deeply hydrating.

www.isclinical.co.uk

RLX SATORI

Makeup wonders from Mii cosmetics

Mii has added three new shades to its Hydraboost Lip Lover Lipstick collection. These include Spiced, a warm medium brown; Snug, a nude pink; and Fireside, a vivid blue red.

The lipstick is formulated with hyaluronic acid to increase water retention and boost the lips’ volume for a healthy, plump appearance. The Ayurvedic herb, swertia chirata extract targets fine lines by helping to support skin cell regeneration and strengthen the fragile lip area.

Lavish Lip Shades has added three new colours to its collection for winter. Illicit is a peachy nude, Tryst is a pink raspberry with a shimmer and Taboo is a vibrant pillar box red.

The innovative lip product instantly adds full coverage colour and non-sticky shine with a weightless and hydrating lip crème and lip gloss formulation. The silky formula harnesses antioxidant rich red seaweed and nourishing hyaluronic acid to plump, protect and lock in moisture. The crème is applied with ease and has a long-lasting effect. www.miicosmetics.com

Biotechnology leads the way at Subtle Energies

Subtle Energies has introduced a range of facial products that embrace the power of cutting-edge biotechnology. Advanced processes include the use of fermentation to enhance bioavailability of the ingredients. Providing an instant effect on application, the products also work on a cellular level for long-term results.

The collection features Vegan Collagen Serum designed to mimic human collagen, providing deep hydration and acting as a natural filler solution to restore youthful elasticity and plumpness. Multi Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum is bio-fermented, allowing targeted skin absorption. Pomegranate Enzyme Mask is an advanced exfoliating product, revealing brighter, fresher skin from polyphenols including activated pomegranate enzymes and natural AHAs. Ultra Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid is a bio-fermented new generation hyaluronan that is professional-only with Subtle Energies facials.

To complement the launch of these new innovations are a combination of facials that combine these natural skin technology advances with results-driven protocols. www.subtleenergies.com.au

Your next spa project starts here.

Offering an unrivalled level of service and an exceptional selection of beautifully crafted, high-quality furniture and equipment, Ellisons will ensure your next spa project is a success.

Our Spa Partner team can help with every aspect of your project, making sure it runs smoothly, on time and to budget. With a portfolio showcasing an extensive range of high-profile spa refits, you can depend on our years’ of experience advising on new builds and refurbishments in treatment rooms and relaxation and reception areas.

Ellisons offer an impressive selection of attractive spa furniture from leading brands Gharieni, Living Earth Crafts, REM, Salon Ambience and many more. Amongst our luxurious product range, you’ll find a selection of elegant, ergonomically designed treatment couches offering bespoke options to suit every treatment need.

Please contact our dedicated Spa Partner team to discuss your options in more detail: spapartner@ellisons.co.uk

spapartner@ellisons.co.uk

+44 (0)24 7636 9114

Find out how you can add value to your next spa project by downloading our Spa Guide at www.ellisons.co.uk/spa

www.ellisons.co.uk/spa

www.ellisons.co.uk

Soothe away muscle aches and pains with Proverb’s body oils

Proverb has launched a range of organic Focus Body Oils providing targeted solutions in the treatment room.

“The guest deserves the best – bioactive treatment oils that impact the skin and the quality of your products shouldn’t be sacrificed due to price,” says Kirstie Sherriff, co-founder of Proverb.

Blended with frankincense and ginger, Performance oil provides warmth and relieves tired muscles with a treatment that combines body stretching, re-conditioning massage, and alignment to improve flexibility and wellbeing.

Sweet orange, bergamot, ylang ylang and patchouli in the Longevity oil helps to calm and relax with a full body massage that focuses on upper body recovery, neck, head, jaw tension and tight shoulders.

Rose, rose geranium and palmarosa in the Recovery oil help promote sleep with a body massage to calm the nervous system.

Blended with wild mint, eucalyptus, geranium and lavender, Defence body oil strengthens body and mind focusing on the lymphatic system to boost immunity. www.proverbskin.com

Skeyndor’s accelerated regeneration peels support the skin microbiome

An innovative range of chemical peels from Skeyndor has been designed to accelerate skin cell regeneration while restoring the skin microbiome.

Comprising five highly effective peels, formulated with a specific combination of acids that adapt to every need and skin type, the Probiome Peel collection is a personalised, advanced and easy-to-apply treatment. The collection includes Hydra Soothing, Ultra Illuminating, Advanced Lightening, Pore Polishing and Age Smoothing peels.

Chemical peels leave the skin exposed and vulnerable. To counteract this effect, the Probiome Peel treatment is complemented by acids that contain an innovative multibiotic complex to restore the skin’s balance.

The Multibiotic Restoring Complex acts on the microbiome with a restorative effect from the first application, providing comfort and protection to the skin. A new complex with three hyaluronic acids, it contains prebiotics and postbiotics with probiotic activity that help to stimulate the skin’s natural internal and external defence mechanisms. www.skeyndor.uk

PIGMENT

CORRECTS

Truly

Clinically proven results

Effective on all types of dark spots

REDUCES

Defy the future of your skin

We look at how medical-led skincare brand myBlend achieves its uncompromising aims of efficacy, results and an ultra-personalised approach

Created in 2022 by Dr Olivier Courtin – a former surgeon, the managing director of Clarins Group Laboraties and son of the brand’s founder – myBlend offers high-performance personalised skincare, cutting-edge beauty tech and a high-touch experience.

Providing a bespoke skincare solution to meet modern consumers’ high expectations, myBlend’s products help the skin to regenerate, repair its own cells and reach its full potential.

Dr Courtin gathered a team of dermatologists, laser-therapy specialists, facialists and nutritionists to work alongside Clarins Laboratories to develop truly effective products and beauty rituals.

The brand’s products are a highly concentrated and uncompromising synergy of food supplements, cosmetic skincare and tech. They include dermatological molecules and natural super-ingredients in the highest concentrations tolerated by the skin to ensure maximum effectiveness while respecting the skin’s microbiota.

Efficacy without compromise

myBlend’s high-end skincare formulas and authentic treatments have visible results. The brand focuses on efficacy without ever compromising on the

myBlend’s partners

• Four Seasons Mauritius and Seychelles

• St. Regis in Florence, Italy

• Ritz-Carlton Toronto, Canada

• Le Royal Monceau, Raffles Paris, France

• Le Strato, Courchevel, France

sensuality of its products. Its skincare concept is combined with leading-edge technology to deliver both immediate and long-lasting results using the Cell-Synergy device and LED mask.

The LED mask emits non-invasive therapeutic light, triggering a remarkable cellular response. Cell-Synergy enables therapists to perform results-driven, painless facial procedures powered by radio-frequency, electrostimulation, thermo-aesthetics and electroporation.

A philosophy suited to spas

From the start, myBlend has been unwavering in its commitment to exceptional standards, and its treatments are crafted by a team of experts in the field of skincare.

“My goal is to offer the most effective, virtuous, and respectful solution to achieve wellbeing and visibly transformed skin quality safely.”

Dr Olivier Courtin

The brand provides a range of professional made-to-measure spa experiences that combine highly concentrated formulas with expert touch to lift guests’ skin.

A business-oriented luxe brand, myBlend offers high-quality support to every one of its spa partners. From in-depth training to comprehensive 360-degree marketing, PR support and retail strategies, the company is mapping the path for the future of beauty.

BE INFORMED...

To find out more about incorporating myBlend into your spa offering, visit www.my-blend.com

Teresa O’Farrell, Dorchester Collection

Dare to be different

Teresa O’Farrell, Dorchester Collection’s global head of wellness and spa, explores how to develop your spa facilities for the best business results

Before embarking on a major spa redevelopment or refurbishment project, it is important to take a step back and consider your overall goals. It’s critical to reflect upon your existing spa facility, services and operations. Only then can you determine your redevelopment strategy.

Teresa O’Farrell

EXPERT CONTRIBUTOR

Global head of wellness and spa at the Dorchester Collection and spa director of Coworth Park Spa, Teresa O’Farrell has more than 25 years of industry knowledge. Now tasked with developing the Dorchester Collection’s global wellness initiatives across its nine properties globally, she previously worked at Sequoia Spa at the Grove, Luton Hoo and Cottonmill Spa at Sopwell House in Hertfordshire. www.dorchestercollection.com

First you need to understand the target market for your spa; identify your potential customers and their spa and wellness service preferences. Next, consider what opportunities are available for maximising income from your existing and additional services.

Moving on to the physical aspects of your current facility – the space within it, the environment around it – ask yourself, what is the potential for adapting or modifying this to make it more efficient and maximise any new and additional service offerings? In addition, how can the guest journey through your spa operations, facilities and services be enhanced through redevelopment and/or refurbishment.

By doing all of this, it will become clear that there is much more to consider if you’re to avoid ‘change for change sake’.

Differentiating your spa and wellness offering

It is critical to determine and document your spa’s unique selling points by considering what you offer that makes you stand out from other spas. What specific experiences and services do you currently – and can you – provide to encourage potential customers to choose you above other spas?

Researching your demographics to identify target customers and their preferences is extremely important.

Consider the location of your spa; take into account the physical space and its surroundings. For example, is your spa located within the grounds of a country estate with nature on its doorstep? Are you in a city/urban area or is your spa by the sea? You may wish to incorporate elements that connect your spa with your environment. Avoid the temptation to recreate what a competitor has done within their spa. What someone else is doing successfully may not be right for your business or guests. Their success isn’t necessarily going to be yours.

Optimising design and layout

The design and layout of any spa and wellness facility can have a huge impact on the services you can offer. It’s important to assess if you’re efficiently utilising the existing space you have available, then decide how you will leverage any new space to maximise your offering. It’s also vital to consider the associated new revenues – new spa equipment or facilities should come with the opportunity to generate additional income.

When determining any changes to your layout, ensure it facilitates employee efficiency. Well-organised and logical layouts, with easily accessible resources, can help employees work more effectively, reducing frustrations and stress, and providing a more positive impact on their job satisfaction and wellbeing.

Keeping the guest journey front and centre of decision-making

With any redevelopment, the guest journey is a priority – this is the heart and soul of the property – as well as the operational requirements

How to prepare for success

amenities that will delight them. Keep a good stock of different sized robes and slippers and communicate this information to them.

to maintain high standards in the servicing of the area. Your goal should be to create a seamless and immersive consumer experience that embraces your guest journey from start to finish. Your concept should be consistent from reception to the treatment rooms, wet areas and relaxation zones.

Redevelopment considerations

First impressions count Create an inviting tone with a warm welcome. Consider the ambience, including music, fragrance, lighting and comfortable seating. Create that ‘shoulder-drop’ moment from the start.

Create a perfect fit Changing rooms should be equipped with all the essential items guests will need for their visit as well as some extra

Put comfort first Treatment room design should focus on functional requirements, tranquillity and privacy. Many spas now use soundproofing materials to reduce noise disturbance. Ensure your lighting, temperature control and music options suit the guest’s preference. When it comes to refreshment, think about your guest’s comfort while dining in spa robes.

Excellence in hydro-thermals Wet areas should integrate facilities that enhance the overall guest experience. Consider the ergonomics of your available space to create the ultimate in comfort.

Create a good flow Create a smooth natural flow for guests, avoiding long walks between different facilities,

n Back up information Do your research so you have conviction that what you offer and how it is delivered will boost your revenue and achieve success

n Market intelligence Read the market and assess your opportunities before deciding how your business will change and grow

n Set your intentions Have a clear strategy that you can stick to

n Put guests first Refurbishments must always consider the guest journey; it’s the heart and soul of your property and key to making the spa operationally fit

minimising the risk of crowded, bottleneck areas.

Maximise your tech Spa technology can enhance the guest experience by customising your online booking criteria to enable you to obtain key information about your guest in order to offer a bespoke experience.

Business Insight

Teresa O’Farrell, Dorchester Collection

Above: the Spa at Coworth Park blends sympathetic design with inviting interiors to enhance the guest journey

Resurfaced and renewed

Dermalogica presents its new LuminFusion advanced skin treatment for radiance and luminosity

Dermalogica’s latest advanced treatment, LuminFusion, brings luminosity to a whole new level. This 60-minute skin treatment combines a targeted retinol peel to resurface and renew; nano infusion technology to infuse active ingredients; and LED red light therapy to diminish signs of ageing. It delivers unparalleled skin luminosity with no downtime.

How LuminFusion works

An initial double cleanse to remove makeup and oils is followed by a peel packed with retinol, salicylic and lactic acid. A skin therapist performs nano infusion over the peel, supporting ingredient penetration and amplifying skin resurfacing. For further exfoliation, the peel is removed with an application of the brand’s Daily Microfoliant, revealing visibly brighter skin only halfway through the treatment.

The client is then prepped for LED red light therapy to support the skin’s repair process, helping to smooth its texture and reduce the appearance of fine lines. Dermalogica’s professional grade Light Energy Masque is applied to work synergistically with LED and amplify treatment results. Finally, the masque is removed, instantly revealing smoother, more radiant, glass-like skin.

A highly personalised approach

Dermalogica’s Pro Pen, a unique two-in-one pen for microneedling and nano infusion, is incorporated into LuminFusion. Along with professional exfoliants and masques, the LuminFusion treatment helps clients achieve their healthiest skin in partnership with their skin therapist.

“Clients are demanding more from their skin treatments, but don’t want to settle for lengthy recovery time,” says Dermalogica’s education director,

Angela Taylor. “LuminFusion combines our highly personalised approach to skin treatment with the most advanced techniques to effectively treat clients’ most serious skin concerns.”

In addition to expert skill and technique, innovation, science and tech are key to delivering skin health, as more consumers seek out advanced treatments and products that deliver clinical results.

Over the last five years, Dermalogica has evolved its service protocols with the introduction of PRO Power Peel, PRO microneedling and PRO nano infusion treatments.

BE INFORMED...

To find out what Dermalogica’s professional-only treatments can add to your spa business, visit pro.dermalogica.co.uk/luminfusion

introducing

luminfusion

This NEW supercharged skin treatment delivers instant glow with no downtime.

resurface | infuse | renew

before after*

*Subject received a total of 3 LuminFusion services all over face, spaced 2 weeks apart. Before image taken before 1st service. After image taken after 3rd service.

scan to join the no.1 choice of skin therapists worldwide

Spa Spotlight Lanserhof Sylt, Germany

The future of medical wellness

We speak to the team at Lanserhof Sylt about this exclusive health destination and how they are redefining preventative health provision

REPORT BY MARK SMITH

Situated on a remote Frisian Island in northern Germany, Lanserhof Sylt is a unique medical wellness destination. Since it launched in 2022, the property has raised the bar for preventive health programming in a destination resort setting. Where Lanserhof leads, others follow, and luxury wellness travellers from over 40 countries come for its blend of holistic healing with cutting-edge science.

The €120m (£103m) resort, designed by architect Christoph Ingenhoven with landscaping by Enzo Enea, offers stunning views of the Wadden Sea and sand dunes on this beautiful, remote island. Known as the Hamptons of Germany, Sylt has some of the most expensive real estate in the world, a natural home for Lanserhof’s latest health resort.

“We set out to create a luxurious atmosphere with a focus on the experience of nature,” says Ingenhoven. “As far as I know there’s no hotel in the world that offers such a generous space per guest and such wonderful hideaways.”

A cure in itself

Drawing on the aesthetics of local architecture, the building has Europe’s largest thatched roof, which seamlessly blends into the landscape with its curved lines. The 54 guest rooms and suites within are spacious, designed in neutral tones and offer guests incredible views of the water or dunes.

The property is home to a high-tech medical wing, a therapy suite offering complementary treatments, a gym, yoga studio and spa with indoor/outdoor pool, two saunas, steam room and relaxation area.

“Sylt is the first Lanserhof location that brings healing in itself,” says Christian Harisch, CEO of Lanserhof. “The air and

stimulating climate of the island has many medical benefits, for inflammation, allergies, respiratory problems and also cardiovascular diseases.”

A diverse appeal

The average programme lasts from seven to ten days with many guests coming for two or three weeks, sometimes more. Guests come from the US, UK, Germany and Switzerland with some from as far afield as the Middle East and Australia.

Expect to see a mix of CEO’s and investment bankers, the odd celebrity and high net-worth individuals looking to improve their overall health and wellbeing. Some come to resolve health issues around burnout, some with specific medical concerns, others with digestive issues. Preventative medicine is the core theme, and this is the main driver for most guests joining the cure.

“The guest profile at our Sylt location is quite similar to that of our other properties, says Nils Behrens, CMO, Lanserhof Group. “We attract a very international clientele, with guests hailing from over 40 different nations. One notable difference is that the average age of our guests at Sylt tends to be slightly younger compared to Lans [in Austria].”

A unified experience

Guests arriving at the property descend into an underground entrance that creates a sense of anticipation. At the lower ground floor, an iconic free-standing circular staircase first appears – it was designed to connect all levels of the property, from the main reception and restaurant to the medical wing and therapy suite. The reception area is open and airy with large sofas and soft furnishings all looking out to the landscape and sea beyond.

Light blonde wooden flooring and timber panels lead from the reception to the restaurant and down into the spa area on the lower level. The restaurant has an open kitchen and high tables for casual dining, as well as cosy tables for one and two.

On the ground floor there is a lounge with a fireplace and seating, where singers, solo pianists and harpists play weekly. A choice was made not to include any art in the property. “There are no pictures on the walls here,” explains Harisch. “At Lanserhof Sylt, nature and personality are art

Spa Spotlight Lanserhof Sylt, Germany

Clockwise from right: high-tech treatments in the medical centre; physiotherapy helps realign guests; a gym class in the Sylt surroundings

The future of medical wellness

Nils Behrens, chief marketing officer and managing director of Lanserhof Group, discusses the transformation of wellness demand

“As experts in holistic medicine, sustainable regeneration, and prevention, we believe at Lanserhof that the medical wellness market is on the cusp of significant transformation.

“The growing awareness around mental health, longevity and preventative care is driving a shift from reactive to proactive wellness approaches.

“Technology will play an increasingly pivotal role, with advancements in diagnostics, telemedicine, and personalised treatments becoming more integrated into wellness programmes.

“Moreover, the market is becoming increasingly globalised, as evidenced by our own diverse clientele from over 40 nations.

“As the lines between traditional healthcare and wellness blur, we anticipate a more holistic, patient-centric model that combines the best of modern medicine with natural healing practices.”

“We attract a very international clientele, with guests hailing from over 40 different nations. One notable difference is that the average age of our guests at Sylt tends to be slightly younger compared to Lans.”

CMO, Lanserhof Group

Below: professional advice is available to ensure guests make the most of their Lanserhof programme enough. The entire main house is characterised by curved lines – much like you’d find in the dunes and the North Sea waves that you can see from most of our rooms.”

The design palette in the medical wing of the building references its clinical nature with white walls and floors, a modern blue sofa and beautiful floral displays. The therapy suite on a lower level follows a similar design theme – all clean lines, white walls and large corridors connecting each of the treatment rooms.

Lanserhof is renowned for its medical wellness programmes and Lanserhof Sylt is the culmination of nearly 40 years’ practise in this field. General manager Dorit von der Osten, who was the pre-opening manager for the group’s second property, Lanserhof Tegernsee, was given the reins for the new project and continues to run day-to-day operations. On board for the pre-opening, she worked with the architects, chose the equipment and the team, and has curated a world-class facility on the island.

“Everything I have ever wished for in medical care is available at Lanserhof: the combination of naturopathy and cutting-edge medicine at the very highest standard.”

Dr Jan Stritzke Medical director and cardiologist

“There’s nothing which is comparable to Lanserhof Sylt,” says von der Osten. “There are so many wellness and health resorts opening up, but there’s not the strictness and the knowledge that we have here. And we offer a 360-degree package with the Lanserhof Cure at the centre of everything.”

From Lanserhof Cure to Energy Cuisine

The Lanserhof Concept promotes and improves health in a preventive and therapeutically sustainable way. It combines modern cutting-edge medicine and

Lanserhof Energy Cuisine: ‘the sky is the limit’

Food is a fundamental part of the Lanserhof Cure, from daily broth to slow-cooked dishes

Dietmar Priewe is a renowned, award-winning chef who has worked at a Michelin star restaurant in Berlin and, before joining Lanserhof, was part of the team at Sylt’s famous restaurant, Sansibar, for many years.

Following an accident and his discovery of more healthy eating, he lost weight and now runs marathons and exercises daily. He also follows the Lanserhof Cure concept, regularly fasting and eating a diet that is full of vegetables, with a little quality meat and low in sugar.

Priewe has embraced the Lanserhof Energy Cuisine concept and prepares all meals based on seasonal produce sourced within a 100km radius. Some elements on the menu are sourced from the island, including the local beef and some cheeses.

His passion for nourishing, tasty, organic food is infectious. “I’m excited to be working with Lanserhof Sylt’s nutritionist, Salla Schmilewski,” says Priewe. “We both dream of a healthy world and food for the future.

“We look at where we can source the best proteins, oils and overall nutrition, to make the highest quality foods. The sky is the limit on what we can do and there are no boundaries.”

Guests on the fasting plan look forward to the daily slow-cooked vegetable broth. As they progress up the various levels of the programme they can enjoy fish from the Baltic Sea and local beef cooked to perfection. They will also find local goat and sheep cheeses, and each portion of food, no matter how small, is delicious.

The variety of spelt and buckwheat bread and toast employed for the chew training adds variety and texture to the offering.

Using his unique slow cooking techniques, usually at low temperatures, each vegetable becomes a star in its own right. “Eat slowly and chew,” he says. “Take time to eat, put your fork and knife down and eat slowly so as to savour the flavours.”

“There’s nothing which is comparable to Lanserhof Sylt. There’s not the knowledge we have here. We offer a 360-degree package with the Lanserhof Cure at the centre of everything.”

Dorit von der Osten General manager

diagnostics, naturopathy, nutritional and fasting therapy, and is known as the Lanserhof Cure.

Wellness: one chew at a time

Dr Andreas Michalsen, scientific advisor to Lanserhof Clinics, explains chew training

Based on the Mayr Method first developed by Dr F.X. Mayr over a century ago, fasting is the core element, designed to rest the gut and promote regeneration and autophagy, a process that recycles old and damaged cells to create new ones, discarding waste products. During this process, daily evacuation of the bowels is recommended with Bitter Drops, a blend of Epsom Salts and water. Abdominal therapy is also employed to regenerate the system. From the pure fasting level of tea and broth, guests are reintroduced to food through a series of specially designed levels in the programme. Averaging around 800 calories per day, guests are instructed in ‘chew training’ (see box) which encourages them to chew their food 30-40 times per mouthful. This process ensures the proper digestion of food, further resting the gut.

“The Lanserhof Fasting Cure is based on one of our therapeutic principles – chewing training. Good chewing is an elementary part of a healthy digestion.

“In the mouth, food is crushed by chewing and salivating. The body uses up to 1.5 litres of saliva a day, which is supplied from the salivary glands in the oral cavity. Through thorough chewing and good saliva, the intestine digests efficiently, so it can regenerate better.

“In the Lanserhof Fasting Cure, ‘chewing trainers’ are used to learn how to chew well again. For this purpose, special bread and crackers are served, which are hard to chew.

“When fasting with chewing training, each bite of bread should be chewed 30 to 40 times. Chewing training also promotes satiety and supports weight normalisation in overweight patients.

“Since chewing and talking are not easy to combine, it should be as quiet as possible in the dining room, because real food is an essential part of our therapy.”

Lanserhof’s alkalising Energy Cuisine diet is created by head chef Dietmar Priewe with nutritionist Salla Schmilewski. Primarily plant-based, seasonal, locally sourced food features a small selection of quality meat and fish, all expertly crafted to ensure guests have the right amount of protein in their diet – and food that is easily digestible.

As well as resting the gut and promoting cell detoxification and renewal, the food programme boosts the gut microbiome, metabolism, energy levels and overall health. Addressing chronic life-style conditions, it can also benefit heart and vascular disease, obesity, allergies, inflammation, skin diseases, sleep and chronic pain.

Doctor-led programming

Guests see their appointed doctor on the first day of their stay, with repeat check-ups scheduled throughout their stay. Following a full-body MOT – which can include MRI and CT scans, ECG tests, metabolic testing, blood pressure, heart rate variability and a full blood analysis – guests are given a highly tailored series of therapies. This combines

Spa Spotlight Lanserhof Sylt, Germany

Above: Lanserhof’s philosophy aims to rest the body, helping the gut to detox and renew

DEFINING SPA. SINCE 1928.

As a global manufacturer of premium saunas and spa solutions, we know what it takes to become a talking point: out standing comfort and uncompromising quality. To bring each customer’s unique vision to life we select only the finest materials and craft them with passion and painstaking care. Let us inspire you and help you offer your guests a one-of-a-kind spa experience.

Courtesy of Faena Hotel, Miami Beach. Photographer Nik Koenig, USA

KOKON Corporate Campus, Liechtenstein

Eden Roc, Switzerland

Right from top: neutral interior tones allow guests to enjoy views of the island; Lanserhof aims to leave guests reinvigorated; the spa has first-rate thermal facilities

anything from psychotherapy, cryotherapy and IV infusions to fitness, massage, haypacks and chrono baths. Other specialities on offer include naturopathy, energy medicine, psychology, psycho-neuroimmunology, chronomedicine and modern medicine.

Lanserhof Sylt has become a blueprint for further development with the group recently announcing the launch of Lanserhof Spain in Marbella in 2026.

“Everything I have ever wished for in medical care is available at Lanserhof: the combination of naturopathy and cutting-edge medicine at the very highest standard," says Dr Jan Stritzke, medical director and cardiologist at Lanserhof Sylt. “This symbiosis offers our patients the best possible treatment and ill-health prevention. We also have excellent specialists in the field of dermatology and respiratory diseases. But the greatest benefit for me remains the Lanserhof Concept with the Lanserhof Cure.”

SPA STATISTICS

Lanserhof Sylt

www.lanserhof.com/de/lanserhof-sylt/

CEO, Lanserhof Group Christian Harisch

CMO, Lanserhof Group Nils Behrens

General manager Dorit von der Osten Medical director Dr Jan Stritzke

Nutritionist Salla Schmilewski

Architect and designer Christoph

Ingenhoven, Ingenhoven Architects

Landscape architect Enzo Enea, Enea Landscape Architecture

Spa size 5,000sqm

Treatment and consultation rooms 40

Staff Hotel, 65; Medicine, 50

Spa suppliers BWT Pool & Water Technology, hsb Germany, MECOTEC, KLAFS, KONE, Elin Product houses Lanserhof Lab Skincare, Augustinus Bader, Davines, MBR: Medical Beauty Research, Skinceuticals, Pharmos Natur, Ebenholz SKincare, Prof. Dr Steinkraus, [comfort zone]

Spa Spotlight Lanserhof Sylt, Germany

WE CREATE THE OPTIMAL CONDITIONS FOR YOUR SKIN TO FUNCTION +THRIVE.

BIO-ADVANCED, CLINICALLY PROVEN FORMULAS WHICH WORK IN HARMONY WITH THE SKIN.

OUR FACE + BODY TREATMENTS USE A COMBINATION OF ADVANCED TECHNIQUES FOR INSTANT SCULPTING + REJUVENATED RESULTS.

Rosewood Munich, Germany

Bamford Wellness Spa, 1 Hotel Mayfair, UK

Castelfi Spa, Italy

Dior Spa, Hôtel Plaza Athénée, France

Five spas to watch

European Spa highlights five leading new properties that are delivering world-class spa experiences in Europe

REPORT BY WENDY GOLLEDGE

Spa investment has continued apace during 2023, reflecting the growing popularity of wellness in all forms. As the investment pipeline in projects across the globe continues to grow, European Spa highlights five exceptional new projects that have pushed boundaries to offer guests innovations in architecture, design, thermal journeys and treatment techniques.

In the UK, we visit 1 Hotel Mayfair, which offers a natural retreat in the heart of the capital. We also explore Center Parcs Elveden Forest, where Aqua Sana has invested £6.5m (€7.5m) in its newly redeveloped Forest Spa, with five zones curated to improve guests’ mental and physical wellbeing, including sights, sounds and scents from nature.

In Tuscany, we shine a spotlight on Castelfalfi Spa, the first European outpost for the renowned Thai integrative wellness retreat, RAKxa Wellness Spa. In Paris we explore the sleek new Dior Spa at Dorchester Collection’s Hôtel Plaza Athénée – a 4,300sqm holistic sanctuary on the prestigious l’avenue Montaigne offering cutting-edge Dior treatments. We also head to Munich, where Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has opened Asaya Spa, an cohesive wellness destination in Bavaria.

Bold investments are set to continue into 2024, with Six Senses due to open a multi-million pound project in London as well as the world’s first carbon-positive resort in Norway, and the highly anticipated Mandarin Oriental Mayfair expected to open in London’s iconic Hanover Square. Please enjoy our pick of the best new spas in Europe.

Aqua Sana at Center Parcs Elveden Forest

Castelfalfi Spa, Italy

Afive-star retreat in the heart of Tuscany, Castelfalfi Spa has undergone extensive renovations totalling €4.5m (£3.9m). The new 1,590sqm spa is the vision of Affine Design. It offers seven treatment rooms including a couple’s suite, two saunas, a steam room, a relaxation area and an indoor/outdoor heated infinity pool with views over the 2,700-acre estate’s rolling hills.

An exclusive collaboration with RAKxa Wellness Spa, Castelfalfi is the first European outpost for the renowned Thai integrative wellness retreat. Upholding RAKxa’s underlying principles of conserving, guarding, cherishing and healing, Castelfalfi Spa adds a rebalancing element to the traditional spa experience.

Its treatment menu includes three RAKxa Wellness Spa rituals: RAKxa Good Night Sleep,

BEST FOR THAI-INSPIRED WELLNESS

RAKxa Tension Release and Seven Chakra Hot Stone massage. There are also one-day, plus one and two-night RAKxa Wellness retreats on offer, including Calm and Restful, and Active Recovery, in which all Thai signature rituals are carried out by two taskforces who have come from the RAKxa Wellness Spa in Thailand.

A celebration of beauty

In addition to anti-stress, revitalising, toning, relaxing and draining massages, treatments carried out by a team of five spa therapists include bespoke facials, aromatherapy wraps, Himalayan salt massages and exfoliation with Jojoba pearls.

“The new spa reflects our commitment to

providing an exceptional experience for guests while celebrating the natural beauty and culture of Tuscany, as well as the true essence of Italian relaxation,” says general manager Roberto Protezione.

The Castelfalfi estate is an ancient settlement of Etruscan origin, owned by the Lohia family. In 2023, the estate underwent a multi-million euro renovation to elevate its facilities and offer a blend of modern comfort and rich cultural heritage, including new public spaces, guest rooms and suites, and the debut of restaurant Olivina.

The Lohia’s have already announced plans for further investment into a new treatment area during 2024.

BEHIND THE PROJECT

Castelfalfi Spa

www.castelfalfi.com

Spa Size 1,590sqm

Product partners ESPA, Maria Galland

Spa suppliers Hofer, Bici, Paola Lenti, Nilo, Lemi, Technogym, PENT, Balneo spa, Lavanderia Senese

BEST FOR CIRCADIAN THERAPY

Dior Spa, Hôtel Plaza Athénée, France

The Dorchester Collection’s Hôtel Plaza Athénée unveiled its transformed Dior Spa in September. Positioned as the ultimate space for Parisian wellbeing, the spa has been redesigned to become a 4,300sqm holistic sanctuary.

Located on the prestigious avenue Montaigne, it offers cutting-edge Dior treatments in five treatment rooms, as well as a sauna, hammam and relaxation area. A first for Paris is the Dior Light Suite, which offers light therapy to synchronise circadian and chronobiological rhythms. Three tailor-made rituals use different light intensities to help realign guests’ biological clocks, alleviate stress and revitalise energy.

“We’ve fused expert techniques and technologies to craft innovative rituals and offer the latest advancements in the realm of wellbeing,” says spa manager Florence Bournoville.

The treatment menu includes four three-hour rituals designed to address specific guest needs, including Dior D-Tox Therapy, Dior D-Stress Therapy, Dior D-Vibe Therapy and Dior D-Fit Therapy. A Technogym equipped gym offers classes including yoga, Pilates and meditation.

BEHIND THE PROJECT

Dior Spa Plaza Athénée

www.dorchestercollection.com/fr/paris/ hotel-plaza-athenee/bien-etre

Spa size 4,300sqm

Product partners Dior

Spa suppliers Gharieni, Technogym, SpaSoft, Clairazur

BEST FOR AN URBAN CLEANSE

Bamford Wellness Spa, 1 Hotel Mayfair, UK

BEHIND THE PROJECT

Bamford Wellness Spa www.bamford.com

Spa size 250sqm

Product partners

Bamford Body and Skincare

Spa suppliers Oakworks, Technogym, Book4time

Sustainable luxury hotel, 1 Hotel Mayfair, London, revealed its 250sqm Bamford Wellness Spa in September 2023, designed by GA Group in partnership with the SH Hotels & Resorts’ internal design team. The spa has three treatment rooms, a relaxation area, retail space and the Field House gym.

A fitness facility offers Technogym equipment and one-to-one and group training sessions, including Meroula Method yoga and breathwork sessions.

“Our aim is to establish an environment where guests feel indulged and successfully attain their wellness objectives through our tailor-made experiences,” says spa manager Markela Demiri.

Holistic offerings include a signature treatment that begins with a Palo Santo ceremony and a breathing meditation to ground the body and cleanse energies, followed by massage techniques including Japanese shiatsu and Chinese meridian stimulations.

“1 Hotel Mayfair has succeeded in bringing a calming retreat full of natural textures and living green design to the heart of one of the city’s most bustling, urban areas,” says brand founder Carole Bamford OBE.

We create inspiring, innovative multi award-winning Spa, Hotel and Wellness spaces. Our expert space-planning and attention to detail ensures our designs are truely bespoke, unique & experience led.

SOUTH LODGE SPA

SOUTH LODGE SPA WINNER OF AA SPA HOTEL OF THE YEAR

SOPWELL COTTONMILL SPA

BEST FOR A SENSE OF

Asaya Spa, Rosewood Munich, Germany

The first German property for Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Rosewood Munich opened in Bavaria with the 1,300sqm Asaya Spa, designed by city-based architectural firm Hilmer Sattler with interior design by Tara Bernerd & Partners.

An integrative wellness destination housed in the former headquarters of the State Bank of Bavaria, Asaya Spa extends across two floors with facilities including a vitality indoor pool, two saunas, a steam room, six treatment rooms and a wellness suite for private spa experiences. A 24-hour Technogym-equipped fitness centre completes the offer.

“We are eager to welcome guests to Rosewood Munich,” says Roland Duerr, managing director of Rosewood Munich, where spa memberships have been made available for local residents and visiting guests, who are not staying at the hotel, are able to use the facilities.

“Our sublime setting, within these two magnificent buildings situated in the centre of the city, provides the perfect canvas for Rosewood’s guiding A Sense of Place philosophy,” Duerr continues. “We look forward to contributing to the rich culture and hospitality of this vibrant community and creating unforgettable memories for our visitors from near and far.”

BEHIND THE PROJECT

Asaya Spa

www.rosewoodhotels.com/munich

Spa size 1,300 sqm

Product partners OTO, Ground Wellbeing, Dr. Barbara Sturm, EviDenS De Beauté Spa suppliers Berndorf Bäderbau, KLAFS, Tara Bernerd & Partners, Dress Best, Rivolta Carmignani, Lemi, Technogym. Peloton, Book4Time

BEST FOR GETTING BACK TO NATURE

Aqua Sana, Center Parcs Elveden Forest, UK

In Suffolk, Center Parcs UK has invested £6.5m (€7.5m) in the transformation of Aqua Sana Elveden Forest into a multi-sensory forest escape. The biggest refurbishment in the spa brand’s history has led to the creation of 25 experiences, each designed to harness the proven benefits of forest bathing. Facilities range from steam rooms and saunas to a heated outdoor pool, an ice cave and relaxation rooms.

Located over two floors, wellness designers at SparcStudio have created three new experiences that are exclusive to Aqua Sana Elveden Forest. The Nest is a unique sauna experience that reflects the forest canopy. Guests can recline on a body-contoured lounger and look out at the

BEHIND THE PROJECT

Aqua Sana Elveden Forest www.aquasana.co.uk

Spa size 3,000sqm

Product partners Elemis, Decléor Spa suppliers Cocksedge/ABS, Spa 4, Porcelanosa, Sett Connections, RedKite/Sysco Productions, Airwave, Bright Green

natural woodland. Inspired by Ashiyu Japanese foot baths, Sole Therapy includes free-flowing water to stimulate reflex zones on the feet. Forest View is an immersive meditation experience in which guests observe a scene slowly transitioning through all four seasons of the year, while surrounded by aromatic scents of the woodlands.

Investing in wellness

“Having joined Center Parcs earlier this year, it’s been a privilege to be involved in such an amazing project,” says director of spa, Stuart Angus. “The level of investment demonstrates how important and integral Aqua Sana is to Center Parcs.

“The spa now boasts 25 natural experiences,

complementing our treatment and retail offering.

“We see this as the next evolution of our Forest Spa concept across the villages and part of our ongoing commitment to continually develop and ensure we’re providing the best experiences for our guests.”

The spa is split across five zones – Nordic Forest, Hot Springs, Volcanic Forest, Forest Immersion and Treetop Nesting. Each is designed to improve guests’ mental and physical wellbeing with sights, sounds and scents from nature.

There are 19 luxurious treatment rooms, a pre-treatment lounge and a post-treatment relaxation area, as well as exclusive Spa Suites for overnight breaks. The Vitalé Café Bar has also received a £1.2m investment for a complete redesign.

Don’t get burned by burnout

Peigin Crowley, founder of Ground Wellbeing, offers her unique insight on burnout and how to avoid it

Of all the departments in a hotel, the spa is a truly unique one. It is made up of human beings who are empaths by nature – people who work with and feel energy on a deep level. Ironically, it is also the area of hospitality most prone to burnout.

Peigin Crowley

Peigin Crowley is the founder of Ground Wellbeing, a collection of 100% vegan, natural products that promote ritualised self-care. She also co-founded the Irish Spa Association, which advocates on behalf of spa businesses in Ireland and organises education and networking events for members. Peigin is a renowned spa consultant who has worked with Adare Manor in Ireland, Radisson Blu Royal Hotel and The Merrion Hotel in Dublin and Seaham Hall in the UK. www.groundwellbeing.com

The job of the spa manager is to look after their team – to energise and motivate – but also to be grateful to them because the work they do is humbling and heartfelt. It takes sincere energy and commitment from each therapist to deliver and exceed expectations for every one of the guests they lay their hands on.

It is a huge responsibility when someone entrusts you with their body; when they rely on you to help them with the stress and worry they are physically and emotionally carrying.

Spa managers need to work confidently and empathically with their team as well as having the skills to use spreadsheets, manage inventory and oversee day to day operations. The reality is that we must still function as a business and this comes with its own set of challenges.

Therefore it is vital to understand the position that spa managers can find themselves in – they must not only encourage wellbeing for their team, but also practise it themselves, understanding and recognising its value before burnout hits.

What is burnout?

Burnout is a deep fatigue; an overdraft where energy is in deficit, physically, mentally and emotionally. People

automatically blame work, which is understandable, but while it may be a contributing factor, it is not always the main cause or trigger. We need to learn to understand our mental and emotional energy and what’s draining it. Physical energy can be regained with improvements to sleep and nutrition, but mental and emotional energy is harder to replenish.

While sources of burnout vary from person to person they generally range from family pressures and relationships to money and finance, body image and expectations placed upon us. Some people may worry about the future or feel stuck in the past.

How to spot it?

Suffering from burnout means you are in a fight-or-flight state all the time and your body is on constant high alert. This impacts your life because when

EXPERT

you are in this state you are irritable, you feel sad and hopeless, sluggish and tired. You feel less like yourself. This state of being has a knock-on effect on everything going on in your life. It will often leave you feeling unable to work properly or to be there to support family, friends and colleagues. It is when we cease looking after ourselves.

How to address it?

In a spa setting it is important to acknowledge burnout both as an individual and as a team. A good exercise for everyone is to have a team building conversation on the subject. This allows participants to acknowledge the differences they notice within themselves when they are feeling healthy versus when they are feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Tapping into these feelings and sensations in

our body allows us to recognise them with greater ease going forward.

To begin to treat burnout is firstly about understanding the triggers for it in ourselves. Reaching out to those we trust, whether that be our manager, a colleague or a loved one, and talking about how we feel, is key. Seeking the professional help of a counsellor can also help us to begin learning how to sincerely look after ourselves.

Spa teams are generally made up of people who naturally give more to others than they do to themselves, which is often part of what leads to burnout in the first place. We must learn to recognise that trait in ourselves and in our teams. In doing so we can encourage each other to give back to ourselves.

Boundaries are essential, of course – I truly believe that. But we must look for our triggers, and then consider how to recover and reverse the effects of the burnout on our wellbeing.

Top tips to avoid burnout for spa managers and therapists

n GET THE BASICS RIGHT

Build a solid foundation of health, including breathwork, aromatherapy and movement as well as the various types of rest that we each need.

n PHYSICALITY We are what we absorb – the food we eat is important but so too is the state we are in when we are eating. Eating mindfully allows for better absorption of the nutrients we are consuming. Movement, especially time in nature is also invaluable.

n MENTALITY Declutter your mind through journaling and counselling. Learn to delegate and refocus

on what is important. Put ‘being’ on the to do list. Enjoy creative hobbies that allow you to connect with yourself. It’s also helpful to switch off digital devices.

n EMOTION The most valuable currency when recovering from burnout lies in replenishing our emotional energy. Saying ‘no’ is possibly the most important thing we need to practise

n NURTURE THE SOUL Be mindful of how you speak to yourself. By switching off from giving to others to give to yourself, you can begin to replenish your emotional energy and build up a reserve.

WellnessTrends

EUROPEAN SPA SPOTLIGHTS THE LATEST GLOBAL TRENDS AND TREATMENTS

Edited by Mark Smith

Welcoming the next generation

We examine the growing demand to provide wellness experiences for children

Initiatives to make spa experiences available to the whole family are gaining traction, with global operators and smaller niche brands now tailoring packages and treatments to children. This requires a change of emphasis on behalf of spas, tweaking their programming and establishing dedicated times for families to enjoy their facilities.

“Wellness for families is a concept gaining more and more interest in the wellness world as a

trend,” says Christine Clinton, founder of Wellness for Life! and chair of the Global Wellness Institute’s Wellness for Children initiative. “We are hearing a lot of discussion about wellness for teenagers.”

Intergenerational spa time

Since the pandemic, many families are increasingly travelling in multi-generational groups, so it would seem that these programmes have a ready-made

audience. This is a trend incorporated in the new Intergenerational Retreat at Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som in Qatar, which invites grandparents and grandchildren to spend quality time together. The programme focuses on emotional, physical, social and nutritional wellbeing, and includes nature immersion, storytelling, arts, cooking, games, meditation and spa therapies.

“With this newly introduced retreat, we focus on bonding, fulfilment and enrichment to encourage the kids and their grandparents to spend precious time together,” says the resort’s general manager, Heinrich Morio. “We expect the trend in family wellness holidays to continue.”

In the UK, seaweed-based skincare brand ishga has partnered with Luxury Family Hotels to launch Little ishga. Children from three to 16 can enjoy 15-minute mini facials using Little ishga’s natural, organic products, designed for young, sensitive skin. The therapies also include age-appropriate

“Spas can start small by simply offering existing modalities to a younger demographic, perhaps reflexology or craniosacral therapy, breathwork or guided meditation”

Christine Clinton Founder, Wellness for Life!

scalp, neck and shoulder massages.

Elsewhere, Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa in France, has partnered with acclaimed French brand Bonpoint to introduce a menu of spa and massage treatments designed specifically for children.

Other European spas embracing this shift include Princess Yaiza resort, Spain; Fontaverde Resort and Adler Resorts in Italy; and Sani Resort in Greece.

“Spas can start small by simply offering existing modalities to a younger demographic, perhaps reflexology or craniosacral therapy, breathwork or guided meditation,” says Clinton. “Current guidelines suggest a parent must be in the room with a minor in a spa, however with the rise of touchless therapies, where the guest remains fully clothed, these guidelines should be reconsidered.”

www.christineclinton.com | www.zulal.com | www.ishga.com www.luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk | www.royalchampagne.com www.princesayaiza.com | www.fonteverdespa.com www.adler-resorts.com | www.sani-resort.com

Opposite page: the Intergenerational Retreat at Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som in Qatar

This page: Little ishga offers a range of treatments for younger spa guests in conjunction with Luxury Family Hotels

Glowing Flow Immersive Retreat leads the way for

2024 at Preidlhof

Preidlhof Luxury Dolcevita Resort in Italy has revealed its transformational wellness offering for 2024. The team will be focusing on its Glowing Flow Immersive Retreat, a unique concept offered by renowned holistic master, trauma therapist and meditation teacher, Stefano Battaglia.

This award-winning programme takes guests on a transformational journey, supported by spa concept manager, transformational wellness coach and Glowing Flow wellness specialist, Patrizia Bortolin.

The resort’s year-long programme of retreats will also focus on women’s spiritual and mental health as well as time for couples. Developed for first-time guests, the spa has an additional new concept, the Zest Retreat, which guides people through a series of thermal baths and massage treatments.

“The Zest Retreat provides benefits to everyone,” says Bortolin. “It’s very accessible and enables guests to experience a higher level of energy and sense of wellbeing. It offers great results, harmoniously blending hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing.” www.preidlhof.it/en

Predictive genetic testing available to guests at Clinique La Prairie

Clinique La Prairie has enhanced it seven-day Signature Revitalisation programme with the addition of predictive genetic testing.

Developed in collaboration with leading Swiss laboratory Gene Predictis, the DNA analysis is said to be the first of its kind to be offered in a longevity clinic. It allows experts to identify specific genetic mutations or variations related to an increased risk of over 80 diseases or conditions.

Dr Goranka Tanackovic Abbas-Terki, a member of Clinique La Prairie’s Scientific Committee and CEO of Gene Predictis, who developed the concept using Next-Generation Sequencing technology, says: “It is recognised that 1-3% of the population has underlying genetic predispositions to serious diseases that can be prevented, cured or treated more efficiently if detected early. Our genetic approach sets a new standard for approaching longevity and improving health outcomes.”

The expert-led week-long programme includes guidance from a longevity coach, a dedicated chef, tailored luxury services and accommodation in the Imperial Suite. www.cliniquelaprairie.com

Herbal Sauna

Kamalaya Koh Samui offers guests Blue Zones-inspired programme

Kamalaya Koh Samui in Thailand has partnered with Blue Zones to offer a programme giving guests an immersive experience of longevity and wellbeing factors from the world’s longest-living regions.

“This collaboration has allowed us to curate an evidence-based programme that uncovers the secrets of the world’s longest-lived cultures, empowering our guests to make meaningful changes in their lives,” says Karina Stewart, co-founder and chief wellness officer of Kamalaya.

From May 2024, guests will enjoy plant-based meals inspired by traditional diets alongside a selection of physical activities rooted in the traditions of the regions. The programme includes gentle yoga practices, Qigong and meditation alongside invigorating movement workouts.

Sessions have been designed to help participants find balance in their life, cultivate inner happiness and peace, explore life purpose and embody their full potential.

www.kamalaya.com | www.bluezones.com

Self-guided retreats at 42 Acres will immerse participants in nature

Set in the beautiful countryside of rural Somerset, 42 Acres has launched Self-Guided Retreats at the Hermitage. Encouraging guests to immerse themselves in nature at their own pace, stays are available from one to six nights with a variety of accommodation choices.

“When I joined 42 Acres I started to explore how we could grow our retreat offering,” says Helena Field, head of operations and business development. “Nature immersion is so powerful for our wellbeing, and spas, including city spas, can encourage people to ‘rewild’ themselves and discover a sense of calm.”

Optional activities include wild swimming in the lake, walks in the forest and sessions in the woodfired woodland sauna. Hatha yoga, embodied somatic movement and guided beaver walks are also offered. There are curated playlists of thought provoking podcasts and meditations, a mini-library and cosy lounges with wood fires to relax by. Inspired by a ‘soil-to-gut’ concept, stays include vegetarian food cooked with produce sourced from the property’s garden and from within a 42-mile radius. www.42acres.com

It’s time to retreat

We talk to Niki Smirni, founder of Travelgems, about wellness trends and what is influencing the retreat market in 2024

The demand for healing, nourishing and immersive retreats is booming across the globe. Travelgems, a leading retreat company in Europe, has a deep understanding of this growing market. Most recently it held a retreat at Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino in Greece with Deepak Chopra.

We asked Niki Smirni, an ambassador for the Global Wellness Institute and founder of Travelgems, about the retreat trends making waves in 2024.

What are people looking for when booking wellness retreats?

According to the Global Wellness Economy Monitor 2023, wellness tourism between 2021 and 2022 grew by 86%. We are seeing that more luxury holidaymakers want to dedicate a week of their trip to a wellbeing retreat.

Retreaters are seeking transformative experiences that promote physical health, mental clarity, emotional balance and a sense of purpose. They are looking for special experiences that help them grow, connect with others who share similar interests and needs, and get to know themselves better.

What types of retreats are the most popular with travellers at the moment?

There is a growing interest in men’s retreats that go beyond typical fitness programmes. Also menopause and mindful eating retreats. What have proven successful are holistic retreats where participants not only learn physical practices, such as Pilates, but also engage in self-improvement and mindfulness techniques such as breathing exercises. Immersion in nature and local cultures are also important factors.

How can the spa industry learn and benefit from this knowledge?

The spa and wellness industry has the opportunity to establish itself as a fundamental

Niki Smirni, Travelgems

Right: retreats can offer fitness programming combined with a deeper spiritual connection Below: their growing popularity reflects the consumer’s need to connect with people in nature

component of modern lifestyle choices that prioritise holistic wellbeing.

Spa operators should offer their guests transformative experiences that delve deeper than surface-level relaxation to create spaces and opportunities that facilitate meaningful connections. They can also develop more programmes and services that specifically promote physical health, mental clarity and personal growth.

What do you predict will be the biggest trends in this area for 2024?

We will see more longevity experts and clinics emerge as a new genre of business, catering to those who seek to ‘stay young’ while embracing a holistic approach to wellbeing.

We will also see Blue Zone retreats gain traction, allowing travellers to experience the principles of living longer and healthier lives that have been proven in different corners of the world. These places emphasise purposeful living, plant-based diets, natural movement and strong social connections.

Menopause retreats are on the rise and there will be more programmes offered that challenge the stereotypes and taboos.

There will be an upsurge in the concept of ‘serotonin travel’. Travellers will elect to submerse themselves in transformative experiences that enhance their mental and physical wellbeing, focusing on lasting contentment, purpose and joy.

www.travelgems.com

From top right: outdoor spa experiences are an integral part of retreat programming; Travelgems offers retreats at locations across Europe

SpaStyle

SHOWCASING STYLISH EQUIPMENT AND LEADING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY FOR YOUR SPA

Edited by Wendy Golledge

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Infrared Square Heated Wet Massage Table

Fabio Alemanno

Fabio Alemanno’s infrared Square Heated Wet Massage Table has recently been installed at Ribby Hall by respected supplier Spa Vision. It is the first time the table, which is carved from a single block of marble, has been featured in a UK spa.

Pushing the limits between design and function, the table redefines the traditional design of hammam tables.

A digital thermostat allows the table to be heated up to 45°C and it can be used for hammam, hot stone massage and infrared light treatments, as well as traditional healing fango mud packs. Floor rollers ensure it’s a mobile solution, while plug-and-play installation means it can be up and running quickly without any

further technical input. Suitable for in-outdoor and wet areas, there is the option to add an integrated motor for automatic elevation.

“With its soft curved design, yet solid structure, the Square Wet Table fulfilled the design brief from Ribby Hall,” says Colin Cameron, director at Spa Vision. “The addition of the electric lift mechanism offered a heated wet table with enhanced performance to include in Ribby Hall’s new outdoor treatment cabin offering. A real design piece with great functionality.”

www.fa-design.co.uk | www.spavision.com

BubbleSpa

Kelda

Using innovative air-powered technology, Kelda’s new range of BubbleSpa showers create very large water droplets filled with air, which fall softly on the body for a luxurious shower experience.

Recently installed at Ragdale Hall Spa, UK, the shower features a compact digital fan and intelligent microprocessor that controls the delivery of water and air to 16 HydrO2 nozzles. This creates 20mm cascading ‘BubbleRain’.

An LED showerhead illuminates each bubble, creating a high-definition spray form, and users can choose between three lighting options: stream, chain and drops.

Each bubble simulates the rhythmic fingertip tapping of traditional Swedish massage techniques and makes a soft sound as it bursts on the skin. The air-powered technology means BubbleSpa showers use 50% less water and energy than a standard mixer shower.

www.keldashowers.com | www.bubblespa.co.uk

Milano Classic and Milano Evo Lemi

Lemi’s Milano Classic and Milano Evo treatment table have a double-column base for stability and comfort and are made from curved wood and painted steel that reflects Italian craftsmanship.

Both beds offer a new ergonomic foot pedal design and a memory function that enables operators to save up to two positions to adjust the bed more easily during treatments.

The Evo and Classic versions each have a 15cm-thick memory foam mattress. The Evo’s also features Lemi’s HBS Stress Relief system. This ensures the head, back and shoulders can be stimulated without stretching, as the armrests and headrest can be lowered.

The Milano Classic has a traditional horseshoe head. Both versions can be adjusted from 60cm up to 90cm in height and include two LED strips to illuminate the treatment room environment.

www.lemispa.com

DESIGN INNOVATION

Sensora

SensorTech

Sensora is a multi-sensorial environment that combines light, sound and kinesthetic vibration using Light Modulation, SensorTech’s patented process for controlling light. Subtle, continuous variations of colour interact with physiological rhythms including brain waves, the heartbeat and the breathing to offer therapeutic benefits.

Founder and physicist Anadi Martel has created a Sensora projector comprising 20 independent LED light sources, which are directed towards a large hemispherical screen. Guests relax on an ergonomic reclining chair equipped with eight transducers, which convert an audio soundtrack into kinesthetic sensations – wavelike movements across the surface of the reclining chair.

A smaller, portable SensoLight can also be used to offer similar benefits in treatment rooms.

www.sensora.com

Tribeca

Living Earth Crafts

An all-in-one medi-spa chair, Living Earth Crafts’ new Tribeca can be used for spa, aesthetic, IV and medi-spa treatments, all in the same space.

The Tribeca has a small footprint and can be a low-height treatment chair or easily converts into a full-sized treatment table. Versatile enough to be used for injections and infusions as well as facials and massage, the Tribeca has electronic height, foot, back and pelvic tilt adjustments, plus an extended height range. Optional widths and custom finishes are also available.

“Spa, wellness and medical spa teams are sharing that they need multi-use spaces and equipment to provide numerous guest experiences while maximising revenue,” says Jill Carlen, Living Earth Crafts’ VP of business development. “We wanted to provide a solution that turns one treatment room into many.”

www.livingearthcrafts.com

Robosculptor

AI-based massage system has the potential to boost revenue and augment the work of therapists

A fully automated suite powered by an artificial intelligence (AI) platform, Robosculptor is a robotic system designed to provide precise, comfortable, non-invasive massage, lymph drainage and sports massage body treatments without the input of a therapist.

First, Robosculptor requires the input of estimated dimensions of the guest’s body, such as weight and height. Then, a high-speed 3D camera scans the guest, creating a unique 3D model. The AI-based system continuously monitors and adjusts its trajectory and movement during a treatment, so even if the guest moves, it immediately adjusts to provide a precisely targeted treatment.

An income-boosting feature

The Robosculptor has a manipulator arm, adjustable treatment bed and flexible spheres, and can accommodate a variety of tools to suit specific treatment needs.

“In a recent internal study, we established that massage robots have the potential to increase spas’ income by up to three times, all while reducing costs by more than 20%,” says Robosculptor founder, Dennis Ledenkof.

Since the system can operate without breaks, working continuously for hours, performing many sessions a day, there is the potential to bring in new revenue each month without increasing therapist engagement time.

“Installing a massage robot in a spa already staffed with two massage therapists can triple the overall revenue,” claims Ledenkof.

“Far from replacing therapists, the idea is to augment and complement human-provided services with automated robotic solutions,” he adds. “This can help bridge the gap between supply and demand, which has been created by the sector’s training and recruitment crisis.”

https://robo-sculptor.com

RelaxSpace Wellness Pod

WellnessSpace Brands

The RelaxSpace Wellness Pod by WellnessSpace Brands is a lounge chair with a 43-inch screen that shows relaxing videos of nature or famous cities. Designed for spas looking for a touchless way to reduce stress, promote relaxation and enhance muscle recovery, RelaxSpace Wellness Pod offers a fully immersive, multi-sensory experience.

The pod includes guided meditation and breathing sessions, as well as scent infusions such as fresh pine or tropical coconut, to allow for a fully customisable relaxation experience. Users can track their relaxation by measuring their heart rate and built-in heated seats soothe sore muscles.

There is an overhead fan for a cool breeze and the pods also include the option of playing tips on nutrition, the benefits of exercise and healthy ways to become more physically fit.

https://wellnessspace.com

Jōki Sauna and Koto

Wood-Fired Hot Tub

Koto Design

Co-created by Koto Design and Out of the Valley, and derived from the Japanese word for steam, the Jōki Elements modular sauna cabin features a simple and sustainable, nature-inspired design.

Offered in both 4-6 and 6+ person variations, the Jōki has expansive glazing, a wrap-around deck and the option of traditional wood-fired or electric heating.

“The Jōki is a pivotal moment in our quest to create spaces that amplify wellbeing while honouring nature,” says Johnathon Little, co-founder of Koto Design.

Also new, the Koto Wood-Fired Hot Tub seats two to four people and has an ultra-quiet hydro massage system. It is made from heavy-duty treated granite in lux black.

https://koto.co.uk | www.outofthevalley.co.uk

The smart choice for spas that prioritise client comfort:

+ Built to last, this supreme quality Memory Foam moulds perfectly to the shape of the client’s contours and returns quickly to its original shape after each use

+ Available in a wide range of colours and shapes to suit all treatment requirements

+ Versatile, portable and lightweight, ideal for use during indoor and outdoor treatments

+ Additional zipped covers can be purchased for complete practicality.

ENYA infusion bowl KLAFS

To enable commercial saunas to provide a continuous range of infusion ceremonies, KLAFS has created the ENYA automatic infusion bowl.

An integrated system that sits atop the coals, it can be set via a timed controller or operated at the touch of a button. The design of the tray has a raised rim with water in the centre, ensuring it is always evenly distributed and can’t splash out onto guests. Water can be fed in from below through the stove, via an outlet on the wall or from the ceiling.

The ENYA is said to create an instant feel-good ambience in the sauna, to help spa guests find a state of relaxation.

Also new, KLAFS has developed the 21 Touch Control – an intelligently networked master screen that can control up to 16 products from one touchscreen tablet. www.klafs.de

Inspire Tranquillity with Nordik Moss

Benholm

Recently installed in the spa at Blythswood Square Hotel in Scotland, Nordik Moss – from plant specialist Behholm – is a specially preserved natural moss ideal for defining and enhancing interior spaces.

Natural green walls evoke a sense of calmness and serenity, transporting guests to the natural world as they embark on their wellness journey.

Drawing inspiration from the rugged landscapes and natural beauty of the Scottish Hebrides, the reimagined spa at Blythswood Square Hotel selected Nordik Moss to reflect the essence of Scotland’s breathtaking outdoors.

Nordik Moss is a sustainable material that doesn’t grow, so requires no watering, trimming or sunlight, making it suitable for interior spa spaces. Harvested by hand from the forest floor, it is 100% biodegradable and has sound-absorbing properties. www.benholm.com/nordik-moss