Luxury hospitality brand Aman has unveiled plans to open its first resort and wellness sanctuary in the Maldives, expanding its global portfolio of 35 resorts and residences.
Set on a private island in the Vaavu Atoll, Aman Maldives will feature 52 pool villas and 16 branded residences.
True to the brand’s dedication to wellness, the resort’s 2,638sq m spa will be located on its own private island. “Aman means ‘peace’ in Sanskrit and offers a sanctuary for refined respite,” explained Yuki Kiyono, Aman’s global head of health and wellness development, in an interview with Spa Business.
The spa promises to introduce new health and rejuvenation experiences to the Maldives, including two private Spa Houses, a signature feature of Aman’s wellness offerings.
In addition, the resort will feature a variety of dining options, a beach club, a dive centre and watersports hub.
Construction is now underway, with an official opening date to be announced soon.
Yuki Kiyono
Fitness, health, wellness
Fitness, health, wellness
Excitement is building for the new all-keynote HCM Summit from Leisure Media, HCM magazine and Spa Business magazine.
The event will bring together a powerful lineup of speakers and contributors from across the industry to share creative insights and experience, with a focus on business success and innovation.
You’ll go away inspired and informed, with ideas to implement in your own professional life, as well as valuable contacts and access to best practice to drive your success as we head into 2025.
In addition to the summit talks, a carefully curated exhibition will showcase the latest innovations, while summit networking events, including the After Party, hosted by Les Mills, will give the opportunity to connect, make new contacts and do businesses.
All this, along with product sampling, book signings and activations will make the summit a powerful new event for the sector.
MEET THE SPEAKERS
Jonny Wilkinson Founder, One
Will Orr CEO, The
Pieterjan (PJ) Nuitten MD, Jims Fitness
Dean Kowarski Group CEO, Virgin Active and Kauai
Colin Waggett CEO, Third Space
Oliver Patrick Co-founder, Future Practice
Fahad Alhagbani CEO, Armah
Founder,
Emlyn Brown Senior VP Wellbeing, Strategy Design & Development, Accor
Eric Falardeau Partner, McKinsey
Justin Musgrove CEO, Fitness First UK
Sports
Baz Moffat
The Well HQ
Phillip Mills Founder, Les Mills
Gym Group
Belinda Steward CEO, Places Leisure
Keith Burnet CEO, Alchemist & Adventurer
Liz Terry Editor, HCM Magazine
Living
spa business people
Under A Tree welcomes Verena Lasvigne to the team
Wellness business consultancy Under A Tree (UAT) has strengthened its team with the addition of spa and wellness industry veteran Verena Lasvigne as its European operations and wellness consultant.
With nearly 25 years of experience – including 20 years in senior spa leadership roles at Four Seasons – Lasvigne brings a wealth of global expertise to UAT.
Having worked in markets across France, the US and Africa, she founded her own consulting firm, VLF Spa Consulting, in 2021.
Lasvigne’s strengths encompass concept creation and programming, financial administration, preopening, team leadership and
The
Duncan Jefford
Verena blends cultural heritage, tech and sustainability to create award-winning spas
Amy McDonald
performance monitoring. She says her deep understanding of the high-end market allows her to implement unique strategies for revenue generation and spa retail sales development, while her precise revenue analysis and forecasting ensure consistent achievement of KPIs.
According to Amy McDonald, UAT’s CEO and founder, Lasvigne’s expertise will enhance UAT’s ability to shape guest experiences that nourish both body and soul.
She said: “Verena uniquely blends cultural heritage, technology and sustainability to create award-winning spas that are always sanctuaries of renewal.”
MORE >>> http://lei.sr/2J9t7_B
Duncan Jefford launches
Everyone
Active’s first Pilates studio
Everyone Active has aunched its first reformer Pilates studio – the first of 10 studios that will be rolled out over the next 18 months as part of a major redevelopment of its 230-site estate.
The studio – at Hitchin Swimming and Fitness Centre in Hertfordshire – was installed as part of a £100,000 upgrade of the facility, which was taken over by Everyone Active in April. The centre was previously run by SLL. Two types of reformer classes will be offered. Reformer FitCore,
established by Peak Pilates, uses Pilates-based exercises to strengthen the whole body and is suitable for novices.
Howard Braband of Gymkit UK supplied the 20 reformers and GT3 Architects were responsible for the design of the repurposed studio.
Everyone Active’s regional director, Duncan Jefford, said: “The new reformer studio is part of our expanding wellness offering, with a £20 million investment planned across the Everyone Active portfolio.”
MORE >>> http://lei.sr/Q8R2D_B
We hope to provide a moment of wellbeing to those navigating the challenges of oncology treatment
Kelleye Martin
Kelleye Martin shares Trellis Spa’s new cancer initiative
Houston destination spa Trellis Spa has announced its ‘Receive One Facial, Give One Facial’ event allowing guests to treat themselves to a luxurious experience while uplifting the spirits of those undergoing oncology treatment.
From 16 September to 11 October, Trellis Spa guests who receive a Natura Bissé facial can gift a complimentary facial to those who have survived or are currently undergoing cancer treatment.
In addition to the facial, guests will also be invited to enjoy the spa’s many amenities.
“During a time when lives are upended by cancer, scheduling a facial is probably the last thing on a patient’s to-do list,” said Kelleye Martin, Trellis Spa director.
“That is why this ‘Receive One Facial, Give One Facial’ event is so special. We hope to provide a moment of wellbeing, relaxation and care to those navigating the challenges of oncology treatment.”
People news
Under A Tree welcomes Verena Lasvigne to the team
Solar spa
Auberge Resorts’ Italian flagship launching in 2025 with sun-inspired, longevity-focused spa in Florence
Programming highlights
Preidlhof and Dolce Vita Hotels plan sauna retreats led by international aufguss champions
SPA BUSINESS INSIGHTS
The secrets of sleeping
Sofitel commissions scientific study to improve travellers’ sleep and develop new restful rituals
Leading by example
Zulal Wellness Resort, Janu Tokyo and Mayr Resort scoop top honours at Destination Deluxe Awards
Supplier innovation
The latest in products and innovation from Elemis, Image Skincare, La Clinique du Caviar, Ellisons and Ishga
Sign up to Spa Business insider: Online: www. spabusiness.com/signup
Email: subs@leisuremedia.com
Tel: +44 (0)1462 471930
Annual subscriptions: International £114, UK £80 and UK students £42. @spabusinessmag
Read Spa Business and Spa Business insider free online: www.spabusiness.com/archive
TRELLIS
spa business news
RADIANCE PT ™
MULTI-PURPOSE TREATMENT TABLE WITH EMBEDDED LED LIGHT THERAPY POWERED BY CELLUMA®
OFFERS SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN ENHANCED BODY TREATMENTS AND STANDALONE, UNATTENDED THERAPIES
| HAIR RESTORATION | ACNE
FLEXIBLE USES | BODY CONTOURING
Luxury hotel and spa operator
Auberge to launch Italian longevity spa
Auberge Resorts Collection will debut in Italy in March 2025 with an 83-key property on the outskirts of Florence, featuring a signature Auberge spa.
Named Aelia, the spa’s concept focuses on longevity and experiential therapies incorporating native Mediterranean botanicals.
Aelia will be home to private spa suites, indoor and outdoor relaxation spaces, a fitness centre and a large outdoor pool.
Vivianne Garcia-Tunon, global VP of wellbeing at Auberge, said: CONCEPTS
EXPANSION
Marriott opens opulent new spa in Morocco
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has announced the opening of a brand-new hotel and luxury spa in Morocco’s capital city of Rabat.
Marking the Marriott-owned brand’s flagship property in Morocco, the 117-key Ritz-Carlton Rabat, Dar Es Salam has launched with an opulent spa inspired by Moroccan healing traditions.
Aelia will be inspired by the sun’s nourishing properties
Vivianne Garcia-Tunon
“As part of the retreat, guests will experience Aelia, a private wellness destination inspired by the sun’s nourishing properties, featuring programmes inspired by the property’s vines, grove, gardens and spirit.”
MORE >>> http://lei.sr/w2h8x_B
The spa includes a central indoor pool area – inspired by ancient Roman baths – which features a glass roof that floods the area with natural light. The space has been completed with fluted columns with golden accents and porcelain to create a peaceful, timeless atmosphere.
Outdoors, spa guests can access a pool surrounded by cabanas and decorated with mosaic borders designed to reflect sunlight and create a shimmering effect.
The facility features a range of saunas and hammams, a plunge pool, separate men’s and women’s relaxation lounges and 10 treatment rooms where therapists conduct branded treatments by MarocMaroc and ESPA.
>>> http://lei.sr/g4W6Q_B
■ The spa is home to a selection of hammams
AUBERGE RESORTS
Riverhills spa to embark on new chapter
Riverhills Health Club and Day Spa in Ipswich, UK, is set for a major relaunch in 2025 after a fire in June 2023 caused extensive damage.
Under the leadership of owner Dave Courteen and Mosaic Spa and Health Clubs, which acquired Riverhills in 2021, the spa is set to undergo a significant upgrade.
Courteen said: “The fire presented us with an opportunity to reimagine Riverhills as one of Suffolk’s leading luxury day spas”.
The spa will reopen with nine treatment rooms, a large pool,
PROGRAMMING
Preidlhof
and Dolce Vita Hotels plan sauna retreats
As wellness consumers’ fascination with sauna bathing reaches new heights, Italy’s luxury hospitality sector has tapped into this trend with dedicated sauna retreats.
From 20-27 October 2024, Dolce Vita Hotels – a collection of five family-run luxury wellness resorts in South Tyrol – will introduce an exclusive wellness event called Sauna Around Week, celebrating the ancient European tradition of aufguss.
The event will span Dolce Vita’s five resorts, including Preidlhof, Alpiana, Jagdhof, Lindenhof and Feldhof, each offering its own
The fire presented us with an opportunity to reimagine Riverhills
Dave Courteen
a vitality pool, a TechnoAlpin snow shower, a Jacuzzi, three saunas, a steamroom and foot spas.
Industry suppliers Spa Vision, DaleSauna and Newson Pools are helping to realise the new facility.
distinct retreat atmosphere. Every day, one of these resorts will host three Aufguss sessions, giving guests ample opportunity to dive into this cultural tradition.
Leading the week’s festivities will be two world-class sauna masters: Michael Niedermair, the newly-crowned 2024 sauna master world champion and Kasia Klajn, a former world champion, ensuring that guests enjoy top-tier sauna expertise and creativity.
MORE >>> http://lei.sr/r2H8J_B MORE >>> http://lei.sr/Z3k5m_B
■ Michael Niedermair (pictured)
spa business insights
The secrets of sleeping G
Sofitel has commissioned a new scientific study to improve travellers’ sleep and develop a suite of restful rituals
Drawing on the study findings, Sofitel started phasing in new sleep rituals in its 120-plus hotels
lobal hotel brand Sofitel has partnered with researchers at Paris City University to gain deeper insights into how people sleep when staying away from home.
In recent years, sleep has become a top priority for wellness-focused consumers, with the Global Wellness Institute reporting that the sleep market contributes US$77.3 billion to the US$5.6 trillion global wellness economy.
Compared with previous years, consumers now have access to a diverse range of products aimed at enhancing sleep quality, including wearables, smart mattresses and supplements. As a result, many spas and hotels are embracing this trend by rolling out programmes and retreats designed to improve guests' sleep.
Sofitel's new study, published in the Journal of Sleep Disorders and Therapy*, specifically looked at what conditions help travellers to minimise the ‘firstnight e ect’.
The first-night e ect occurs when people go to bed in an unfamiliar place for the first time and their brains display heightened activity even after they close their eyes. Sofitel identified this as a widespread issue, given that 45 per cent of its guests only stayed for one night last year.
SOFITEL/ACCOR
■ Sofitel has used the findings to create some new sleep rituals
The study specifically looked at what conditions help travellers to minimise the ‘first-night e ect’
Special sleep room
The sleep quality of 49 participants –based on duration, depth, regularity, interruptions, time to fall asleep and the wake-up phase – was first measured at home using a sensor under the mattress. Respiratory and cardiac rhythms were also recorded.
On top of this, it took into account a host of other variables, including:
■ A food menu with meals that avoid excess fat, salt, sugar and spice
■ A pre-sleep meditation session and herbal tea
■ Essential oil pillow spray
■ Lip balm
■ Warm socks
■ A silk sleep mask for total darkness
■ Calming white and pink noise generators
■ An optimal room temperature of 18˚C
■ Silicone earplugs
Extra shut-eye
On average, the participants' sleep quality in the hotel room was 13.7 per cent higher than at home. They had 65 minutes extra shut-eye and 64 per cent fell asleep within 30 minutes.
Drawing on the study findings, in July Sofitel started phasing in new sleep rituals in its 120-plus hotels globally. The o erings include light meals formulated to help guests fall asleep more quickly, bespoke treatment protocols to improve sleep quality, relaxing playlists curated specially for the brand’s hotels and precise lighting and temperature adjustments.
*Alkobtawi, M et al. Enhancing First-Night Sleep Quality in Hotels: A Preliminary Study Utilizing Withings to Measure Sleep Patterns at Home and in Hotel Settings.
Journal of Sleep Disorders & Therapy. Issue 1, 2024 ●
■ Participants' sleep quality in the hotel room was 13.7 per cent higher than at home
spa business insights
Leading by example
Zulal Wellness Resort, Janu Tokyo and Mayr Resort scoop top honours at Destination Deluxe Awards
The sixth annual Destination Deluxe Awards recently took place in Bangkok, Thailand, to honour the industry leaders, innovators and destinations shaping the future of wellness, beauty and luxury travel.
The ceremony was held at The Salil Hotel Riverside and recognised achievements in 25 categories. Winners were decided by a panel of experienced judges drawn from across the spa and wellness industry.
Additionally, three People’s Choice Awards were presented, with nearly 60,000 votes cast.
Among the evening’s biggest winners were Chiva-Som’s Zulal Wellness Resort, which clinched the title of Wellness Retreat of the Year and the Original Mayr Resort, crowned Medi-Spa of the Year.
Janu Tokyo, the flagship of Aman’s sister brand, was named Urban Wellness Retreat of the Year, while sustainablyminded professional spa brand Comfort Zone was recognised as Skincare Brand of the Year.
2024 Destination Deluxe Awards Winners
Wellness Retreat of the Year
Winner: Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som, Al Ruwais, Qatar
2nd Place: Kamalaya Koh
Samui, Koh Samui, Thailand
3rd Place: Joali Being, Raa Atoll, Maldives
Urban Wellness Retreat of the Year
Winner: Janu Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
2nd Place: Six Senses Rome, Rome, Italy
3rd Place: PAÑPURI Wellness, Bangkok, Thailand
New Hotel of the Year
Winner: Shinta Mani Mustang – A Bensley Collection, Jomsom, Nepal
2nd Place: Songtsam Lodge Nujiang Canyon, Yunnan Province, China
3rd Place: SHA Mexico, Cancún, Mexico
Spa of the Year
Winner: Dior Spa Royal Scotsman, Royal Scotsman, A Belmond Train, Scottish Highlands, Scotland
2nd Place: HARNN Heritage Spa, ANA InterContinental Beppu, Japan
3rd Place: World Spa, New York, US
Medi-Spa of the Year
Winner: Original Mayr Resort, Klagenfurt, Austria
2nd Place: Lanserhof
Sylt, Sylt, Germany
3rd Place: Clinique La Prairie, Montreux, Switzerland
ROBERT RIEGER
■ Janu Tokyo (pictured) is home to 4,000sq m of spa and wellness facilities
Twenty-five awards were available, celebrating excellence and innovation in a variety of categories
3rd Place: Listen & Feel Massage, Spa L’Occitane, Le Couvent des Minimes Hotel & Spa L’Occitane, Mane, France
Spa Skincare Brand of the Year
Winner: Comfort Zone
2nd Place: Voya
3rd Place: Moringa Project
People’s Choice of the Year (Spas, Programs & Treatments)
Winner: Detox Hydro Circuit Therapy, TIA
Wellness Resort, Danang City, Vietnam
2nd Place: Aman New York, New York, US
3rd Place: Mindfulness & Emotional
Balance Retreat, Revīvō Wellness Resort, Bali, Indonesia
People’s Choice of the Year (Skincare)
Winner: ESPA
2nd Place: Comfort Zone
3rd Place: AEOS ●
lesmills.com/hotel-fitness-programs
SUPPLIER NEWS
Suppliers tell Spa Business insider about their latest product, design and technology launches
CryoBody has made its
Elemis unveils sub-zero CryoBody treatments and opens London flagship
British spa and skincare giant Elemis has announced plans to roll out a suite of new subzero body sculpting treatments.
Elemis’ collection of new cryotherapy-inspired CryoBody protocols has been designed by brand co-founder and global president Noella Gabriel and is powered by technology from Parisian-based company Cryoskin.
The result of more than a year and a half of development, the treatments are designed to reduce fat and cellulite, encourage lymphatic drainage, tighten and
tone the skin and encourage overall rejuvenation. The collection includes:
■ CryoTighten + Firm: 90 mins
– £225 (US$294, €266)
■ CryoTighten: 60 mins –£175 (US$229, €207).
■ CryoFirm: 50 mins – £125 (US$164, €148).
Gabriel explains that the protocols utilise cutting-edge technology, rapidly alternating between hot and sub-zero cold temperatures, to enhance the inch loss process with “clinically proven results after one treatment and optimal results seen and felt after two weeks”.
The protocols are conducted using a handheld implement which is attached to a touchscreen operated machine.
Customers can choose which area they want to focus on including the abdomen, arms, thighs or buttocks.
MORE ON spa-kit.net
http://lei.sr/v7p3w
■
global debut in London at The House of Elemis in Mayfair and Harrods in Knightsbridge
■ Noella Gabriel
Kay Pennington announces Image Skincare UK ambassador role
Professional skincare and spa brand Image Skincare UK has appointed award-winning industry spa and wellness leader Kay Pennington as its new brand ambassador.
With more than 25 years of industry experience, Pennington has been selected to elevate confidence, sharpen focus and enhance motivation across the brand’s partner spas and skincare clinics.
Leigh Wilson, UK sales manager at Image Skincare UK, said: “Kay’s extensive knowledge –combined with her inspiring leadership qualities – make her an invaluable asset to our brand.
“We’re confident that her expertise will elevate our position in the market and strengthen our relationships with our B2B partners.”
A trained therapist, Pennington has been consistently recognised for her leadership excellence with numerous awards throughout her career. This has included positions with Boots, Virgin Atlantic, Ellisons, Sweet Squared and most recently Aqua Sana
Group where she served as group spa manager from 2016 to 2023. In this capacity, she led the strategic management of six destination spas across the UK and Ireland, overseeing teams and spearheading significant multi-million-pound refurbishment projects.
MORE ON spa-kit.net
http://lei.sr/1s0B9
La Clinique du Caviar unveils new professional spa offering
Caviar, a symbol of luxury, is claimed to be a potent ingredient for achieving healthy skin according to Swiss-based skincare brand
La Clinique du Caviar.
The company has harnessed the ingredient to create 13 spa
■ Kenneth Benning, founder and CEO of Caviar Biotec
treatments – ranging from facials, hair treatments and body rituals to massages, eye treatments and hand and foot treatments.
Each one is powered by four professional-grade products, a caviar oil, a supplement and two protein caviar extract powders.
Kenneth Benning, founder and CEO of Caviar Biotec, the biotechnology company behind the brand, explained that these precision-crafted products not only attract discerning spa clients but also allow for bespoke treatments.
MORE ON spa-kit.net
http://lei.sr/6X1S0
■ La Clinique du Caviar is owned by biotechnology company Caviar Biotec
■ Pictured: Kay Pennington
Innovative and world-renowned spa software, chosen by more Forbes Travel Guide 4 and 5-Star properties than any other brand.
100+ Countries
15 Languages
60+ Interfaces
24/7 Live Support
GDPR & PCI Compliant
99.9% Uptime
Live Product Training
See how the spa and wellness industry manages success!
The ability to tailor your yield management and dynamic pricing to maximize revenues automatically is a game changer.”
Ellisons undergoes leadership shake-up
Ellisons, one of the UK’s oldest established hair and beauty wholesalers, has confirmed a change of ownership.
Founded in Birmingham, UK, in 1930 and now based in Coventry, Ellisons is dedicated to supporting hair and beauty professionals at every stage of their business journey. The company ships more than 2.5 million products annually to nearly 50,000 salons, spas and other customers across the UK and internationally.
The recent transaction marks a leadership transition, with managing director Geoff Morris passing the baton to a new generation.
Key members of the existing management team – Matthew Champney, Lee Farmer and Nadine Meakins – have acquired a significant equity stake in the business.
Joining as chair is Paul Faulkner, a wellknown regional business leader and former CEO of Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.
Morris will continue as a substantial shareholder and advisor, ensuring a smooth transition.
David Tucker from Jasper Equity, who led the transaction, will also join the Ellisons Board.
MORE ON spa-kit.net
http://lei.sr/3H1h4
Ishga honoured with visit from princess Anne
Luxury Hebridean organic spa brand Ishga recently had the honour of hosting her royal highness Princess Anne at its headquarters on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland.
The royal visit was part of a broader programme of community engagements across the Western Isles and offered Ishga the chance to showcase its business growth.
During her visit, Princess Anne was warmly received by the brand’s co-founders Malcolm Macrae, Joanna Macrae, Martin Macleod, Evelyn Macleod and director Leon Trayling in the newly refurbished reception area at the company’s
two-story premises in Glenn Seileach Business Park, Stornoway.
The tour featured a deep dive into the island’s seaweed heritage, emphasising its skincare benefits and the sustainable harvesting methods Ishga employs to source the ingredient from the waters surrounding the Hebrides.
The Princess Royal also explored Ishga’s manufacturing process, where she observed the production of the brand’s products. Notably, she helped create a batch of Ishga’s signature Anti-oxidant Marine Cream.
MORE ON spa-kit.net
http://lei.sr/Q7g3x
■ L to R: Lee Farmer, Paul Faulkner, Geoff Morris, Nadine Meakins and Matthew Champney
■ Malcolm Macrae (L) and Martin Macleod (M) welcomed the Princess Royal to the brand's HQ
A BRAND BUILT ON 35 YEARS OF EXPERTISE
Although age is just a number, Swissline has achieved quite a lot in its first 35 years, including partnerships with some of the most exclusive wellness hotels around the globe.
Since 1989, Swissline has been developing award-winning, skin-friendly, bio-tech formulas that boost collagen production and address silent inflammation. With a deep understanding of skin biology and respect for the skin barrier, its results-oriented, consumer products and professional treatments ensure the harmonious revitalization of the skin, inside and out, while delivering ingredients deep into the skin.
Swissline believes that skincare is a key element of self-care, but embracing it alongside regular exercise, a healthy diet and plenty of sleep, is the winning formula.
WEB ADDRESS BOOK
Connect with spa organisations from around the world. We welcome your entries – write to spateam@leisuremedia.com
Asia-Pacific Spa & Wellness Coalition (APSWC)
■ www.apswc.org
Association of Malaysian Spas (AMSPA)
■ www.amspa.org.my
Australian Hot and Mineral Springs Alliance
■ www.bathing.org
Australasian Wellness Association (ASWELL)
■ aswell.au
Bali Spa and Wellness Association
■ www.balispawellness-association.org
Brazilian Esthetics & Spas Association
■ www.abesbrasil.com.br
Bulgarian Union for Balneology and Spa Tourism (BUBSPA)
■ www.bubspa.org
Association of Spas of the Czech Republic
■ www.jedemedolazni.cz
Estonian Spa Association
■ www.estonianspas.eu
European Historic Thermal Towns Association
■ www.historicthermaltowns.eu
European Spas Association
■ www.europeanspas.eu
Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT)
■ www.fht.org.uk
Federterme
■ www.federterme.it
FEMTEC (the World Federation of Hydrotherapy and Climatotherapy)
