European Spa magazine - Summer 2022 Issue

D I G I T A L

E D I T I O N

Issue 84 | Summer 2022

THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE SPA AND The essential resource for spa FOR business andWELLNESS wellnessLEADERS hospitality

AT ONE WITH NATURE

Four spa designers reveal what makes the perfect garden

CELEBRITY BEYOND

Elemis partners in a cruise ship spa designed by Kelly Hoppen

TOP 10 SPA GARDENS Our pick of the very best outdoor wellness designs

HEART AND SOUL

Inside the revitalised Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda

newbusiness@elemis.com

newbusiness@elemis.com

Welcome I SS U E 84 | S U M M ER 2022

At one with nature

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he difference between a good spa experience and a sublime one is always down to the emotional resonance you can create. In this gloriously verdant issue we head outside to share our pick of ten of the best UK spa gardens (p80) that certainly lift the spa experience, and we invite four leading international spa designers to tell us how they are creating memorable outdoor spaces that leave a lasting impression (p12) We discover how emotional resonance is always present at the beautifully refurbished Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda, owned by the trailblazing Leali family (p64), while Mark Smith joins the inaugural sailing of cruise ship Celebrity Beyond to find out how its team of leading women have taken wellness beyond the spa (p34). We also find out more about the power of touch from Leslie Bruder (p30) and meet one of Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London’s resident wellness experts, Kate Thomson, to talk about its multidisciplinary approach to wellbeing (p100).

More expert advice comes from our renowned expert columnists as Tracey Stapleton reveals six ways spas can transform their engagement with TikTok (p74); spa consultant Kirsty MacCormick highlights ways to make your business more profitable (p78); and Deborah Garlick shines a light on the latest thinking to make spas menopause friendly for all (p102).

Thank you for your stories, news and contributions that have helped nurture this vibrant edition. We look forward to your feedback and wish you a great summer.

Image: The spa garden at Cottonmill Spa, Sopwell House, UK

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Sarah Camilleri Founding editor & publisher sarah.camilleri@spapublishing.com

www.europeanspamagazine.com

www.globalwellnesssummit.com

Meet the team European Spa is the essential business magazine for spa and wellness leaders

Lauren Heath-Jones

Wendy Golledge

Beauty and wellness editor

Online news editor

Wellness journalist

A well travelled and influential spa writer, Mark has contributed beauty and wellness news to European Spa for nine years.

He also regularly visits spas to interview experts in their field, and contributes weekly online brand news to europeanspamagazine.com.

Mark recently launched his Kalm Horizons meditation concept.

A passionate beauty blogger and business journalist, Lauren is the online news editor for europeanspamagazine.com.

In our Summer issue, she talks to the inspirational founder of The Institute for Phenomenal Touch, Leslie Bruder, about the ten key principles spa therapists can use to improve their massage technique.

A dedicated spa and wellness reporter, in this issue Wendy reveals ten of best spa gardens in the UK, talking to those responsible for their design about what they can bring to spa operators and their guests.

In Spa Style, she also brings together our pick of the latest product launches to enhance the spa guest experience.

Sarah Camilleri

Mark Smith

Founding editor & publisher 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.

Thanks to our expert contributors...

Tracey Stapleton

The Spa PR Company www.thespaprcompany.com

Matteo Thun

Matteo Thun & Partners www.matteothun.com

Kirsty MacCormick

The Spa Consultancy www.thespaconsultancy.com

Alberto Apostoli

Studio Apostoli www.albertoapostoli.com

Beverley Bayes

Sparcstudio www.sparcstudio.co.uk

Phil Jaffa

Scape Design www.scapeda.co.uk

Our mission is to support spa industry growth, innovation and wellbeing Founding editor & publisher Sarah Camilleri sarah.camilleri@spapublishing.com

Beauty and wellbeing editor Mark Smith mark.smith@spapublishing.com

Art director Richard Page richard@spapublishing.com

Production editor David Fagan david.fagan@spapublishing.com

News editor Lauren Heath-Jones Lauren.hj@spapublishing.com

Spa Style editor Wendy Golledge wendy.golledge@spapublishing.com

Subscriptions manager Angela Sharpe subscribe@spapublishing.com

Accounts manager Julie Jones accounts@spapublishing.com

European Spa is produced by Spa Publishing Ltd Registered in England. Company No. 6293825

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HIGH-END PERSONALIZED BEAUTY CARE For 45 years, the Biologique Recherche Methodology has a reputation of expertise based on

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Contents I SS U E 84 | S U M M ER 2022

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ON THE COVER

An outdoor treatment is delivered at Anazoe Spa, Costa Navarino, Greece.

Find out more about spa garden design on pages 12 and 80

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INDUSTRY INTELLIGENCE

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

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AT ONE WITH NATURE

Leslie Bruder of The Institute for Phenomenal Touch outlines the principles that she teaches to students who have gone on to become World Massage Championship award-winners

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THE TOP TEN UK SPA GARDENS

Highlighting some of the most innovative and beautiful outdoor spa spaces in the UK, we examine how their creation has offered a new dimension to the spa experience for both guests and operators alike

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30 104

WELLNESS MATTERS

Our look at the latest trends and modalities in the world of wellness includes the launch of Accor’s Health to Wealth podcast series as well as an interview with craniosacral therapist Kate Thomson, who is one of the new wellness experts in residence at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London

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SPA STYLE

A selection of the most stylish equipment and leading-edge technology for the spa environment, including the Satori lounger from Gharieni and an interview with Noel Asmar about her brand’s new EcoSignature textile

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TRANSFORMING TOUCH THERAPY

We ask four leading designers what they consider to be the key aspects to creating stunning spa gardens that have the ‘wow’ factor for guests and the power to grow new revenue

SIX WAYS TIKTOK CAN TRANSFORM YOUR BUSINESS

Tracey Stapleton explains how the social media platform’s short-form video content can be used for everything from staff recruitment to showing off your treatments

78 HOW TO TAKE A MORE DYNAMIC APPROACH TO PROFITABILITY Kirsty MacCormick highlights the benefits to spa businesses of menu engineering, dynamic availability, discounting, forecasting and spa management software

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MENOPAUSE MATTERS AT WORK

Deborah Garlick of Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace outlines why older women’s health should be on the agenda for every spa business

www.europeanspamagazine.com

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Contents I SS U E 84 | S U M M ER 2022

SPA SPOTLIGHT 34

CELEBRITY BEYOND

The latest ship in Celebrity Cruises’ Edge series puts spa front and centre with treatments from Elemis. We talk to the brand’s chief product and sustainability officer, Oriele Frank, and the ship-shape spa’s designer Kelly Hoppen

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THE HEART AND SOUL OF LEFAY RESORTS AND RESIDENCES

Alcide Leali discusses the brand’s vision for health-conscious living and the recent €15 million refurbishment of its resort on Lake Garda, Italy

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64 SUPPLY & DEMAND 42

ESSE: CLARIFYING SKIN HEALTH

Biochemist and Esse founder Trevor Steyn explains the principles behind the brand’s new Clarifying collection

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ON THE MENU

Our round up of the latest product and treatment launches begins with a focus on the growth in demand for collagen supplements and asks the experts how spas can maximise retail opportunities

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TRIBE517: A NEW RISING STAR

We meet Claire Caddick, founder of Tribe517, to hear why the brand’s curated collection of unisex products and treatments is wellness gold for spas

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FIVE OF THE BEST: SUMMER SPFS

We highlight the latest products offering superb skin protection from [comfort zone], Biologique Recherche, Esse, Germaine de Capuccini and Natura Bissé

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TEMPLE SPA: TIME TO CONCENTRATE

We go behind the science to see how the brand’s innovative new powerhouse vitamin C serum, Let’s Concentrate, offers a boost for skin that’s running on empty

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GERMAINE DE CAPUCCINI

A new name and a raft of product launches is just the start for the newly created GDC Beauty Group UK, says managing director Clare Dickens

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DERMALOGICA: THE PERFECT PARTNER

Louise Langley, head of partnership acceleration in the UK and Ireland, discusses results-driven skincare for spas

European Spa magazine is published by Spa Publishing Ltd. The Publisher has taken all reasonable measures to ensure the information detailed in European Spa magazine is correct at the time of publishing, and while every care is taken to avoid inaccuracies the Publisher does not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions from any information within this edition. Views expressed in European Spa are not necessarily those of the Publisher or Spa Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved, reproduction in whole or part without the Publisher’s permission is strictly prohibited. © Spa Publishing Ltd

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Industry Intelligence Spa garden design

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Industry Intelligence Spa garden design Clockwise from far left: JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa, Italy; Mandarin Oriental Istanbul, Turkey; Cottonmill Spa at Sopwell House, UK; Hotel Villa Luisa Resort & Spa, Italy

At one with

NATURE European Spa invites four internationally renowned designers to reveal how they are creating the very best spa gardens around the world

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R EP OR T BY M A R K S M I T H

he benefits of immersion in nature are well documented and in the past decade there has been a new movement to connect spa guests with the outside world. Spa gardens have grown from simple spaces with minimal design features to become an essential part of any new build or refurbishment.

As spas around the world have reopened, guest demand has driven new investment into developing spa gardens that make the most of nature’s bounty. When human beings rest in nature it can elicit a deep emotional response and offer a pathway to health and wellbeing. Combine this with well-designed, thoughtful spaces and the spa garden can be a place of relaxation and healing.

A spa garden can simply be a haven for post-treatment relaxation, but more recently they have been expertly crafted to include thermal facilities with floor-to-ceiling windows, outdoor bathing experiences or for the performance of treatments that connect people with the earth and their senses. From standalone saunas, yoga studios and riverside hot tubs to nature trails, sensory gardens and natural swimming pools, the opportunities to create a wellness journey outside for guests is limited only by the spa operator’s budget and imagination.

Planning for success

As spa garden design develops, the opportunities continue to grow. For new build spa developments, a garden is a must wherever space allows.

For existing properties, the challenge and opportunity rests with careful analysis of the site, followed by a feasibility study and examination of return on investment. With considered space planning and design, a spa garden can be a draw for visitors and a profitable enterprise on its own.

We talk to four leading international designers about the benefits of outside spa space and how to maximise the opportunities for your spa. www.europeanspamagazine.com

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Industry Intelligence Spa garden design

Barefoot luxury and sensory experiences Beverley Bayes, creative director of Sparcstudio, discusses creating memorable outdoor spaces and how they can generate revenue for your business

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Industry Intelligence Spa garden design From previous page: The spa garden at Cottonmill Spa at Sopwell House, UK; framing the outdoors at Calcot & Spa, UK

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parcstudio has always been passionate about spa gardens, particularly as we love to create an informal ‘barefoot luxury’ vibe to the spas we design. Gardens provide an amazing opportunity for heightened sensory experiences – be it the smell of wood-burning smoke in an open fire or the aroma of herbs, trees and aromatic plants – as well as bathing and thermal rituals.

There is also a joy to be had from escaping an air-conditioned environment and enjoying fresh air.

Even in the winter, blankets, firepits, hot drinks and warming relax rooms to snuggle in are all key parts of the wellbeing experience.

“The vision for Cottonmill Spa at Sopwell House was based around a garden spa concept from day one. The three-storey building that houses the spa is glazed to blend into the landscape, providing views from each level onto the garden.

Award-winning designer Ann-Marie Powell designed the garden and together we created a seamless transition from inside to outside.”

Beverley Bayes Creative director, Sparcstudio

www.europeanspamagazine.com

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Industry Intelligence Spa garden design

SPA GARDEN TIPS: BEVERLEY BAYES FIND THE BEST ASPECT: Ensure the spa is situated so a link to the outside can be easily formed and that it has the best vista of the natural landscape.

A BIG REVEAL: Create a meandering spa journey into ‘rooms’ – don’t reveal everything at first – and be sure to create a good balance of social spaces and niches for more private relaxation.

BALANCE THE LANDSCAPE: Pay attention to soft landscaping and built features to ensure the space doesn’t feel over developed.

KEEP IT COMFORTABLE: Make sure access to the garden minimises draughts and does not adversely afftect the balance of the AC or pool environment.

CREATE A SANCTUARY: In case of a sudden downpour or very cold weather, build a space where people can take shelter if needed.

GET THE LIGHT RIGHT: Pin-spotting natural features in a beautifully illuminated garden adds another dimension to the outlook from inside when viewed at night.

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Above: A natural sunset moment adds another dimension to the garden at Cottonmill Spa at Sopwell House

A sense of place To create a sense of place in new-build spas we position the spa to ensure that guests can take full advantage of a special vista and the sun’s trajectory to experience that sunset moment. Natural swimming pools surrounded by reeds and wildlife, as found at The Scarlet and South Lodge Spa, enhance this.

To ensure a seamless flow between the indoor and outdoor sections of a spa, we provide a visual connection, such as a panoramic sauna with floor-to-ceiling glass, and ensure the décor palette runs through from inside to outside.

Embracing trends such as forest bathing allows spa gardens to creep out of the manicured confines of a walled garden and into forests, meadows, cliffs and urban roof terraces.

We also love how exterior spaces can provide an ever-changing spa setting, with seasonal changes in the planting and landscape – as well as the sky of course, which provides a dramatic backdrop and focal point in its own right.

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Industry Intelligence Spa garden design Right: The inclusion of outdoor hydrothermal experiences in spa gardens can create new revenue streams, as seen at Calcot & Spa, designed by Sparcstudio

Revenue possibilities A spa garden can enhance the guest journey and provide a multitude of revenue-generating opportunities for a business. The Spa at Pennyhill Park’s garden refurbishment scheme substantially increased the number of covers, which increased food and beverage revenue in the new spa garden.

There is also an opportunity to create private or exclusive experiences that can be purchased as an add-on to spa packages, including private cabanas.

At Rockliffe Hall we helped to create a pavilion with a retractable side and an infinity hydropool, providing an inside-outside space – light and airy in summer, cosy and warm in winter.

Spaces like this can be rented as VIP or exclusive spa pamper party experiences, while wellness decks for yoga and meditation, and outside gyms can also add value and additional revenue streams for hotel businesses. www.sparcstudio.co.uk

beverley@sparcstudio.co.uk

www.sparcstudio.co.uk

Industry Intelligence Spa garden design

Regenerative health and green spa design Matteo Thun, architect and founder of Matteo Thun & Partners, praises the effects of natural materials and the benefits of connecting with nature 18

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Industry Intelligence Spa garden design From left: The outdoor spa spaces at Waldhotel Bürgenstock in Switzerland and Terme Merano in Italy were designed by Matteo Thun & Partners

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ature has always been an integral part of all our architecture projects. It is one of my greatest passions to design outside spaces.

We try to work with natural material and its tactility as much as possible into the projects we work on. It is believed that humans regenerate much better and more sustainably in a pleasant, natural environment and this determines our design.

For us, the connection to nature is crucial. Ideally, an outdoor spa space should draw the eye and the senses to the beauty and forces of nature. We try to incorporate rosemary hedges, wisteria and pergolas or bougainvillea walls.

Embracing the elements Water is also an important element in this process.

It is the essence of life and it conveys purity and cleanliness; it is also the essence of what a spa is about. Outside, in a garden environment, water makes us immediately feel lighter and fresher.

Symmetry of design and a sense of the natural or ‘wild’ are seen as integral and connected. The one does not exclude the other.

When designing spa gardens, it is all about the

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“Terme Merano in Italy (below) has 32 individual spa basins outside to create a visual and physical continuum between indoors and outdoors. This compounds an already complete wellness experience where natural stone and wood forge continuity between the indoor pools, fitness spaces and relaxation beds, and the comparable outdoor facilities.”

Matteo Thun Architect, Matteo Thun & Partners

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Industry Intelligence Spa garden design Right from top: Matteo Thun projects at JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa, Davines Village, home of [comfort zone], and the Elle Decor Grand Hotel at Palazzo Morando, Italy

relationship between physical space and wellbeing. To create a sense of privacy when designing an outdoor space, you need to begin with the landscape design, even if the given space is a hotel garden. Privacy can be granted through a green oasis flanked by furniture that forces the idea and feeling of a nest.

Trends in spa garden design Key trends in spa garden design have most recently been influenced by the pandemic. Two themes, in general, have become more important than ever: outdoor spaces and touch-free spa accessories. A healthy environment is a key promoter of wellbeing and a spa garden should provide private zones for guests’ comfort. Green spa design transforms health, promoting stress reduction and improving mood, cognitive performance, social engagement and sleep.

In addition, exceptional wellness facilities and medical care are merging, and we are currently working on several health clinics that offer this combination – concepts that we believe will move more and more into the hotel business in the future. www.matteothun.com

SPA GARDEN TIPS: MATTEO THUN LIGHT UP THE NIGHT: Create a change in the experience of the spa from day to night by changing the look and feel of the spaces with garden lighting to highlight the landscaping and plants.

OUTDOOR POOLS: These are moving away from tiles and more traditional moulded surfaces to continuous, free-flowing composite liners that evoke the colours and tones of the immediate environment, creating a more natural-looking water colour.

GOING HOT AND COLD: The key to providing an interesting and balanced wellness experience is to offer a combination of pools with different temperatures, an outdoor sauna nearby and a plunge pool.

AL FRESCO MASSAGE: There is a strong trend towards delivering targeted massage treatments in pools, ranging from neck to foot rituals.

SWIM IN AND OUT: Swim-through pools allow guests to seamlessly swim outside without leaving the comfort of the heated pool. The result is a blurring of the boundaries between indoors and outdoors.

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Industry Intelligence Spa garden design

Integrating landscapes with inspired design Alberto Apostoli, founder of Studio Apostoli, talks about what inspires his designs and how to reference the five elements in your spa garden

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ne of the most important objectives for architects and designers when creating a spa garden is to create spaces that are perfectly integrated with the surrounding landscape. I want to create architecture that seems almost like a natural element and therefore is perfectly balanced with the outside. I’m talking about creating lightness, about creating ethereal shapes suggested by the environment.

Nature is much more skilled than human beings at creating architecture – just think of a tree, a structure that the higher it gets the bigger it becomes. We 22

cannot help but take inspiration, creating shapes and volumes that are perfectly integrated with nature and that are able to give it something. This does not mean creating anthropomorphic forms, but one must commit to using a certain softness similar to that of the hills and dunes.

A visual reference My greatest passion when designing outdoors is looking for the best field of view in the landscape. I need this point of reference to be able to enhance the trees as if they were sculptures – ones that know www.europeanspamagazine.com

Industry Intelligence Spa garden design Clockwise from left: Alberto Apostoli spa garden projects at Neró Spa, Montegrotto Terme and Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomiti, Italy

“My favourite spa garden is obviously the one I have yet to realise. I would like to create a place that takes full advantage of nature, specifically the sacred trees, such as the olive or cedar.

It would be an environment that can be traced back to the local religion, which combines a mix of architecture, nature and spirituality.”

Alberto Apostoli Founder, Studio Apostoli

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Industry Intelligence Spa garden design Right from top: Shin Rin Spa, US; Hotel Capovaticano Resort Thalasso and Spa and Vision Hotel, Lake Garda, Italy

how to grasp the orientation of the sun and that can enhance every surrounding element.

I like to emphasise paths that have particularly dry vegetation with grassy surfaces, or vice versa. One of the most important aspects for me is the dualism in the different perceptions we have of nature. I always try to integrate the five elements of the Taoist religion too – wood, fire, earth, metal and water.

Creating a flow To create a seamless flow between the indoor and outdoor sections of a spa you need to give guests a reason to go out through clever design that invites them to explore. The designer must be able to change perspective and should not be limited to simply adding a few trees, plants or a pond; they must design as if the exterior were a huge room, while maintaining the same language present inside.

If the space is limited, it is necessary to value the human being more than the environment, focusing on the different types of customers who might come to visit the place. People are more important than architecture. Ergonomics is certainly not a simple and intuitive science, but it must absolutely be studied. www.albertoapostoli.com

SPA GARDEN TIPS: ALBERTO APOSTOLI SIGNATURE POINTS: Create places that can emphasise the four most significant moments of the day – sunrise, noon, sunset and midnight. Each structure should have at least one place that benefits from these moments.

NATURAL FLOW: It is necessary to design the water as it would exist in nature, thinking thoroughly about the path it takes, how it flows and what surrounds it.

PROTECT THE EARTH: We must respect the importance of the earth to the subsoil. The land must be understood as a material product, each place has its own characteristics and must be absolutely valued.

SPIRITUAL CONNECTIONS: It is necessary to find within a place at least one or two spaces where there can be a strong spiritual connotation, to be able to help both the body and the mind/soul.

REDUCE YOUR CONSUMPTION: Build your project with reference to sustainability, which deals with the relationship between materials, energy and water.

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Industry Intelligence Spa garden design

Achieving balance and harmony through nature Philip Jaffa, founder of Scape Design, discusses the importance of reconnecting with nature and how spa garden design can enhance the spa guest journey

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umankind’s deep-rooted emotional response to nature has been integral to everything my practice has created. We are committed to engaging with and furthering the debate on how best to reconnect humanity with nature through our tourism projects.

One of the greatest challenges we face as humans has come from our separation from the natural world. Our work via the landscapes we create is to find simple yet pioneering ways to promote inner balance and harmony for spa guests through a reconnection to the natural world and with it, a deeper connection to oneself.

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A holistic approach to wellbeing requires us as designers, and hotel operators, to embrace the opportunity for wellbeing throughout the experience of each resort and for the entire duration of each guest’s stay. Hence, all the landscaped environment of a resort can become an opportunity to promote health, wellbeing and connection to the local environment and the wider beauty of nature.

Exploring the benefits of nature In several of our current projects we are opening up the opportunity for guests to really explore the entire grounds of a destination for the purpose of finding www.europeanspamagazine.com

Industry Intelligence Spa garden design Clockwise from left: Scape Design projects at Anazoe Spa, Costa Navarino, Greece; Mandarin Oriental Bodrum, Turkey; and Cape Sounio Spa Resort in Athens, Greece

that deeper connection to nature, with remote massage pavilions offering spectacular views, yoga decks aligned to the morning sun located on coastal rockscapes, crossfit stations added to the usual tennis and sports areas, or a sauna cave hidden away.

Organic garden spaces, when used creatively, can add an entirely new dimension to the wellbeing experience. Dietitians can promote and educate

“From the beginning, Mandarin Oriental Bodrum had all the ingredients for success. Located in a pristine coastal forest with amazing sea views, it was a perfect space for health and wellbeing in nature.

Combined with this, the project itself is a testament to the owner’s vision and his willingness to invest in an opening-day mature landscape.”

Philip Jaffa Founder, Scape Design

www.europeanspamagazine.com

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Industry Intelligence Spa garden design

PHILIP JAFFA: NATURE BY DESIGN A SENSE OF PLACE: Connect with the unique locality of each individual site by blending the gardens into the natural environment.

PRIVACY AND SOCIABILITY: Create moments of intimacy and privacy within the garden – places for contemplation and meditation. But also, do not forget places for social connection, like a pool area or juice bar.

BUILD ANTICIPATION: Lead guests on an unfolding journey through the gardens with moments of surprise and delight, such as chancing upon a plunge pool, Jacuzzi, or hidden sauna grotto.

WELLNESS BEYOND THE SPA: The art of wellbeing should not just be limited to the spa gardens. The grounds of the entire resort can be activated with idyllic spaces for yoga stretching, meditation, scent gardens and relaxing connection with nature.

Above: Striking outdoor design has created an outdoor room for refreshment at Mandarin Oriental Bodrum, Turkey

guests on balanced diets and ways to grow healthy vegetables, chefs can host organic cooking classes in an outdoor kitchen.

Some braver hotels are taking it a step further with stronger ties to ancient indigenous health practices.

This may include the creation of labyrinth and Chakra gardens for colour and sensual therapies, and the building of Yoga Shala, tepees, yurts and sweat lodges for dynamic group sessions.

We strive to incorporate natural contours and encourage architects to blend the buildings into the landscape as much as possible. Most importantly our work involves deep listening to what the land wants to tell us: where to place the sunset yoga deck or to position and orientate a grove of shady trees, for example. We seek the unexpected, like a unique rockface that cries out to be integrated into our design solution. www.scapeda.co.uk

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Thought Leadership Leslie Bruder, The Institute for Phenomenal Touch

Transforming touch therapy Leslie Bruder, founder of The Institute for Phenomenal Touch, talks exclusively about the 15 key principles that can be used to enhance therapist performance

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eslie Bruder knows about massage. Having begun her career as an enterprising five-year-old earning quarters for rubbing her grandfather’s feet, she now runs The Institute for Phenomenal Touch in the US, sharing her gift for touch with aspiring and advanced massage therapists. With her students having taken first, second and third places in the Freestyle category at the 2018 World Massage Championships in Copenhagen, her results speak for themselves.

Speaking exclusively to European Spa, she shares the principles that turn an ordinary massage experience into an extraordinary one.

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How did you begin your career?

I’ve always been tactile and felt like I had a knowledge in my hands. Aged five, my grandfather would pay me to massage his head and feet. Then when I was 12, my neighbour needed knee surgery and I said, ‘Let me just look at it’. I put my hands on his knee and went into a kind of trance. It was like I could see inside. For a half an hour or so I played with my hands ‘inside’ of his knee. It really felt like I was inside moving things around. The next day he went to get a pre-surgery ultrasound after which they said, ‘We don’t understand. There’s no longer anything wrong’. That was the first time I knew that I had some kind of gift.

In 1983, I applied to the Boulder School of Massage Therapy. After they received a sample of my work, I was told to take everything I innately knew and put it on a shelf temporarily while I was studying. I did that and learned so much about physiology, pathology and different forms of massage – Swedish, Shiatsu and Integrative. At the end, I took all my stuff down off the shelf and brought it all together to teach my own creation of bodywork, which I called Three Dimensional Massage.

How did The Institute for Phenomenal Touch come about?

I set up the school in 2004. It began as a one-month programme and it

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Thought Leadership Leslie Bruder, The Institute for Phenomenal Touch

evolved into this two-year journey. Our motto is, ‘Why be ordinary when you can be extraordinary?’, which inspired the principles our curriculum is based on. I figured out what I was doing by studying myself and then teaching. The principles developed in that teaching process. The moves came out of the principles, and then we started naming the moves. It was a collective experience creating this work, which I renamed Phenomenal Touch Massage.

Tell us about the principles

Although we work with well over 100 principles, there are 15 core ones (see box) but the most important one is to ‘meet your client where they are’, and to do that you need to ‘be fully present’ – nothing else exists but that person and you. ‘Listen deeply’ to what they want and what their body is telling you. You’re there to help the client find themselves and listening deeply, meeting them and being present are very important principles. www.europeanspamagazine.com

Previous page and above: Leslie Bruder discovered she had a gift for body work at the age of 12 and has been developing her skills ever since

After that, you must find the correct speed for your client. Most massage therapists work twice as fast as the body can absorb. I work very slowly, like molasses. If I work slow enough then the body I’m working on can catch up to and keep up with me.

Why do you think therapists work too fast?

It’s partly cultural in that many countries teach massage therapists to work fast, but I believe it is emotional as well.

I went to the Dominican Republic to train 21 therapists at a very high-end spa. Before I began teaching, I watched them work for ten minutes to assess how I could be of help. Immediately I could see they were all working super fast. After I helped them to slow down, several of them burst into tears as they

15 key principles of Phenomenal Touch FIVE WAYS TO IMPROVE massage YOUR SPA OFFERING 1.

Meet the client where they are

2.

Be fully present

3.

Listen deeply

4.

Watch the speed limit

5.

Work three-dimensionally

6.

Move the body in space

7.

Use momentum

8.

Create undulation

9.

Incorporate fulcrums

10. Utilise gravity 11. Make seamless transitions 12. Hook on to the tissue 13. Enter muscle in a short position 14. Be the wave 15. Work with reverence

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Thought Leadership Leslie Bruder, The Institute for Phenomenal Touch This page: Among the key principles for improved massage techniques and results are to slow down and use the body’s fulcrums for ease of movement

could finally feel themselves working more slowly.

My sense is that most of us don’t want to feel. We spend so much time pushing away our pain and if we slow down enough we’ll feel it. That goes both for the person receiving and the person giving. It can be scary to slow down but the rewards are huge.

What are the other principles?

‘Working three-dimensionally’, and by that I mean working both sides of the body at once. This not only feels better (as we are three-dimensional beings) and works twice as much of the body in the same amount of time, but it also tricks the muscle into letting go. The tension has no where to run and hide and so it dissipates instead.

‘Moving the body in space’ is another principle – lifting it off the table and moving it slowly so the client feels as if they’re in water. It releases tension like nothing flat can do. It’s just so much more natural. This requires ‘momentum’, if you don’t have that you’re using strength, but with it you can move the body without hurting yourself.

Our next principle, ‘undulation’, takes moving a step further – lifting and dropping the body in a rubbery, wave-like fashion creates a dynamic 32

but controlled sense of falling.

In order to do this we take advantage of gravity by allowing the client’s body to fall naturally as we slowly resist their weight. We also ‘use gravity’, rather than strength, to drop our own body weight into the client. This not only feels much better but it also saves the therapist’s hands and arms.

Along with this is the use of natural ‘fulcrums’. If I try to lift a client’s head, it’s heavy, but putting my arm underneath it gives me leverage.

Fulcrums allow you to lift the body

with ease – it feels better for the client and it creates a sensation of levitation.

Another very important principle is ‘hooking on to the tissue’. Most massage therapists move over your muscles rather than moving the muscle itself. Hooking on to the muscle with your finger pads and creating suction removes all the slack between your hand and the client’s tissue. With that type of contact, you can effectively engage and sculpt the muscle. The difference between the two ways of touching is huge.

‘Shortening the muscle’ is also crucial. If you work it in the elongated pose it’s going to kick you out. If you shorten and create space, you can get so much deeper without causing pain.

Phenomenal Touch incorporates ‘seamless transitions’, fluidly overlapping one move to the next.

Rather than working hard to lift and move the client’s body, the therapist simply moves their own body as if they were a wave, bringing the clients body along for a symphonic dance of touch.

All these things go together to create an extraordinary experience.

Finally, a massage should be performed ‘with reverence’ – an unconditional love that treats the body as a temple. I massage every person as though they’re the most important being on the planet.

How can all this be done in the time constraints of a spa?

Phenomenal Touch does not require any more time to do than any other form of bodywork. It is what I practice because it was birthed innately from me, but any therapist can take whatever technique or form of massage they practice and incorporate these principles into what they already do in the exact same time frame. It will only serve to elevate their present form to its highest level of art. www.phenomenaltouch.com

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Spa Spotlight Celebrity Beyond cruise ship

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Spa Spotlight Celebrity Beyond cruise ship

Sailing above and beyond

European Spa takes an exclusive look at the new spa designed by Kelly Hoppen, which has an exclusive partnership with Elemis at sea aboard the latest Celebrity Cruises ship, Celebrity Beyond R EP OR T BY M A R K S M I T H

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s the cruise ship industry slowly returns to normal after the pandemic, we took a trip on the inaugural cruise of Celebrity Beyond, the latest in Celebrity Cruises’ Edge series.

Celebrity Beyond has enhanced the features and design of its award-winning predecessors to create innovative luxury spaces that include 32 distinct food and beverage venues, a retail mall, a casino, a theatre and a luxury spa.

Celebrity Cruises is one of five cruise brands operated by global cruise company Royal Caribbean Group and this new ship joins the line’s fleet of 14 ships that visit 300 destinations in over 70 countries.

The innovative design includes contributions from globally renowned designers and architects Kelly Hoppen, CBE, Nate Berkus, Jouin Manku and Tom Wright, who have sought to redefine the art of luxury travel for the ship’s 3,260 passengers and 1,400 crew from 60 countries.

Wellness beyond Celebrity Beyond aims to take wellness beyond the spa into all aspects of its offering. “Three years ago we decided to make wellness one of the key pillars of our business,” says Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, CEO, Celebrity Cruises. “We are incorporating it into all the things we think about and all the things we offer our guests regardless of where they are – we don’t want it only to exist in the spa.”

As a result, the ship has added AquaClass SkySuites designed with wellness in mind. It has also forged a partnership with actress and entrepreneur Gwyneth Paltrow, who serves as the line’s new www.europeanspamagazine.com

Well-being Advisor. All AquaClass guests have access to the spa, a clean-eating concept restaurant, Blu, plus fitness kits from Paltrow’s lifestyle brand goop, in-room fitness menus and mindfulness content on TV. Goop will also curate onboard wellness programming and participate in the line’s new Women in Wellness initiative.

“As Celebrity’s new wellbeing advisor, I’ll be working with my team to bring onboard some of our favourite practices and tools for deepening wellbeing and joy,” said Paltrow, who will join a future wellness cruise to deliver an on-board programme designed exclusively for the line.

A spa for the self and the sea Designed by Kelly Hoppen, CBE with wellness programming developed by OneSpaWorld, The Spa on Celebrity Beyond has been designed to explore the connection between ‘the self, the sea and the world beyond’.

“Three years ago we decided to make wellness one of the key pillars of our business...

We are incorporating it into all the things we offer our guests... we don’t want it only to exist in the spa.”

Lisa Lutoff-Perlo CEO, Celebrity Cruises

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Spa Spotlight Celebrity Beyond cruise ship

“We have two acupuncturists who have four dedicated treatment rooms. It’s a huge commitment, but we know that we can fulfil it because the demand is there.”

Aishling McCarthy Director of operations, maritime, OneSpaWorld

Complementing the spa’s more than 120 rejuvenating treatments is a new collection of 12 therapies inspired by the locations that Celebrity ships visit. The menu also includes signature rituals developed by the Elemis team as well as a high-tech Elemis BIOTEC 2.0 machine.

“The spa industry is ever changing, so you have to move with it, which is also why we have introduced our speciality treatment tables,” adds Aishling McCarthy, director of operations, maritime, OneSpaWorld. These include the first-at-sea Gharieni MLX I3Dome – a three-in-one,detox and skin rejuvenation treatment table and a VEMI experience with vibracoustic, electromagnetic and infrared technology.

“Pain management is one of the areas that we really focus on,” explains McCarthy. “When you look at it from a revenue perspective, that’s where Clockwise from top right: The thermal suite and crystalarium aboard Celebrity Beyond; the exclusive Retreat area designed by Kelly Hoppen; one of the 32 food and drink outlets on board; an Aqua Class Sky Suite

SPA AT SEA WITH ONESPAWORLD OneSpaWorld is one of the largest health and wellness services companies in the world. Formerly known as Steiner, OneSpaWorld now operates four brands in 67 destination resort spas across 18 countries, including Bliss Spa, Chavana Spa, Glow Spa and Mandara Spa. The company also operates 20 cruise line spa brands globally, including Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises UK and Norwegian Cruise Line. OneSpaWorld currently employs 5,000 people from 86 nations, speaking 27 languages. www.onespaworld.com

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Spa Spotlight Celebrity Beyond cruise ship

Designing for calm and tranquillity at sea Kelly Hoppen, CBE speaks exclusively to European Spa about the cutting-edge interior design onboard Celebrity Beyond With 40 years’ experience in the design industry, Kelly Hoppen, CBE is one of the most acclaimed interior designers in the world. Her successful commercial projects include hotels, bars and restaurants around the globe.

Working with Celebrity Cruises, Hoppen brought her unique sense of style to The Retreat and all of the suites on the company’s first Edge-series ships, and on Celebrity Beyond she has reimagined these along with the main pool area and the spa.

We talked to her about how the impactful design concept for the spa enhances its connection with passengers.

What was the design brief for the spa onboard Celebrity Beyond?

Next-level wellness; total relaxation; connection to the outdoors. We also wanted to continue the design narrative of Edge and Apex, with their calming neutral tones and carefully balanced interiors.

How did you realise the concept?

We’ve maximised the use of natural light throughout the spa with floor-to-ceiling sloped windows, so there’s a real feeling of openness in there. I also wove plants into the fittings and around the space, as well as organic forms and welcoming textures such as the pebble-patterned flooring in the Float Room, to enhance that connection to nature and the serenity that flows with it.

What were the key materials used to complete the project?

Beautiful veneers and mosaic tiles were used throughout – all perfectly balanced together and enhanced by rich marble and lacquer tones.

Can you explain the story behind the hanging sculpture in the spa reception?

I just wanted something ‘wow’ and impactful, but elegant and serene at the same time to

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greet people when they enter the space. The idea was to have floating ceramic petals that cascade down above my circular lacquered hall table. I wanted to make sure that the design kept with the idea of nature and maintained that connection between the outside of the ship and the inside of the spa.

Why is it important to connect guests with the ocean onboard the spa?

Having that enhanced connection with the ocean and the sky is the embodiment of calm for most of us, so having the water just outside the window was the ultimate gift when designing the spa. It’s the perfect opportunity for mindful reflection and gratitude after a relaxing treatment. The calming balance of the sea evokes thoughts of escapism. www.kellyhoppeninteriors.com

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Spa Spotlight Celebrity Beyond cruise ship

we over index so we’ve expanded these services on this ship with two acupuncturists who have four dedicated treatment rooms. It’s a huge commitment, but we know that we can fulfil it because the demand is there.”

The spa offer also includes electro-acupuncture, cupping, R3 pain management therapy, Mindset guided meditation, Jou herbal pain relievers, Good Feet footprint analysis and a pain management menu with Hyperice.

At the heart of the guest journey is the Sea Thermal Suite, a collection of eight distinct spaces that include the Mist Aroma Steam and Desert Infrared Sauna rooms; heated loungers with panoramic views of the ocean; a rainfall water therapy room; experience showers; a crystalarium; a hamman Turkish bath; and a Float Zen Zone with hanging chairs.

The spa also hosts the first Kerastase Institute at

sea, offering the latest innovations in haircare and treatments; Ideal Image Ocean MedSpa, offering cutting edge medical aesthetics; a men’s barbers; and a new menu of recovery services using the latest technology to improve workout recovery time and overall better physical health.

Women in Wellness The story of Celebrity Beyond is led by women – the company has a female CEO and the ship is captained by Kate McCue. It’s therefore perhaps natural for the ship to introduce its Women in Wellness programme, said to be the first of its kind at sea. The concept brings together some of the wellness world’s leading minds and practitioners to curate spa treatments, mind-body programmes, fitness classes and in-room TV wellness access.

“Celebrity Cruises came to us and said we’re going to have a wellness pillar and we’d like you to suggest

Pushing the boundaries of skin wellness Oriele Frank, chief product and sustainability officer at Elemis, explains how the partnership with Celebrity Beyond is driving the brand into new territory It’s fantastic to be leading in wellness and pushing the boundaries with the team on Celebrity Beyond. The spa really is set to be the focal point with people coming on board intending to really concentrate on their own wellness, and that’s a real shift in mindset.

Passengers will have the chance to really work on their mental and physical wellness, and I think that’s a big change for a lot of people. They might try things they’ve never tried before, like F45, cycling or swimming, so I think that it’s an exciting time to reimagine wellness at sea.

Lisa Lutoff-Perlo tried to inject wellness across the ship and wanted leaders and experts in their field to feed into that experience for the Women in Wellness programme.

Elemis will be hosting a cruise on Celebrity Beyond later this year that will be about the brand and all about wellness. It will dial up the iconic British status of Elemis with afternoon teas, seminars with me and Noella [Gabriel, cofounder and global president of Elemis]. There’ll be signature treatments too. The whole spotlight will be on the brand.

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Nicola Stott, director of special projects at Elemis, works closely with OneSpaWorld on every aspect of our relations. It’s everything from top to bottom, so we also cover the training in the OneSpaWorld Academies to ensure they have everything they need to deliver the Elemis message through their trainers. Every aspect is scripted to ensure consistency.

We are working super closely with OneSpaWorld on the long-term vision as the new build programme for ships is set for the next 15 years.

We have a trend presentation twice a year that looks at our land and sea businesses, which are quite different.

To achieve good sales figures from a retail point of view, the facial business needs to be strong, so we’ve worked closely with the team, looking at the whole business model. The big news piece on board is the fact that we have launched the new BIOTEC 2.0 for the first-time onboard a ship. We are super excited to see that here as it really elevates the experience and the results for clients. We know that when you have a technology facial, treatment to revenue spend goes up. www.elemis.com

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Spa Spotlight Celebrity Beyond cruise ship

Right from top: An infrared sauna provides stunning views of the sea; the main pool deck on Celebrity Beyond; the spa reception area with curved staircase leading up to the gym

something innovative,” explains McCarthy. “We saw that the key part of the business is with women, so we sought out the trailblazers in each specific area of wellness.”

The women include Katie Brauer, founder of The Yoga Professional and creator of the onboard Yoga Flow classes; Elemis skin and body care experts, co-founder and global president Noella Gabriel and chief product and sustainability officer Oriele Frank; Kiki Koroshetz, wellness director at goop; F45 Training athlete Morgan Mitchell; Kimberly Snyder, founder of Solluna; and Ruth Zukerman, co-founder of SoulCycle. Their expertise has informed many of the on-board programmes and will feed into individual cruises that are themed around wellness.

SPA STATISTICS Celebrity Beyond www.celebritycruises.com CEO Celebrity Cruises: Lisa Lutoff-Perlo Director of operations, OneSpaWorld: Aishling McCarthy Spa director: Ivana Galic Fitness manager: Drazena Marjanovic Spa size: 1,300 sqm Staff: 35 Treatment Rooms: 24 Towels, robes, slippers: The Comphy Company Uniforms: Cintas Clinician treatment beds: Oakworks Specialist treatment beds: Gharieni Software system: OneSpaWorld Suppliers: Iyashi Dôme, Elemis, Hyperice, Cool Sculpting, Thermage, CND, Kerastase, Ionethermie, Botox, Dysport, Restylane, VEMI, Nouveau Brows and Lashes, The Good Feet Store, Jou, TENS Gym suppliers: F45 Training, InBody, Normatec, Concept 2 Rowerg, Power Systems fitness equipment, American Barbell

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Supply & Demand Esse promotion

Clarifying skin health

Esse founder Trevor Steyn discusses skin rewilding and the brand’s new Clarifying collection

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aintaining the planet’s resources and biodiversity, which is becoming increasingly important to consumers, has long been a focus for Trevor Steyn. The South African biochemist, who started international probiotic skincare brand Esse back in 2002, has spent the last two decades formulating organic products that respect the planet while optimising skin health on a microscopic level.

Esse’s radical approach to skin health challenges current thinking on how to promote healthy ageing and improve skin sensitivity. Having coined the phrase “rewilding the skin”, Steyn 42

and his team offer spas products and treatments developed to protect the complex and vast microbe communities that live on our skin.

We ask the pioneering expert about the future of skincare and the launch of Esse’s new Clarifying range.

What is your approach to skincare?

Understanding the human microbiome has revolutionised our understanding of health. We can’t optimise human health without considering our microbes and this is as true for the skin as it is for the gut. This means that the future is probiotic not antibiotic.

Our microbes protect us and modulate

our skin’s immune response, and we have treated them badly over the last 100 years. Consumers believed in the ‘war on germs’ and didn’t fully consider the impact of products that the multinationals promoted. Skincare is a very different offering when you understand skin as an intricate ecosystem that requires a diverse group of co-evolved microbes.

How does this ethos inform Esse’s new Clarifying range?

Simplicity is key. There are only four products in this range and it is exclusively available to professionals.

The collection takes a microbiome www.europeanspamagazine.com

Supply & Demand Esse promotion

approach to acne, and we’ve combined some new actives and techniques with effective oldies such as salicylic acid.

We’ve created a very mild, detoxifying cleanser. Conventional ranges tend to strip skin of its oil but this is counter-productive as if you remove the surface oil, skin will respond by producing more sebum and this drives the formation of more comedones. The usual approach is to use retinoids but we have chosen to replace these with bakuchiol, which offers the same results but without the phototoxicity and sensitising effects.

We’ve also used live lactobacillus probiotics to calm inflammation and boost barrier function. The probiotics produce anti-microbial peptides that make life very difficult for pathogenic microbes. Low vitamin D levels are very closely correlated with increased acne symptoms, so we use pre-vitamin D to boost the levels in skin. www.europeanspamagazine.com

Overall, we have outperformed other topical approaches and we come close to matching long-term antibiotic and retinoid combinations – obviously with fewer side effects.

Above: Esse founder Trevor Steyn (centre) says its Clarifying collection (right) outperforms traditionally formulated products

What specific skin concern treatments have you developed for spas?

We’ve put together a unique facial that uses live probiotic bacteria. It’s called the Esse Live Probiotic Experience.

The client is taken through the process of reactivating the probiotics. These microbes prefer low levels of oxygen, which is why we apply them below an alginate mask to give them a window of opportunity to establish a niche in the client’s skin microbiome. The results have been great.

certification, vegan accreditation and carbon-neutral status but we generally prefer to work with spas that really prioritise the results on skin.

Clients are often interested in a brand’s environmental credentials but will make their final choice based on efficacy. We understand this, so we generally downplay our certifications as these are associated with a less scientific approach. Looking to the future we are also expanding our offering into the medical aesthetics channel and looking at new in-spa treatments using narrow-band light.

What type of spas would find Esse to be a great partner?

We tend to attract more ethically minded spas because of our organic

To find out how Esse’s approach to skincare could attract new clients to your spa, visit: www.esseskincare.co.uk

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On the Menu

O U R P I C K O F T H E L AT E S T P R O D U C T L A U N C H E S A N D T R E AT M E N T I N N O VAT I O N S E d i te d by M a r k S m i t h

A blossoming market for beauty from within

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he market for collagen supplements is booming, driven by consumers’ growing desire to prevent premature ageing and an increased interest in ingestible nutritional supplements. Mordor Intelligence expects the European market for these products to grow 6% annually up until 2027 and the opportunities for spa operators are vast.

Reported to improve skin health and hair growth, collagen supplements come in several forms, including powdered supplements, capsules and gummies, and drinks and shots. “Collagen supplements serve as part of any antiageing skincare regime and it should be explained to clients that taking them daily is just as important as applying their moisturiser,” says Krystina Dwyer of Elemis.

Recent launches in the market include a nutraceutical drink supplement from Totally Derma that features collagen peptide hyaluronic acid. Face Gym Active Blast has also released a bioavailable vegan collagen product that is derived from fermented yeast. Germaine de Capuccini’s Complete Skin Collagen + HA features hydrolised collagen and hyaluronic acid, while Thalgo’s Collagène 10,000 boasts 10,000mg of marine collagen with selenium and zinc. Elsewhere, Heaven Skincare’s new Collagen Drops are a dual-purpose product that contains high levels of marine collagen and can be applied topically or taken orally.

Catching on to collagen Customer education is key to retailing collagen supplements and this can be done by ensuring staff know the ingredients and benefits, plus what the product tastes like.

Social media, blog posts and newsletters can be powerful tools in providing background information on the benefits of supplements, and expert workshops and events in spa can also be beneficial. Providing opportunities to try products in advance is another important part of the sales conversion process. A collagen drink on arrival or in the post-treatment room makes an interesting alternative to tea and focuses the client’s attention on additional retail offerings.

“Offer a supplement as part of an anti-ageing facial treatment,” says Marian Harvey, managing director of Thalgo UK. “It is an effective way to encourage retail sales and to continue the results at home. Offer the shot drink, capsule or tea prior to starting the facial.”

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“Offer a supplement as part of an anti-ageing facial treatment. It is an effective way to encourage retail sales and to continue the results at home.”

Marian Harvey Thalgo Merchandising is another vital tool. “Collagen is effective at reducing wrinkles and firming the tissues,” says Gina Baker, training manager at GDC Beauty Group UK. “It is the ideal product to display next to anti-ageing skincare ranges.

Offer a ‘collagen power pack’ that includes a super serum and moisturiser and a month’s supply of collagen drinks.”

Collagen-boosting supplements Not all beauty supplements contain collagen but rather are formulated to stimulate or boost collagen in the skin.

“Clients may consume pills, powders or drinks containing collagen, but this may not be necessary”, says Lorraine Perretta, head of nutrition for Advanced Nutrition Programme, “Collagen is made from amino acids found in protein foods. Clients need synergistic nutrients to make this process of converting amino acids into collagen more efficient.”

Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Collagen Synergy is a good example of this, as is Monat’s Collagen Key, formulated with vegan amino acids, and ESPA’s Resilience Skin Defence Beauty & Wellbeing Elixir with acerola cherry. Elemis has also introduced its Pro-Collagen Skin Future collagen-boosting supplements, which contain full-spectrum molecular weight hyaluronic acid, antioxidant blend, zinc and vitamin A and C. HOW TO GET IN TOUCH www.mordorintelligence.com | www.elemis.com www.totallyderma.com | www.facegym.com www.germaine-de-capuccini.co.uk www.thalgo.co.uk | www.heavenskincare.com www.advancednutritionprogramme.com www.monatglobal.com | www.espaskincare.com

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Supply & Demand On the Menu

CBD in the spa Temple Spa has introduced two new CBD treatments to its spa menu, which incorporate the skin and body benefits of CBD as well as the relaxation and wellbeing benefits of massage.

Stress Not is a CBD massage offered in 30, 60 and 90-minute options.

This calming and anti-inflammatory massage targets muscle pain and melts away tension with warmed stones to relax and soothe. The CBD balm, Stress Not, works to ease muscle tension and calm busy minds. The 90-minute treatment includes a signature face and scalp massage using the Light Relief CBD skin booster facial oil.

The 75-minute anti-inflammatory Light Relief CBD skin-boosting facial is ideal for fragile and dehydrated skin. Starting with a calming face massage and eye treatment it is followed with a hot-oil scalp massage and a hand and arm massage using warmed stones. www.templespa.com

Skin purity Developed to promote clearer, calmer skin, Elemental Herbology has introduced Purity Facial Oil, a lightweight treatment oil with salicylic acid and bakuchiol. Targeting and reducing blemishes while maintaining skin hydration and reducing inflammation, the facial oil is recommended for combination/oily skin.

Salicylic acid, a BHA, helps to reduce blemishes by exfoliating the skin, keeping pores clear. Bakuchiol, a natural alternative to retinol, helps to improve the appearance of acne-prone skin and works to reduce scarring. Hemp seed oil, a rich source of omegas three, six and nine, helps to calm inflammation and strengthen the skin barrier. Sea buckthorn oil, rich in vitamins A, C and E protects the skin against environmental aggressors, pollution and free radical damage. The unique combination also helps to balance oil production and reduce breakouts.

To use, simply mix one-to-two drops of Purity Facial Oil in with your morning or evening moisturiser to nourish the skin. www.elementalherbology.com

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www.premiersoftware.uk/made-for-life

Supply & Demand On the Menu

Blue light protection Adding to its Pro-Collagen collection, Elemis has introduced Pro-Collagen Morning Matrix. Said to be a perfect partner to Pro-Collagen Overnight Matrix, the new silicone-free, anti-ageing daytime moisturiser features a ‘bouncy’ texture that replenishes moisture throughout the day, revealing a younger-looking complexion with visible bounce-back.

Suitable for all skin types, the creme-gel improves the feeling of firmness and elasticity while reducing the signs of tension and fatigue caused by modernday stressors, such as blue light from computers and digital devices. This light releases free radicals that leads to visibly accelerated signs of ageing, including premature lines and wrinkles, dullness, uneven complexion, and loss of suppleness.

The formula is infused with padina pavonica ferment, a new-generation active that helps to achieve firmer-looking skin due to its exceptional antioxidant benefits.

Japanese artemisia capillaris protects skin against the effects of blue light, while turmeric curcuma longa helps support skin by protecting collagen and elastin from stress-induced degradation. www.elemis.com

Summer skin treats Thalgo is celebrating Summer with a series of great value gift sets and a targeted complementary eye product for at-home skin routines. A Spa Eyes roller-ball massage accessory is ideal for the eye contour area.

Purchases of £60 or more will receive a free recycled cotton beauty case.

Source Marine contains Hydrating Melting Cream, which promises 24-hour hydration and comforts dehydrated skin, as well as Smoothing Eye Care to hydrate, smooth and revitalise the eye area.

Silicium Marin features Lifting Correcting Day Cream to restore firmness and elasticity, visibly smoothing the appearance of wrinkles. Lifting Correcting Eye Cream fills and reduces wrinkles and puffiness, while Hyalu-Procollagène combines Wrinkle Correcting Gel-Cream to smoothe the skin and fill wrinkles, along with Wrinkle Correcting Pro Eye Patches that promise to plump up the skin in ten minutes. The combination leaves the eye area younger looking with a reduction in the appearance of wrinkles. www.thalgo.co.uk

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skin health. personalised.

Tailored experiences for multiple skin types.

To learn more about adding HydraFacial to your spa menu, please scan the QR code or emeacorproate@hydrafacial.com contact: emeacorproate@hydrafacial.com

Supply & Demand On the Menu

Triple-action formulation Boosting its popular Tri-Active Regenerating Collection, ESPA has introduced a new cleanser and exfoliator.

Tri-Active Regenerating Cellular Renewal Cleanser stimulates the skin’s natural cycle of cellular renewal with both a physical exfoliant and gentle natural acids. It removes dead skin cells and sweeps away impurities, leaving a luminous and smooth complexion.

Tri-Active Regenerating Cellular Renewal Liquid Exfoliator is a powerful essence that removes dead skin cells, impurities and residual makeup. Enriched with pure essential oils it works to restore natural luminosity with a formula featuring naturally effective chemical and physical exfoliants.

The Tri-Active collection contains a blend of three key components, creating a potent synergy of ingredients that nourishes skin and promotes inner calm. Plant actives are carefully distilled to bring vibrant potency into the formulas.

Marine actives provide maximum hydration, fortified by the sea’s rich nutrients. Aromatherapy helps to renew the senses for what’s said to be an elevated skincare experience. www.espaskincare.com

Self-care skincare Happy Paul, part of the Gerrard International portfolio, has added to its collection with a range of face and bodycare products.

The brand, conceived by Paul Gerrard, first launched with a Roll-on Perfume oil based on its award-winning Bright Spice with notes of bergamot, petitgrain, rosemary, cedarwood, sandal wood and jasmine.

The vegan collection now includes Daily Cleanse Hair & Body Wash, a holy basil-infused body cleanser; the gentle plant-based Rise and Shine Face Cleanser; and Purification Face Scrub, a light creamy formula of crushed white rice combined with finely ground bamboo to exfoliate and remove dead skin cells. To complete the collection, Pick Me Up Moisturiser hydrates with shea and cocoa butter, sunflower seed oil and aloe vera leaf juice.

A percentage of profits from each sale goes to the mental health charity Young Minds, the UK’s leading charity promoting mental health for young people.

Happy Paul products are available through selected salon and spas and online. www.happypaul.co.uk

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Say goodbye to breakouts Reveal clearer, calmer skin with the NEW Purity Facial Oil, combining a powerful blend of 2% Salicylic Acid and Bakuchiol, specifically designed to target and treat blemishes. acne and congestion while maintaining skin hydration and reducing inflammation.

DISCOVER YOUR ELEMENT AT

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European Spa Half Page Summer 22.indd 1

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O T O S I G N AT U R E R E N E WA L FA C I A L RESTORE RADIANCE AND REBALANCE

OTOCBD.COM www.otocbd.com

Supply & Demand Tribe517 promotion

A new rising star We meet Claire Caddick, founder of Tribe517, to hear why the brand’s curated collection of unisex products and treatments is wellness gold for spas

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ew, exciting and creating a stir at spas the length and breadth of the UK, Tribe517 offers an extraordinary collection of hand-crafted natural spa products created by respected spa consultant Claire Caddick, who has put her heart and soul into curating every product at her 400-year-old barn on Beddau Farm in South Wales.

Launched in 2016, the business grew out of Caddick’s desire to create products and treatments that could really deliver results and create a lasting impression for every spa guest.

Her passion for the highest standards – from product formulation to therapist training and menu engineering to suit every spa – really shines through. Every detail is lovingly crafted using her 37 years of spa industry experience.

The brand’s unisex offer is now attracting a growing portfolio of spas looking for a point of difference, with 16 properties across the UK including Moddershall Oaks in Staffordshire, Breedon Priory in Leicestershire, Wave Garden Spa in Snowdonia and Weaver’s House Spa in Suffolk.

As well as supplying branded and own-brand products, Caddick is also introducing in-room amenities for hotels this year. We ask her more about how Tribe517 can provide spas with a competitive edge.

Why did you launch Tribe517 and what makes it special?

Sublime spa services are my passion and it’s been my dream to launch the perfect spa brand for many years.

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and meet with every client’s team and ask what is it that they really need.

We offer our own range of products and are also able to create bespoke own-branded ranges for our partners.

In addition, I bring my consultancy skills to each partnership and this elevates what we can offer. We don’t have minimum orders or demand a certain number of treatments. It’s a flexible approach that works.

“We don’t have minimum orders or demand a certain number of treatments. It’s a flexible approach that works” Claire Caddick Founder, Tribe517 We focus our attention on the therapist in a unique way for the industry. We train them to deliver our massages in a way that doesn’t drain them, so that they feel empowered and also grounded by the meditation elements in the treatments.

Also, when we create signature experiences, I look at the provenance of the areas, the plants and botanicals.

I work very hard to make them bespoke and unique to each site.

How does your approach to business make the brand a great spa partner?

I don’t believe in ‘one size fits all’. I treat every project differently and I go

What training and support do you offer your spa partners?

Training takes from two days to one week. I’ve worked as a therapist for 37 years and I know how hard it is to facilitate the correct training. We focus on using the therapist’s body weight to deliver the massage. We don’t follow a Swedish massage model but we do include stretching and some movement. We also teach elements of breathwork and mindfulness in the session, which the therapist guides.

This benefits both client and therapist.

In what ways does the brand embrace the principles of sustainability?

Everything we use is natural. We don’t have anything that has chemicals and our packaging is all biodegradable, recycled and recyclable. We have over 120,000 bees on our farm, which supplies the products with ingredients, including our new honey-butter body product coming this year.

To find out more about the range of therapist-led spa partnerships that Tribe517 offers, visit: www.tribe517.com

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"FOCUSED ON MINDFULNESS, BREATHING AND COGNITIVE WELLNESS FOR THERAPIST AND GUEST ALIKE."

Supply & Demand On the Menu

Universal exfoliation Following the success of Dermalogica’s Daily Microfoliant, the brand has developed a new gentle exfoliator for all skin types.

Drawing on over 30 years of experience, its research and development team has created Daily Milkfoliant, a new powder exfoliant that smooths and soothes all skin conditions, with 90% of consumers reported having significant smoothness after just one use.

Presented in a bottle made from 50% recycled plastic, the vegan formula features oat, coconut and botanical extracts rich in alpha and beta hydroxy acids. Activated with a small amount of water, the powder transforms into a rich, creamy lather that gently polishes away dead skin cells.

Daily Microfoliant’s calming formula removes surface debris for a more even skin tone and texture. Nourishing essential minerals and hyaluronic acid replenish the skin’s moisture barrier leaving it more hydrated, radiant, and healthy-looking. www.dermalogica.co.uk

The golden hour Voya has curated a summer gift set with a collection of post-sun skincare to hydrate and cocoon clients’ skin.

Sundowner includes Angelicus Serratus, a skin-nourishing, seaweed-based luxury body oil formulated with Voya’s signature notes of lime and mandarin. This super-hydrating body oil is enhanced with antioxidant rosehip, which slows the signs of ageing, and evening primrose, which helps improve skin elasticity.

Voya’s Spearmint & Rosemary seaweed soap bar has been formulated to cleanse while leaving the skin feeling smooth and soft. This soap contains organic seaweed extracts, hand-harvested off the west coast of Ireland.

Squeaky Clean is a zesty lime and rejuvenating mandarin body wash blended with the natural purifying properties of wild organic seaweed extract. Its formula features naturally derived cleansing agents which help to soften the skin while leaving it feeling clean, fresh, and revived. www.voya.ie

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ANTIOXIDANT ESSENTIALS

www.naturabisse.com FIRMNESS & VITALITY FOR YOUR SKIN

Supply & Demand Five of the best SPFs

Five of the best summer SPFs [comfort zone] Sun Soul Italian skincare expert [comfort zone] has completely reformulated its Sun Soul collection to ensure it offers full spectrum protection for the skin in a sustainable manner for the environment.

The formulas combine specific UVA and UVB filters with natural ingredients tested to prevent sunburn, ageing and spots and understood to have minimal impact on the ocean. The water-resistant UV filters and bioactive ingredients have been chosen for their effective performance, high levels of biodegradability and classification as non-hazardous to the aquatic environment.

DNA-Defense Peptide and acerola extract support the skin’s repair mechanisms and offer antioxidant protection, while natural microcellulose from spruce has made it possible to replace synthetic components such as acrylates while ensuring a pleasant, fast-absorbing silk-like application.

Recycled and bio-based plastic from sugarcane has been used in the production of the product’s packaging, which is 100% carbon offset – as is the entire production process – thanks to reforestation and social regeneration projects. www.comfortzone.it

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Supply & Demand Five of the best SPFs

Biologique Recherche Protection U.V. Corps SPF 25 Developed to complement its solar face line, Biologique Recherche’s Protection U.V. Corps SPF 25 draws on the latest scientific advances to fight the sun’s harmful effects.

The new product is formulated with a combination of natural mineral filters, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and plant filters, and the brand’s Triple Shield Complex technology targets the sun’s rays including UVA, UVB, visible light and infrared.

The products also work to moisturise skin with karanja oil, rice ester and phytosterols from rice bran.

Tiare flower extract and NutriOx complex regenerate and renew the skin, helping to prevent signs of ageing and dehydration in the epidermis.

As a founding member of the OceanoScientific organisation, Biologique Recherche is committed to helping protect oceans, and the water-resistant, eco-friendly and reef-safe Protection U.V. Corps SPF 25 has been designed to limit the release and spread of sun cream in the ocean. www.biologique-recherche.com

Esse Sunscreen SPF 30 Probiotic skincare brand Esse’s microbiome-friendly SPF 30 sunscreen has been specially created for sensitive skin. Its gentle formulation is biodegradable and reef-friendly, offering broad UV coverage with a critical wavelength of 373nm, which is said to protect from both UVA and UVB radiation.

Esse believes that traditional sunscreens can have a damaging rather than protective effect on the skin and the environment, as they contain parabens, silicones and synthetic fragrances. Its new product aims to counter these damaging effects as the formulation doesn’t irritate the skin and features antioxidants to provide an extra level of defense against environmental stressors that can cause premature skin ageing.

The lightweight, fragrance-free blend contains coated zinc oxide to screen out UV rays, and is transparent on application. It is boosted by antioxidants from myrothamnus, rooibos and olive leaf extract to tackle free radicals generated by sun exposure. www.esseskincare.co.uk

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www.murad.co.uk

Supply & Demand Five of the best SPFs

Germaine de Capuccini Timexpert Sun Germaine de Capuccini’s new Timexpert Sun collection features a range of anti-pollution and antioxidant products that target wrinkles and dark spots. Promising maximum protection from UVA, UVB, infrared and high-energy visible light, these broad-spectrum sunscreens have been completely reformulated to include a new extensive range of moisturisers, aftersun, and makeup products.

The new ‘Ocean Respect’ formulas protect skin from the sun while respecting the environment. The brand’s research and development team has worked hard to stay true to its hallmark of pleasant, innovative textures for application while meeting the demand for eco-friendly products.

The new formulations include a high percentage of biodegradable ingredients and are free from silicones with nano physical filters TiO2 and ZnO being replaced by non-nano TiO2. Some 14 products have been introduced to the collection, including facial and body sunscreens, aftersun treatments and self-tanners that provide a tan without the need for sun exposure. www.germaine-de-capuccini.co.uk

Natura Bissé SPF50 C+C Dry Touch Sunscreen Fluid The latest addition to Natura Bissé’s sun protection range includes a combination of chemical filters that are gentle on the skin and provide broad-spectrum protection against UVA/UVB rays. The filters have been specifically selected to reduce the impact on coral reefs.

Formulated to ensure optimal biodegradability, C+C SPF 50 Dry Touch Sunscreen Fluid has been subject to ecotoxicity testing on phytoplankton and zooplankton, microalgae and microorganisms that are regarded as being essential to marine life.

The advanced formula is said to improve the firmness of the skin with an effective antioxidant cocktail of vitamin C, vitamin E and mugwort extract. The unique blend is designed to offer maximum protection while reducing the signs of ageing and visibly improves firmness. Hydrating and both sweat and water-resistant, the fast-absorbing light texture is ideal for warm holiday weather. www.naturabisse.com

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“A commitment to sustainability is at the forefront of our minds whenever we make the decision to work with a new supplier. Looking only at the UK beauty market I’m happy that in GAIA we’ve finally found our luxury spa partner with sustainability at its heart”

Sue Williams, General Manager, Whatley Manor

@naturallygaia www.gaiaskincare.com gaiaskincare.com

Supply & Demand TEMPLESPA promotion

Time to concentrate TEMPLESPA’S innovative new powerhouse vitamin C serum, Let’s Concentrate, offers a boost for skin that’s running on empty

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ike a shot of freshly squeezed orange juice for the face, the newest vitamin C innovation from TEMPLESPA is a potent formula of antioxidants and minerals.

Boasting ‘the power of three’ – performance, texture and fragrance – LET’S CONCENTRATE gel serum works to reduce the appearance of age spots, blemishes and hyperpigmentation, while brightening and treating uneven skin tone.

User trials of the product demonstrated instant results on application, with continued improvement after four weeks. More than three quarters of users agreed that their skin felt smoother, brighter and more glowing instantly, while 90% felt their face was more radiant a month later. Users also said their skin looked healthier (88%), clearer (84%) and rejuvenated (83%).

Proven by science Scientific trials of the active ingredients, which include antioxidants ascorbyl glucoside and alpha arbutin, were carried out at Skin Life Analytics at Newcastle University by leading biomolecular dermatology professor, Dr Mark Birch-Machin.

These indicated that the synergy of vitamin C and Alpha Arbutin in Let’s Concentrate has a statistically significant effect. Furthermore, the product had a positive effect on the mitochondria, reducing damage and enabling the cell ‘batteries’ to be more resilient.

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A potent formula “What sets Let’s Concentrate apart is a dose of the unsung-hero of hydration, sodium hyaluronate,” explains TEMPLESPA managing director Liz Warom. “The salt of hyaluronic acid has a low molecular weight and delivers hydration to the deeper levels of the skin. Add to this the gorgeous orange-zest aroma thanks to orange essential oil, and minerals zinc, magnesium, manganese and potassium, and Let’s Concentrate is a potent formula that gives skin the boost it deserves when it’s running on empty.”

A workout for the face In conjunction with the new serum, TEMPLESPA has launched the All About the Glow Vitamin C Radiance Facial Workout. The exclusive new treatment protocol includes a deep double-cleanse, followed by a resurfacing oxygenating bubble peel to transform lacklustre complexions. This is complemented by a powerful skin workout that lifts, depuffs and irons out fine lines. The whole procedure is finished with with a professional-only alginate mask.

To find out more about how TEMPLESPA products can enhance your spa offering, visit: www.templespa.com

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laila@theorganicpharmacy.com

info@gerrardinternational.com

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Spa Spotlight Alcide Leali, Lefay Resorts & Residences

Heart and soul

Alcide Leali is a man on a mission to deliver world-class wellness hospitality through his family brand. We meet the CEO of Italy’s celebrated Lefay Resorts & Residences to hear about his vision to promote health-conscious living INTERVIEW BY SARAH CAMILLERI

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t’s now seven years since I first travelled to Lake Garda to experience the exceptional spa destination Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda, beloved flagship resort of the trailblazing Leali family. Back then, I was impressed by this eco-resort’s location, design, immersive wellbeing programmes and ground-breaking approach to sustainability and guest service. Over the years, I have often returned to reset and recharge.

The resort is now welcoming back wellness seekers after an ambitious €15 million (£12.8 million) facelift. Repolished to match the ‘wow’ factor of its chic mountain sister Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti, which opened to great acclaim in 2019, the revitalised destination has also refreshed its award-winning spa programmes, a combination of Classical Chinese From left: Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda’s €15 million refurb has delivered a new adults-only thermal zone; stunning mountain views from the indoor-outdoor pool

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Medicine and modern preventative health expertise presented as the Lefay SPA Method.

Lefay Resorts & Residences CEO, Alcide Leali is as passionate about Lefay’s evolution as when I first met him all those years ago. “Lefay has always been my family’s dream – a dream which began in 2006 when we moved away from the airline business and into hospitality with a mission to create a leading Italian brand in the luxury wellness industry,” he says. “We always wanted to do something different here in our beloved homeland and were lucky enough to find this beautiful piece of land high up here on the side of the mountain for our flagship Lefay destination.”

With the brand’s flagship reopened, Leali is proud of the work of his team and Italian designers Studio Apostoli. “It was always our dream to build a collection of Lefay destinations in the most amazing places in Italy.

Here in the lakes, our second in the mountains, and our third is scheduled to open in the next two years in the heart of the Tuscan countryside,” he reveals.

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“It was always our dream to build a collection of Lefay destinations in the most amazing places in Italy.

In the lakes, in the mountains and in the heart of the Tuscan countryside” Alcide Leali CEO, Lefay Resorts & Residences

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Spa Spotlight Alcide Leali Jr, Lefay Resorts & Residences

“Time is the most precious thing anyone can give you. We have always seen our team as a strategic element of our company – our mission is to protect and nurture our people.”

Alcide Leali CEO, Lefay Resorts & Residences

Post-pandemic, the transformation of Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda has been a true labour of love backed by significant investment. “Our flagship was always conceived and designed as a sustainable spa destination, but of course we have had to evolve,” says Leali. “In fact, our occupancy numbers and success in spa stays have proved over the years that spa is a key driver of our success, particularly in low season [November-March] when the lake is not sought-after.

“People come here because of our concept and for top spa experiences. To achieve this, we have had to constantly invest in order to achieve recognition as one of the best spa destinations in Italy.”

Indeed, we are talking in a newly refurbished guest lounge surrounded by beautiful books and more than 70 awards that the resort has received for excellence in spa, wellness and luxury hospitality.

“Over the years we have seen growth in the spending power of the guests, so we have looked to make the offer more exclusive,” Leali adds. “This trend drove our decision three years ago to commit to renovating the whole property. I think this property will never be overtaken, it has so much to offer.”

Beauty and flow Directed by Liliana Leali, together with celebrated Italian wellness designer Alberto Apostoli and the Lefay Project Team, the revitalised resort has been enhanced with three impressive new 134sqm Sky Suites; a serene new adults-only spa wellness area containing a hydropool and thermal zone; the light and airy Lefay Vital Gourmet, La Limonaia, and the innovative fine-dining restaurant Gramen, all melding gracefully into the mountainside “Throughout the design we have selected Italian materials: light textures, natural fabrics and bright colours to enhance our splendid 180-degree view of Right from top: The outlook from the new adults-only spa at Lefay Resort & Spa, Lago di Garda; at one with nature in the Italian countryside; the resort’s new Sky Suites offer sublime vistas

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Spa Spotlight Alcide Leali, Lefay Resorts & Residences

Lake Garda, which can be enjoyed from every corner of the resort,” explains Liliana. “Our aim is always to help our guests feel in harmony with nature, as well progressing Lefay’s core values of sustainability and new luxury. We chose Studio Alberto Apostoli to work in partnership with our in-house project teamwork as they are experienced, spa-oriented and have the design know-how,” she says.

“So far the guest feedback has been amazing,” adds Alcide. “It’s been an opportunity to truly reimagine the property and create many new spaces. Our new Sky Suites are gems: you truly have the sensation of waking up in a dream, suspended between the lake and the sky.

The view is just breathtaking!”

From dreams to digestion The brand’s promise to deliver personalised and integrated healing has been fine-tuned over the years by the Lefay SPA Method Scientific Committee, led by Dr Carlo Barbieri. The Lefay SPA Method is ever evolving and now includes two five-night preventative health programmes focused on Immunity and Longevity.

“Our Lefay SPA Method Health Programmes are designed to provide you with the right tools to learn to listen to yourself, to find your own path,” explains

Below: Lefay’s Gramen restaurant serves a mostly vegetarian menu to promote health and sustainability

Alcide. “This journey of change really begins before your arrival, with a survey sent to determine your physical and emotional condition and lifestyle. While with us, you are then guided to take the right treatments, advice and activities to help you to rediscover yourself and become the conscious protagonist of your life.”

“Our energy doctor assesses certain characteristics of the body, from dreams to digestion, looking for any small changes in energy that could develop into a disease. The doctor also observes the skin, listens to the tone of your voice, asks about favourite foods and takes your radial pulse. We use scientific instruments that reflect both eastern and western principles, consistent with the philosophy of Lefay SPA Method. This procedure allows for a full energy diagnosis that can then be used to recommend specific treatments.”

Taste the difference Lefay’s new fine-dining restaurant, Gramen is a prized asset in this evolution, delivering a unique gourmet concept as well as timely experimental tasting menus

“I wanted to create a design capable of capturing the essence of the lake, its tranquillity, its ethereal being, a truly evanescent design that lightens the space.”

Alberto Apostoli Founder, Studio Apostoli

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Spa Spotlight Alcide Leali, Lefay Resorts & Residences Right from top: New tasting menus by Gramen reflect Lefay’s scientific approach to wellness; a great emphasis is placed on the wellbeing of the resort’s therapists

developed by executive chef Matteo Maenza and resident chef Giammarco Ninivaggi.

“We have always wanted to give our guests a fine dining experience, but we wanted this to be consistent with the wellness values of our brand as well as our sustainability commitment – something that is really connected to the identity of Lefay,” explains Alcide.

“We don’t serve any meat or dairy products at Gramen, to promote good health and sustainability. We offer two tasting menus daily, one of which is 100% vegan, the other which offers vegetables and fish. It’s been a big challenge to develop but we are getting amazing feedback since we opened. I believe this direction will suit more and more people as eating less meat and more vegetables helps to look after ourselves and the planet.”

Sustainable and soulful Serene and grounded, Lefay has built an enviable international reputation as a spa destination. “Today our first markets are Italy, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, followed by France and Benelux, North America, UK and Ireland, and other countries,” says Alcide. “We also firmly believe that personal wellbeing should never overlook environmental wellness. When we decided to create a luxury brand, it was clear for us from the outset that everything we built needed to be in full harmony with the environment. Hence our architecture and design are inspired by local traditional buildings and materials; energy and resources are managed using clean energy sources; and our CO2 emissions are fully neutralised,” he adds.

In essence, the secret behind one of Europe’s most celebrated spa destinations is its soul. “Sustainability is generally associated to topics such as territory, energy and nature, but I think that in the very last two years this concept has more and more been connected to people and their wellbeing at work, especially in hospitality.” he says. “Time is the most precious thing anyone can give you. We have always seen our team as a strategic element of our company – our mission is to protect and nurture our people.”

Alcide Leali Jr’s commitment to the wellbeing of his team is sure to serve him well. “Beyond all the industry challenges brought by the pandemic, the greatest one we now face is the management of human resources, especially in hospitality: we know that our team members need to be motivated in any way possible,” he says. “At Lefay we pay the greatest attention to the selection and, above all, the training of our staff. We try to convey them on a path of human and professional 68

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www.lemi.it info@lemigroup.it

Spa Spotlight Alcide Leali, Lefay Resorts & Residences Right from top: Striking design characterises the Lefay’s new hydropool in the adults-only spa; wild flowers and meditation spots surround the resort

growth and we do our best to create a ‘good vibe’ here at the resort.”

Looking ahead, Lefay will evolve further in 2023 with a third phase already in action. “We plan to restyle our spa treatment rooms and other key spa areas,” confirms Alcide. “There’s always more for us to do to ensure we extend our treatment spaces for the future.”

SPA STATISTICS Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda www.lefayresorts.com/en/luxury-resort CEO: Alcide Leali General manager: Eveline Hanke President of Lefay SPA Method Scientific Committee: Dr Carlo Barbieri Spa director: Fabrizio Castellani Spa manager: Monica Mescoli Spa team: Approx. 40 Spa size: 4,300sqm Resort refurbishment cost: €15 million Refurbishment design: Alberto Apostoli, Studio Apostoli and Lefay Project Team Original architect resort: Hugo Demetz Treatment rooms: 21 plus two private spas and a gazebo Pool design and installation: Heated indoor and outdoor swimming pool and 25m heated training pool by Piscine Castiglione; heated whirlpool by Fonte Roccolino Saunas: Aromatic sauna (40-42°), Caligo Sauna (42-45°), Olive Tree Sauna (50-60°), Water & Fire Sauna (75-90°), Lady Sauna (38-42°), hammam and new adults-only Panoramic Sauna Fitness: two gym rooms with Technogym Wellness Artis Line equipment plus two studios for Pilates, yoga, tai chi, qi gong and rebalancing activities Private spa: inspired by Greek mythology Product houses: Lefay SPA, Biosthétique (coiffeur only) Treatment couches: LEMI

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Each signature blend is handcrafted and incorporated into our treatments to create the ultimate, effective spa experience that can be found globally.

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Supply & Demand Germaine de Capuccini promotion

Stronger together A new name and a raft of product launches is just the start for GDC Beauty Group UK...

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hange is afoot at Germaine de Capuccini this summer and for Clare Dickens, managing director of the newly created GDC Beauty Group UK, this heralds unmatched opportunities.

“Former UK distributor Totally UK was bought by GDC Beauty Group early last year and I’m delighted to announce we have now changed our name to GDC Beauty Group UK (GDC UK) to reflect the collaboration,” explains Dickens.

“We have joined Germaine de Capuccini’s global network of subsidiaries in the US, Belgium, Italy, Columbia, Dominican Republic and Spain – a move that allows us to pool resources across the globe.

“As the newest member of the GDC Beauty Group family, we now have limitless opportunities to grow, evolve and reposition ourselves within the UK market. We’re stronger together.”

Maximum protection, greater care To start the summer, GDC UK has reinforced its environmental commitment with the launch of Timexpert Sun, a range of 14 broad-spectrum (UVA, UVB, IR-A and HEVL) facial and body sunscreens, after-sun treatments and self-tanners.

While many sunscreens contain ingredients that are harmful to marine organisms, the collection’s new ‘Ocean Respect’ formulas strike a balance between shielding against sun exposure, offering anti-ageing benefits and respecting the oceans.

It’s estimated that up to 14,000 tonnes of sunscreen are released into coral reef areas each year, 72

soothing agents to target wrinkles, dark spots and calm redness while offering an ultra-light texture and exceptional skin protection.

“Our Dermocosmetic line offers the most effective active ingredients in ​maximum concentrations, delivered using high-tech systems”

Advanced skin technology GDC UK has also launched new products and treatment protocols in its medical-aesthetic Expert Lab range. “Clients are becoming ever more discerning, looking for the latest innovation and genuine results from their spa visits,” says Dickens.

“Expert Lab allows spas to offer results-based and skin-changing treatment options that are at the same time luxurious. At GDC we strive to elevate the experience of caring for the skin from routine to ritual, always with measurable results.”

Launching in June, the new Expert

Clare Dickens Managing director, GDC UK promoting coral bleaching and consequently coral death, which impacts more than 25% of marine species. But Timexpert Sun’s ‘clean’ formulas contain a high percentage of biodegradable ingredients and are free from silicones, which accumulate in the sea. The formulations are free from microplastics and natural biodegradable silica is used wherever possible. Despite being highly water-resistant, the formulas also limit the amount of ingredients that transfer from skin to the sea.

Each of the 14 products include antioxidants, anti-pollution and www.europeanspamagazine.com

Supply & Demand Germaine de Capuccini promotion

Lab Mesoboost ETM System offers next-generation, non-invasive transcutaneous penetration. When combined with specific Lab Solution mixes and sterile active concentrates, Mesoboost increases the absorption rate of ingredients and exponentially improves the skin’s response.

Using meso-chip penetration technology, Mesoboost opens tens of thousands of reversible micro-channels in the epidermis. This allows nutrients quickly and painlessly into the dermis, ensuring the maximum amount of active ingredients are absorbed by the skin without excess product or any discomfort or downtime for the client.

Mesoboost allows therapists to www.europeanspamagazine.com

effectively treat multiple skin concerns – including lines and wrinkles, sagging and dehydration – in facial treatments and décolletage and hand procedures.

Optimising results Finally, GDC UK is expanding the Expert Lab range to meet demand by adding new Lab Solution skincare categories.

The Dermocosmetic line will join the range of chemical peels launched with great success last year.

“Used in combination, each of the new Expert Lab products enables skincare professionals to optimise their treatments to achieve maximum results for clients in minimum time,” says Dickens. “Expert Lab formulations

base their efficacy on a key principle: overcoming the skin barrier, which is an essential but particularly difficult protective shield to cross.

“The new line offers the most effective active ingredients in ​ maximum concentrations, delivered using high-tech systems to increase effectiveness. Blending technology with cosmeceuticals means 100% customised and 100% adaptable treatments, and the same impressive results as more invasive medical-aesthetic techniques.”

To find out how GDC UK products and treatments can enhance your spa offering, visit: www.germaine-de-capuccini.co.uk

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Thought Leadership Tracey Stapleton, The Spa PR Company

TikTok: 6 ways it can transform your business

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Tracey Stapleton EXPERT CONTRIBUTOR

After a decade and a half in consumer public relations, 16 years ago Tracey Stapleton began to specialise in spa and wellbeing. Now managing director of The Spa PR Company, she offers a targeted range of PR and marketing services to spa and hotel operators as well as beauty and wellbeing product brands and services. www.thespaprcompany.com

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round 4.6 billion people use social media, that’s more than half the world!

It all started in 2004 with Facebook, which is still the most used platform, followed by YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, We Chat and latterly, TikTok. While being just under a third of the size of Facebook, TikTok has witnessed spectacular growth over the past two years, developing faster than any other channel and becoming a launch pad for discovering new trends and brands.

TikTok specialises in authentic short-form video content, which continues to be one of the top social media trends, so much so that Instagram has recently been testing a feature that will put video more front and centre too. This use of vertical full-screen video and its ability to dictate trends has made TikTok a useful platform for brands.

At this year’s Hotel Marketing Conference in the UK, one of the most popular seminars was on TikTok and how spas are now using the platform as part of their marketing campaigns.

The top three reasons for using TikTok were to raise brand awareness, increase brand engagement and gain new customers.

Here we look at some of the campaigns spas have been running and six ways that TikTok can be used to your advantage.

Recruiting new staff

Staffing continues to be a challenge for the spa industry. According to Statista US, those aged between 10 and 19 years old make up 25% of the TikTok demographic with those between 20 and 29 accounting for 22.4% and 30 to

39-year-olds making up 21.7%. These are prime age groups for potential spa staff who may be spending their leisure time on the app.

Rudding Park Hotel in Yorkshire, UK ran a campaign that made existing members of their staff the stars of TikTok videos with the aim of attracting others to want to work for them. They used trending topics such as ‘a day in the life of’ and ‘when your besties are on the same shift’ in order to increase engagement.

Promoting specific treatments

The TikTok audience is fascinated with ‘how to’ videos and this extends to treatments, which can either transform or mesmerise the user through their repetition. Think about even the most tiny details – one of the most popular videos is someone having their hair washed! Any unusual ingredients or close-ups on facial or massage tools used in treatments are popular too.

Combine these with round-ups of your best facials, wraps and beauty products, and see if you can associate any of your treatments with current trends beyond TikTok. If you offer cryotherapy or a bathtub treatment, can you perhaps recreate a Wim Hof-style ice bath?

Showcasing your experiences

TikTok is all about joyful entertainment and Carden Park Hotel in Cheshire has mastered this with its authentic but beautifully shot compilation videos of the experiences you can enjoy at the spa. Grouping under popular target audience search terms, the Spa at Carden features ‘girls weekends’ ‘couples breaks’ and ‘date night’. By combining this with popular hashtags www.europeanspamagazine.com

Thought Leadership Tracey Stapleton, The Spa PR Company

such as #luxuryspa and #tiktoktravel, in a very short period this multi-awardwinning spa has managed to deliver a number of viral videos and attract over 1.7 million likes.

Growing your audience with the TikTok Creators

TikTok creators live and breathe the channel. They have already built up a loyal following and know what their audience likes to see. Research the popular TikTokers producing the type of content you would like for your spa.

Grow your audience by inviting them to visit and film their trip under the heading ‘come to the spa with me’.

One content creator we worked with recently generated more enquiries for our spa client than national TV www.europeanspamagazine.com

coverage! Remember to target the travel and lifestyle accounts, which often do regional round-ups such as ‘best places in the UK for a spa break’.

Be discoverable by using trending hashtags and sounds

Look to TikTok’s own insights for help in identifying trends through popular hashtags such as #trendingtoday #trendinginyourcountry #viraltrends.

Scroll through the platform’s ‘For You’ page for inspiration and browse the channel’s Creative Center to see what songs are trending.

Sound is integral to the TikTok experience as music makes the content more relatable and generates longer watch times. It also creates a positive feeling around your brand.

Above: Even the smallest of details about your business could make for a potentially viral TikTok video

Get creative with your campaigns

Fresh ideas for marketing campaigns often come from looking outside your industry and there are thousands of brands on TikTok we can learn from.

Take a look at Ryanair’s talking planes that address customer complaints, or Duolingo’s mascot, which has become a TikTok icon by making the brand more relatable and acknowledging the key issues of language learning.

Storytelling is key to this success and it starts your own customer narrative.

Address these in an entertaining way and there’s every chance your next TikTok video could go viral.

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Supply & Demand Dermalogica promotion

The perfect partner

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Louise Langley, Dermalogica’s head of partnership acceleration in the UK and Ireland, explains what the results-driven skincare brand can offer spas

enowned for its pragmatic approach to professional skincare, Dermalogica is a results-driven brand that focuses on treating every client as an individual. To maximise the efficacy of its comprehensive collections, Dermalogica promotes a rigorous approach to education and training that echoes the original aims of its founder, British-born Jane Wurwand.

The brand’s products are available in 107 countries and in 2021 a total of 24,724 therapists were trained in its six training centres across the UK. We asked Louise Langley, 76

Dermalogica’s head of partnership acceleration, UK and Ireland, about her own background and what makes Dermalogica an ideal spa partner.

Tell us about yourself and your current role at Dermalogica?

I am a trained skin therapist and qualified in 1996. My first entry into the world of spa was at The Belfry Hotel [near Birmingham, UK], where I began working part-

time as a therapist while still studying.

In 1999, the business expanded to include ten treatment rooms, two relaxation rooms, a nail bar, a makeup bar, a hair salon and a new Fire and Ice spa area, adopting a new name, Belfry Hotel and Spa. I learnt a lot from the owners of Obsession Salon and Spas, which was the concession in the spa back then.

At the age of 23, I set up Healthworks Spa in the new Village Hotel Dudley, where I succeeded in hitting my budget targets within 18 months. www.europeanspamagazine.com

Supply & Demand Dermalogica promotion

After managing Obsession Hair and Day Spa at Mailbox Birmingham, I joined Dermalogica in 2003 and have progressed to become head of partnership acceleration, supporting our business with new partners across the UK and Ireland.

What do you think makes Dermalogica a great spa partner?

Many of our customers will already be clients of spas, so there’s a natural synergy. If a spa is looking for great skincare results for their clients, and those clients are looking for a better understanding and knowledge about what is happening with their skin, then Dermalogica is a perfect choice.

Our aim is to promote skin health and skin confidence.

The level of business support that we provide – whether online or in person – is substantial. We work with our spa partners and configure joint business plans that ensure growth and success for each business. Education is our cornerstone and we offer a vast array of courses, online, on demand and in person.

“Education is our cornerstone and we offer a vast array of courses, online and in person” Louise Langley Head of partnership acceleration, UK and Ireland, Dermalogica Tell us more about the training opportunities that the brand provides.

We offer our Dermalogica Expert Programme, which takes each therapist on a journey from learning about

our brand story to gaining all the knowledge and hands-on experience needed to reach an expert level.

We recently updated our treatment offering to provide more advanced services as clients are looking for high tech and high touch. This is definitely something for spas to consider for the future as it’s a growing market.

We also have our customer experience programme called ‘clear’.

This defines and elevates prestige customer service to enable strong connection and loyalty, optimal retail and a stand-out memorable experience. We have seen outstanding results with increased sales, returning clients, booking retention and five-star customer reviews.

How do you empower the professional skin therapist in their role?

Education is key to this. We are extremely passionate about education, and it is in our roots. We have won two Princess Royal Training Awards for our training provision. Enabling therapists to support their clients by providing a full homecare routine with confidence, through ingredient knowledge and pure expertise, means therapists are truly empowered.

What are clients looking for right now?

Many are researching microneedling – this is the top search for treatments, followed by chemical peels. People are seeking treatments that are minimally or non-invasive and require very little or no downtime but bring maximum results.

We are soon to launch our pro microneedling and earlier this year introduced our non-invasive pro nanoneedling, which uses tiny stainless steel cones to help resurfacing and product infusion. It’s great for those who are contraindicated to microneedling.

To find out how a partnership with Dermalogica could benefit your business, visit: www.dermalogica.co.uk

www.europeanspamagazine.com

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Thought Leadership Kirsty MacCormick, The Spa Consultancy

How to take a more dynamic approach to profitability

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Kirsty MacCormick EXPERT CONTRIBUTOR

With over 30 years’ experience in the spa and wellness industry, Kirsty MacCormick is the founder of The Spa Consultancy. Her expertise includes development, pre-opening project management and operational set up of a range of spas from commercial hotel and day spas to luxury five-star wellness destinations. www.thespaconsultancy.com

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ollowing the challenges faced by spas over the past two years, we have all learnt to be more creative and dynamic in the way we drive revenue and operate our businesses. Profit margins have never been so dissected and crucial to our survival. In some cases, we have had to look at altering our business models, many of us selling online and generally becoming more commercial.

For those of us whose interests have survived or even thrived, this has resulted in us operating more dynamic, profitable and successful businesses.

Menu engineering

In the Spring 2022 edition of European Spa we discussed using an annual yield technique called menu engineering to determine which treatments give us the highest profit margins. First, we need to segment our offer according to volume of sales, treatment duration and profitability. Then we can start planning what services to offer during peak hours – usually the ones with the highest profit margins unless you have a seasonal or promotional offering.

We need to identify the products most beneficial to a spa by segmenting services according to volume of sales (popularity) and the cost of sale (profit margin). The four menu engineering categories are ‘Stars’, which demand strong and high margins; ‘Plow Horses’ requiring strong and low margins; ‘Puzzles’ with low demand and high margins; and ‘Dogs’ with low demand and low margins.

Dynamic availability

Profitability is optimised by offering treatments with the highest margin

during high-demand times. This way a spa can easily increase its overall profit margin without significant changes.

This yield technique, known as dynamic availability, can be a very effective approach to increase profit for a spa by replacing low-margin sales with higher-margin sales during peak hours.

Beside the dynamic availability of different categories, it’s important to also manage the utilisation of spa resources and facilities that can support various services.

Although it is possible to implement a dynamic pricing strategy based on the level of demand, customers may not always understand why the price for a specific treatment fluctuates. They may consider a higher price, during peak demand periods, as an unfair price difference. Should we expect them to pay more for a treatment just because it’s at a peak time or maybe we should add value, perhaps by offering 90 minutes for the price of 60?

Discount strategy

Discounting is currently one of the most hotly debated topics in the spa industry, intensified by a challenging economic climate that makes it increasingly appealing to businesses. Often criticised for failing to create a loyal, long-term customer base, the application of discounts as part of a yield management strategy is also questioned.

In most markets the spa offer often exceeds demand, with managers frequently discounting to fill empty treatment rooms. The published rate is set based on the highest demand level, with discounts applied during periods of lower demand. It seems this www.europeanspamagazine.com

Thought Leadership Kirsty MacCormick, The Spa Consultancy

A toolkit to help you thrive is a much more accepted and more fair approach to dynamic pricing.

This can become a ‘discount strategy’, but is it the best way to position your business? Do you want to give the consumer this image of your spa? While discounting is an easy way to attract extra demand, it is only a short-term solution and can have a negative impact on the consumer’s value perception of your treatments and services.

The way to implement different price levels for similar treatments is by applying conditions associated with the price to justify supplements.

You should develop both physical and non-physical hurdles. Physical hurdles include the location of the treatment room, the type of treatment and related services. Non-physical rate www.europeanspamagazine.com

hurdles include the time of day or day of week, the length of treatment, membership of the spa, and late bookings versus advance reservations.

Forecasting and software

One area of revenue management often overlooked within spas is forecasting. Forecasting demand as well as BOB (business on the books) on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis is essential in any spa operation and allows you to schedule better to achieve optimal staffing at peak times Another essential tool to help spas analyse and understand their customer base is a spa management software system, which will allow spa managers to set up a revenue management policy to help them analyse spa statistics.

Key strategic planning tips for maximum profitability n Menu engineering: Segment your

treatment menu into four categories based on popularity and profit

n Dynamic availability: Only offer

your highest profit treatment at peak times

n Discounting: Add value instead

of discounting to gain loyalty and positioning

n Forecasting and spa management

software: Forecasting is essential to ensure you have the correct resources and availability at the right times, while the latest software is crucial for any spa manager to operate an efficient and profitable spa operation

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Industry Intelligence Top 10 UK spa gardens

Top 10 UK spa gardens European Spa highlights ten standout UK spa gardens, where innovative design and the wellness benefits of nature provide businesses with an extra dimension

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R E P O R T BY W E N DY G O L L E D G E

s the wellness industry increasingly embraces the recognised health benefits of nature as well as a growing focus on sustainability and green living, a significant number of operators are taking key elements of the spa outside.

The outdoor trend is being serviced by more creative nature-based wellness programming such as wild swimming, forest bathing or outdoor meditation, as well as al fresco treatments and, most prolific, the creation of many stunning spa gardens.

Whether it’s harvesting produce in a kitchen garden to provide plot-to-plate options in the

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spa restaurant, using the garden’s offerings in treatments, adding forest bathing and mindfulness walks to the treatment menu, or simply developing rejuvenating green spaces in which guests can be at peace, the spa garden is no longer just a nice-to-have accessory. Many modern spa gardens offer breathtaking outdoor poolscapes and unique hot and cold thermal journeys to add an extra dimension to their offer.

We’ve delved into ten truly innovative UK spa gardens to ask those in charge about the experiences they were trying to create and how the addition of a dedicated outdoor space has impacted their business.

www.europeanspamagazine.com

Industry Intelligence Top 10 UK spa gardens

BEST FOR

A N A L L- W E AT H E R O U T D O O R S PA E X P E R I E N C E

The Spa at Carden Park Home to the UK’s largest spa garden, Carden Park’s 4,500sqm standalone spa is set within 1,000-acres with unique views over the Cheshire countryside.

The spa garden has state-of-the art facilities, carefully curated to provide an all-weather outdoor experience, offering guests a natural reset and allowing them space to experience the benefits of being outdoors.

The original ethos of The Spa was escapism – to create a space in which to pause and take in the surroundings. The outdoor area encapsulates this ethos with a panoramic sauna, complete with a floor-to-ceiling glass wall, fire pits, three outdoor hot tubs, heated relaxation pods that create an all-weather haven, indoor and outdoor vitality pools and the much coveted all-weather Bollinger Garden Bar. “As the garden is a focal point of the spa, we’ve seen increased revenue across beverage spend and the onsite Elements restaurant allows guests to sit and enjoy a healthy lunch on the terrace whilst admiring the views over the garden,” says spa director Emma Pridding.

The indoor facilities also place nature, and the feeling of being outdoors, front and centre – a wall of windows offering views into the garden from every outlook to give a feeling of space.

“Guests are also drawn to book treatments as they can continue admiring the garden while being pampered in the beauty lounge and many simply enjoy soaking up the outdoors,”adds Pridding.

www.europeanspamagazine.com

SPA STATISTICS The Spa at Carden Park www.cardenpark.co.uk/spa Instagram @cardenpark Garden product partners Rigo Spa, Horizon Tiling, Solus Decor, Urban Planters North West, Bellagio Stone, IMC Bars

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Industry Intelligence Top 10 UK spa gardens

BEST FOR

A MEDITERRANEAN JOURNEY IN THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE

The Spa at South Lodge

SPA STATISTICS The Spa at South Lodge www.exclusive.co.uk/the-spaat-south-lodge Instagram @southlodge_spa Garden product partners Alexander Rose, Gartenart, Sparcstudio

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Designed to recreate the tranquility of the Mediterranean, The Spa at South Lodge embraces nature to stimuate all of the senses. From the rustling of ornamental grasses to the sight of dappled green acers contrasted against white Siberian Iris and blue agapanthus, to the delicate scent of jasmine planted throughout the spa garden, guests are offered a truly sensory journey.

Garden facilities include a mind-body terrace, a 100-seat decking area with loungers, a unique freshwater wild swimming pool, a natural pond with a fountain and a hydropool.

“Originally, we were going to segregate off the garden dedicated to the spa,” says head gardener Paul Collins “but in the end, we opted not to – guests can just wander into the grounds which boast more than 360 species of trees and plants... We thought people would stay in the spa section, so have been surprised by how many take an amble around the property, soaking in the Sussex countryside in their spa robes!”

The Mediterranean spa restaurant, Botanica, mirrors the garden offer, serving fruit and vegetables from the grounds, with many key ingredients often foraged from the woods or specifically grown on site.

“We always knew the spa garden would be a big draw, but we’ve been surprised by how it’s impacted our overall usage,” says spa director Ian Mackie. “Guests stay all day because of the garden. This has a positive effect on secondary spend and how guests perceive the spa as a real destination to unwind and take in nature.”

www.europeanspamagazine.com

Industry Intelligence Top 10 UK spa gardens

BEST FOR

A N A U T H E N T I C I R I S H S PA R I T U A L

Galgorm Thermal Village Galgorm’s Thermal Village, the first of its kind and the largest in Northern Ireland, is the jewel in the Galgorm crown. Inspired by the understated beauty of the landscape, it delivers feelings of restfulness and calm. Situated across three manicured spaces, the Alpine, riverside and walled gardens each reveal meandering paths that lead spa guests on a journey of rediscovery.

Outdoor facilities include saunas, a snow cabin, a Celtic sauna, the River House relaxation space, eco-friendly riverside bathing tubs, indoor and outdoor pools, cabanas, a salt cave, experience showers and a 10-metre vitality pool perched on the banks of the river. With such an array, 90% of the spa’s guest experiences are located outdoors.

“The Thermal Spa Village has added another dimension to our guest journey,” says Tara Moore, head of spa operations. “As it has grown, we’ve made a conscious effort to develop each garden’s identity with experiences to match. For example, guests in the Alpine garden are very much immersed in the natural setting, especially in the showstopping vitality pool. The walled garden offers a more laid-back luxurious vibe with its ornate Palm House and sophisticated cocktail menu.”

The grounds include a 1,000-year-old olive tree from Tuscany in the riverside garden and a picturesque apple orchard in the walled garden. As well as cocktails at The Palm House, the Elements Spa Eatery offers guests the chance to take refreshment beneath a characterful Halodome structure that is one of only five in the world.

www.europeanspamagazine.com

SPA STATISTICS Galgorm Thermal Village www.galgorm.com Instagram @galgormresort Garden product partners Gharieni, Rolf Benz, Connemara marble and oak

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Industry Intelligence Top 10 UK spa gardens

BEST FOR

C R E AT I N G A F L O AT I N G W O O D L A N D G A R D E N

Rudding Park Spa

SPA STATISTICS Rudding Park Spa www.ruddingpark.co.uk/spa Instagram @ruddingparkhotel Garden product partners Johnsons of Whixley, Rigo Spa, Helo, Akula Living, B&B Italia

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Rudding Park’s rooftop spa garden takes its cues from the woodland glades that border it. With a south-facing sun deck, a warm open-air hydro pool and garden sauna nestled among ornamental grasses, flowering dogwood and mature trees, it was created to evoke the sensation of a garden floating in a woodland.

“A sun-drenched mid-summer day can feel like relaxing in the south of France. Guests love it and love to engage with it,” says designer and renowned horticulturalist Matthew Wilson.

“The garden fundamentally distinguishes us from the competition; it offers a point of difference to our experience,” explains head of spa Sarah Johnson. “From a business perspective, our team deliver lounger service in a space that may have over 100 guests at any one time, generating £60,000 of beverage revenue each month.”

Other outdoor facilities include a hydrotherapy infinity pool, a panoramic sauna infused with birch blossom in spring and rose petal in summer, a herbal bath steam room, an ice fountain, a foot spa and an experience shower.

“Building the spa garden added £250,000 to the cost of the [spa] build,” says Wilson, “but it has paid dividends in terms of guest experience and revenue generation.”

www.europeanspamagazine.com

Industry Intelligence Top 10 UK spa gardens

BEST FOR

A S E V E N - S TA G E S E N S O R Y E X P E R I E N C E B Y T H E S E A

Bedruthan Spa The sensory spa garden at Bedruthan hosts a unique one-hour experience inspired by thermotherapy. A series of nature-bathing immersions combine the benefits of hot and cold temperatures with the sea air in order to ignite the body’s ability to detoxify and renew.

The experience starts with a dry scrub in a circular room with a heated floor, moving to a group shower to wash off the salt and warm the body in preparation for the sauna. With porthole window overlooking the sea, the 80-degree cedar wood sauna opens pores and slows the mind, allowing deep relaxation. An ice bucket shower follows before guests enter cedar wood hot tubs overlooking the pool garden. More ice then stimulates the lymphatic system and boosts the immune system before a final shower with wet Oula scrub and a warm foot bath at the fire pit.

“Our seven-step journey works directly with the internal cleansing system, encouraging toxins to move through the body, boosting the immune system and stimulating muscles to relax on the inside,” says RED Hotels spa manager Kerris Brimblecombe. “Guests report psychological benefits from stepping outside of their comfort zone and we describe the experience as a state changer – there’s no way you can’t laugh when engaging with the cold element!”

www.europeanspamagazine.com

SPA STATISTICS Bedruthan Spa www.bedruthan.com Instagram @bedruthanhotel Garden product partners Riveria hot tubs, Freeman Sails

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Industry Intelligence Top 10 UK spa gardens

BEST FOR

A S TA R - G A Z I N G S PA E X P E R I E N C E

The Spa at Rockliffe Hall

SPA STATISTICS The Spa at Rockliffe Hall www.rockliffehall.com Instagram @rockliffe_hall Garden product partners SparcStudio, Wharton Construction, xsite Architects, DaleSauna

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The 130sqm spa garden at Rockliffe Hall was developed as part of a £1million investment to offer guests a place to slow down and disconnect.

Mindful of the north-east’s changeable weather, designers Sparcstudio and architects xcite created the garden as a pavilion with a retractable side, providing a year-round inside-outside space. Floor-to-ceiling bi-fold doors extend fully then, when the heavens open, close completely while continuing to provide panoramic views of the garden.

“Rockliffe’s Spa Garden was one of the first of its kind in the north of England and continues to provide us with opportunity to create experiences completely unique to us, with the added commercial benefit of being a saleable upgrade to spa guests,” says spa manager Ashley Freeman.

An outdoor infinity-edge hydrotherapy pool is perfectly positioned to allow guests to soak up the 365-acre estate, watch the sunset and indulge in nightly ‘Twilight Passes’, which take in the night sky’s sparkling constellations from the warmth of the pool. Meanwhile, heated decking and relaxation loungers, a traditional glass-fronted sauna cabin and a fire pit ensure guests are warm as they enjoy their surroundings.

“From sunrise yoga practice to the magical twilight spa experiences the garden allows us to increase the number of guests in the spa at any one time, without impacting users,” says Freeman. “It also increases covers in the newly refurbished spa restaurant, Nu Sana. The secluded location also allows us to hire the space for exclusive use.”

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Industry Intelligence Top 10 UK spa gardens

BEST FOR

A C H I E V I N G A S TAT E O F E Q U I L I B R I U M

Three Graces Spa, Grantley Hall Designed by Alistair W Baldwin, the spa terrace and surrounding gardens at Three Graces Spa opened to guests in 2019 after a four-year renovation project.

“Every element of Three Graces Spa was thought out with both the customers and therapists in mind,” says spa and wellness manager Rebecca Doyle. “Each treatment room has floor-to-ceiling windows to allow the maximum amount of natural light inside, essential for ensuring therapist wellbeing and allowing guests to soak up the Dales that surround the spa and hotel.”

Aiming to make a feature of the clean air and luscious greenery of the Yorkshire Dales, the wellness philosophy of the spa and gardens is based on balance – achieving a state of balance unique to each guest, their state of mind and their body’s particular needs.

An outdoor terrace extends the indoor spa experience, including a tranquil relaxation area that has direct access to an indoor-outdoor hydrotherapy pool. Designed-in planting around the terrace keeps the area shielded from the rest of the grounds and gardens, while still allowing an extended view.

“The outdoor offering truly reflects the chance to achieve a state of equilibrium and guests comment that the area transports people to enhanced relaxation,” adds Doyle.

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SPA STATISTICS Three Graces Spa, Grantley Hall www.grantleyhall.co.uk/spa/ three-graces-spa Instagram @grantleyhall_ Garden product partners Cheshire Wellness, Lapicida, Alexander Rose, Oxley’s Furniture

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The Spa Linen Experts

Courtesy of Bokeh Spa at Montcalm East

UK & INTERNATIONAL enquiries@bcsoftwear.co.uk Sales: +44 (0) 845 210 4000 www.bcsoftwear.co.uk

Industry Intelligence Top 10 UK spa gardens

BEST FOR

FOREST IMMERSION

Herb House Spa at Lime Wood The Herb House Spa roof garden, or ‘Herbery’, is specially designed to reflect the location of the spa and its natural approach to wellbeing. Small, delicate herbs contrast with the majestic trees in the nearby forest. Its proximity to the forest and the rooftop position heavily influenced the planting, which is as unstructured as possible to ensure a natural visual flow from the Herbery.

“The rooftop Herbery isn’t just an aromatic backdrop for yoga, meditation and forest watching – its collection of herbs is extensive and all are selected for a reason,” says spa director Tammy Kenyon.

“The aim was to create a comfortable, unfussy outside area – garden-rooms, if you like – that reflects the interior and continues our theme of using living herbs outside to compliment and extend the treatments and therapies received inside.”

Facilities include a Mud House, an outdoor hot pool and a giant forest sauna where guests can feel fully immersed in the woodland.

Designed by Lime Wood group director David Elton, the garden complements the 2,044sqm spa, located across three floors.

Over time the roof has evolved into a multi-use space and is in effect a living third floor of the spa that continues to be enjoyed by members, guests and staff alike. All year round a multitude of activities take place from yoga to qi-gong, spinning to stretching, meetings to relaxation and a glass or two of fizz. The rooftop garden is an immersive experience of visual, smell, touch and texture.

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SPA STATISTICS Herb House Spa at Lime Wood www.limewoodhotel.co.uk/spa/ roof-garden Instagram @limewoodhotel Garden product partners Barr+Wray, KLAFS

www.europeanspamagazine.com

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.

www.ellisons.co.uk ellisons.co.uk

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 +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

Industry Intelligence Top 10 UK spa gardens

BEST FOR

A S O C I A L S PA E X P E R I E N C E

The Spa Hotel at Ribby Hall Although limited in terms of available space, the Spa Hotel at Ribby Hall doesn’t fail to deliver when it comes to outside innovation. Its upper and lower ‘Zen gardens’ offer a number of external facilities to enhance and complement the indoor aqua thermal journey.

Since opening in 2011, the garden has received considerable investment and is now home to the Zen Garden Bar, a garden-view sauna, two hot tubs, a dual foot spa with heated seats, an experience shower and a glass-fronted Himalayan salt sauna. A purpose-built treatment room is used for product discovery sessions and seasonal treatments, while two enclosed areas – the heated snug and the rustic Breeze Hut – house bistro tables and seating.

“The Breeze Hut was created to maximise secondary revenue when we noticed footfall to the garden was increasing,” says spa manager Jane Tregonning. “It enables us to bring retail outside and involve the spa reception and host team – guests can try out products and we can maximise use of therapists in downtime. Because so many people are outside and demand is continually increasing, the Breeze Hut helps prevent any bottlenecks and gives guests more to do outside than congregate in the hot tubs.”

The spa has plans to expand its outdoor facilities further, including building a large glass-fronted covered area with heated loungers.

“We’ve grown the garden so we’re using all the space available to us,” says assistant spa manager Gemma Cartmell. “It isn’t the garden we opened with in 2011 – it now makes up 40% of the aqua thermal journey.”

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SPA STATISTICS The Spa Hotel at Ribby Hall www.ribbyhall.co.uk/the-spa-hotel/ welcome-to-the-spa-hotel Instagram @ribbyspahotel Garden product partners Alexander Rose via Ellisons, DaleSauna, Neil Barnes, IMD Designs, Malcom King

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SCIENCE-LED ORGANIC SKINCARE EXCLUSIVELY FOR PROFESSIONALS

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Borgo Lanciano Resort & Spa

THE WELLNESS REVOLUTION Myrtha Wellness creates, engineers and manufactures sustainable products that delight the clientele.

Myrtha modular panels technology are the epitome of ‘Made in Italy’ thermal bathing wellness products.

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Industry Intelligence Top 10 UK spa gardens

BEST FOR

A P R I VAT E S PA H AV E N

Fletcher’s Cottage Spa at Archerfield House The walled garden at Fletcher’s Cottage Spa was created ten years ago from an unused piece of scrubland. It now houses two cosy, private single-occupancy bath huts complete with log burners.

Each has its own small private patio and the front area of the garden, split by a central path banked by heather and juniper, now leads to a large central pergola covered with climbing roses, clematis and grape vines.

“As soon as the weather is nice guests can’t wait to get outside.

Lots go for walks to the meadow, or to the bath huts, or the rest just relax outside at the tables, it’s become a real extension of our offer,” says brand guardian Siân Parry Jones.

The garden was created so guests could look out on nature and to bring life and light into the spa. In the summer, yurts are set up where yoga, Reiki and gong sessions take place.

“I’m all about having every single window looking out onto nature,” says Parry Jones, “so we have lavender beds planted outside all the treatment rooms, climbing roses and even palm trees – we never thought they would survive in Scotland but they have. It’s not a formal garden, it has grown into what it wanted to be. I would love to put some more huts out in our wildflower meadow.”

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SPA STATISTICS Fletcher’s Cottage Spa www.archerfieldhouse.com/spa Instagram @archerfieldhouse Garden product partners Vincent Sheppard

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www.healingsummit.org healingsummit@healing-hotels.com

Industry Intelligence Wellness news and trends

WellnessMatters EUROPEAN SPA SHINES A LIGHT ON THE LATEST GLOBAL WELLNESS TRENDS AND MODALITIES Ed i te d by M a r k S m i t h

EDITOR’S PICK

Accor’s Health to Wealth podcasts explore the meaning of wellbeing Emlyn Brown, global vice-president, well-being at Accor, and Anni Hood, founder of Well Intelligence discuss the global hotel group’s latest initiative

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s a world-leading hotel group, Accor has long been at the forefront of wellness hospitality provision and to reinforce this position its new Health to Wealth concept dives deep into the defining issues for wellbeing today.

The thought-provoking podcast series was created by the Accor well-being team and curated by Anni Hood, founder of Well Intelligence, a UK-based international business advisory group that champions the cultural importance that wellbeing investment offers.

Designed to change the conversation around wellness, it offers informative interviews with some of the world’s most inspiring individuals who are creating their own paths in wellness, grass-roots activism, nutritional health and technology.

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Talking to those in the know As lead interviewer on the podcast series, Hood engages in in-depth conversations with a wide range of guests including ‘Ice Man’ and author Wim Hof, who discusses the power of breath, and Saasha Celestial-One, founder of Olio, the global food sharing app that is transforming food waste.

Other topics in the series include changing values and global macro forces; fitness, resilience and countering stress; how our body sense is governed by neuroscience; the importance of personal data; and the AI revolution in healthcare.

“Intentionally, the curation and content will accelerate the recognition of wellbeing relevance as a priority in everything that matters most, and steward the

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Industry Intelligence Wellness news and trends

Emlyn Brown Global vice-president, well-being at Accor

Anni Hood Founder, Well Intelligence

associated culture shift,” says Hood. “This means how we live, how we do business, how we work, how we address inequity and equality, and how we prevent the climate crisis from escalating further.”

Next-level wellbeing Emlyn Brown, global vice-president, well-being at Accor says the Health to Wealth initiative elevates the group’s established role in providing wellness options for its guests. “As a global leader of hospitality, Accor has led the industry in moving wellness matters beyond the traditional walls of spas and fitness centres into everything we do, from hotel operations to food and beverage, room design and so much more.

“We are excited to debut Health to Wealth and take our mission of care to the next level, convening a diverse group of innovative minds to act as a positive force for change that we hope will inspire mental and physical wholeness and a greater sense of wellbeing in what is a very complex and ever-changing world.”

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The Health to Wealth series is soon to be followed by an entrepreneurial start-up challenge in Paris in collaboration with VivaTech, and an insightful white paper later this year exploring recent research in the areas of psychological and physiological health, societal structure and responsibility as well as global shifts, responses and predictions.

Hood believes that the importance of these topics will continue to grow as there is a burgeoning demand for more robust mental, emotional and spiritual health support. “Long Covid – being termed ‘the pandemic after the pandemic’ – is another area that is expected to escalate,” she says. “Stress and burnout as work patterns restabilise and populations adjust to the rising cost of living and male health and wellbeing will need more nurturing, attention and compassion,” she concludes. www.healthtowealthbyaccor.com www.wellintelligence.com

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Industry Intelligence Wellness news and trends

Junius cold-press juices are a refreshing addition to spa destinations An award-winning maker of cold-pressed juices, shots and nutritional supplements, Junius has launched its SPA360 Package with a targeted offering specifically for spas, hotels, retreats, yoga studios and luxury wellbeing centres.

Gluten and dairy-free, phyto-nutrient rich and hand-crafted in small batches, the products are ideal as an add-on to treatments or for post-workout refreshment and the brand recommends pairing spa treatments with individual juices to bring an element of enhanced value. Junius also offers additional support with health and wellness advice and a free downloadable e-book for guests. It can also partner with spas on IGTV interviews.

The brand’s co-founder Maria King, a certified functional medicine expert, says:“I am on a mission to redefine how people choose their health goals by sharing my knowledge of nutritional science and biochemistry. Collaborating with spas to match in-house treatments with our range of juices and supplements will deliver health benefits both inside and out.”

Flavours include Zap, an immune defence booster; Zip, an energy boost; Pow for gut and bone strength; Zen to minimise stress; the cell cleansing Spa; anti-ageing blend Fab; and the metabolism-boosting Rev. www.wearejunius.com

Proverb’s Gym + Stretch Box Concept aims to boost treatment revenue Bridging the gap between the fitness studio and the spa, Proverb’s Gym + Stretch Box Concept aims to encourage more gym goers into the treatment room.

Engineered to improve longevity, movement, injury prevention, recovery and performance, sessions can be delivered either in the gym by personal trainers or in the treatment room by a therapist. Stretching and mobility routines are designed primarily for the gym while massage, body scrubs and facials can also be made available in the treatment room.

“The Proverb Gym + Stretch Box Concept combines our experience in professional sport, treatment training and product design,” says Proverb founder Luke Sherriff.

The concept creates a continuity of treatment and care from one space to the next, helping to connect the client journey between the gym and spa while also generating revenue. The Gym + Stretch Box Concept aims to provide support for individuals’ training goals, offering a USP for spas and the possibility of increasing treatment spend.

The brand’s offering has already launched in spas and gyms including FIVE and Caesars Palace in Dubai, UAE, and Wentworth Club in Surrey, UK. www.proverbskin.com

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Industry Intelligence Wellness news and trends

MindLabs launches live and on-demand mental wellness platform The video-first mental wellness platform MindLabs has launched an app to help users overcome stress, anxiety and low moods as well as improve sleep patterns.

Engaging on-demand content can be viewed at will, with an option to set reminders to join live stream sessions.

The brand’s in-house team of experts, who lead classes based on practical, accessible and understandable techniques, include global breathwork expert Richie Bostock, clinical psychologist Dr. Erica McInnis and head of mindfulness, neuroscientist Anne-Sophie Fluri.

The aim is to help users rewire their brains to sleep better, stress less, be more energised and feel happier.

“We want to empower everyone with the tools to take better care of their minds,” explains Adnan Ebrahim, co-founder and CEO of MindLabs. “Fundamentally, we want to create a world where looking after your mind is as normal as going to the gym.”

MindLabs’ wealth of on-demand content and continuing production of live classes covers all aspects of mental wellness including: easing into sleep, de-stressing with ratio breathing, releasing muscle tension, instant energy boost with power breathing and learning to let go. www.wearemindlabs.com

The Organic Pharmacy develops supplements with celebrity fitness coach The Organic Pharmacy has partnered with international strength and conditioning coach Ruben Tabares to develop two nutritional supplements.

Designed to prolong pre and post-workout results, the products draw on Tabares’s deep understanding of the body and how the right supplements can help to boost individuals’ strength.

‘Performance’ is designed to boost aerobic endurance, aid muscle growth and prompt the body to produce more energy. Pea protein and chlorella provide muscles with essential amino acids and building blocks to support muscle strength and growth; beetroot helps to improve blood flow to the muscles, while decreasing heart strain during strenuous exercise. Intended for use immediately prior to training, the inclusion of ginseng and holy basil help to naturally increase energy and reduce fatigue.

‘Longevity’ works to reduce muscle and body fatigue, regulate inflammation and help fight tiredness. The formula includes antioxidant-rich ingredients including dragon fruit, acai and maqui berries, as well as acerola and guarana seeds that help relax muscles. Ginger and turmeric assist the reduction of inflammation in the body. www.theorganicpharmacy.com

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Industry Intelligence Kate Thompson, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, UK

Creating a hub of wellbeing We talk to therapist Kate Thomson about how a new resident practitioner programme at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London is providing a multidisciplinary approach to wellbeing

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andarin Oriental Hyde Park, London has been at the forefront of innovation in spa and wellness since its launch in 2000. Since an extensive renovation in 2018, the spa has continued to adapt to the fast-paced world of wellness while meeting the increased health and wellbeing demands of the luxury traveller.

“During the last 18 months we have been creating an urban hub for wellness practitioners,” explains Jamie Pagan, senior director of spa and wellness. “The ambition was to provide our guests and members with a fully customisable treatment programme and a multidisciplinary approach 100

delivered by world-class practitioners.”

Pagan and his team have hand-picked leading experts to focus on mind, body, nutrition and beauty, including facialist Nichola Joss; naturopath, acupuncturist and yoga teacher Francy Lema; therapist and coach Andrew Johnson; physiotherapist Heshmat Nasiri; nutritionist Gloria Masithela; and craniosacral specialist Kate Thomson.

TCM practitioner Professor Song Ke, Japanese reiki specialist Rika Tanaka and reiki expert Shaylini all draw on eastern traditional healing modalities.

“The in-residence programme is ever-evolving and intended to develop organically, most recently supporting

the creation of urban residential retreats combining multiple disciplines into cohesive residential experiences,” says Pagan.

Team development The initiative launched at the same time as a series of one-day retreat programmes that focus on inner and outer wellbeing. These can include a range of personal consultations, yoga, Pilates, fitness elements, a Movementum class, chakra meditation, crystal healing and two-hour Mandarin Oriental treatment sessions.

Nutritional options can include healthy meals, juices and snacks. This innovative programme is intended www.europeanspamagazine.com

Industry Intelligence Kate Thompson, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, UK

to expand the wellness offering and provide additional benefits to the existing team. “We wanted to create a professional development path for our existing experienced Mandarin Spa therapists to support specialisation and greater individual exposure within the spa environment,” says Pagan.

Meet the therapist When European Spa visited Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, we met Kate Thomson, a craniosacral therapist and myofascial release practitioner whose highly personalised and restorative treatments deliver deep relaxation.

A practitioner for over ten years, Thomson has worked with pregnant women, babies, children, adults and the elderly. She has a private practice in Brighton and visits Mandarin Oriental once a week to see her clients there.

“My therapies are patient-centred and I often combine them or use them individually to provide a treatment that is specifically tailored to their needs www.europeanspamagazine.com

and conditions,” she explains.

Thomson regards herself as a facilitator to her patients’ wellbeing using a range of skills to help focus and stimulate the body’s own healing ability. She has treated a wide range of problems such as pregnancy pain, shock, trauma, learning difficulties, Aspergers, autism, ADHD, abuse, bullying and loss of relationships.

Thomson employs myofascial release and holistic massage with craniosacral therapy, a light-touch treatment that seeks to match the very slow rhythm of the flow of cerebro-spinal fluid in the brain and spinal cord, to feel restrictions and help them release.

“Often the cranio-sacral system can help to soften and release the tension in the fascia, stimulating the blood flow in the skin, the muscles and the lymphatic system, encouraging increased vitality,”she says.

Her work involves responding to the direct physical and emotional needs of clients in the moment. As her clients

Above: Craniosacral specialist Kate Thomson, far left, is part of the resident practitioner programme at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London

at Mandarin Oriental travel a lot, much attention paid to help them with jet lag or overstimulation from long periods spent on the phone or computer.

“At Mandarin Oriental my work also involves massage to release any tight muscles from sitting or a lot or standing,” she adds. “I like my clients to find peace, physically, emotionally and mentally.”

Thomson believes treatments that address the psyche as well as the body will become more and more important.

“There has been and still is a lot of change,” she says, “I think humans find change exhausting or they fear it, so treatments and practitioners who are safe, experienced and can understand and empathise with these fears are increasingly important.” www.touchwork.co.uk www.mandarinoriental.com 101

Thought Leadership Deborah Garlick, Menopause in the Workplace

Why menopause matters at work...

Deborah Garlick shares how easy it is to introduce training, policies and practices to support your team and your business

D Deborah Garlick EXPERT CONTRIBUTOR

id you know that women over 50 are the fastest-growing workplace demographic?

Or that the average age for women to reach menopause in the UK is 51? The fact that an increasing number of women are working through the menopause and beyond could have big repercussions for the hospitality and personal care sectors, as they look to attract more diverse and experienced people to traditionally younger and female-led positions.

A menopause awareness plan is therefore important to futureproof your business. Menopause is not just a subject for women. It impacts everyone, whether we go through it ourselves or are supporting a partner, friend, colleague or family member.

Start the conversation

Deborah Garlick is CEO of Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace and founder of Henpicked.net. She works with international organisations to educate businesses and their staff about this increasingly relevant subject. Her book, Menopause: The Change for the Better is published by Bloomsbury at £14.99 www.menopauseintheworkplace.co.uk

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The first thing I always say about introducing menopause support at work is to get talking. For many people, discussing menopause may feel a little strange at first. But the more you do it, the easier it becomes.

Normalising it and turning it into an everyday conversation is the first step to embedding menopause into your workplace and wellbeing practices.

Start by including menopause awareness articles and stories on your intranet and in magazines, or setting up awareness events to bring the subject out in the open.

What’s right for your business?

Employers should consider how they want to introduce, action and develop a menopause awareness plan. This

is not a box-ticking exercise – you need to embrace this as part of your culture. Measures can include writing a guidance document, running training and awareness sessions, asking Menopause Champions to spread the word and setting up support groups.

There are no hard and fast rules, it just needs to be clear that your organisation considers it important, is prepared to consult on what would be helpful, and that employees know support is there should they need it.

Be on the right side of the law

With menopause gathering traction in the media, there have been some interesting developments.

An increasing number of workplace www.europeanspamagazine.com

Thought Leadership Deborah Garlick, Menopause in the Workplace

How you can make life better during menopause For businesses: n G et the conversation started n P lan your menopause strategy n C ommunicate so colleagues know how to access support n K eep the ball rolling: there’s always more you can do For individuals: n L earn as much as you can about menopause n I f you’re suffering from symptoms, speak to your GP n C onsider what adjustments might help you at work n A sk for a conversation and schedule a follow-up meeting Find out more at www.menopause intheworkplace.co.uk

tribunals have seen successful plaintiffs citing menopause discrimination (it falls under the protected characteristics of sex, disability and age in the Equality Act). Furthermore, the government is investigating whether women are well enough supported, so we’re likely to see greater employment law requirements and savvy employers are taking action now rather than waiting until menopause policies become law.

Recruitment and retention

The spa industry, like many others, has seen significant change over recent years. Attracting, recruiting and retaining the top talent presents its own challenges. Companies that put employee wellbeing centre-stage are www.europeanspamagazine.com

far more likely to be successful here.

A package of support that includes menopause makes sense in an ageing population. At some point workers may leave to join a competitor who offers this if you do not.

Small change, big difference

Some organisations can mistakenly think that this will be a huge and costly undertaking, but menopause support can be as simple as offering an extra uniform, making sure there’s access to water and bathroom facilities or improving ventilation – small things can make a big difference. But really, it does all go back to culture. Having the right attitude and being prepared to support your workforce is what turns a

good employer into a great one.

I’d encourage staff to look and see what their employer offers. It may be there is a policy or guidance that hasn’t been well communicated.

Menopause is a very individual experience and one you need to manage in your own way. Speak to your GP if you’re suffering from symptoms. Ask for a confidential conversation with your line manager, going in well prepared to say: this is what I’m experiencing, this is what I’d like you to do to help. Then make sure there’s a follow-up meeting scheduled as symptoms can change over time so you might need to make some tweaks to the adjustments you’re asking for.

I can’t emphasise enough the value to a business of introducing menopause support. It will help you attract and retain the best possible team and cover you from a legal perspective. You will be appealing to a new and growing demographic and more importantly, you will simply be doing the right thing.

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SpaStyle SHOWCASING THE LATEST WELLNESS EQUIPMENT AND LEADING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY Ed i te d by We nd y G o l l e d g e

Satori lounger Gharieni

A new immersive experience for spas from Gharieni provides vibroacoustic therapy combined with unique binaural beats without the need for a dedicated treatment room. The design of the Satori lounger (pictured), which encompasses patented vibrational frequencies, allows spas to offer touchless treatment experiences in public relaxation areas.

Benefits for guests include improved mood, decreased anxiety and stress, and a reduction in pain, as well as a more easily accessible route to meditation.

The lounger aims to deliver significant wellness benefits thanks to the

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integration of full-body vibration with healing binaural beats and voice-guided programmes, without the need for a dedicated therapist. The combination of mind-body stimulation and a weightless experience is said to be an effective tool for changing neural pathways and creating healthy behaviours.

Altering reality Also new to market this summer, Gharieni’s Aurasens Experience lounger offers spas the opportunity to take guests on a journey of altered reality by combining curated music with

pulsating haptic sensations and experience programmes.

The patented technology includes 28 transducers – each integrated into the lounger and marked in the upholstery with embroidery – that are controlled by the Aurasens module. The position of each transducer ensures optimal transmission of sound and vibration.

Wearing noise-cancelling headphones, guests are completely immersed in the sensations, which can stimulate or soothe, ease tired muscles, provide stillness or rejuvenate body and mind. www.gharieni.com

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Supply & Demand Spa Style

Permanent hand sanitiser Vaask

Hand sanitising is a good habit that’s continued since the pandemic and is becoming a permanent fixture in spas. However, bottles of hand sanitiser scattered around look unsightly, especially as they often run out and remain empty and unnoticed by busy staff.

Hand hygiene company Vaask has created a new sleek, permanent solution – a touchless hand sanitising fixture that can be recessed into the wall, offering precise and consistent delivery of hand gel.

Made from cast aluminium, the system offers spas a streamlined, premium look while its permanence demonstrates spa operators’ long-term commitment to cleanliness.

Featuring a PalmPilot hand sensor and a precision pump control, the Vaask system automatically retracts sanitiser when the hand is moved away. Hard-wired to AC power, it doesn’t require batteries, has a large capacity, and is easily refilled. www.vaask.com

Dolce

Kenneth Cobonpue Furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue has revealed a new ‘bubble bed’ in an innovative design that offers seclusion and isolation, making it an ideal statement piece for the spa setting.

Combining sumptuous velvet with the lightness of carbon fibre, Dolce is a soft woven bed crafted in a unique organic shape.

Previewed at Salone del Mobile, Milano, the piece represents the authentic craftsmanship of Cobonpue’s homeland, the Philippines, and is made with natural materials hewn into soft and sinuous lines reminiscent of classic Filipino boats, evoking a culture and tradition to be celebrated, passed on and shared.

Available in ivory, pebble grey, chestnut, deep green, royal blue and black, the range is continued with the Dolce armchair, which combines the sturdy support of a metal structure with the softness of a velvet seat. www.kennethcobonpue.com

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Supply & Demand Spa Style

Bite II

TheraFace PRO

Adding to his ever-expanding portfolio of water features and sculptures, award-winning British sculptor David Harber has unveiled a new iteration of his Bite sculpture.

Bite II is hand-crafted from copper and patinated in a rich verdigris. Produced at Harber’s rural Oxfordshire workshop, the new design features two offset conical faces of mirror-polished stainless steel that meet in the middle to create a vortex of distorted reflections. The transition from a sphere into conical mirror inlays creates an optical illusion.

The sculpture received its official preview at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show in May as part of a stand designed by garden designer Emily Erlam.

Standing at 90cm in diameter, Bite II is also available in oxidised and stainless steel finishes. “I’m excited by the interplay of spherical and conical surfaces, the textures and tones of each metal contrast in aesthetic harmony,” Harber said of his work. www.davidharber.co.uk

Providing eight treatments with one device, the new TheraFace PRO from percussive therapy specialist Therabody provides gentle massage designed specifically for the face. The device, which has microcurrent and LED red light as well as an infrared light therapy attachment, allows spas to add a chargeable self-care option to their menu, for example in relaxation areas.

It can also be used in treatments to reduce the strain placed on therapist’s hands.

“As the experts in whole-body wellness, we’ve translated that philosophy to the area of the body above the shoulders,” says Dr Jason Wersland, founder and chief wellness officer of Therabody.

Interchangeable magnetic ring attachments allow for seamless changes between skin-toning microcurrent therapy, light therapy, tension-relieving Cryothermal technology and percussive massage therapy. It can also be used to alleviate muscle tension and headaches. www.therabody.com/uk/en-gb

David Harber

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Therabody

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Supply & Demand Spa Style

Pixel collection Vondom

Designed by Ramón Esteve for Vondom, the new Pixel Collection includes three independent modules – a sectional sofa, armchair and pouffé – all designed for outdoor spa spaces.

Inspired by the small elements of colour that make up digital images, the different modules allow spas to create infinite shapes from linear sofas to a chaise longue, corner sofas and a lounge bed. Two new corner modules, one curved and the other pentagonal, offer additional adaptability so the range can suit a myriad of spa spaces and styles.

One of Pixel’s stylish features is its low seating height, designed for more intimate use, making it ideal for outdoor chill-out and relaxation zones. The range’s upholstery is available in a wide variety of fabrics and finishes that can be easily combined, ensuring it blends with any decor. www.vondom.com

Flag Chaise Longue ISO Benessere

A chaise longue for any spa setting, Flag from ISO Benessere is small enough (160cm long x 60cm wide) to fit in a multitude of settings. Its cyclical RGB lighting system creates atmosphere with colours that can be graduated to provide chromotherapy benefits.

As well as immersive colour options, Flag has speakers and is available with an optional massage device inside the seat, which is shaped in a comfortable curve.

Ideal for reception areas, relaxation areas or poolside, the seat is made from treated steel painted with anti-rust powders and has plexiglass inserts to transmit colour into the environment. The cover is made from stain-resistant, hypoallergenic marine eco-leather and there is an option for spas to install a mattress-heating device to provide an enveloping sensation.

Flag can be synchronised with the other products in the ISO Benessere line, to create an even more cocooning and relaxing atmosphere. www.isobenessere.com

spapartner@ellisons.co.uk

www.ellisons.co.uk www.europeanspamagazine.com

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P R O D U C T I N N O VAT I O N

EcoSignature spa uniforms

We talk to the founder of Noel Asmar Uniforms about the challenges of running a successful business and the brand’s new textile development

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ith the launch of the new EcoSignature fabric from Noel Asmar, we asked the company’s founder to discuss her intriguing background, the brand’s focus on sustainability and marrying form and function to produce spa uniforms that are stylish, durable and practical.

Why are spa uniforms so important?

While working in the hospitality industry overseas I saw how each role was outfitted differently and it really stuck with me how that impacted self-esteem and confidence on the job.

I fully believe that what we wear, how we dress for work, impacts our confidence and ultimately our ability to do our job.

I knew there was an opportunity to elevate spa professionals with stylish, highly functional tunics.

Where do you take inspiration from when creating your collections?

I am inspired every time I go into a spa or a hotel, or have a call with spa directors. I listen to their challenges, hear about their vision and it inspires me to problem-solve with design.

I’m a self-taught designer and my process always begins with ‘why?’

Why do we need to fix things? Why does this matter?

My focus is on the future for our customers. How can we dress them to get where they want their spa to go? I believe

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in the power of dressing and how it makes people feel. It’s important.

What can Noel Asmar offer spa operators?

We’ve changed the way countless spa and wellness professionals show up for work.

We’ve given spa and wellness practitioners the tools to bring their brand to life, to look professional and elevate their team, and ultimately to bring more awareness to such a rich, vibrant industry.

How have you incorporated environmental responsibility into your brand?

Sustainability is something we as business owners and, quite frankly, as human beings can’t afford to dismiss. We looked at the areas of our business that would have the greatest environmental impact and started there.

Our Signature Tunic collections have been favourites for 20 years – we’ve made over a million uniforms in that one fabric – so we embarked on a mission to develop a sustainable alternative that looks and feels the same but has a better end-of-life outcome.

Tell us about your new EcoSignature textile. How is it more planet friendly?

EcoSignature is a big move with a big impact. At the end of its life every single uniform breaks down safely.

EcoSignature is made from biodegradable polyester and spandex (which will be replaced with biodegradable spandex once available) that only begins to break down when disposed of. The material has received an environmental compatibility certificate ensuring that, as it begins to degrade in soil, no harmful substances are released. We are working category by category to transition our company to be fully sustainable.

What are the challenges to running a successful spa supplier business?

Neither of my roles – as a mother and as an entrepreneur – ever really end. Managing a brand while being a mom really emphasises the need for a ‘village’ in both my business and my social network.

I’ve surrounded myself with others I trust and believe that’s helped my company survive the recession and Covid-19 closures.

These two very stressful events taught me that making a decision is critical. Don’t ponder. Don’t avoid it.

As a female leader, I embrace heartfelt leadership – it’s empowered me to be personal and authentic. I see so many talented women that want or have children and can’t find a career balance because most jobs lack that flexibility. As a business owner and a mom, you wear many different hats, so I see there’s an inherent need for change. www.noelasmaruniforms.com

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Amalfi Lemi

‘Massage table meets pedicure station’ in Lemi’s new multifunctional offering. The Amalfi has three motor adjustments for height, backrest and leg rest, allowing therapists to use hydraulics to quickly transform a classic treatment area into a wellness zone.

The couch is suitable for face and body treatments, massages, spa pedicure and hair removal. The station is equipped with a pipeless hydromassage system, which has a nozzle positioned above the drain plug, for easy removal and cleaning.

The Amalfi’s horseshoe-shaped mattress offers a removable section for quick and practical access to the hydromassage pedicure tub, all of which is fixed onto a biometric base. Elegant seams on the mattress create a shell texture that aids movement while maintaining comfort. www.lemigroup.it

Cellreturn Platinum Mask Lily Earle

A premium-quality wearable LED mask for home, spa or salon use, the Cellreturn Platinum mask by beauty tech entrepreneur Lily Earle combines 1,026 LED lights – red and blue wavelength as well as near infrared technology – to deliver 12 times deeper skin penetration than comparable devices.

A South Korean study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology found skin elasticity was boosted by 18%, skin density increased by 56%, skin texture around the eyes improved by 7% and facial smoothness by 21% after using the Cellreturn Platinum Mask in conjunction with hyaluronic acid for four weeks.

“I first came across these masks when researching LED to help manage my chronic migraine condition,” says Lily, the daughter of skincare guru Liz Earle, MBE. “It uses powerful NASA-derived LED and NIR tech making it the most powerful LED skincare device available globally for open pores, acne, skin laxity, lines, wrinkles, scarring, pigmentation and redness.” www.cellreturn.co.uk

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The brand trusted by thousands of spas and therapists.

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Fragrances for steam baths, saunas, whirlpools, hot tubs and experience showers

Cleaner for sauna, spa and wellness areas. Disinfectant and cleaner for whirlpool and spa tubs.

Sauna and spa technology for experience showers, saunas, hamam, steam baths and rhassoul, dosing systems, inhalation systems, lighting technology

Kemitron is a manufacturer of high quality products for spa, sauna and wellness (technology, fragrances, cleaning, cosmetics) with a focus on best quality and workmanship. All products are “made in Germany” and are sold on the international spa and wellness market. www.kemitron.com

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02.03.22 15:16

Supply & Demand Spa Style

P R O D U C T I N N O VAT I O N

MindSpa by Synctuition

Introducing a new opportunity for meditation and relaxation in spa and wellness hospitality

T

o meet the growing awareness of the importance of meditation and other forms of relaxation, MindSpa is an award-winning product from Synctuition, Europe’s largest mindfulness app, designed by meditation experts and neurologists to allow users to access deep relaxation.

With a compact design, wheels for ease of movement and a small footprint, MindSpa would make a saleable addition to existing spa areas or allow for revenue generation in currently unused spaces.

“Stepping inside the MindSpa booth is like being transported to another place,” explains Peter Evans, head of MindSpa UK. “Its dark glass provides complete privacy and, as you close the door, the interior lights automatically dim and the starlit ceiling begins to sparkle.

The acoustic performance of the booth means all outside noise and distractions disappear – it is soundproof up to 70db. Once spa guests sit back in the zero-gravity chair, they can choose from more than 120 Synctuition journeys displayed on the iPad.” Synctuition believes MindSpa is a premium experience and revenue generator with many possibilities, including options to promote 30-minute MindSpa sessions and upsell opportunities to earn commissions from the Synctuition App. “The mindfulness space is already set to be worth $1.25 billion (£1 billion/€1.17 billion) across Europe by the end of 2022,” adds Evans. “For spas looking to create additional revenue streams, or hotels looking to bring wellness into their wider setting, MindSpa could prove a popular addition.” www.mindspa.com If you would like your new products to be featured in European Spa’s Spa Style, email: wendy.golledge@spapublishing.com

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