European Spa mag issue 56

THE NO.1 MAGAZINE

FOR SPA AND WELLNESS

Issue 56 | February/March 2017 | www.europeanspamagazine.com

IT'S PURE ALCHEMY

Brimstone Spa leads the way in Lake District luxury, UK

READY TO GO GLOBAL Top trends for 2017 from the inaugural GWS forecast

VIVE LE VINOTHÉRAPIE Les Sources de Caudalie offers the essence of French beauty

NAIL AREA DESIGN

What goes into providing the perfect mani-pedi experience

PRODIGE DES OCÉANS

Enter the World of EXCEPTIONAL

Thalgo UK

@ThalgoUK

To find out more, or to receive a free sample, please contact us: E: enquiry@thalgo.co.uk T: +44 (0)20 7512 0872 www.thalgo.co.uk

PRODIGE DES OCÉANS THE ULTIMATE TREATMENT EXPERIENCE in which Innovation and Technical Expertise merge with Luxur y and Sensoriality

FA C E & B O D Y R I T U A L To t a l Yo u t h f u l n e s s - D e e p R e l a x a t i o n

PRODIGE DES OCÉANS Reactivate the 64 Proteins * Key to YOUTHFUL-LOOKING SKIN

Co rr ects Wrinkles • Firmness Dr yness • Complexion Blemishes

E X C L U S I V E PA T E N T Intelligence Marine Régénérative

A C O L L E C T I O N O F LU X U R I O U S T R E AT M E N T P R O D U C T S Cream - Mask - Essence - Body Cream * In vitro evaluation of the activity of Intelligence Marine Régénérative by proteomic analysis. Measured efficacy after 48h.

U L T I M AT E Revitalisation T O TA L Youthfulness

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Living a fast-paced life? Your skin is working hard to keep up!

Caudalie’s new Anti cell burn-out complex™ patent is rich in grape-seed polyphenols, Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Found in the new VineActiv range, it activates your skin’s natural production of anti-oxidants, restores your complexion’s healthy glow, protects your skin from pollution and corrects wrinkles.

So your skin doesn’t have to share your hectic lifestyle.

NEW PA T E N T*

Make the difference to your Spa with exclusive Caudalie facial and body treatments.

Contact us on +44 207 498 8944 spapartner@caudalie.com • Twitter @CaudalieUK * Patent pending N°PCT/FR2016/052294.

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No.1

British Professional Skincare & Spa Brand

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Hôtel Mont Blanc, Chamonix, France.

Gran Meliá Villa Agrippina, Rome.

Clarins No.1 Prestige skin care brand in Europe 60 years of Spa Experience.

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With a network of 170 Skin Spas (Day Spa) around the world, Clarins is the undisputed leader in Spa operations.

For more than 15 years, Clarins has collaborated with prestigious hotel partners with its award - winning Spa by Clarins concept.

Palacio de Isora, Tenerife.

The benefits of a Spa by Clarins: · The power of science, touch and nature to deliver high performance treatments and long-lasting well-being, 2 with scientifically proven results , · A customized operational programme to help develop your business long-term, · The commercial and marketing experience of a brand trusted by millions of women, · Maximum visibility through editorial endorsements and tailor-made targeted PR activities.

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Welcome I SS U E 56 | F E B R UA RY/ M A RC H 2017

Redefining wellness

T

his year promises to be a pivotal period for the spa industry: a time to focus on what really matters and make human, healing connections that truly help spa-goers relax, de-stress and discover a more proactive approach to health and happiness.

Moving away from isolated, superficial mantras, forward-looking spas are communicating a much deeper, heartfelt, health-driven message to help guests raise their own wellness capital.

Mindful of this sea change, we share highlights from the Global Wellness Summit’s inaugural trends forecast (p70), which includes a wave of silent retreats, social sauna settings and ‘inside-out’ beauty solutions, as well as highlighting the role of art and creativity in tackling stress and bolstering mental wellness.

For our spa reports we head to England’s Lake District to find out more about the newly opened Brimstone Spa (p36). The Langdale Estate’s gleaming spa gem is testament to a bold investment plan aimed at attracting a new generation of guests looking to disconnect and enjoy the height of luxury in stunning natural surroundings.

We pursue further joie de vivre with a visit to Bordeaux’s renowned vinotherapy spa, Les Sources de Caudalie (p62), where guests can soak up the intoxicating hospitality and healing grape polyphenols of the Château Smith Haut Lafitte vineyard, upon which the French skincare brand was founded.

Last but not least, our focus on successful spa businesses includes some insights from The Calcot Collection’s spa director Cathy Ball (p56), who reveals what goes into creating an award-winning portfolio of boutique hotel spas.

Elsewhere, we bring you the latest industry News (p21) and highlights of the best product and treatment launches for the Menu (p79). We hope you enjoy our selection of carefully curated content, intended to inspire new connections and fresh ideas for the exciting year ahead.

Sarah Camilleri Publisher & founding editor

The Team Publisher & founding editor Sarah Camilleri +44 (0) 115 950 4748 sarah.camilleri@spapublishing.com

Contributing editor Sarah Todd +44 (0) 115 950 4748 sarah.todd@spapublishing.com

Subscriptions manager Angela Sharpe +44 (0) 1353 772173 subscribe@spapublishing.com

Art director Richard Page +44 (0) 7917 646495 richard@spapublishing.com

Contributing editor Hellena Barnes +44 (0) 115 950 4748 hellena.barnes@spapublishing.com

Accounts manager Julie Jones +44 (0) 115 950 4748 accounts@spapublishing.com

Production editor David Fagan +44 (0) 115 950 4748 david.fagan@spapublishing.com

Contributing editor Mark Smith +44 (0) 7956 658261 mark.smith@spapublishing.com

Online & social media www.europeanspamagazine.com @eurospamag

Office address: European Spa magazine, Spa Publishing Ltd, Halifax House, Halifax Place, Nottingham, NG1 1QN, UK.

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The No.1 business magazine for spa and wellness professionals. Published six times a year by Spa Publishing Ltd, European Spa is an independent, intelligent business title specifically for spa decision makers shaping the wellness market throughout the UK, Europe and beyond. European Spa is printed by Buxton Press on paper sourced from FSC-certified forests.

Spa Publishing Ltd is registered in England. Company No. 6293825

www.europeanspamagazine.com

Contents I SS U E 56 | F E B R UA RY/ M A RC H 2017

Business 21 INDUSTRY NEWS

The latest deals, developments and appointments, including Lanserhof’s plans for a new island retreat and sbe’s takeover of Morgans Hotel Group

32 HEALING SUMMIT PREVIEW

Healing Hotels of the World co-founder Anne Biging discusses her aim to create a global healing business community

56 MY LIFE IN SPA: CATHY BALL, THE CALCOT COLLECTION

The brand’s spa director talks about creating a high-end boutique spa hotel concept, and shares the most important business lessons she has learned

70 GLOBAL WELLNESS SUMMIT

62

2017 TRENDS FORECAST

We summarise eight major shifts taking place that are predicted to shape the spa and wellness industries over the next 12 months

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36

70

106

106 LAST WORD: TAMARA LOHAN, MR & MRS SMITH

The co-founder of the online boutique hotel booking website details how she strives to fulfill the evolving expectations of guests

Spas 36 BRIMSTONE SPA, UK

The latest addition to the Langdale Estate offers a sublime spa experience that sets a new level of luxury in stunning Lake District surroundings

62 LES SOURCES DE CAUDALIE, FRANCE

We trace the roots of vinotherapy back to the vineyards of Bordeaux, visiting the French skincare brand’s recently expanded iconic spa

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N AT U R A L I N G R E D I E N T S . A D VA N C E D F O R M U L AT I O N S . B E A U T I F U L R E S U LT S .

INSPIRING

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Luxurious, results-oriented collections for virtually any skincare need work in harmony with thoughtfully-crafted treatments to provide an elevated wellness experience.

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Dedicated Ongoing Education | Memorable Protocols & Custom Menus | Retail, Merchandising & Promotional Support

F R O M T H E S PA , FO R T H E S PA

PA RT N E R E D W IT H T H E F IN EST D EST IN AT IO N , R ESO RT & DAY SPAS WO RLDWID E.

Contact spa@kerstinflorian.com for more information | www.kerstinflorian.com

Contents I SS U E 56 | F E B R UA RY/ M A RC H 2017

Menu 79 MENU

The best new product and treatment launches, including total immersion in Thalgo’s ‘ultra-premium’ Prodige des Océans and ESPA’s new mindful massage and facial treatments

88 SARAH POWER, DECLÉOR

The brand’s general manager outlines how its continuing commitment to education and upcoming launches make it an ideal business partner for spas

Wellness

48 88

91 WELLNESS

The latest trends and news including the global roll-out of Six Senses new sleep programmes and the increasing popularity of ‘save-cations’ that aim to rekindle couples’ relationships

96 Q&A: BEATA ALEKSANDROWICZ,

PURE MASSAGE The international massage expert on the importance of touch and how the wellbeing of therapists is vital to spa business success

Design 48 NAIL AREA DESIGN

We ask the creators of four exemplary spa nail areas what inspired their design and how to offer excellence in this crucial part of the spa menu

99 STYLE

Our editor’s pick of the best new equipment, furnishings and finishes, highlighting Bamford’s launch at 1 Hotel, Miami, US and Küng Sauna’s transparent new thermal experience

91 Renew your subscription today...

Published six times a year and packed with quality coverage to inform and inspire, European Spa will keep you up to speed with the latest industry developments and news. To subscribe visit: www.europeanspamagazine.com/subscribe

email: subscribe@spapublishing.com

Annual subscription rates (six issues): UK: £65 EU: £85 Rest of the world: £110 On the cover: A bewitching night-time view of the outdoor hydro pool at Brimstone Spa, created as part of a broader £4.5 million development on the Lake District’s Langdale Estate

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 going to print, 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 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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News

DEVELOPMENTS

APPOINTMENTS

INVESTMENT

DIARY DATES

Images: Ingenhoven Architects

EDITED BY SARAH TODD

Lanserhof reveals ambitious €100m island expansion plan Lanserhof on Sylt to be located in the exclusive ‘Hamptons of Germany’ with work scheduled to begin in late 2017 GERMANY: The Lanserhof Group has unveiled

plans to open a comprehensive new health and wellness property on the German island of Sylt.

Dr Jan Stritzke has been appointed as medical director of the cardiology-focused Lanserhof on Sylt, which will comprise an initial investment of E100m. Architect Christoph Ingenhoven, the mastermind behind the brand’s Lans and Tegernsee properties, will be responsible for the design.

With Dr Stritzke’s specialities including the treatment of heart conditions and high blood pressure as well as preventative cardiology, Lanserhof on Sylt will feature two cardiology departments in addition to a planned 5,000sqm treatment area and 66 guest bedrooms.

Located near Denmark, the striking island of Sylt features a 40km beach and has been described as the ‘Hamptons of Germany’.

“Sylt offers a very special environment, a

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fascinating natural landscape and an exceptional temperate climate – our concept harmonises well with the rhythm on the island,” said Dr Stritzke.

“We will offer a cardiology focus for natural therapy and will treat healthy people as well as heart patients.”

As at Lanserhof Lans and Tegernsee, guests on Sylt will benefit from an individual and holistic approach to their wellbeing, which will combine

“Our new spa will combine beautiful wellness architecture and a spectacular location.”

Nils Behrens, chief marketing

officer, Lanserhof Group

natural therapies and hi-tech preventative medicine at the highest level.

Nils Behrens, chief marketing officer for Lanserhof Group, told European Spa: “The beautiful island of Sylt is the most expensive place in Europe for real estate and is so popular with Germans that it has little capacity for international visitors.

“Sylt will be comparable to our Tegernsee property, with all of Lanserhof’s core values embedded within it. Top-class staff have already been recruited and guests can also expect to see a range of cutting-edge technology, including the island’s first MRI scanner, alongside wellness architecture that is complemented by this spectacular location.”

Construction is expected to last around two years, with Lanserhof on Sylt scheduled to launch in late 2019. www.lanserhof.com

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Business News

Four Seasons London is nearing completion

News in brief Clarins opens ninth Spa My Blend at Val d’Isère hotel FRANCE: La Mourra Hotel, in Val d’Isère, is the site of Clarins latest Spa My Blend launch.

The 200sqm boutique spa is the brand’s ninth globally and features two treatment rooms, a 17m indoor pool, a sauna and a steam room.

La Mourra Hotel opened in December 2015 and was designed to resemble a small mountain hamlet with accommodation comprising ten suites and a further four adjacent chalets. www.hotellamourra.com

Aromatherapy Associates debuts Youtube channel UK: Aromatherapy Associates has launched its own Youtube channel.

The leading skincare company will use the platform to upload a range of lifestyle and wellbeing content including product information and exclusive tutorials with professional therapists including its new panel of Wellness Experts (see p94 for interview with Tracey Woodward). www.aromatherapyassociates.com

UK: The much-anticipated Spa at Four Seasons Hotel

London at Ten Trinity Square will open on April 1, 2017.

Featuring eight spacious treatment rooms, a swimming pool and a range of heat experiences, the 1,680sqm spa was designed by Joseph Caspari along with consultants from ESPA. Product partners will include ESPA, marocMaroc, Amala and Dr Burgener, and the high-end spa boasts a Matrix-equipped fitness centre with T7xi cardio products including treadmills, elliptical, ascent trainers and bikes.

“The new spa will offer a comprehensive list of results-driven treatments including a special hammam suite for authentic Moroccan steam therapies,” said spa director Anjana Nicolas.

With 100 bedrooms blending original neo-classical interiors with an elegant, modern design, the hotel is located in the former headquarters of the Port of London Authority in the east of the city, moments from some of the capital’s greatest sights, including the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and the River Thames.

New board members for International Spa Association

The Ten Trinity Square building project was overseen by architects Auckett Swanke and the property will also incorporate 41 private residences as well as a private members club in conjunction with Château Latour. www.fourseasons.com/tentrinity

US: The International Spa Association’s 2017 board of directors will be led by elected chairman Todd Shaw, spa director at The Peaks Resort & Spa with Todd Hewitt, corporate director of spa, health clubs and recreation at Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts acting as vice chairman. www.experienceispa.com

[comfort zone] puts sustainability first ITALY: In recognition of its ongoing commitment to using the

power of business to help solve environmental and social issues, the parent company of [comfort zone], Davines S.p.A, has been awarded B Corporation certification.

As one of the leading global professional skincare brands, [comfort zone] currently has almost 2,000 spa partnerships in Europe and has a mission statement to actively promote ‘a holistic, healthy, soulful and sustainable lifestyle’ in every area of its operation.

The B Corps certification means its parent group Davines is now part Brian Brazeau of an elite global network of nearly 2,000 ‘B Corps’ companies who are recognised as working to a ‘higher social purpose’ than pure financial success.

“B Corps goes back to our company’s heritage,” said Brian Brazeau, general manager of [comfort zone]. “From the very beginning, these values and initiatives were put in place in our business. This is a clear validation of our belief in our employees, the community and the sustainability of the environment.”

Paolo Braguzzi, CEO of Davines, added: “We were relieved to find out that there is a movement of companies that draws inspiration from the same principles we believe in.

This makes us optimistic that business can become a tool for the wellbeing of the society and not the other way round.” www.comfortzone.it

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www.bcorporation.eu

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Business News

New Bamford spa carriage for Belmond Royal Scotsman UK: A new Bamford spa carriage is to be added to the Belmond Royal

Scotsman luxury train, making its debut on April 17 at the start of the train’s 2017 season. The Bamford Haybarn Spa is the first spa to feature aboard Belmond’s luxury train portfolio and will feature bespoke Bamford botanical skincare treatments for passengers travelling on overnight rail journeys in Scotland, England and Wales.

Therapies will include the Bamford Bespoke Facial as well as a De-Stress Massage; manicures and pedicures will also be offered using natural Kure Bazaar nail polishes.

Gary Franklin, managing director of Belmond Trains & Cruises, said: “We are excited to be able to offer our guests a new way to relax, de-stress and slow down. Train journeys are incredibly relaxing and the new Haybarn Spa offers another way to take time to reconnect with what’s important while travelling through stunning Scottish scenery.” www.belmond.com

www.bamford.co.uk

Ye Olde Bell rings in a new era with Spa Vision UK: A new multi-million pound luxury spa is to open

this spring within period hotel Ye Olde Bell in the rural village of Barnby Moor, Retford, England.

Covering 1,580sqm across two floors, the spa will feature six treatment rooms, including two double rooms, as well as a hydropool from Barr + Wray and a thermal suite supplied by Kurland.

Spa director Sadie Ardron-Levack worked in conjunction with project architects Gable Design, Spa Vision and Lizzie Bath of LB Therapies to create the offering, with interior design led by Hilary Levack and Tonia Wynne of Homestead Interiors.

LB Therapies has had a beauty salon at the hotel

for the past four years and the spa is set to offer a range of therapeutic and rejuvenating treatments using Germaine de Capuccini as well as British boutique cosmetic brand Delilah.

“Together with Kurland, we’ve incorporated a comprehensive and enjoyable thermal journey for Ye Olde Bell spa guests to enjoy,” said director of Spa Vision, Colin Cameron.

Sadie Ardron-Levack added: “We aspire to be recognised as a leading UK spa and have worked closely with our partners to create a luxurious space that takes our guests on a unique, bespoke journey.” www.yeoldebell-hotel.co.uk

Hydrothermal guide details new criteria Global: A second edition of the Guide to Hydrothermal Spa & Wellness Development Standards has been published

by The Global Wellness Institute (GWI).

Created as part of the GWI’s Hydrothermal Initiative, this essential Don Genders resource for spa owners, operators, architects and builders provides expert advice on project planning, standards and materials in a bid to increase environmental and technical awareness.

Don Genders, chair of the GWI Hydrothermal Initiative, said: “Our aim is to educate the industry so that whenever a hydrothermal area is designed and built, it not only positively impacts the health and wellness of its users but is also constructed in a way that supports our planet and its precious resources.” www.globalwellnessinstitute.org

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Business News

Elemis to open new global training centre in London

L’Occitane outlines global spa plans FRANCE: Following the launch of the first L’Occitane Spa in the UK in late 2016, the French beauty brand has plans for further potential global spa partnerships in 2017.

Speaking to European Spa about the brand’s spa aspirations, Helene Goetzelmann, international spa director for L’Occitane International, said: “Following our UK debut, our strategy is to keep our spa partnerships selective and small. We are currently in discussions to open Spa by L’Occitanes in Europe, the Middle East, China, Sri Lanka, the Phillipines, Brazil and Mexico with more news to follow soon.”

The UK debut for L’Occitane is located at The Bath Priory. Its L’Occitane Spa: The Garden Spa opened in November 2016 and offers exclusive treatments including a number of bespoke therapies created in partnership with the luxury, Provençal brand.

With four refurbished treatment rooms, including one double room, each is themed to reflect key L’Occitane ingredients such as verbena and lavender. uk.loccitane.com

www.thebathpriory.co.uk

UK: Elemis is to open a new Academy of Excellence in Farringdon, London as part of an ongoing expansion of its global spa business.

The 412sqm hub, set to open in February 2017, complements the brand’s Birmingham academy, which opened in 2015.

The London site has six training rooms and space for up to 60 therapists. A dedicated training room for small groups and one-toone sessions is accompanied by a specialised retail training room.

Elemis managing director Noella Gabriel told European Spa: “Education and training is the heartbeat of Elemis. It’s incredibly important that our delegates are brought into an environment that represents the complete journey of the Elemis brand to its fullest.

“To be immersed in that environment is key to enabling our trainees to fall in love with the brand.” www.elemis.com

EHDA award for Mandarin Oriental ITALY: Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel Interiors have been honoured in the ‘Spa & Wellness’ category at the recent European Hotel Design Awards (EHDA) for their work on the interior design of the Spa at Mandarin Oriental in Milan (left).

Held in London at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, the ceremony recognised and celebrated exceptional hotel design and architectural projects across 13 different categories.

Finalists for the Spa & Wellness interior design award included Apfelhotel Torgglerhof in Saltusio, Italy; the Cowshed at Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire and Spa Village at The Gainsborough Bath Spa, both in the UK; GOCO Spa at JW Marriott Resort in Venice; and Six Senses Douro Valley in Portugal.

Another notable winner at the awards was Matteo Thun & Partners, which won the ‘Suite’ prize for La Maisonette at JW Marriott Resort & Spa in Venice, as well as ‘European Hotel Design of The Year’ for the same property. www.mandarinoriental.com/milan/luxury-spa

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MARCH 2017

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Business News

Champneys Beauty College unveiled

Appointments Perkins puts all into new spa creations

Paula Perkins

UK: Former director of spa development at ESPA, Paula Perkins has launched her own spa and wellness consultancy.

After 18 years with the brand, Perkins said she will draw on her extensive knowledge of the luxury hotel and spa sector to offer a unique approach to all aspects of new spa creation. www.ppspaconsultancy.com

Rowe joins Decléor in ambassador role

UK: Champneys has unveiled a new Beauty

College in partnership with the London College of Contemporary Arts (LCCA).

Offering a wide selection of specialist new courses in beauty and wellness, the central London college will also receive support from associates including Elemis, Boots, Jessica and Mii Cosmetics.

Champneys is also to provide a selection of courses for The Prince’s Trust charity, including offering financial support to help and inspire

disadvantaged young people toward beauty careers.

Champneys Health Resorts owner and director Stephen Purdew said: “Our partnership with LCCA aims to develop and nurture London’s next generation of spa and beauty talent.”

Pictured above at the launch are, from left, Champneys owner Stephen Purdew; Champneys patron, actress Naomie Harris; and LCCA managing director and and executive dean Sagi Hartov. www.champneyscollege.com

Wendy Rowe

UK: Internationally renowned make-up artist Wendy Rowe is now Decléor’s official beauty expert and ambassador. Rowe joins a panel that includes Chico Shigeta (massage and muscle structure); Patty Canac (aromachology) and Fiona Brackenbury (skin science and product development). www.decleor.co.uk

Shea is Hilton’s director, global spa

Jessica Shea

US: Jessica Shea has become director, global brand spa for Hilton, charged with leading concept management and product development for the brand’s spa discipline. Based in Virginia, US, Shea will also harmonise the spa and fitness experience across Hilton’s luxury and full service brands. www.hilton.com

Macdonald’s new group director of spa

Devonshire Spa announces new partnerships UK: The Devonshire Spa, in the historic spa town of Buxton, Derbyshire, has announced that Gerrard

International’s Jessica and Mii Cosmetics brands, as well as products from Caudalie and [comfort zone] will now be available alongside existing luxury Scottish brand ishga.

A brand new collection of spa therapies have been created using Caudalie and [comfort zone], while the addition of Mii Cosmetics and Jessica significantly extends the spa’s nail and beauty offering.

Susan Gerrard, chairman of Gerrard International, said: “We are so proud that Mii and Jessica are now represented in the award-winning Devonshire Spa, with its focus on high quality and luxury, and we look forward to working with and supporting spa manager Sian Jones and her team.”

Located at the heart of of the University of Derby’s Buxton Campus and staffed by Spa Management undergraduates, the Devonshire Spa’s multiple award-winning success is spearheaded by spa manager Sian Jones, who added: “We’re thrilled to be starting a new chapter by introducing these prestigious suppliers to our portfolio, while continuing our partnership with Scottish organic range, ishga.” www.devonshiredome.co.uk

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Alex Collins

UK: Alex Collins has been named group director of spa at Macdonald Hotels & Resorts.

With more than ten years’ experience in the spa and leisure industry, Collins said she is looking forward to “bringing a new dimension to the leading independent hotel chain”. www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk

Kirsty MacCormick joins Bamford

Kirsty MacCormick

UK: Kirsty MacCormick has been named head of spa at luxury organic and wellness brand Bamford. With over 30 years of experience in the spa, beauty and wellness sector, she will assist in the development and international expansion of the brand’s spa business. www.bamford.co.uk

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Business News

The Hale relaunches following £1.5m revamp and upgrade UK: Following an extensive £15m refurbishment, The Hale Country Club and Spa in Cheshire has relaunched.

Incorporating a health club and luxury spa, work on the 4,830sqm building included the creation of a new reception and entrance area Sasha Fillaudeau as well as a gym floor that has been equipped by Technogym.

Within the spa, a further treatment room has been added while the other five existing rooms were refurbished.

Other spa facilities include an indoor and outdoor swimming pool as well as a wide variety of thermal experiences.

Leading the treatment menu alongside Elemis and ESPA, Babor will offer a range of treatments for face and body. The premium professional skincare brand has also created a number of packages for guests to enjoy including the Babor Luxury Ocean Experience, featuring SeaCreation products, and The Serene Escape, which includes a Babor Ampule Facial or Deep Tissue Massage.

Spa director Sasha Fillaudeau said: “The recent refurbishment sees class and technology perfectly entwined to give a truly luxurious feel to The Hale.” www.thespaathalecountryclub.co.uk

Lifestyle firm sbe signs deal to take over Morgans Hotel Group

‘Bridges for Wellness’ theme for 10th anniversary of Forum HOTel&SPA FRANCE: Places can now be

US: In a move to further expand its international footprint and

strengthen its position as a global lifestyle hospitality firm, sbe has completed its acquisition of Morgans Hotel Group.

Expanding sbe’s portfolio to 22 hotels and 129 venues, the deal includes Morgans’ iconic Delano and Mondrian (above) brands alongside 13 other hotel management and franchise/licensing agreements.

Commenting on the purchase, sbe’s founder and CEO, Sam Nazarian, said: “The acquisition of Morgans not only further expands our offering but means sbe will now have a presence from Los Angeles to London, and brings its impressive history, talented team and culture of service and innovation to the sbe family.”

Following the deal, the privately-held firm has also revealed plans for further ambitious growth with an additional nine hotels scheduled to open by the end of 2018. www.sbe.com

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booked for the 10th Forum HOTel&SPA event, which will be held at the Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris, on June 1, 2017.

An exclusive, one-day event, the 2017 Forum has a theme of ‘Bridges for Wellness’ and will see top-tier spa and wellness professionals from across Europe sharing their latest insights and networking in a collaborative, business-orientated atmosphere.

The 10th anniversary event will also feature a series of thought provoking panels and keynote speakers and concludes with a special evening cocktail party.

Reflecting on the Forum’s decade of success, Vladi Kovanic (left) said: “The international spa industry needs think-tank events such as Forum HOTSpa as they provide the opportunity to spend time with peers, and because the level of valuable knowledge shared serves only to elevate the overall quality of the entire spa industry.” www.forumhotspa.com

www.europeanspamagazine.com

SPATEC 17 Europe

SPATEC Europe 2017 14-17 June 2017 The Ritz-Carlton, Abama Tenerife, Spain SPATEC is the original appointmentsbased event for the spa, wellness and beauty industry SPATEC Europe brings together senior decision makers from the industry in the UK and across Europe, with leading executives from supplier companies for networking and face-to-face meetings.

Why attend SPATEC Europe 2017?

– You know ahead of time who is attending – You know the buyers are senior decision makers – You get to choose who you want to meet – You are guaranteed limited competition – You spend quality, uninterrupted time with the buyer – You profile your company to a high level audience – You network, build relationships and get to know the key people in the industry For more information please contact:

– You receive VIP treatment in a 5 star atmosphere away from the pressures of the office

Stephen Pace-Bonello: Email: spacebonello@questex.com Tel: +356 9945 8305 David Zarb-Jenkins: Email: dzarbjenkins@questex.com Tel: +356 9944 8862

www.spatecevents.com/europe

SPATEC

SPATEC Europe

SPATEC

SPATEC Middle East

Business News

Hepburn heads wellness offer at The Ned

Diary dates World Spa & Wellness Convention

February 26-27, 2017 ExCel, London, UK For owners and operators of spa, hotel and wellness facilities, this two-day conference forms part of the Professional Beauty trade show and incorporates the World Spa & Wellness Awards held at an historic venue in London. www.professionalspawellness.com

Healing Summit

UK: Shelley Hepburn is spearheading the spa and fitness

offering at a luxurious new London hotel designed and operated by Soho House & Co and Sydell Group.

Set to open in early 2017, The Ned is situated in the Grade I-listed former Midland Bank headquarters designed by Sir Edwin ‘Ned’ Lutyens.

Featuring nine restaurants and bars, as well as 252 bedrooms, other facilities include event spaces and a rooftop terrace with a pool overlooking St Paul’s cathedral, as well as a members club.

The comprehensive health and wellness offering at The Ned spa will differentiate between members of the public and Ned’s Club members/hotel guests. Both will receive carefully curated menus with advanced services to look after their every need.

The public section will include a Cowshed spa with a complete range of treatments including tailor-made

massages, body wraps and facials using natural and targeted products from the Cowshed product range.

There will also be Cheeky, a ‘one-stop beauty shop’ offering ten manicure and pedicure stations, and the traditional Neville barbershop offering everything from a quick trim to a luxury grooming package.

For members and hotel guests, Ned’s Club Relax includes a hammam, a sauna and a steamroom, while the fitness offering, called Ned’s Club Active, will provide high-intensity exercise, House Ride (spinning), boxing, hydro fitness, yoga, Pilates and rehabilitation.

“The Ned’s spa and grooming offer is like nowhere else in the City,” said Shelley Hepburn, former Bulgari Hotel spa director. “You can book a massage, have a facial, get your beard trimmed, book a make-up session, have dinner and stay in a hotel all under one roof.” www.thened.com

40 years of know-how in essential spa financial guide Austria: A new analytical guide has been published that

comprehensively details how hotels, resorts, spas and health clubs are developed, operated and valued.

Hotels & Resorts - An Investor’s Guide was co-authored

by Resources for Leisure Assets CEO Roger Allen alongside David Harper, director of Leisure Property Services UK, who together have more than 40 years’ experience in the leisure property, hospitality and wellbeing industries.

The book provides an inside track on how operators can determine the financial performance of a spa and wellness facility as an integral part of a hotel or resort development, or as a standalone entity.

“The guide was written to address the financial complexity of spas within hotel and leisure properties,” said Roger Allen. “The book provides all stakeholders with the high-level clarity required to understand the bottom-line of a spa business, which is essential to investors who are interested in maximising returns on their assets.” www.resourcesforleisureassets.com www.leisurepropertyservices.com

Share your appointments, announcements, launches and diary dates with our News editor Sarah Todd. Call +44 (0) 115 950 4748 or email sarah.todd@spapublishing.com

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March 6-7, 2017 Berlin, Germany A programme of presentations with workshops on holistic perspectives and healing business practices lead this inspirational event. In 2017, the Summit will focus on ‘transformation’ on both a personal as well as a business level. www.healingsummit.org

Beauty Düsseldorf

March 31-April 2, 2017 Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre, Germany An international trade show with 1,000 exhibitors showcasing spa, cosmetics, nails and wellness brands to an audience of 50,000 delgates. Includes a three-day programme of events in the Spa Business Lounge looking at operational best practice. www.beauty-international.com

Forum HOTel & Spa

June 1, 2017 Four Seasons Georges V, Paris The tenth edition of this celebrated meeting point for Europe’s leading influencers in spa, hospitality and wellbeing. Featuring knowledge sharing sessions on the best present and future practices as well as the Black Diamond Award. www.forumhotspa.com

SPATEC Europe

June 14-17, 2017 Ritz-Carlton, Abama, Tenerife, Spain European buyers, spa operators of leading hotel resort, destination, athletic, medical and day spas and an exclusive selection of suppliers participate in face-to-face meetings and international speaker sessions over two dedicated business days. www.spateceu.com

www.europeanspamagazine.com

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Business Event preview

Building a global healing business community Healing Hotels of the World co-founder Anne Biging reveals what to expect at the 2017 Healing Summit in Berlin and shares some of her favourite moments from the past three events

What inspired the theme of this year’s Healing Summit?

Our theme this year is ‘Building a Global Healing Business Community’. One of the most important factors for our Summit attendees is the experience of being among Anne Biging a community of like-minded people. It strengthens, inspires and creates new opportunities and cooperation among those who seek a healing lifestyle in all areas of their life, both personal and business, and also want to contribute to the wellbeing of others.

Especially in challenging times, those who represent a positive attitude enhance their voice by building a community.

What topics are on the agenda for 2017?

Topics will include ‘Healing and Business’, where we will examine how a holistic lifestyle influences the economy. We’ll also look at the Global Healing Economy with delegates from six continents presenting their vision for a united, peaceful world, and we’ll look at a big global movement we’ve seen towards business for benefit, versus business for profit.

Finally, we’ll examine how the ancient healing wisdom of indigenous peoples can influence both our personal and professional lives.

Who are you keen to hear speak this year?

What are your favourite Summit memories?

We’re especially keen to hear Hemant Kanoria, CEO of one of India’s leading public financial institutions. Vested in Indian spiritual traditions, he and his family have a long track record of doing good and supporting the poor in India; they have set an enduring example of a successful business grounded on great fundamental values.

Once we had a panel investigation, comprising people from every continent, about what creates a global identity and how to embrace different cultures. We also looked into the necessity and examples of a ‘soulful economy’ and the means to end poverty in the world. Delegates received real insight into the foundation of what is true healing and how it could look in the future.

What are you most excited about this year?

This year we want to go deeper into each topic we’ve covered in previous years and also draw from the immense wisdom of the delegates. We would like to create a platform for exchange and thereby form a true community.

32

achieve this by making each topic interactive, creating workshops around every keynote and evoking the wisdom of the group.

We also have healers, holistic practitioners and hatha yoga teachers, who will guide delegates to a deeper understanding of themselves, which is the foundation of doing good in the world. Once we become our own experts in staying strong and healthy, we inspire to do the same and together we become one giant global healing community.

What is the aim of this year’s event?

Besides being inspired, this year we hope that delegates receive the tools to help implement a holistic understanding of business and economy into their own business and life. We want to

The fourth Healing Summit will take place on March 6-7 in Berlin, Germany. The event is produced by Healing Hotels of the World. www.healingsummit.org

www.europeanspamagazine.com

HEALING SUMMIT 2017 Building a Global Healing Business Community Berlin, March 6 -7, 2017

FEEL THE HEALING SPARK As a global healing business community we create solutions together to make the world and our business a more compassionate place. Join a supportive and integrative global healing business community calling forth an environmentally sustainable, socially just, joyful and spiritually fulfilling human presence on the planet.

It is up to us. Be part of it. Â Speakers and Delegates: Global leading scientists, economists, business leaders, hoteliers, investors, holistic health practitioners and healers.

Get Inspired and secure your space: www.healingsummit.org healingsummit@healing-hotels.com +49 221 20531175

GLOBAL HEALING SUMMIT is organised by Healing Hotels of the World, a global quality brand for hotels and resorts committed to healing of body, mind and soul.

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“VOYA is a truly authentic wellness spa brand.

We have been working with VOYA for years, the organic seaweed bath has become our top spa service.

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Spas Brimstone Spa, UK

A guest takes in the beauty of the Lake District while relaxing in the outdoor hydrotherapy pool at Brimstone Spa

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Spas Brimstone Spa, UK

Pure alchemy Surrounded by stunning Cumbrian grandeur, Brimstone Spa, on the Langdale Estate, promises the ultimate in Lake District luxury. We meet the team to find out more

T

R E P OR T BY S A R A H TOD D

he Langdale Estate is set against a striking Cumbrian backdrop that beautifully showcases the craggy hilltops and glacial lakes that attract around 15 million visitors a year to the Lake District National Park. Owned and operated by Langdale Leisure, the estate’s varied offering includes 100 timeshare lodges, the four-star Langdale Hotel, the high-luxury, 16-suite Brimstone Hotel and most recently the sumptuous Brimstone Spa. Representing the culmination of a £4.5 million investment in the surrounding estate, the 990sqm spa, launched in December 2016, features ten treatment rooms as well as a double treatment suite called The Bubble which is equipped with a spa bath, twin treatment tables, and a double shower.

www.europeanspamagazine.com

Deftly complimenting the estate’s ‘beyond-boutique’ Brimstone Hotel, which opened in June 2013, the spa took just over two and half years to create, with its opening delayed by the onset of severe flooding in Cumbria following Storm Desmond in late 2015.

Both the hotel and spa represent a brave investment on behalf of their owners, who took a relatively small combined timeshare and hospitality enterprise and had the vision and determination to transform it into a large and successful luxury hotel and spa offering.

With a comprehensive thermal offering and an indoor/outdoor pool, Brimstone Spa has been designed to echo its unique surroundings with natural but luxurious

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Spas Brimstone Spa, UK

Clockwise from top: A bewitching view of the outdoor hydro pool at night; the indoor-outdoor heated infinity pool; warm, natural materials in a treatment room recall the Lakeland surroundings; the traditional slate exterior of the Brimstone Hotel; the spa’s Pure Alchemy therapies combine locally inspired products with a bespoke touch

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www.europeanspamagazine.com

Spas Brimstone Spa, UK

finishes in timber and stone as well as a strong emphasis on providing a simple, intuitive guest journey.

Design inspiration Intended to offer a deeply relaxing and grounding experience, the spa was designed by Mark Green at Curveline and international spa specialists from Medical Spa & Wellness Group (MSWG) worked to create the thermal experiences.

Claire Caddick, managing director of SPArticulate, further guided elements of training and product partner selection, as well as playing a key role in the development of Brimstone’s signature Pure Alchemy treatments.

“We were asked to develop a high end spa with a variety of experiences with a focus on unique treatments and guest luxury,” says Green. “We wanted the spa design to be unique and sympathetic to its surroundings and we achieved this through the use of natural finishes, with a great emphasis on the journey and a relaxing flow to the layout.

“To maximise the spa’s stunning location we incorporated picture windows to a couple of the thermal cabins as well as the stunning internal/external spa pool, which gives great views of the surrounding hills and woodland.”

While the spa can cater for up to 80 guests, a limit of 40 people has been set to ensure it retains a sense of luxury and exclusivity. It is open to residents of the timeshare properties as well as guests at the Brimstone and Langdale hotels; there are also 130 spa members who pay a monthly fee.

Pure and simple Upon arrival, each guest is gifted a small salt inhalation bag from the ‘apothecary’ area, which they can use in the spa and also take home for bathing. A considerable investment was made in creating Brimstone’s signature product collection, Pure Alchemy, which is produced using natural, organic and

“The Bubble private spa suite also includes ‘My Spa Heaven’, a cabin offering a fully integrated range of experiences designed to have a positive health influence and promote relaxation.”

Chris Keen CEO, Medical Spa & Wellness Group

local ingredients. The range is used in the spa’s exclusive, nature-inspired body therapies, alongside partner product houses Elemis and CND. In addition to its ten treatment rooms and The Bubble’s double delights, further stand-out facilities include a heated relaxation infinity pool that extends from inside to outside, and a large, outdoor, wood-burning stove and covered seating area that provides a comfortable al fresco dimension. A series of seven thermal experiences, supplied by MSWG, include a striking Himalayan salt steam grotto, fragrance columns and an outdoor sauna. There is also a Spa Deli serving light food with indoor and outdoor seating, and a choice of chillout areas for guests to relax in.

“With Brimstone Spa, our focus isn’t on retail at all – it’s purely on the guest,” explains senior manager Anne Durnall.

“A couple of days at the spa can take guests away from their everyday stresses and if they have a great experience, then retail should naturally follow.”

Dan Visser, director of sales and marketing for Langdale Leisure, concurs: “Our spa is a lifestyle experience rather than a life-changing experience. Relaxation means different things to different people. We decided that we should be honest about this and offer people what they really want and need

Perfect chemistry Anne Durnall, senior manager, Langdale Leisure, discusses Brimstone’s nature-inspired bespoke treatments and products “To complement Brimstone Spa, we developed Pure Alchemy – a range of massage therapies to harmonise body energies and generate wellbeing, using organic, natural products with ingredients found close to the Langdale Estate.

“All of our signature Pure Alchemy therapies are inspired by the natural beauty and pure elements of the Lake District. Each therapy is executed using bespoke massage techniques and Pure Alchemy Anne Durnall products containing a choice of high-end oils including star anise, violet leaf and lavendula.

“Each lasting for one hour, Pure Alchemy treatments include Enrapture, a back-and-shoulder treatment with muscle-melting massage and natural salves; Spellbind, a full body massage with warming oils; and the gentle Comfort Repose, designed specifically for those who have fragile skin or are recovering from illness.

“Following their therapy, our guests can choose to have Pure Alchemy products mixed for them as they wait. These are distilled into apothecary-style recycled glass jars with branded leather tags so that the Brimstone Spa experience can continue at home.”

www.europeanspamagazine.com

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Spas Brimstone Spa, UK

“Because of the beautiful surroundings of the Langdale Estate, I wanted to work on bringing the outside in and to create a journey and treatments influenced by the provenance of the landscape” Claire Caddick Managing director, SPArticulate

Clockwise from above: a traditional take on heat in the outdoor Finnish sauna; the sociable Spa Deli; a revitalising dip in the external pool

from a spa. If we can do that in every aspect of our business, then we’ll be successful.”

Naturally beautiful As consultant Claire Caddick explains, a real effort was made to capture the grandeur of the Cumbrian scenery. “Because of the beautiful surroundings of the Langdale Estate, I wanted to work on bringing the outside in and to create a journey and treatments influenced by the provenance of the landscape.

“The spa design is contemporary, but not minimal, as it embraces beautiful, tactile textures and the natural mediums of warm copper and wood. The thermal suite is a sublime collection with something for everyone, and the outdoor hot pool and log burning fire allow guests to relish the surrounding landscape.”

Chris Keen, CEO of MSWG, adds: “All thermal cabins in the spa were custom-made and designed with wood, tiles and stone to blend smoothly in to the general design of the resort.

Whether the guest is in the herbal sauna, the lava sauna, the external Finnish sauna, the salt steam grotto, the herbal steam room, the laconium, the mineral steam bath or enjoying the foot reflexology baths and experience showers, they can unwind in warm, natural surroundings.”

He continues: “To round off the facilities, for guests seeking

40

the ultimate in pampering, The Bubble private spa suite also includes ‘My Spa Heaven’, a cabin offering a fully integrated range of experiences from de-stressing warmth to beneficial steam, all of which is designed to have a positive health influence and promote relaxation.”

Keen believes the calming atmosphere will aid guests’ enjoyment of the spa. “With adequate relaxation areas, guests are encouraged to spend a couple of hours simply enjoying and taking advantage of the health benefits of the experiences,” he adds.

Putting people first As at the Brimstone Hotel, the spa’s management seeks to empower its employees, or ‘hosts’, rather than limit their abilities through a restrictive staff hierarchy. “We’re in the business of people,” explains Durnall. “We’re people-centric and the way we treat our staff is with a flat structure. There is no direct management – the staff are autonomous and we trust them. The element of trust is a really important factor in our spa team.”

Consequently, the spa’s staff consists of highly-trained, deeply motivated ‘all-rounders’ who are just as likely to serve you a fresh juice as they are to give you a massage.

“We can’t expect our spa staff to look after guests if

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Spas Brimstone Spa, UK

Clockwise from top: The outdoor hydropool accompanied by a signature log fire; the outside is brought into Brimstone Spa as night falls; reflexology footbaths begin the guests’ thermal spa journey

we don’t look after them, so we don’t book them in for back-to-back massages all day – instead they may help out in the Spa Deli or be a host for our heat experiences,” says Durnall. “They are at the heart of our hospitality and if you lose sight of the person, you lose sight of the business.”

However, this innovative approach has its challenges. “We have to work really hard at retention within our team and ensure we keep the best people,” says Visser. “Transposing the Brimstone Hotel’s ‘hosts’ concept to the spa is what we’ve decided to do and we’re fully aware it will be different, and the spa staff will be working in a different way to what they may be used to, but it’s a leap of faith.”

An eco-centric offering Another shared characteristic between the hotel and spa has been a sense of social and environmental responsibility throughout their development. At every step, efforts have

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been made to improve the ecological footprint of the Langdale businesses, including the installation of two bio-mass boilers on the estate. Wherever possible the team employed local builders and suppliers and overall, according to Visser, an impressive 90% of the spend on Brimstone “stayed within Cumbria”.

This focus on sustainability stretches even further afield as the estate’s water wheels were developed in a joint project coordinated by the University of Cumbria with a view to building flat-packed versions to provide sustainable energy sources for developing countries.

Chris Keen belives that the spa’s ecological credentials have been enhanced by the high efficiency of its heat experiences.

“With Brimstone being an environmentally friendly resort, we were pleased to provide thermal experiences incorporating our latest energy-saving techniques,” he explains. “We used market-leading insulation materials and sensor technology that typically drops energy costs by 40% compared to customary thermal products – a saving that repays the cost of the cabin within a few years.”

It is clear that the Langdale team is deeply passionate

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Spas Brimstone Spa, UK

SPA STATS Brimstone Spa at Langdale, Great Langdale, Ambleside +44 (0) 15394 38014 www.brimstonehotel.co.uk Spa manager: Richard Bell Hotel & spa interior design: Curveline Spa development consultant: HL Concepts Project consultants: SPArticulate, MSWG Spa team: 16 Size: 990sqm Full capacity: 40 Treatment facilities: Ten treatment rooms including The Bubble, a double private spa suite; a manicure/pedicure area; Spa Deli serving light food with indoor and outdoor seating and a range of chillout areas Wet spa: Thermal experiences include a Himalayan Salt steam grotto; fragrance columns; foot-spas and a lava sauna; one indoor/outdoor pool Product houses: Pure Alchemy, Elemis and CND Suppliers: MSWG, John Preston Pools; Collingwood, Chantelle, Lutron, ESL furniture, Alexander Rose outdoor furniture, Gharieni

From top: The retro-modern Spa Deli offers refreshment and relaxation; The Bubble is a double treatment suite equipped with a spa bath, twin treatment tables and a double shower

about the success and wider effects of its business, but instead of focusing on the competition, they simply strive to continually improve the quality of their own offer.

In fact, some of the modern day marketing techniques used by most other businesses are deemed uneccessary for the Brimstone Spa. For example: “We don’t capture any demographics,” reveals Visser. “Instead, we look at analytics. If you can afford to stay here, that’s all that matters.

“When we moved all our marketing online eight years ago, we increased our occupancy by 20% and the need to look at demographics disappeared. The average age of our customers has also dropped about 20 years, so we’ve unconsciously captured an untapped market for the area. This means they should be a perfect fit for the spa.”

Backing up this approach, Durnall adds: “If we were focused on demographics or chasing awards, then we take our eye off the guest and they are everything to us. “We have

44

a range of expectations about what our spa-goers need but we also want to myth-bust and simplify wherever possible.

People’s lives are so busy now that we’ve lost the ability to do what we’ve done for centuries, which is to deliberately take time out and meditate.”

Confident in competition A significant number of high-end hotels are due to open in the Lake District during 2017, many promoting active lifestyle opportunities, but Visser and Durnall feel secure in their belief that Brimstone will hold its own.

Furthermore, they take pride in having spearheaded a step-change in the luxury hospitality and wellness offering within the region. “The Lake District has a real shortage of quality accommodation,” says Visser. “There’s a lack of appetite for risk in this area if you have a good business that’s delivering solid profits, so visitors have, traditionally, easily been sold a less-than-brilliant, experience. With both the hotel and the spa at Brimstone, we’ve created a quality offering that has begun a sea change in accommodation standards throughout the Lake District.”

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Style Manicure & pedicure areas

Perfect nails We ask the creators of four exceptional nail areas how they deliver excellence in this essential service on the spa menu

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R EP OR T BY S A R A H TOD D

anicures and pedicures form a vital part of any luxury spa’s treatment offering. Whether delivered as express treatments or in the form of longer, more indulgent experiences, considerable thought must be given to the surroundings in which they are performed. The operational and aesthetic design of a spa’s nail environment must allow therapists to provide a distinct and luxurious pampering experience that also delivers unbeatable results.

Nail area lighting should allow for effective treatments and optimal retailing, while ventilation is another key aspect, along with space for inspirational product displays and model shots. While cleanliness and simplicity are required, many designers see spa nail zones as an opportunity to include a theatrical flourish to decor or perhaps add an extra touch of fun to the guest experience.

Mani-pedi areas are often the most sociable parts of a spa, offering guests the opportunity to get together with friends and indulge in lively conversation while being pampered and polished; to find out how to facilitate this European Spa has selected four spaces dedicated to delivering perfect nail treatments, all of which demonstrate a sense of innovation, luxury and unrivalled attention to detail.

From the unique wine-tasting manicures on offer at Portugal’s Six Senses Douro Valley to the focus on natural wellness that underpins the nail offering at Gaia Spa in Boringdon Hall, UK; from the flagship OPI nail bar at Lifehouse Spa to the bespoke Beauty Snug at Ramside Hall, both also in the UK, we talk to leading designers about how they have reflected elements of each spa’s location, key offerings and interior design aesthetic into the creation of individualistic nail areas.

A touch of class Jill Russell, former spa director of Spa at Ramside in County Durham, UK, explains how she created the bespoke Beauty Snug “The Snug is a beautiful space specifically designed for both individual nail treatments and small, intimate groups. Positioned within the treatment suite, it feels very ‘spa-like’ and it’s somewhere you feel incredibly pampered and special. It’s also unique in that it is perfectly placed next to the private Light Relax area and balcony infinity pool.

Depending on the occasion, we can change the feel of the area by adding personalised music especially provided by Music Concierge.

“We chose to work with REM on the Snug’s design as we wanted a totally bespoke design with natural finishes. We decided on walnut and brushed stainless steel with Jill Russell lots of curves as we wanted the space to feel extremely luxurious and modern without looking clinical. Playing to all the senses, we chose very tactile and decadent materials, such as wonderfully soft, crushed velvets and an ivory wall finish with a beautifully pearlised texture – this gives an optical illusion of draped fabric and always draws people in to touch it.

“Our pedicure thrones were also designed to evoke the feeling of three huge ‘hugs’ as they embrace the guests. Even the tiling around the pedicure thrones is textured, inviting a tactile experience for the feet whil enjoying one of our nail rituals.

“The colour in the space needed to come mainly from the nail polishes, so we created a wall of colour and worked with REM to create the perfect unit which displays more than 400 different nail polish colours, so plenty for the guest to choose from!”

Beauty Snug, Spa at Ramside, Durham, UK Design: Jill Russell and REM | Furniture: REM | Nail products: Morgan Taylor, Artistic Gloss, Salt of The Earth Music: Music Concierge | www.rem.co.uk | www.ramsidehallhotel.co.uk

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Style Manicure & pedicure areas

Uniquely social Anna Bjurstam, vice-president of Six Senses Spas, discusses a unique combination of nail services and wine-tasting in Portugal “I wanted to create a wine-tasting nail bar at Six Senses Douro Valley that would be a sociable place for guests to visit and enjoy wine, fine cheese, a manicure and great conversations.

“We had already created a welcome area that was more of a lounge and a shop than a traditional reception, so it just seemed perfect to also include a nail bar here to make it more lively and communal.

“The positioning of the nail bar was important, as we Anna Bjurstam wanted it to be semi-private, yet part of the spa’s community, so we actually took away back-of-house changing rooms that were connected to reception and placed the nail area there. A wooden divider perfectly frames this area and provides both privacy as well as sociability.

“I outlined the general concept and it was completed by our designer, Clodagh, along with our technical services team. Finally, Javier Suárez, spa and wellness director at Six Senses Portugal, fine-tuned the concept.

“As there was no natural light, Clodagh subtly provided enough for treatments to be performed without disturbing the ambience. She used local materials and furniture to create almost a wine cellar ambience, instead of a typical nail and spa feel.

“We offer local wines and food and it has become a space where people can hang out, socialise and drink while having a spa service. Guests can choose from a selection of Douro wines by the glass, as well as cheeses, bread and presunto – we even offer a sommelier by request during selected pedicure treatments.”

Wine Tasting Nail Bar, Six Senses Douro Valley, Portugal Design: Clodagh | Furniture & lighting: FurnishPro Nail products: The Organic Pharmacy www.sixsenses.com | www.clodagh.com

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Style Manicure & pedicure areas

Contemporary inspiration Nick Hardy, director of Equinox Design, explains how he created the flagship OPI nail bar at Lifehouse Spa “The OPI Nail Suite at Lifehouse provides a complete brand experience, allowing customers to relax, be pampered and browse through the latest collections.

“Once we had received the brief, we thoroughly researched current trends across the spa, salon and retail industries, and also looked into premium finishes for the materials that were to be used.

“We then worked closely with OPI and the spa to create Nick Hardy a layout and design concept that is contemporary and inspirational, yet sympathetic to the fabric of the spa’s interior.

“The use of overhead structures to frame the spaces and the application of bold graphics on the walls give the areas a strong visual brand identity.

“We also created a ‘wall of colour’ which enables OPI to display a full range of its latest colours on acrylic shelves. Not only is this a great product display and separation screen, but it becomes an eye-catching, interchangeable art installation within the space.

“Our challenge was to create a synergy across the three areas of the nail suite – retail, manicure and pedicure. OPI allowed us the freedom, without compromise, to deliver an exceptional brand experience, which we achieved by continuing the design language throughout each of these spaces and combining structure, graphics and branding to great effect.”

OPI Nail Bar, Lifehouse Spa, Essex, UK Design: Equinox Design | Furniture: REM | Nail products: OPI www.equinox-design.com | www.lifehouse.co.uk

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Images courtesy of Gaia Spa Developments

Style Manicure & pedicure areas

Natural wellness Gayle Nettleton, co-director of Gaia Spa, reveals the importance of reflecting nature within its elegant and social nail space “For Gaia’s nail area we wanted somewhere to match our ethos of ‘your wellness, naturally’. We aimed for a sociable space, but also one in which people could relax, and this led us to locate the salon behind the naturally-lit reception area.

“For the design concept, we embraced a look that was authentic but with no compromise on stylish luxury. It includes a welcoming, warm area where the option for private, individual pedicure booths is available – but it can Gayle Nettleton also be a sociable area for those who choose to be with friends, chat to others and enjoy a glass of Champagne.

“When creating the nail salon, consideration was given to the large roof lantern and how best to use the natural light to bring the outside in, as we have done throughout the rest of the spa. We also aimed to maximise comfort for our guests while at the same time enabling the therapists to work efficiently and to the highest of standards.

“Plenty of challenges are to be expected in a development such as Gaia Spa – be they building delays or adverse weather and then, of course, there is the need for good communication between all those involved to ensure that no compromises are made on the spa build or finish.

“We are most proud of the fact that the salon looks so beautiful and represents the Gaia brand, our ethos and our commitment to luxury, and delivers our guests an exceptional experience.”

Nail Salon, Gaia Spa at Boringdon Hall, Devon, UK Design: Gayle Nettleton | Lighting: various companies including Searchlight | Artwork: Castle Fine Art, Exeter | Furniture: REM, supplied by Ellisons | Nail products: Jessica and GELeration by Jessica www.gaiaboringdon.co.uk | www.gaiaspadevelopments.co.uk | www.ellisons.co.uk

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Business Cathy Ball, The Calcot Collection

Cathy Ball

My life in spa Delivering the highest professional standards is a daily mission for The Calcot Collection’s spa director Cathy Ball. We find out how the launch of Calcot Spa in 2003, began her dedication to spa excellence I NT E RV I E W BY S A R A H C A M I L L E R I

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he practice of making everyday moments more magical resonates perfectly with the understated luxury offered at Calcot. Situated in the Cotswolds, UK, this award-winning boutique 35-bedroom country house hotel is the flagship of The Calcot Collection, offering a celebrated blend of family-friendly hospitality, sublime spaces for celebration and dining, and, of course, perfect spa relaxation.

Think Danish hygge but with a distinctly British twist – log fires, Wellington boots, a veritable showcase of great British cuisine, rounded off with a fine menu of expertly delivered treatments.

Led by founder and executive chairman Richard Ball, The Calcot Collection’s dedicated team has honed its hospitality offering since the 1980s, with vigilant investment and an eye on every detail of the guest experience.

A short distance away in the sleepy village of Barnsley, sister property Barnsley House is the perfect setting for a romantic escape and a stone’s throw away is the hotel’s convivial companion, The Village Pub. Completing the portfolio are two more bijoux hotels that have been lovingly refurbished: the 16-bedroom The Painswick, near Stroud, and The Collection’s northern outpost, The Lord Crewe Arms at Blanchland, which is situated on the border of County Durham and Northumberland.

In 2002, Cathy Ball was tasked to open Calcot Spa, breaking new ground for the business as one of the first country house hotels in the UK to make such an investment.

In the ensuing years, Calcot has served as a development beacon for many new UK spas – a successful enterprise that demonstrates how a quality concept coupled with a clear vision can elevate a hotel’s reputation.

Thanks to much hard work, the brand’s initial investment provided the foundation for two award-winning spas, the development of an

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country house hotel. I joined their small team to market the property and stayed on to work in different roles in the business. In 1994, the property was bought by the Stone Family and Richard was invited to run the hotel for them.

It was actually in 2002, that we took the plunge to create a spa. I was invited to arrange the pre-launch and then the opening. Today, I am a director of the business and also oversee Barnsley House spa and the treatment rooms at The Painswick, as well as all spa-related business opportunities.

How do spa services contribute to the overall success of The Calcot Collection?

“My key role is to maximise the contribution the spa makes to the overall business, without compromising the guest experience.”

Cathy Ball, spa director, The Calcot Collection

experienced 75-strong spa team and an exciting spin-off in the shape of the Calcot Manor amenities, now available in Tesco.

We find out how the drive to deliver the very best spa services is all in a day’s work for spa director, Cathy Ball.

How did earn your hospitality spurs?

I was training in Hotel Management at Oxford Polytechnic when I met my husband Richard, who opened Calcot Manor with his parents in 1984. It really was an ambitious project to transform a farmhouse with rambling stables and outhouses into a small seven-bedroom

Since opening in 2003, Calcot Spa has made a significant impact on both the occupancy and room rate. In fact, when we have had to close parts of the spa for refurbishment we have seen a meaningful drop off in both.

Being able to offer an excellent spa is not just a great PR story. Calcot Spa really is our flagship and it contributes a healthy profit margin into the business through its £2 million turnover. It also has very little seasonality, since only 37% of our treatment revenue is driven from hotel guests, so we can counter weaker periods of hotel occupancy.

What was the biggest launch challenge?

It was definitely a huge risk to add a substantial spa to what, at the time, was just a 28-bedroom country house hotel. However, it was all part of our strategy to reposition the hotel away from its old-fashioned, Michelin-starred restaurant past, to make it a busy, buzzy hotel where guests remained on the premises all day.

Calcot Manor had always enjoyed a good

Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Calcot Manor’s country house exterior; Barnsley Spa’s hydrotherapy pool by night; Barnsley House’s charming garden Temple; an outdoor hot tub at Calcot Spa; The Bar at The Painswick

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Business Cathy Ball, The Calcot Collection

Clockwise from top: The Calcot Collection is renowned for its inspired cuisine; a relaxation area at Barnsley Spa and Skincare Centre; the sparkling indoor pool at Calcot Spa; a tempting afternoon tea at Barnsley House; The Painswick’s inviting approach; Calcot Spa’s immaculate nail treatment area

reputation locally, so when we started building the spa our local clientele were happy to sign up for membership, trusting that the offer would be good, fairly priced and that we would refund their deposits if we did not meet our promise.

What was the first memorable milestone?

We opened with 350 members on day one.

We then added a further 150 new members three months later when we had ironed out our operational processes and felt ready to cope.

Actually, this was the best bit of advice given to me by one of our non-exec directors and is now the advice I give anyone opening a spa.

How has Calcot Spa evolved over the years?

It has been critical that we continue to hold our own in an increasingly crowded market place, so we have had several major refurbishment programmes to future-proof the facility. Every bit of our capital investment counts.

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Calcot’s approach has always been ‘no gimmicks’ – just wonderful facilities and classic treatments delivered to the highest standards by professionals. While treatments and classes have come and gone, this statement remains true.

How healthy are your spa numbers?

Calcot Spa is our mothership: it’s a big and busy spa with 500 spa members driven by an important fitness department, comprehensive facilities and a team of 75 staff.

We serve around 100 day spa guests every week and aim to achieve 300 treatment hours per week, out of a maximum 490 possible hours created by seven treatment rooms operating seven days a week for 10 hours a day. Here, we develop our teams ready to feed out to our other businesses. Calcot Spa delivers 18,000 treatments in 12 months. We always aim high!

Tell us more about Barnsley House’s spa We acquired Barnsley House seven years ago and it is the most romantic hotel in the world, in my opinion. It features our little sister spa, which really is a jewel, positioned at the bottom of the garden.

Barnsley’s guests are well travelled and super

spa savvy. We have added a few half-day spa experiences to help fill our five treatment rooms mid-week. Local clients enjoy the spa for regular facials and contribute an important 28% of our treatment business.

We operate with a team of nine, including two receptionists and a spa manager, and aim to deliver 110 hours of treatments a week.

Painswick also has two treatment rooms?

The Painswick opened in March last year after a complete refurbishment and has just won the Sunday Times Hotel of the Year award – an amazing achievement for a 16-bedroom restaurant with rooms. I applaud our team to have made such an impression since opening.

There was no space for spa facilities here but, unusually, we decided to surrender a bedroom to create a second treatment room.

It was the right decision: the figures already show that the space contributes more to the bottom line now it is dedicated to treatments.

How would you sum up your role?

A spa needs the right level of expertise in fitness, treatments and customer service.

We also work hard to add ‘magic moments’

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Business Cathy Ball, The Calcot Collection

to the guest experience. My key role is to maximise the contribution the spa makes to the overall business, without compromising this experience. I also spot opportunities to keep us current in our offer and track where the industry is moving.

Importantly, I have a responsibility to develop our team and I hope they will share my pride and pleasure at working in the environment that we share with our guests. I believe that as managers we should let people make mistakes and learn from them, and we should train and then trust our teams to do the right thing.

What innovations have you recently added?

The spa industry has finally come together to address the way we treat clients who are dealing with cancer and we have been able to access one of several routes to adapt treatments and positively welcome those clients. The fact that we can treat them safely and with empathy through educating all staff in the spa, whatever their role, has been a real breakthrough.

Tell us more about recent developments?

We have changed our main skincare brand across the company to Elemis. This has given a

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real freshness to our offer – a swing from body to facials. It has been great for us.

We also have a planned programme of refurbishment so that members can see that we continue to invest in their spa. Recently, we have spent £85,000 on new Technogym equipment which allows guests to manage their social media while exercising. There is also a clear demand for more holistic and relaxation classes, so yoga and Pilates are replacing some of the previously popular step, Zumba and kickboxing classes.

In the UK, I love Chewton Glen, Limewood, Lucknam Park, Penny Hill Park, Coworth Park, The Grove and many others. They all get it spot on in delivering five-star service, while suggesting you remove all your clothes and make up!

What is the secret to a successful team?

Can you give us a valuable business lesson?

Trust in – and loyalty to – your senior team allows open and honest discussion. Let people learn for themselves, even if that means making mistakes. Also, it is important to create a clear career path so incoming staff can see what their opportunities are.

Put your hand up and apologise when things go wrong, then make sure it doesn’t happen again.

When you have the chance to escape, which spas tick the boxes for you?

Possibly the closest that I have been to paradise was at Spa Village Pangkor Laut in Malaysia.

The place I would most like to return to is Chiva Som in Thailand – both are simply iconic.

Which person in life do you most admire?

Jean Oliver taught me all I know; Geraldine Howard was an inspiration from the first time I met her; and my elder son, Joe, for following his dream to be an actor and never giving up.

When are you happiest?

At work it would be seeing young talent coming up through the ranks and knowing that they will achieve all their ambitions. At home, it has to be reading the papers in bed on a Sunday morning or watching Bath rugby at the Rec.

What advice would you give younger self?

Don’t take it personally. www.calcotmanor.co.uk

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Spas Les Sources de Caudalie, France

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Spas Les Sources de Caudalie, France

Clockwise from far left: Personalised treatments in a luxurious double spa cabin; a peaceful moment in the indoor pool; a rustic scene at the outdoor hot tubs; Caudalie pioneered the use of grape-seed polyphenols in spa treatments; the Château Smith Haut Lafitte vineyards

Through the grapevine We visit Caudalie’s flagship vinotherapy spa, Les Sources de Caudalie, to witness its recent expansion and explore the French brand’s use of grape polyphenols in its world renowned products

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R E P OR T BY M A R K S M I T H

he seed from which the Caudalie brand grew was first planted in 1993 when Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas met with Dr. Joseph Vercauteren, professor at the University of Pharmacy, Bordeaux, in the vineyards of the family’s Château Smith Haut Lafitte estate. One of the world’s leading experts on grape polyphenols, the professor explained how the skins and seeds left over from the harvesting of the grapes were rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, which are extremely beneficial for the skin. It was the beginning of a journey of discovery for the husband and wife team, and two years later, having registered a patent for extracting and stabilising grape-seed polyphenols, Caudalie’s roots began to take hold.

“Caudalie made an appearance in a few pharmacies in Bordeaux, with two face creams and nutritional supplements based on grape-seed polyphenols,” recalls Mathilde Thomas. “The following year, we signed a Research Convention with the Faculty of Pharmacy at Bordeaux, and set up our own team of researchers.”

The company has since become one of the world’s most innovative spa brands, creating rituals and protocols based on the skin-enhancing properties of the vine, which can be found in 25 boutique spas and eight Caudalie Vinothérapie Spas in 40 countries, including the flagship Vinothérapie Spa Les Sources de Caudalie, founded in 1999.

A commitment to research and development remains a core tenet of the business, with Grapevine Resveratrol having been patented from grapevine stalks to offer a powerful antidote against ageing while boosting cell renewal. Caudalie’s researchers have also identified and patented Viniferine, a grapevine molecule that protects skin against dark spots, leaving the complexion clear and radiant.

From the source The turn of the century was a busy time for Mathilde Thomas and her team. As the brand became well-established in the pharmacy sector, Caudalie began to take its first steps into the spa market. “While carrying out groundwork on the estate, we discovered a hot spring 500 metres underground,’ she explains. “We began to use the revitalising effects of this water, combining it with vine and grape extracts to create unique spa treatments. As a result, we created the first Vinothérapie Spa in 1999.”

Set deep within the Château Smith Haut Lafitte vineyards, Les Sources de Caudalie pays homage to the vine and offers guests the opportunity to totally immerse themselves in both the brand and the Caudalie experience. An authentic representation

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Spas Les Sources de Caudalie, France

of the Thomas’s story and their values, it places the comfort of guests and results-driven treatments at the forefront of its spa journey.

Imbued with a sense of light and space, the spa building offers views of the vineyards as far as the eye can see. The structure, designed by architect Yves Collet, combines stone and wood with screens to let in the light, and grand treatment rooms of blonde wood, red cedar and teak.

A warm welcome greets guests at the reception desk, to the right of which is a large retail space and access to the outdoor hot tubs and pool. Beyond are the changing rooms, leading to the indoor pool, the main relaxation area, a hammam and relaxation loungers. Some treatment rooms are also found on this level with more located on the floor above.

The spa’s offering has recently been expanded to include four new VIP treatment rooms, a large indoor hydrotherapy pool and additional relaxation space with loungers offering more stunning views of the vineyards. The connection to nature, to the source of the brand and to the vines, is deliberate and links to the heritage and history of the brand with a sense of style and class.

“Les Sources de Caudalie is a dream; a place of wellbeing where you can enjoy divine treatments using Caudalie products,” says Thomas. “The spa is the ‘fashion show’ of Caudalie. It’s here to show our beloved customers everything Below from left: The offering at Les Sources de Caudalie has evolved from more traditional therapies in response to guest feedback; two new double treatment rooms have recently been added

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“Les Sources de Caudalie is a dream; a place of wellbeing where you can enjoy divine treatments using Caudalie products. It’s here to show our beloved customers everything we can do to make them look and feel better.”

Mathilde Thomas, founder, Caudalie

we can do to make them look and feel better, and it helps to be super relaxed. It’s our jewel box for the brand.”

Pioneering spirit Les Sources de Caudalie broke new ground in France when it first launched. “When we opened in 1999, nobody knew about spa in France,” says spa manager Delphine Duffours, who has been with the spa since it opened. “There was thalassotherapy, balneotherapy, thermalism and so on, but not spa. We were the first spa in France and there have been a lot of competitors opening since.”

The spa has undergone some gentle transformations since its inception. Originally the treatment offering included more traditional therapies like Vichy and jet showers, but this soon changed. “We stopped these treatments after one year,” says Duffours. “Our clients said they didn’t want to come here for these type of therapies. They wanted to relax, so we focused on treatments that use our own protocols.”

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Spas Les Sources de Caudalie, France

“Just as our grapes come from the surrounding Smith Haut Lafitte vineyards, so the ethos and atmosphere of our spas emanates from what happens at Les Sources de Caudalie spa.”

Jean-Christophe Samyn, director, Caudalie UK & Ireland

Clockwise from top left: Caudalie’s Boutique Spas provide a retail presence in major cities around the world; the Crushed Cabernet Body Scrub connects guests with vinotherapy from the Bordeaux region; the sparkling outdoor pool at Les Sources de Caudalie; atmospheric cellars on the Château Smith Haut Lafitte estate

SPA STATS Les Sources de Caudalie, Bordeaux, France +33 (0)5 57 83 82 82 www.sources-caudalie.com Founders: Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas Spa owners: Florence and Daniel Cathiard Managers: Alice and Jérôme Tourbier Spa manager: Delphine Duffours Architect: Yves Collet Treatment rooms: 24 Spa size: 2,500sqm Wet and pool area supplier: Stas Doyer Hydrotherapie Facilities: Indoor pool, outdoor pool, outdoor hot tub, hydrotherapy pool, relaxation lounge, retail and reception zone

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Spas Les Sources de Caudalie, France

“When we opened in 1999, nobody knew about spa in France. There was thalassotherapy, balneotherapy, thermalism and so on, but not spa. We were the first spa in France.”

Delphine Duffours, spa manager, Les Sources de Caudalie

In recent years, couples’ experiences have grown in popularity and the spa has responded by increasing the number of double treatment rooms from one to three.

“Clients told us that they would like to share the treatments with a friend or partner. So we decided to create more double rooms,” explains Duffours.

Les Sources de Caudalie is not at the whim of seasonal fluctuations and remains popular throughout the year, however it does close in January for maintenance and repairs.

The spa is a huge draw for people staying at the hotel located on the estate, which provides some 95% of its guests at weekends. During the week around 40% of business is from nearby Bordeaux and 60% from the hotel.

As the hotel has grown it has become necessary to invest in new experiences at the spa. “When we first opened there were only 30 rooms in the hotel, now there are 70,” says Duffours. “Two years ago [the hotel] also built 11 new suites.

We have luxury clients here and we needed more space to welcome them and have new things to propose.”

In response, the new spa extension opened in May 2016 to

great acclaim from guests who enjoyed the additional space, new facilities and new treatment rooms. The spa remained open throughout the building work, but was limited to specific times to avoid any disruption to the peaceful spa environment. “Because we decided not to close the spa it took one and a half years to complete,” says Duffours. “We built a wall to close off the space and on weekdays the building works took place in the morning before we opened the spa from 2-8pm. At the weekend we opened the spa all day with no building work.”

To maintain the sense of luxury and space Duffours limits the number of spa users to 30 in the morning and the same during the afternoon. Guests are encouraged to take advantage of the packages offered; the spa’s preference is to book one guest with three to four rituals rather than four different guests with individual appointments. The aim of this is to better maintain an air of tranquillity in the spa and provide a seamless journey that works to the benefit of both guests and the spa team.

A model for success Clockwise from top: Guest numbers are restricted to maintain a sense of tranquility at the spa; a nautical theme in the newly created hydrotherapy pool; Caudalie’s products are created by founder Mathilde Thomas in conjunction with the brand’s vinotherapists

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Maintaining high standards is important for the business given its unique location on the estate and its place in the Caudalie family. All new Caudalie treatments are developed

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Spas Les Sources de Caudalie, France

The elixir of beauty Caudalie’s Beauty Elixir Ritual is a unique combination of relaxing massage techniques for the body and face that incorporates the brand’s hero Beauty Elixir.

Obviating the use of of massage oil, the experience begins with a 50-minute body treatment, in which Beauty Elixir is gently warmed by the vinotherapist’s hands before a massage that works along the meridians to relieve tension and restore energy flows.

This is followed by a 50-minute facial that includes cleansing and exfoliation with massage increasing micro-circulation from the face to the décolleté. A Glycolic Peel Mask boosts radiance and renewal, while the facial also includes moments for relaxation and rejuvenation.

Below: The spa has been constructed to allow seemingly endless views of the surrounding vineyards from its many hydrothermal areas and treatment rooms

in partnership with Mathilde Thomas and then tried, tested and refined by the in-house spa team.

“Our spa provides unique treatments customised to your skin type or desired results,” says Thomas. “I create all the protocols with the vinotherapists. I want to reach the highest level of quality and efficiency. Testing and improving new protocols is very important for me.”

This attention to detail is crucial given that the team carries out training in the rituals and protocols for spas around the world. Caudalie’s Vinothérapie Spa concept has been exported to a series of branded spas that can be found in Portugal, Brazil, Turkey, the US, Canada and Spain. These include iconic locations at The Plaza Hotel in New York, The Yeatman Hotel in Porto and The Shangri La Hotel in Toronto.

Two of the most popular facial treatments on the spa menu are the Resveratrol Lift Treatment, which sculpts and redefines the face, and Premier Cru, which targets wrinkles and dark spots with firming and antioxidant properties.

These are targeted at women aged over 40, who are a key demographic for the spa.

One of the most iconic Caudalie body treatments is the Crushed Cabernet Body Scrub, which features a base of grape-seed, honey, brown sugar and the essential oils of the Contouring Concentrate. Its invigorating, skin-smoothing action creates a real sense of place, connecting guests with the concept of vinotherapy in the heart of Bordeaux.

The most recent addition to Caudalie’s menu has been the Beauty Elixir Ritual. Over a year in development, this is a unique, engaging ritual that provides a light touch and instant, visible results. “We developed this treatment because Mathilde wanted a protocol and ritual for the Beauty Elixir.

It’s one of our hero products,” says Duffours.

Continual development In addition to its destination Vinothérapie Spas, Caudalie has introduced 25 urban Boutique Spa locations in some of the

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world’s greatest cities, including London, Paris and Milan.

These provide a strong retail presence and offer both 30 and 60-minute face and body treatments.

Separate to its ethically aware, branded spa business, Caudalie has also gained a reputation for quality service delivery as a spa partner, recently opening at the UK’s Rockliffe Hall and Devonshire Spa. “The UK has a very well-established spa industry, and it is seen globally as a trailblazer when it comes to innovation, wellness, commercialism, standards, and training,” says Jean-Christophe Samyn, director, Caudalie UK & Ireland.

As one of the spa world’s most original brands, Caudalie remains deeply connected to its traditional roots in Bordeaux.

Building on its scientific patents that harness the benefits of polyphenols and resveratrol, the vineyard provides a constant source of inspiration.

Always looking for ways to advance the company’s offer, in 2006, Thomas took the decision to remove parabens from every product and launched her ‘Cosm-ethics’ concept, a standards charter that commits the brand to stringent ethical and environmental standards.

“We have also made huge advancements with Caudalie’s spa credentials internally,” Thomas continues. “Building on our amazing retail heritage, we pride ourselves on innovation, developing training programmes, operational courses, tailored visual merchandising and point of sale, as well as, of course, original new treatments.”

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Wellness GWS trends 2017

Going global Following last year’s Global Wellness Summit in Austria, we highlight some of the key predictions from the inaugural GWS Wellness Trends forecast

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RE P O RT BY SU SI E E LLI S & BET H M CG ROA R T Y

ringing together top-tier experts from across the international spa, travel, beauty, fitness, technology, medical and architectural industries, the annual Global Wellness Summit (GWS) provides a uniquely authoritative, global view of a wide variety of spa and wellness topics.

Capitalising on the knowledge and vision of more than 500 delegates from 46 countries at the 2016 event in Austria, this year sees the release of the first GWS Wellness Trends forecast, highlighting eight major directions in which the $3.7 trillion global wellness industry is predicted to be heading.

“No other trends report is based on the perspectives of so many wellness experts, whether they’re leading economists, futurists or the heads of hospitality, spa and beauty brands. This makes for a powerfully collective, global and informed set of predictions,” says GWS chairman and CEO Susie Ellis.

The forecast includes details of a new focus on silence within spas as well as a bold reinvention of sauna-going. In addition, it examines how the concept of wellness is reconfiguring realms from beauty to architecture, while also encouraging a more inclusive perspective at even the most elite spas and resorts.

An increased emphasis on mental wellness is also outlined, as well as the pioneering work of organisations such as Wellness for Cancer in delivering healing practices to cancer patients. Furthermore, the emerging role of art and creativity is seen as increasingly vital to achieving wellbeing.

So take a look into the future with our highlights of some of the most on-trend topics currently blossoming in the worlds of spa and wellness.

GWS 2017 will be held at The Breakers, Palm Beach, Florida, October 9-11. www.globalwellnesssummit.com

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Silence is golden

Disconnecting from ‘digital noise’ to reconnect with peace

nveiled less than a decade ago, smartphone technology has exploded faster than any other advancement in history. Those sleek, harmless-looking pocket computers now connect us to our work, the internet, the media and social media at every waking hour. Our work-life divide has dissolved, sleeping patterns have been interrupted and free time invaded, reducing our ability to attain a sense of peace due to constant ‘digital noise’.

In response, many people are seeking to leave the noisy world behind in favour of quiet contemplation, and wellness resorts and spas (even salons, restaurants, gyms, and airports) are answering their call.

Silent Spas are offering noiseless bathing, treatments and therapists, and peacefulness, mindfulness and time in wild nature are now core offerings at resorts, as opposed to blingy, hyper-luxurious amenities.

This desire is finding perfect expression in spas currently being developed in former

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monasteries, abbeys and convents, as well as retreats such as crypts, caves and former bank vaults.

The trend isn’t simply about forced ‘digital detoxes’, where devices are confiscated but little else transformative is on offer. It’s about a change in tone for everything from property and room design to treatments and experiences.

The medical evidence for silence Our ‘always-on’ connections are deleterious to physical and mental health, with recent studies confirming that ‘digital noise’ affects our focus and sleep, increasing stress, anxiety and depression.

But how does silence affect the brain? In 2013, researchers at Duke University, North Carolina, US, found that two hours of silence per day incited significant cell development in the hippocampus – the brain region related to the formation of memory.

Also, in silence the brain is able to evaluate internal and external information, creating ‘a conscious workspace’ and establishing how we fit into the world. So, if depression and dementia are associated with decreased hippocampus neurogenesis, silence would seem to be a promising therapy.

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Wellness GWS trends 2017 The brand-new ‘silent spa’ at Therme Laa Hotel, Austria, is constructed to be a modern interpretation of ancient sacred architecture Image courtesy of Vamed Vitality Resorts

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Image courtesy of Lars Krückeberg, Graft

Wellness GWS trends 2017

Currently under construction, Six Senses Gammarth in Tunisia uses ancient North African architectural philosophies to create a healthy-for-humans retreat.

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The new architects of wellness Creating healthy buildings can be hi-tech or naturally simple

rchitecture has for too long been preoccupied with surface aesthetics, with so-called ‘starchitect’ heroes conceiving designs to wow, shock, or lay claim to the cutting-edge. There has been much ego and beauty, but comparatively little attention paid to using materials and creating designs that improve the health and happiness of the humans who actually live and work in new buildings.

“I’ve never met an architect or real estate developer with any formal training in human health,” said Whitney Austin Gray, PhD, of Delos Living, who is responsible for overseeing health research and the development of innovative design strategies and products.

However, with the emergence of new standards and technologies, a new era of ‘wellness architecture’ is set to have a huge impact on people’s quality of life.

From air purity to indoor acoustics, everything in the built environment is set to be re-evaluated and re-engineered. Strategies will span everything from ‘living’ buildings with walls made of algae biofuel cells that grow their own energy, to new smartphone apps that alert you when you’re entering a ‘sick’ building.

Architects and builders will tackle the indoor air quality crisis with the creation of ‘red lists’ of known toxic building materials.

Formaldehyde-free wood and glues free from off-gasses will increase in use, along with products such as Air Renew, a gypsum board installed in HVAC systems that permanently traps dust,

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bacteria, fungus, mould, pollen and volatile organic compounds.

Natural solutions will be increasingly adopted, such as deploying plants that are proven to absorb chemicals (like mould spores, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde), including bamboo palm, spider plant, areca palm, golden pothos and spathiphyllum.

The great statesman Winston Churchill once said: “We shape our buildings, and afterwards, they shape us.” The wellness architecture trend has been a long time coming and while the first step will be to ensure that our homes, workplaces, schools, hospitals and hotels are simply ‘not sick’, the future will be buildings designed from scratch to make us healthier and happier.

Innovation in all directions This trend takes many forms, from new ‘living’ buildings’ which have algae embedded in their walls and can ‘grow’ their own energy, to the ‘designing in’ of increased movement for inhabitants to combat potentially deadly sedentary lives.

Radically ‘wired’ buildings are also being created with responsive architecture that can tailor health experiences for their inhabitants.

For example, Deloitte’s smart, green workspace in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, known as The Edge, has 28,000 environment-tracking sensors hooked up to workers’ smartphone apps. These can find staff the best place to work based on that day’s tasks, adjust their personal preferences for light and temperature in real-time and also manage their fitness routines.

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Wellness GWS trends 2017

3 The arts take centre stage

Refocusing on the connection between self-expression and wellness

Image courtesy of Schloss Elmau

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The concert hall at Schloss Elmau in Germany reflects a return to the arts for spa goers

he 2016 GWS theme of ‘Back to the Future’ explored how the history of spa and wellness can provide informed blueprints for the future, and it was noted that between the late 18th and mid-20th centuries, European spa destinations reached a level of popularity and prestige unparalleled before or since.

Attracting aristocrats, politicians and the rising middle-class in droves, a powerful connection was made between the taking of ‘spa cures’ and high levels of creativity. Geniuses like Beethoven, Chopin, Freud, Goethe, Kafka, Liszt, Mozart, Tolstoy and Turgenev spent weeks or months at spas creating great works; they gave performances there and created a real spa buzz. Music, theatre and art exhibitions were as central to the spa experience as taking the waters.

Today, Germany’s Schloss Elmau is an example of a wellness retreat magnificently merged with musical and cultural programming. Physical wellness is nurtured at its five spas while the brain and creative soul are engaged by some 220 performances each year at its 300-seat concert hall. A ‘play to stay’ model sees musicians, writers and thinkers perform in exchange for stress-reducing downtime with their families.

Around the world, creativity and the arts are once again taking centre stage at wellness retreats and spas. This will continue to be the case as guests enjoy a greater understanding of how crucial creative pursuits are to optimal mental wellness, as well as wider awareness that meditation, exercise, time-in-nature, and all forms of stress-reduction, including massage can be potent paths to achieving creative insight.

4 The future is ‘mental wellness’

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A new category and culture to deal with modern ailments

ental disorders are on the rise all over the world; since 1990 there has been around a 50% increase in cases of depression or anxiety, with over 600 million people now affected, according to the World Health Organisation. Antidepressant use has exploded as depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, OCD and phobias continue to manifest themselves.

New forces shaping this rise include global economic inequality and the effects of social media, which serves to keep us ‘alone together’; a recent NHS study in the UK revealed that more than one in four young women aged 16-24 – the core ‘selfie’ generation – now has a mental health condition.

During the 2016 GWS, Dr. Gerry Bodeker from Oxford University, UK argued that the wellness industry has been too passive in communicating the medical evidence for the positive impact of wellness modalities on mental health. A recent meta-analysis of past studies (data on 1.1 million people) reconfirmed the powerful connection between regular exercise and mental health: people in the lowest third for aerobic fitness levels were 75% more likely to have received a depression diagnosis than those in the top third.

Just as wellness tourism developed alongside, yet distinct from, medical tourism, so will mental wellness develop alongside mental health, uncovering new paths to emotional wellbeing and happiness. Wellness retreats, spas and fitness studios – as well as workplaces, governments, schools and hospitals – will necessarily place far more emphasis on helping desperate people get less anxious and happier.

It’s a powerful opportunity and a moral imperative – wellness for the mind will be one of the most meaningful, powerful trends for decades to come.

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An emerging new mentality • New, integrative mental wellness approaches include hotels, wellness retreats and spas bringing in psychotherapists and neuroscientists • Meditation is exploding into the mainstream: from dedicated ‘drop-in’ studios to far more mindfulness programming at hotels, retreats, spas, cruises, schools, hospitals, and even within governments • Sleep programmes are at a tipping point: whether it’s wellness destinations bringing in doctors to design rooms or sleep-inducing programmes, or retreats offering guests a dedicated Sleep Ambassador • So many new directions are set to emerge, from a dedicated focus on breathing work and breathing classes in order to control stress response and brain waves function to ‘bibliotherapy’ – the prescription of specific literary works as a wellness cultivating measure, in response to evidence that readers of literature have lower rates of depression and stress.

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Wellness GWS trends 2017

5 Sauna reinvented Image courtesy of Mandarin Oriental

Tracking the evolution of a traditional spa activity

Helsinki’s high-design, hip new public sauna complex, Löyly, illustrates a new social direction in heat experiences

The power of performance

Image courtesy of Avanto Architects by kuvio.com

Expect to see more art and performances at wellness retreats and spas.

Mystical sound baths and multi-sensory experiences and ‘ceremonies’ are seeing star practitioners wielding Himalayan and crystal singing bowls, chimes, gongs, bells and tuning forks to create-stress-melting concerts to accompany meditation, yoga, massages and therapeutic bathing.

A broader art and performance agenda will become more central to wellness destinations, such as Mandarin Oriental’s new brand-wide Digital Wellness programme, which uses colouring books and notepads in its spas (above).

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Image courtesy of Dream Reality Cinema

Companies such as Dream Reality Cinema, in Beverly Hills, US, offer to clean out the subconscious and tackle everything from traumatic stress to sleep disorders through a process of dream meditation

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ne hot topic at the 2016 GWS was how the rest of the world could learn from historic European cultures of bathing and sauna, with thought-leaders also highlighting how Europeans themselves are now busy re-imagining the sauna experience.

While saunas are standard fare at hotels, spas and gyms around the globe, when it comes to how sauna ‘gets done’, there has been a disconnect between Europe, where sauna-going is a way of life, and the rest of the world. The sauna experience on other continents can be an uninspiring, lonely experience that takes place in box-like isolation at a spa or in a condo basement. However, northern, central and eastern European countries like Finland (where saunas were born 2,000 years ago), Austria, Germany, Sweden and Poland, often offer creative and deeply social rituals and facilities.

While non-Europeans often jump quickly in and out of saunas, Europeans know how to expand this experience, with contrast therapy – taking a cold/snow plunge after a sauna and repeating the routine – offering key health benefits and getting those endorphins pumping.

In northern/central Europe, sauna has taken a theatrical turn to evolve into Sauna Aufguss, in which sauna meisters administer dozens of targeted aromatherapy infusions using complex towel rituals to circulate heat, humidity and scents. This performance is played out before large, lively sauna audiences in spas across Austria, Germany, Italy, Finland and Norway.

The sauna re-invention trend is taking many other forms, including hip, social amphitheatre or ‘hangout’ saunas such as Helsinki’s new, high-design, Löyly sauna complex that holds up to 300 people, and a new ‘Hot Box’ on the shores of Scotland’s Loch Tay, which offers a DJ and a bar.

Elsewhere, quirky pop-up saunas can be found floating on lakes or hanging from bridges, while ‘urban sweat lodges’, using infrared saunas, are taking off in places like LA and New York.

This trend is multi-faceted, unpredicatable and fascinating. No longer a solitary experience, the spread of new, spectacular, social saunas are literally offering ‘outside-the-box’ thinking.

The hottest property Every culture has its ancient sweat tradition: the Arabic hammam, Japanese onsen, Russian banya, Native American sweat lodge, the Mesoamerican temazcal, and, most globally ubiquitous, the European sauna. All will continue to undergo a renaissance (and re-invention) as the world aches for stress-reducing, detoxifying therapies.

In a world getting hotter and crazier, more people will travel in search of both authenticity and innovation, looking to gain the benefits of these experiences at the source. The new breed of more social, entertaining, and high-design sauna concepts will guarantee a healthy future for those who invest in them.

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Wellness GWS trends 2017

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Wellness gives beauty a makeover The search for visible perfection starts from the inside out

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ila has been a pioneer in organic skincare and many independent brands are now following suit

spiring to beauty can be one of the key motivators for keeping physically, spiritually and mentally fit, and last year’s GWS reflected the blurring borders between beauty and wellness, hearing that a beauty and anti-ageing sector worth nearly $1 trillion is at the centre of the now $3.7 trillion global wellness economy.

Neuroscientist Dr. Claudia Aguirre told the Summit that because ‘beauty’ stimulates our brains in so many ways, we need it in our lives as it brings hope, connectedness and, ultimately, wellness.

However, along with the massive influence of social media on the beauty industry in the shape of Instagram stars and Facebook feeds, the ways in which we are achieving and thinking about beauty have been evolving and the new aesthetic in town is health and wellness.

There is overwhelming scientific and medical evidence of the positive effects that diet, exercise, sleep and stress reduction can have on our appearance. Exercise alone is a beautifier – oxygenating the blood to give skin a healthy glow, and, because it reduces the stress hormone cortisol, exercise has been proven to support the production of collagen, reduce acne and even make your hair appear healthier.

Because today’s consumer values the importance of pure, ethically produced products, more independent spa brands are following in the footsteps of the likes of British brand ila, which has for some time sold itself as ‘beyond organic’. Perhaps most importantly, self-esteem and mental wellbeing soar when we are at our most attractive and fit, and wellness practices and treatments help us achieve this.

7 Beyond elite ghettos of wellness

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Spa operators to lead the way in ‘giving back’ to communities

hat is a ghetto of wellness? It is the five-star wellness retreat on a dreamy tropical island that is surrounded by slums. It is paying over $200 for a 90-minute massage at a resort while your amazing local practitioner is actually being paid just a few dollars.

The list of things we can now purchase in the name of ‘wellness’ in our ever richer and gentrified global cities is set against the backdrop of ever-sharpening income inequality worldwide. As Nobel Prize-winning economist Bob Shiller argues, today’s economic inequality becomes tomorrow’s social and political catastrophe, and opening up the world of wellness to a wider demographic is crucial to avoiding this fate.

Such elite ghettos of wellness seem less and less acceptable and businesses are beginning to do more to open up what they do to people lower down the socio-economic ladder.

So, look for more wellness businesses beginning to ‘give back’ to the broader community. This is already happening with initiatives such as ‘Yoga Gives Back’, which helps poor women in India, and Newfoundland’s Fogo Island Inn, where every dollar of profit goes back to its economically-challenged island community.

A ‘Wellness Tourism 2.0’ will also rise: a development model that goes beyond often elite properties to create whole towns, regions and even nations where a comprehensive wellness vision – from protected nature to a sustainable, healthy food supply – benefits both locals and tourists who visit.

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Spreading happiness In the UN’s latest World Happiness Report, seven of the world’s ten happiest nations are said to be in northern Europe – Switzerland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland, The Netherlands and Sweden – places where wellness culture is part of everyday life, rather than a consumerist stressor.

Countries playing catch-up in the league table of happiness will need to adopt a more inclusive approach to wellness. As well as spreading the benefits of their work to a broader section of society, luxury spa businesses will themselves benefit from allowing a trickle-down of their positive effects.

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Wellness GWS trends 2017

Treating those suffering or recovering from cancer

Image courtesy of Skinade

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Embracing the C-word

Inside-out beauty

Image courtesy of Julie Bach

Promising to nurture from the inside out, an explosion of trendily packaged beauty drinks, superfoods, pills, and supplements are delivering takes on ancient wellness practices. Food-inspired beauty remedies – from kale and kombucha to turmeric and bearberries – also offer the benefits of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

Nutraceuticals – pills and supplements that aid health – and nutricosmetics, edible supplements designed to enhance beauty, such as Bottled Science’s drinkable collagen, Skinade (above), further pledge improved hormone balance, immune systems, skin and hair.

Wellness for Cancer training taking place at Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa, UK

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he US National Cancer Institute believes 40% of us will suffer from cancer at some point during our lives. For a disease of such magnitude and impact, it’s notable that those suffering from its affects have been hitherto effectively shunned by the spa and wellness industry.

Much of the hesitation is due to misinformation – could massage spread the effects of a tumour, for example? However, it also has a lot to do with insurance policies in many countries that make working on guests with cancer prohibitively costly. Sadly, an industry that prides itself on prevention practices has often refused some of the very people that need its services most.

There is, however, now reason to cheer the spa and wellness world, for it has recently been embracing this critically important issue. During this year’s GWS, companies like Biologique Recherche, Spafinder Wellness and Voya announced their continued support of cancer research, and studies are emerging on the psychological effects cancer has on patients.

Of course, we have a long way to go before wellness modalities become central to cancer care, but all indications are that the mental and physical tolls cancer takes on a patient can be radically lessened by much of what spas have to offer.

We predict even more wellness businesses and spas will pursue cancer-focused education to train staff. Already, there are Wellness for Cancer trainers on virtually every continent and, in the UK, Beauty Despite Cancer is also offering accredited training programmes. While organisations like the Canadian-based Cancer Exercise Training Institute deliver online cancer-specific exercise training courses for professionals.

This more inclusive model of wellness will shape a world in which such pursuits are created equal for those who are well and those who have this disease.

Newfoundland’s Fogo Island Inn ploughs all its profits back into the local Canadian community

Image courtesy of Fogo Island

Wellness for Cancer

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Cancer sufferers, typically underserved when it comes to wellness options, made significant gains due to organisations like Wellness for Cancer, a pioneering educational platform that trains wellness companies on how to be better equipped to work with cancer patients.

“The industry’s mantra in the past was ‘we serve well people’ – a non-inclusive policy that is changing,” says Wellness for Cancer’s Julie Bach, who also heads up the Global Wellness Institute initiative of the same name. She acknowledges that spa operators are increasingly embracing cancer sufferers and doing what the wellness industry does best: helping them reduce stress, find inner peace and increase emotional resilience.

Some of the trailblazers embracing cancer clients include All4Spas, Biologique Recherche, ESPA, Sanitas Skincare, The Red Door, Two Bunch Palms, Voya and Weight Watchers. www.wellnessforcancer.com

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SKINCARE

BEAUTY

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THALASSOTHERAPY

EDITED BY MARK SMITH

Editor’s choice

Prodige des Océans range offers total immersion Thalgo creates ’ultra-premium’ rituals to accompany its new face and body collection Following the success of the Prodige des Océans Essence, Thalgo has developed a face and body range to complement its hero marine offering.

The Prodige des Océans collection contains Regenerative Marine Intelligence, a bioactive seawater containing 63 active ingredients from the ocean, which is paired with multi-cellular algae. Triggering cellular Marian Harvey regeneration, it tightens and corrects the complexion, restoring a youthful look to the skin.

The range contains a cream, which reduces lines leaving the skin more toned and firm; a smoothing and plumping mask; a rejuvenating essence; and a hydrating body cream, which finesses the silhouette.

The professional face and body ritual for Prodige des Océans commences with Thalgo’s Discovery of the Sea welcome ritual followed by an Indian scalp massage.

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A total of seven different massage techniques are incorporated in the ritual, including one inspired by Ko Bi Do therapy to offer deep relaxation, improved drainage and tension release.

The immersive marine treatments offer revitalising, regenerative properties to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. The Massage Balm is a unique three-phase formula, starting as a pearly gel which transforms into a fine oil and then develops an emulsified texture.

Containing marine micro algae oil, it works to nourish and hydrate the skin.

“This new launch offers spas the ultimate marine beauty experience, an ultra-premium professional signature by Thalgo, incorporating the very best in terms of marine ingredients and sensorial treatment techniques,” says Marian Harvey, managing director of Thalgo UK. “The development of this new range has been intensive and the results are remarkable.” www.thalgo.com

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Menu New products & therapies

Treatment focus

Active anti-ageing Caudalie has launched a new range designed to help the skin cope with stress, pollution and external aggressors. Vine[Activ] includes a new Anti-cell Burn-out Complex, combining stabilised grape-seed polyphenols to preserve collagen and natural hyaluronic acid, with spruce extract to stimulate cellular defences. This is blended with stabilised vitamins A and E to tackle free radicals and protect the skin.

Low and high molecular weight hyaluronic acid combines with light textures and uplifting essences for a skin-boosting collection that includes: Glow Activating Anti-Wrinkle Serum to boost radiance and protection; Energizing and Smoothing Eye Cream to target fine line and wrinkles; 3-in-1 Moisturiser to boost natural protection, leaving skin supple; and Overnight Detox Oil to aid the neutralising of toxins overnight. www.caudalie.com

ESPA launches mindful treatments and sleep rituals in Ireland The Powerscourt Hotel in Co. Wicklow, Ireland, is now offering ESPA’s mindful massage and facial treatments, as well as the brand’s unique Sleep Ritual, so that guests may address anxiety and sleep issues in a comforting spa environment.

This combination of experiences aims to aid rest and relaxation, soothing the mind, body and spirit through the use of breathing techniques, visualisation, hands-on treatments, crystal therapy and massage.

“We are excited to pioneer the very specialised ESPA Mindful treatments and Sleep Retreat,” says Kellie Ann Hayden, spa director at ESPA at Powerscourt Hotel.

“The treatments are unique, focusing awareness on the present moment, and our highly skilled therapy team is really looking forward to sharing their effectiveness with our valued guests.” www.powerscourthotel.com www.espaskincare.com

Eye feel revived

Just the remedy Designed to boost the natural protection mechanisms of the skin, [comfort zone]’s Remedy boasts a formula that utilises the power of a natural prebiotic, with two plant extracts, Marvel of Peru and Mexican Hyssop, working to reduce inflammation and blended with marula oil to repair the skin barrier.

Developed with the help of neuroscientist Dr Claudia Aguirre and nutridermatologist Dr Mariuccia Bucci of the [comfort zone] Scientific Committee, Remedy offers an integrated approach with home care, lifestyle recommendations and a professional facial that features an exclusive peel-off oil mask to reduce redness, itching and tightness.

The retail line includes a cream-to-oil cleanser, a refreshing toner, a fortifying serum, a soothing cream and a nourishing cream. www.comfortzone.it

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Research by Clarins has shown that a hectic lifestyle and lack of sleep can lead to an overproduction of free radicals that attack and degrade fibroblasts, the cells responsible for youthful eye contour.

In response, its new Multi-Active Eye acts as an instant reviver, smoothing fine lines, minimising the signs of fatigue and brightening the eye area.

Teasel extract directly targets fibroblasts and helps to revitalise and protect tired, stressed skin by encouraging production of energising Adenosine Tri Phosphate molecules, which help fight free radicals.

At the same time, Myrothamnus extract helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines on the contour area. www.clarins.com

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Menu New products & therapies

The rhythm of the night

Rhythm & Heat is the hot new collection from CND. Setting the tone for sensational springtime looks, the sumptuous collection of colours will spice up the season with its dreamy, rich and bright hues.

Bringing colourful inspiration to spa treatment menus this season, the tropical-inspired shades, available in both CND Shellac and Vinylux, include (from left below): Mambo Beat, Sugarcane, Palm Deco, Shimmering Shores, Ripe Guava and Shells in the Sand. www.sweetsquared.com

Super peel

Progressif Néomorphose is a new prescriptive treatment and product range from Carita that offers a multi-layered transformation of the skin.

A unique resurfacing peeling serum with high concentrations of effective peeling acids, including 5% glycolic acid with a 0.5% citric acid, 0.2% salicylic acid, 0.3% LHA and 2% dioic acid, is complemented by a Fundamental Resurfacing Mask used throughout the professional protocols.

The treatments include Resurfacing Peel and Reveal, featuring the Peeling Gel Mask, plus the Smoothing Wrinkle Peel, Restoring and Firming Peel, and Ultimate Wrinkle Smoothing & Skin Restorative Peel, which combine the new professional line with the Carita Cinetic Lifting Expert Machine.

For home-use, the range includes products that resurface, fill and restore, including: mask, filling serum and cream, eye care, day cream, night balm and eye patches. www.carita.co.uk

Treatment focus

As smooth as silk

Body reawakening: Decleor launches Aroma Blend Voya offers signature treatments at Mandarin Oriental, London Voya has expanded its presence at the The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, London to launch a range of unique seaweed-based spa treatments. The new signature spa therapies showcase the properties of the Irish brand’s organic, hand-harvested seaweed and its world-renowned organic skincare products.

The treatments include Organic Lavender & Peppermint Seaweed Sugar Glow Scrub, Organic Seaweed Leaf Wrap, Organic Tangle Me Up Body Wrap and Organic Warm Spiced Mud Wrap. In addition, Voya’s new Express Self-Discovery Organic Facial has also been introduced at the spa, incorporating a comprehensive skin analysis and targeted facial products from each of the brands skin-specific ranges, to ensure a truly bespoke therapy. www.voya.ie

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Formulated with advanced AHA’s, Phytomer’s new Emergence Skin Tone Refinishing Serum offers a peeling effect to tackle imperfections including pores, blackheads, redness, acne scars, and dark spots.

The serum contains Alpha-Soft, a new ingredient that retextures and refines the skin, combining 15% glycolic acid, 7% lactic acid and 6% citric acid. This is delivered in a multi-layered gel that gradually infuses into the skin.

Marine AHA’s from Porphyra-Conchocelis red algae further offer 100% natural acid exfoliants to boost the exfoliation process and its featherweight texture leaves the skin rejuvenated and refined. www.phytomer.com

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Menu New products & therapies

A dynamic duo Elemis has launched two new skincare products that are destined to become heroes of its range.

Hydra-Boost Serum is a lightweight veil for the skin with an aromatic blend of bergamot, sweet orange and mandarin. The hydrating formula includes Néré seed and quinic acid, along with Dhatelo oil to reinforce the skin’s barrier.

With liposoluble compounds from raspberries to improve hydration, Pro-Definition Facial Oil includes Himalayan gentian extract to smooth fine lines, plus organic barbary fig to nourish and protect the skin. The oil also includes a heady blend of clary sage, palmarosa and frankincense.

Treatment focus

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Champneys Intraceuticals Radiance Oxygen Facial Heaven scent A new range of four therapeutic candles from Scentered has been custom-blended with natural waxes, pure essential oils and botanicals to enhance the mood and lift the spirit.

‘Love’ aims to to ease grief and aid relaxation with rose ylang ylang and patchouli; ‘De-Stress’ helps to alleviate tension with chamomile, neroli and mandarin; ‘Escape’ works to boost motivation and creativity, featuring oud, frankincense and sandalwood; while ‘Be Happy’ is a travel sized candle to lift the mood with grapefruit, lemon myrtle and spearmint.

The 85g travel candle offers an 18-hour burn while the 220g home candles promise 35 hours of enjoyment. www.scentered.me

Champneys Forest Mere and Tring, UK, have launched the new Intraceuticals Radiance Oxygen Facial, a pioneering anti-ageing treatment to restore and recharge skin and deliver a hydrated, glowing complexion.

Customised by Champneys’ expert therapists to address the individual concerns of each client, the Intraceuticals Radiance Oxygen Facial is a non-invasive treatment that uses oxygen to promote the delivery of Intraceuticals serums into the skin, targeting premature ageing, lines and wrinkles, dryness, dark circles, puffy eyes and pigmentation.

The treatment utilises the benefits of oxygen under light pressure, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to leave the skin with instant, visible effects while also providing a relaxing and sensorial experience. www.champneys.com

Eco-friendly oils

Italy’s award-winning, luxury eco-resort, Lefay Resort & Spa, has developed a new range of face and body oils to nourish and treat the skin.

Certified ‘COSMOS Organic’ by Ecocert, the oils combine Lefay’s own extra-virgin olive oil with a range of nourishing and uplifting essential oils.

The new line includes three facial oils: Rosa rejuvenates and restores; Citrus Limonum instantly brightens; and Lavandula calms and soothes dry and sensitive skin.

Three available body oils include Cedrus, to improve skin tone and reduce stretch marks; Olive, to moisturise and soften the skin; and Rosmarinus to relieve tension and relax and restore skin elasticity. www.lefayshop.com

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Menu New products & therapies

Soothe and calm

Decléor’s Aromessence Neroli Amara is a new botanical oil serum that uses essential oils extracted from the flower, fruit, leaves and twigs of the bitter orange tree.

100% natural, its fine blend is based on botanical hazelnut virgin oil and essential oils of neroli, petitgrain, juniper berry, sandalwood, clary sage and sweet orange.

Its fine, silky texture is non-sticky, non-shiny and easy to apply. Hydrating and radiance-boosting, the formula helps to calm the mind and soothe the senses.

Partnering the new product is an express version of the popular Vitamin Glow Facial, Decléor Recharge & Glow Facial, which features Aromessence Neroli Amara as part of the ritual. www.decleor.co.uk

Treatment focus

Tok Sen is a sacred restart for Ytsara

Sleek Silhouette Developed in a variety of crème and shimmer finishes to prevent nails looking flat, Jessica’s Silhouette collection promises to work like ‘foundation for the fingertips’ with six shades of flaw-erasing, light-reflecting natural shades to suit every skin tone.

The range, available in Geleration Soak-Off Gel Polish, includes: Naked Contours, a velvet mocha; Bare it All, a dense nude pink; the sheer dusty rose of Tease; Simply Sexy, a cool nude; Exposed, an ecru shimmer; and Nude Thrills, a soft cappuccino.

“Neutral nails showcase elegance and sophistication,” says Jessica Vartoughian, founder and CEO of Jessica. “Silhouette’s flattering collection gives natural nails a boost of luxuriousness.” www.gerrardinternational.com

To celebrate its rebranding and a rejuvenated look, Ytsara has introduced Tok Sen, a sacred Thai massage technique.

This ancient form of therapy uses a special wooden instrument to tap away negative energy in the body and ease muscular tension. Using mechanical and sound vibration, it works deeply through the fasciae and muscles to release muscular strain, healing both body and mind.

A traditional form of energetic healing particular to the Chiang Mai region of northern Thailand, Tok Sen is thought to date back over 5,000 years. The treatment promises to relieve aches and pains, improve circulation, remove energy blockages and release tension.

Tok Sen is incorporated in Ytsara’s Ultimate Deep Pressure Massage treatment and the Siamise Healing Herbs treatment. www.satyalife.co.uk

Bathing beauties Adding to its Organic Aromatherapy Oil Collection, Kerstin Florian has launched Organic Neroli Blossom Bath & Body Oil – a lightweight blend of organic coconut, jojoba, meadowfoam and sunflower oils to deeply nourish and soften skin.

USDA-certified organic, the preservative-free, colour-free, and naturally scented oil features coconut oil harvested from the South Pacific islands, which is rich in fatty acids, and jojoba seed oil to reduce transdermal water loss.

Calming and relaxing, the heady scent comes from the natural essence of bitter orange blossom.

The oils are easily absorbed and perfect for bathing at anytime of the year. www.kerstinflorian.com

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Fabulous fusion Repêchage’s new Fusion collection is a range of face and body gift sets designed to create a spa-like experience at home.

The collection includes Chocofina Moisturizing Mask, Matchafina Cleansing Mask, Pumpkinfina Multivitamin Mask and Berryfina Brightening Mask, to stimulate the senses with aromas of chocolate, green tea, pumpkin and mixed berry, while delivering important benefits to the skin.

Fusion also includes a face and bodywash, and a moisturiser crafted with coconut oil and sustainably harvested seaweed from the Maine coast. The gift sets provide one face mask and the additional products in a smart wash bag. www.repechage.com

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Menu New products & therapies

Urban Retreat introduces Eisenberg Paris Facials

Treatment focus

Adding to its cutting-edge treatment menu, Urban Retreat at Harrods, London has introduced Eisenberg Paris facials to its spa guests.

Created and developed by José Eisenberg after years of extensive research, Eisenberg Paris skincare products combine science and nature in a patented Trio-Molecular Formula that combines three molecules working in synergy to regenerate, e and oxygenate the skin.

Three luxury facials added to the Urban Retreat menu include: Signature Customised Facial targeted at individual skin needs; Ultimate Instant Beauty Facial, which lifts and boosts radiance; and Ultimate Diamond Facial, which regenerates and revitalises the skin with new-generation peptides and micronised diamond powder. www.eisenberg.com www.urbanretreat.co.uk

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Natural Spa Factory launches Clean Living vegan treatments Inspired by the vegan food movement, Clean Living is Natural Spa Factory’s latest collection of treatments and products.

Placing ethics, seasonality and conscious food at the core of its business, the brand is keen to remind customers to be aware of what they eat as well as what they use on their skin.

With this in mind, the company has launched a vegan-centric treatment menu for the spa market that includes ‘Raw Cocoa, Coconut & Coffee Calm & Cure’, a skin-refining treatment, based on superfood trends, which uses the new product Columbian Buff. There She Glows is a complexion boosting facial to energise skin using a synthesis of rice bran, alpine plants, damascus rose oil and bergamot.

“We launched these treatments as we regularly get asked for products that are suitable for vegan use,” explains Emma Webber, co-founder of Natural Spa Factory. “We discovered many of our products didn’t use animal bi-products and naturally weren’t tested on animals, and with the demand for a ‘clean living’ lifestyle, this seemed an appropriate progression.” www.naturalspafactory.com

Goodbye glycation Biologique Recherche has addressed the ageing effects of glycation with Sérum A-Glyca. Designed to maintain the integrity of elastin and collagen fibres, and prevent the production of advanced glycation end products, it combats the effects of fatigue, improving skin elasticity and radiance.

Mimosa Albizia Julibrissin Extract protects the elastin and collagen fibres susceptible to damage from glycation, while carcinine traps glucose to release collagen and elastin during the glycation process.

Preventing these fibres from solidifying helps to reduce wrinkles and fine lines. www.biologique-recherche.com

In every issue, European Spa showcases the best new product and treatment launches.

Contact Menu editor Mark Smith on +44 (0) 115 950 4748 or email mark.smith@spapublishing.com

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Menu Decleor

Growth through education In an exclusive interview, we talk to Sarah Power, general manager of Decléor and Carita, about Decléor’s transition to the L’Oreal Professional Products Division and what this means for UK spas INTERVIEW BY MARK SMITH

U

pon its acquisition in April 2015, Decléor was placed in the L’Oreal Professional Division, a strategic move designed to maximise the expertise of its multi-talented global team. Also at that time, Sarah Power brought her wealth of experience to Decléor, having previously been general manager of the L’Oreal owned professional haircare brands, Redken, Pureology and Mizani.

Responsible for the UK and Ireland, Power’s key role is to consolidate the brand’s position across its multi-channel business and drive growth through education and marketing.

We find out how she intends to position the brand as a leader in the spa market, with help from a team of 200 professionals with expertise in marketing, merchandising, retail and sales.

How is Decléor reacting to wellness trends?

How have things changed for Decléor since its acquisition by L’Oreal?

What differentiates your brand’s offering?

Now that Decléor is part of the L’Oreal family we are really reinforcing the brand’s professional heritage, while investing in education and marketing. We operate with five channels in the beauty market including department stores, e-commerce, QVC, salon/spas and boutiques.

However, spa and salon is our DNA. Decléor underwent a re-awakening in 2016.

Our brand communications were updated as we felt that it can be hard to navigate a professional beauty brand. We wanted to simplify that so it was better suited to consumer needs. We focused heavily on our visual merchandising to ensure it was spot on.

How are spa operators affected?

We have a large field team who are absolutely committed to working in partnership with spas to develop their businesses. Our team of educators devotes a lot of time to training in spas and salons. Almost all of our business development executives are therapists, so they are like-minded people who understand the spa business; they are talking as a therapist first, that’s totally unique to this division.

We touch thousands of therapists in our academies then we continue talking to them via

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Our brand is a hero of naturality and wellbeing – these traits have been part of our heritage for 40 years and everything we come up with is grounded in offering benefits to the client and the therapist. Our Facial Pilates treatment is the perfect example of this; it incorporates elements of tai chi to ensure that therapists can perform their work with ease. It’s very much on trend.

We are just about to launch Recharge Your Life boxes, Awakening and Serenity, which include products to enhance wellness alongside yoga instruction and clever things like a phone pouch to block out blue light from your device.

We also have a panel of experts to consult with the brand and offer expertise in areas from aromachology to massage and skincare.

“Decléor wants to be a business partner, not just a sales house. We are a business and therapist-led brand.”

Sarah Power, general manager, Decléor

social media and our Decléor closed Facebook group which has around 2,000 members constantly chatting and asking questions.

What new education plans do you offer?

The Decléor Ambassador programme elevates star therapists by giving them advanced training in products and insights into things like digitisation of the spa industry. These ambassadors then pass that knowledge on to other therapists, in turn helping people to grow their businesses.

We are also launching retail selective training courses for all of our spas. These cover how to retail, consult and visually merchandise, as well as how therapists engage with clients and what the client journey should look like. It’s something new we are bringing to the table.

Decléor wants to be a business partner, not just a sales house. We are a business and therapist-led brand with people on the team who have run spas and hotels, so we engage with spas on their level.

Our Ambassador programme gives star therapists advanced training so they can pass on their expertise to other therapists. Also, we organise Aroma conferences twice a year for business owners and managers, focusing on trends, retailing, staff recruitment and retention.

What new launches are planned for 2017?

We are re-launching our hero product, Aromessence Neroli, in February. We’ve made this bestseller even better by adding Sweet Orange to the formula. We will also launch an express version of our famous Vitamin Glow Facial, for those who want instant results but don’t have the luxury of time. It is a great taster for the brand and customers who may not have had a facial before, and will help to increase penetration in spas and salons. www.decleor.co.uk Right: Since becoming part of the L’Oreal family of businesses, Decléor has redoubled its focus on providing spa operators with targeted education and on-trend products

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Wellness

THERAPIES

HEALING

NUTRITION

MINDFULNESS

MOVEMENT

RETREATS

EDITED BY HELLENA BARNES

Editor’s choice

Six Senses settles guests into a new standard of sleep Guest experience programme delivering a focus on sleep wellbeing is set to be rolled out globally across resorts by mid-2017 GLOBAL: It is widely acknowledged that humans should ideally spend at least one third of their life sleeping. However, according to Six Senses, even those getting an optimal amount of sleep may not be experiencing the required quality.

To address this situation, the global hospitality brand has worked with international sleep expert Dr Michael J. Breus to create Sleep with Six Senses.

The new programme includes use of the Aura Sleep Tracker App, data from which is reviewed by a Six Senses integrated wellness practitioner during a 30-minute guest consultation. Based on the results, a personalised regime of spa treatments and activities can be recommended to help improve sleep.

“The Six Senses sleep programme is perhaps the most advanced in the hospitality industry to date,

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bringing in some of the best experts in the world,” says Anna Bjurstam, vice-president of Six Senses Spas. “It is the first wellness programme on a large scale that is not taking place within the spa and fitness areas, but in the guest rooms.”

Sleep with Six Senses starts with a pre-arrival online questionnaire that enables ‘sleep ambassadors’, who have completed a training programme created under the leadership and guidance of Dr Breus, to understand the guest’s relationship with sleep in order to prepare key tools and tips for improvement.

The ambassadors, available on call each day to support sleeping needs, can fine-tune guest bedrooms for optimum sleep conditions with handmade mattresses and organic bedding that features natural breathing and cooling zones.

Guests are also provided with a ‘sleep bag’, which contains a selection of specially developed and sourced sleeping aids, including bamboo-fibre pyjamas, an eye mask, ear plugs, nose strips, nasal neti pot and a jasmine sleep spritzer.

Further aids to sleep include the Six Senses Little Book of Wellness and a worry journal, as well as a USB drive uploaded with Six Senses videos providing suggestions for sleep improvement.

The initiative has been rolled out at seven of the group’s resorts, with the remainder to be fully implemented by mid-2017. “This is just a start to making Six Senses resorts truly rounded wellness destinations in all areas. It is a very exciting time for us,” Bjurstam added. www.sixsenses.com

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Wellness Trends & developments

Personal approach at Palace Wellness SWITZERLAND: Palace Wellness Spa at Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, in St Moritz, one of the most luxurious and natural spas in the Swiss Alps, is preparing to launch four wellness programmes directed by the hotel’s newly appointed wellness coach, Vinod Kumar.

The seven-day itineraries of ten personalised sessions include: Stress Management, with therapeutic massage and Ayurvedic treatments such as Shirodhara; Balancing the Energy Flow, which focuses on achieving equilibrium in the body’s energy channels; Releasing Physical and Emotional Pain, with yoga and energising massages; and A Journey to Self Love, teaching self-guided meditation and self-massage techniques.

“Our guests will learn how to meditate and use the practice of specific yoga techniques to manage their wellbeing and prevent the onset of disease,” says Martha Wiedemann, associate director of Palace Wellness. “The treatments offered within the programme are designed to support the process to give results in seven days.” www.lhw.com/hotel/Badrutts-Palace-Hotel-St-Moritz-Switzerland

Choose from rest, engagement and cultivation on St. Barts CARIBBEAN: Le Guanahani, located on the island of Saint-Barthélemy, is celebrating its 30th anniversary with the culmination of a four-year, £33 million renovation and the launch of three new wellness packages entitled Rest, Engage and Cultivate.

Its Spa My Blend by Clarins has also introduced eight new Body Bliss treatments, each customised for the five-star resort by botanist Nick James in conjunction with specialists in the fields of massage, bodywork, aromatherapy, colour therapy, teaching and design.

The spa, which recommends guests begin their stay with a private coaching session to establish wellness intentions, is the only property in the Caribbean to offer Spa My Blend by Clarins. www.leguanahani.com

Read it and eat

UK: A new book by Stephanie Moore, intriguingly entitled Why Eating Less & Exercising More Makes You Fat, looks beyond conventional thinking to the biological principles of healthy eating.

The senior associate of the Royal Society of Medicine and head of nutrition at Grayshott Spa in Surrey shares a system of science-based interventions to trigger fat burning and regulate appetite control.

The book includes advice on blood sugar management, the importance of healthy gut microbiome and why intermittent fasting is one of the quickest ways to lose weight. www.health-in-hand.co.uk

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A starter for ten

Between the covers

GERMANY: Applying Lanserhof’s nutritional expertise, based on the FX Mayr method, the German No.1 bestseller, The 50 Healthiest 10-Minute Recipes, is now available in English.

“Nowadays everything has to go quickly and little attention is being paid to a healthy diet,” says Dr Christian Harisch, managing director of the Lanserhof Group.

“We would like to introduce people to healthy cuisine that is very simple to integrate into everyday life.

Our motto is ‘less time for preparation, more time for conscious eating.’” www.lanserhof.com

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Wellness Trends & developments

Rebalancing and rekindling

Save-cation breaks

When Valentine’s Day requires more than roses in a crowded restaurant, couples are turning to spa and wellness locations to help bring them closer together.

“Those who don’t want to give up on their relationship are opting for what’s becoming known as the save-cation,” says Paul Joseph, director of Health and Fitness Travel. “Bookings for couples’ healthy holidays with personalised packages are on the increase as a new way to experience time together and rekindle relationships. These can range from renewing connections while hiking in the Himalayas to relationship counselling or learning new skills such as yoga while exploring new locations.”

Amatara Connect THAILAND: ‘Escape to reconnect’ is a key message at the exotic Amatara Wellness Resort on the island of Phuket in Thailand (right), which focuses on togetherness through a series of healing arts and activities. Therapeutic Thai and Ayurvedic-influenced spa treatments complement workshops that teach couples how to massage each other and use touch to increase their bond, while shared cooking classes and fitness sessions add an element of fun.

The Chateau Couples Wellness Rejuvenation

Ananda Active

Marbella Club De-Stress Emotional Rebalance

MALAYSIA: Created for those seeking to boost their mind, body and soul connections, The Chateau Spa and Organic Wellness Resort offers a relationship rejuvenation programme set in the grounds of a tropical rainforest. It provides new pathways of communication during tailored relationship enhancement counselling together with new experiences such as discovering the surroundings on horseback and taking yoga classes, nature walks and personal training sessions.

INDIA: Adventure hiking in the Himalayas during three personalised guided treks is designed to forge a stronger bond between couples.

Luxury wellness retreat Ananda-in-the-Himalayas, set in India’s mountain foothills, also teaches the subtle energies of yogic practice to help anger management issues, during Pranayama, alongside calming spa treatments, personal fitness in the shape of bootcamps and aqua fitness sessions to reclaim body confidence.

SPAIN: Couples can discover how to manage emotional stress and alleviate the affects it has on their relationship during time spent at the luxurious Marbella Club.

Approaching each person separately, this wellness programme helps couples to rebalance their personal wellbeing to the benefit of their relationship.

Located along the ‘golden mile’ of southern Spain, the itinerary also provides health consultations and emotional coaching sessions.

For more details visit www.healthandfitnesstravel.com

A wellness brainwave at Corinthia UK: Corinthia London has announced a year-long neuroscientist-in-residence programme in collaboration with leadership coach Dr Tara Swart, an award-winning author and senior lecturer at MIT. Developing concepts that encourage mindfulness, balance and positivity, Brain Power Packages will focus on neuro-nutrition, restorative sleep, hydration and exercise – further cementing ESPA Life at Corinthia as a leader in its field.

“This programme will be the first of its kind and ESPA Life at Corinthia is the ideal host for such a ground-breaking offer,” explains Dr Swart.

“There is a strong connection between the brain and the body, and the spa element of the programme will encourage guests to reduce their stress hormone levels. Combined with the brain foods and ‘mocktails’ I have designed, as well as quality sleep courtesy of the hotel’s in-room programme, this will help to build mental resilience and ultimately enable peak brain performance.” www.espalifeatcorinthia.com

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Wellness Trends & developments

Wellbeing Experts We ask Aromatherapy Associates’ chief executive officer Tracey Woodward how the brand’s new power panel of Wellbeing Experts aims to nurture life balance, support self-belief and encourage healthy living for its clients

Miraggio Cleanse Retreat has a personal touch GREECE: The five-star Miraggio Thermal Spa Resort in Halkidiki has partnered with nutritionist Amanda Hamilton to unveil a new 5-Day Cleanse Retreat.

The bespoke journey not only offers guests dietary expertise as well as the benefits of its Myrthia Thermal Spa, which overlooks the Aegean Sea, but also provides a three-month post-retreat follow-up plan for guests once they leave.

Rooted in the belief that personalisation is the key to wellness, bespoke programmes are designed

for guests following one-to-one consultations, and participants are provided with healthy menu options and activities that work to effectively eliminate toxins, rejuvenate the spirit and clear the mind.

With a focus on juice cleansing, the retreat incorporates two hours of daily detox exercise along with Thalasso spa treatments, nutritional guidance and massage therapy. www.miraggio.gr

www.amandahamilton.com

Ti Sana cooks up a ‘healthatarian’ diet philosophy ITALY: Further progressing its original, science-based approach to wellness and diet, Italian detox retreat and spa Ti Sana has developed a new ‘healthatarian’ menu to enhance the effects of its renowned wellness programmes.

“The most important part of designing this menu was to calculate and distribute the food in line with the physiological needs of the body throughout five meals,” says Ti Sana vice-president Mario Sela.

Customised to each guest, the menu is rich in micro-nutrients and enzymes, and maintains the macro traits of Ti Sana’s ‘healthatarian’ philosophy, aiding circadian rhythms with its low-salt, hypocaloric, alkalising and organic properties. www.tisana.com

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What inspired you to create your Wellbeing Experts panel?

We launched Wellbeing Experts because there was a space that needed to be filled.

Everybody wants wellness and solutions to 21st-century living.

As a brand, consumers turn to us in good times for the performance of our products, but also in Tracey Woodward challenging times when they are sleep deprived, lacking energy or just not motivated.

Therefore, we wanted to provide a knowledge base to meet their needs.

Who are your experts and how will they work?

Our goal is to focus not just on how people feel, but also how they think. Using experts in change, we want to offer support to customers of the businesses we supply and also to their staff, through workshops, events and social media.

Our power panel will work across five categories: De-stress – fitness, health and mindfulness coach Nicola Addison; Support – inspirational expert Janet Tarasofsky; Inner Strength – somatic coach Jonathan Ward; Revive – health nutritionist, wellbeing and lifestyle coach Yvonne Wake; and Relax – laughter yoga coach Julie Whitehead.

How will this project benefit spa businesses?

This is about looking after the people who look after the people. I didn’t personally feel that there was anything I could do to improve the oils that Geraldine Howard and Sue Beechey created many years ago.

However, I want to underpin the value of our products by offering ways to help people live better and find balance in their busy lives through education and aromatherapy. I have a duty of care, not just to look after my people and our customers but to also continue with Geraldine’s legacy, building a brand that was founded on truth and kindness. www.aromatherapyassociates.com

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Photos: Center Parcs Aqua Sana, Woburn

HOSPITALITY & LEISURE CONCEPTS SEAMLESS DEVELOPMENTS FROM CONCEPT TO COMPLETION

HLC offers expert advice to all those embarking on any exciting and cuttingedge project in the field of hospitality & leisure, including: spa and wellness facilities; hotel and resort accommodation; food and beverage outlets; retail experiences; indoor and outdoor leisure; infrastructure and landscaping designs.

“We take your aspirations and turn them into reality, across the whole spectrum of hospitality, spa, wellness and leisure developments.”

Don Camilleri HL Concepts

dc@hlconcepts.co.uk | www.hlconcepts.co.uk

Wellness Pure Massage

Beata Aleksandrowicz

The therapist effect

I

nternational massage expert, writer and teacher Beata Aleksandrowicz pioneered Pure Massage in London in 2002, offering a ground-breaking approach to massage research and education.

The Pure Massage Spa Training Method focuses on the emotional wellness of therapists, providing an understanding of touch and spiritual growth, together with techniques for highly effective injury-free massage, key communication skills and self-care routines.

Aleksandrowicz’s 12 Principles of Massage have since informed more than 70,000 treatments worldwide, resulting in service quality improvements and increased revenue.

Pure Massage’s latest partnership, with The Lanesborough Club & Spa in London, will involve intensive training of its new spa team to provide experiences that fuse eastern and western influences with the natural rhythms and self-healing abilities of the body.

We ask Aleksandrowicz why spas should focus more on the emotional wellness of therapists.

Why is massage still so much in demand?

It is the power of touch that makes massage the most requested treatment on the spa menu.

Touch is the mother of all senses, providing a point of belonging, acceptance and being; without it we don’t develop as people.

Massage is an incredible art that enables Beata Aleksandrowicz offers hands-on guidance to a group of trainees at Finolhu in the Maldives

How can we support wellness for therapists?

By acknowledging the unique personal tools they bring to the role – their character, attitude, energy and sense of spirit. These are invaluable assets to be nurtured and respected. The impact of therapists’ wellbeing can affect everything from client engagement to professional performance.

How is the role of therapists changing?

The purpose of spa now goes beyond pampering; people want knowledge and guidance. Therapists are changing from ‘passive providers’ to ‘active advisors’. We must understand the ‘ecology of the mind’ of therapists, and that of everyone in the industry, and change accordingly.

What do you mean by ‘ecology of the mind’?

“We have an obligation to acknowledge the true value of therapists for the good of the guests, businesses and the industry as a whole” Beata Aleksandrowicz , Pure Massage

us to reach a deeper consciousness through touch. It has phenomenal potential to connect and communicate on multiple levels. This is something we ask therapists to strive for with every treatment, which is why their emotional wellness is so vital.

It is about understanding complex connections and real relationships. Spa engagement is expanding on emotional, physical and mental levels – guests have more sophisticated expectations and therapists are using deeper energies to empathise and help them heal.

How can spa operators aid this process?

I don’t believe managers receive enough training in how to work with their teams. Therapists work in treatment rooms with relative strangers for hours at a time, so it’s vital that they feel a part of the bigger picture.

Pure Massage training helps them to develop a deep sense of ‘self’ through life coaching; with self-awareness, self-development and self-care.

Physically, injury-free techniques are crucial, but basic education is not enough. I have met so many therapists who are scared of suffering injury. It is a real issue that needs addressing.

What are your thoughts for the future?

Spas are not factories, although turnover and business success are crucial. We have an obligation to acknowledge the true value of therapists for the good of the guests, businesses and the industry as a whole. A commitment to well-structured, continual training with advanced techniques and ergonomic environments will ensure your team is ready for times ahead.

Anything less is a very short-term view. www.spatraining.global

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Editor’s choice

Bamford unveils its US debut at 1 Hotel Miami

Spencer Fung-designed spa offers an ‘eco-friendly oasis’ inspired by quintessential English countryside

Luxury organic spa and retail brand Bamford has made its American debut at 1 Hotel in South Beach, Miami.

The Bamford Haybarn Spa was designed by architect Spencer Fung around a central relaxation space and offers a quintessentially English aesthetic.

“We brought elements of the English countryside into the heart of this project to put the spa guest in close proximity with Katherine Pye nature,” says Katherine Pye, head of body and spa at Bamford. “Memories of woodland walks are evoked with tree trunks, branches and logs, while wood is the main material for the walls, floor, furniture and and fittings alongside softer elements such as rope, bundles of wicker and linen. The result is a rustic yet contemporary feel.”

The spa offers 12 treatment rooms with beds supplied by Living Earth Crafts and many core design features, such as the furniture and retail area doors, were sourced and made by local craftsmen in the Cotswolds, UK. “With our first spa in America, we’re thrilled to find a partner in 1 Hotel whose philosophy fits hand-in-hand with ours,” says the brand’s founder Carole Bamford. “We’re both passionate about the organic way of life and protecting and safeguarding the environment for future generations.

“All the treatment rooms, the shop and The Woodland Room relaxation space have been inspired by the natural surroundings of Bamford Farm in The Cotswolds.”

www.bamford.co.uk

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www.1hotels.com

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Style Design, form & function

Küng Sauna u Vista

Offering complete transparency and openness with floor-to-ceiling windows, the striking Vista from leading sauna specialist Küng Sauna provides magnificent views from both inside and out.

Seamless glazing is offered on the front panels of the handcrafted corner sauna, while the elegant panelling is available with horizontal or asymmetric stripes in a range of colourways to suit different surrounding decor.

The sauna’s heat is produced by a BIOSA heater and its ambience is enhanced by the inclusion of indirect Charmey LED lights with colours that can be adjusted as desired.

www.kuengsauna.ch/en Technogym q Excite Climb

Wellness company Technogym says its compact new stair climber, Excite Climb, is ideal for both first-time and more advanced users.

With the option to choose programmes of varying intensity according to specific fitness objectives, Excite Climb also features patent-pending Split Step technology, which guarantees that at least three steps are always available during exercise.

Like all other products in the Excite line, the climber integrates with Technogym’s ‘mywellness’ cloud, automatically saving training data to the users’ cloud-based profile, which can then be viewed from UNITY 3.0 consoles and any personal devices.

www.technogym.com

Scrummi p Eco-Spa Linen

Described as a ‘new concept in spa linen’, the Scrummi Spa range of spa and salon textiles is made of totally natural fibres sourced from sustainable forests.

The soft, eco-friendly single-use linen is hypoallergenic and bleach-free, and can be used alongside traditional cotton towels as a comfortable and hygienic layer to protect couch or day bed coverings.

The range includes a spa sheet, body towel, medium towel, hand and face towel, mitt and couch protector.

All the products are recyclable and the majority can also be composted, while their use can reduce the number of cotton products that spas need to launder, thereby saving energy and water usage.

www.scrummispa.com

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Style Design, form & function

Noel Asmar Fashion collection

Retail Focus

Established in 2002 and based in Canada, Noel Asmar specialises in creating design-led spa industry workwear that capitalises on classical tailoring and tactile, luxurious fabrics.

Brought to the UK by leading uniform supplier Grahame Gardner Ltd, this year will see the launch of a premium new fashion line within the Noel Asmar Group lifestyle brands portfolio.

We ask founder and CEO Noel Asmar what inspired the brand’s new collection.

How would you describe your new fashion line?

It is a natural extension of our brand; thoughtfully designed and made for the way you move. Each style is carefully considered, from the cut and fabric to the colour palette and overall aesthetic.

Why have you extended your portfolio in this way?

Adding a women’s fashion collection felt like a natural transition for us and for our clients. The collection speaks to women who are concerned about health and wellness; avid travellers who have a classic, yet distinguished style that comes together effortlessly.

Our spa and wellness partners already understand this woman, and cater to her health and overall wellbeing. We built on this existing relationship by dressing her to feel pampered.

How does the new collection appeal to spas?

The thoughtfulness that goes into every spa treatment is reflected in the care and creativity of our new collection. Effortless designs that emulate the elegance and beauty of the spa; each piece can stand alone or work together for a curated and stylish spa retail opportunity. Our collection of Italian-made handbags and travel accessories are an ideal addition for spa goers and travellers.

What makes Noel Asmar Fashion unique?

Our understanding of the market, paired with years of experience manufacturing premium fashions, offers stylish and contemporary essentials for the spa and wellness industry.

www.noelasmar.com

Kettal u Cala armchair

Majestic u Micro Terry Sarong

www.kettal.com

www.majestictowels.co.uk

Inspired by the iconic film ‘Emanuelle’, the high-backed Cala armchair by Doshi Levien offers a majestic spatial presence with transparent and light surfaces.

The seat frame is made from coated aluminium sections and knitted rope, with an open weave providing a latticed window for visual privacy while maintaining a connection to the natural elements.

A range of coatings, rope colours and cushion fabrics offer options for spas to individually tailor the chair to suit their existing interior or exterior décor.

Suitable for outdoor and interior use, the chair is available in two options of teak legs or an aluminium pedestal base.

www.europeanspamagazine.com

Following the success of its Micro Terry Bath Robes, Majestic has expanded its range with the launch of a new Micro Terry Sarong.

The advanced dual layer fabric is woven into a single material for superior comfort and durability.

The outer material is a luxurious, supersoft Micro Fleece while the inner material provides exceptional absorbency by carrying moisture away from the client’s skin.

The advanced fabric design of the Micro Terry range also gives superior drying times of up to 35% faster than traditional towelling and velour alternatives. Furthermore, it allows for washing/drying temperatures as low as 30 degrees for additional energy savings.

Available in white and grey, the sarong can be used for a variety of treatments as well as offered as an alternative to bath robes for guests desiring a cooler, lighter weight option.

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Style Design, form & function

Jumeirah and Iluminage’s youthful sleep

Style Focus

London’s luxury Jumeirah Carlton Tower hotel has launched an exclusive anti-ageing package combining a spa therapy and bespoke cuisine with a copper-infused sleeping experience.

Created to help guests feel and look younger, the package includes a 90-minute SKEYNDOR Kobido and Global Lift Facial in the hotel’s rooftop Peak Health Club & Spa as well as a skin-boosting breakfast-in-bed specially created by the hotel’s executive head chef Simon Young.

Skin-rejuvenating pillowcases from luxury beauty brand Iluminage are also incorporated into the treatment package. Specially woven with copper-oxide fibres, the satin-soft pillowcases are said to promote the growth of proteins that help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and are given to the guests to take home at the end of their stay.

“We are delighted to be able to extend our anti-ageing skincare offering at The Peak Health Club & Spa to include this unique stay experience,” says Jumeirah Carlton Tower’s director of leisure, Hugh Murphy. “With both brands sitting at the cutting edge of beauty and skincare technology, Iluminage’s skin-rejuvenating pillowcase perfectly complements the SKEYNDOR range of advanced anti-ageing facials.”

www.jumeirah.com Bossini p Syncronia

From Italian shower equipment manufacturer Bossini comes the elegant and ultra-modern Syncronia line of products.

Featuring clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic to highlight the elegance of its form, the range includes the Doccia Handshower with a matching shower rail; the Syncro stainless steel shower head; and the Syncro-Neb, with a rotary control that allows the user to select three different jet modes.

A particularly innovative feature of the Doccia handshower is its toggle function, whereby a simple button movement switches between different water jets including wide rain, massage and concentrated rain. The shower jets can also be combined to further personalise the shower experience and it is also equipped with a regulator to calibrate the water’s flow rate, as well as an impurity filter to ensure maximum jet fluidity and effectiveness.

www.bossini.it

Gharieni t MLX Quartz Fragrance

A new fragrance function has been added to Gharieni’s MLX Quartz treatment bed.

With four, integrated scent chambers utilising high-grade essential oils, the fragrance function is easy to use via a simple control display.

Guests can choose an individual scent or combine up to four other diverse fragrances while enjoying their treatment on the warm quartz sand bed.

Manufactured from natural wood, the MLX Quartz is fitted with two lifting columns to adjust height and inclination, and can also include an optional cushion covering for performing massages.

The continuously adjustable heating system of the table ensures guests experience lasting relaxation thanks to its smooth and lasting heat emission.

The bed is also available in Quartz Gold with shimmering golden sand, as well as with gemstones including energising amethyst, stabilising rock crystal, vitalising Carneol or harmonising rose quartz.

www.gharieni.com

Every issue of European Spa showcases the best in spa equipment design, textiles and furnishings.

Contact Style editor Sarah Todd on +44 (0) 115 950 4748 or email sarah.todd@spapublishing.com

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We deliver, just tell us where.

With offices in the UK and mainland China, we are uniquely placed to source, manage and deliver the widest selection of furniture, fixtures, equipment and on going consumables wherever you need across the world.

To explore how we can add value to your next spa project please email spapartner@ellisons.co.uk or call us on +44 (0)24 7636 9114.

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saunas steam rooms and more...

mr sauna

T: +44 0 1423 568794 E: saunas@mr-sauna.co.uk www.mrsauna.co.uk @mrsauna011 Copthall Bridge House Station Bridge Harrogate HG11SP

Between the covers

We connect you with the best brands serving the spa and wellness sector.

This issue of European Spa features the latest expertise, news and developments from: Alexander Rose 44 All4Spas 77 Amala 22 Antonio Citterio 24 Aromatherapy Associates 17, 22, 94 Artistic Gloss 49 Babor 28 Bamford 23, 99 Barr + Wray 23, 67 BC Softwear 85 Beauty Düsseldorf 2017 27 Biologique Recherche 73, 77, 86 Book4Time 43 Boots 26 Bossini 102 Butterscotch Design 31 Carita 45, 81, 88 Castle Fine Art 54 Caudalie 06, 62, 80 Champneys 26 Chantelle 44 Clarins 10, 22, 80, 92 Clodagh 50 CND 46, 39, 81 Collingwood 44 [comfort zone] 18, 22, 80 Cosmoprof 2017 25 Cowshed 30 Curveline 39 DaleSauna 69 Decléor 26, 60, 84, 88 Delilah 23 Delos Living 72 Eisenberg Paris 86 Elemis 08, 24, 26, 28, 39, 82, OBC Ellisons 54, 103

Equinox Design 52 ESL 44 ESPA International 04, 22, 26, 28, 77, 80, 93 FurnishPro 50 Gable Design 23 Gaia Spa 54 Germaine de Capuccini 23 Gharieni 44, 98, 102 Global Wellness Summit 70, 90 Healing Summit 2017 33 HL Concepts 44, 95 Homestead Interiors 23 ila 76 Illuminage 102 Intraceuticals 82 Jessica 26, 55, 54, 84 John Preston Pools 44 Kerstin Florian 15, 84 Kettal 101 Küng Sauna 100 Kurland 23 L’Occitane International 24 L’Oreal 88 LB Therapies 23 Lefay Spa 82 Leisure Property Services UK 30 Lemi 78 Living Earth Crafts 99 Lutron 44 Majestic 83, 101 marocMaroc 22 Medical Spa & Wellness Group 39, 41 Mii Cosmetics 26, 51 Mizani 88 Moroccan Tan 87 Morgan Taylor 49

Mr & Mrs Smith 106 Mr Sauna 104 Music Concierge 49 Natural Spa Factory 86 Noel Asmar 101 Oakworks 107 OPI 52, 53 Patricia Viel Interiors 24 Phytomer 81 Pure Alchemy 39 Pure Massage 96 Pureology 88 Redken 88 REM 49, 52, 54 Repêchage 84 Resources for Leisure Assets 30 Salt of The Earth 49 Sanitas Skincare 77 Scentered 82 Scrummi 100 Searchlight 54 Skinade 77 Spa Vision 23 Sparcstudio 103 SPArticulate 39 SPATEC Europe 2017 29 Stas Doyer Hydrotherapie 65 Technogym 97, 100 Thalgo 01, 79 The Organic Pharmacy 50 The Red Door 77 Treatwell 13 Two Bunch Palms 77 Voya 34, 77, 81 Wellness for Cancer 77 Ytsara 84

To discuss any bespoke advertising requirements, please contact the sales team at European Spa, T: +44 (0) 115 950 4748.

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Last Word Tamara Lohan, Mr & Mrs Smith

A digital antidote Tamara Lohan MBE, co-founder of online boutique hotel booking website Mr & Mrs Smith, believes that spas play an important role in an increasingly connected world

UK customers, who make up 60% of our 1.5 million members, is for ‘a spa break within two hours of London’.

People are looking for something that takes them away from the norm – hotels with a sense of place that offer more than a beautiful bedroom – and we are seeing a real yearning for personalised experiences.

Internationally, we are seeing a huge demand for indulgent spa treatments, such as the onsen at Aman Spa, Amanemu hotel in Ise-Shima National Park, Japan, current holder of the ‘Most Spoiling Spa’ award in our Mr & Mrs Smith Hotel Awards. Previous European hotels to be shortlisted include Corinthia Hotel London and Dormy House Hotel & Spa in the Cotswolds. Also meeting these criteria for customers are: Tri, a new breed of sustainable luxury hotel on Sri Lanka’s Lake Koggala; Selman in Marrakech, Morocco with its labyrinthine stone sanctuary; and Entre Cielos in Mendoza, Argentina, which has the first traditional hamman in Latin America.

The way forward

“People are looking for something that takes them away from the norm – hotels with a sense of place that offer more than a beautiful bedroom – and we are seeing a real yearning for personalised experiences.”

D

uring my speech at the 2016 Spa Life conference I shared the story of how a spa experience helped drive the concept of Mr & Mrs Smith, launched with my husband, James (pictured), back in 2003.

Being invited to talk to an international audience of spa professionals was a thrill and also an indication of the connection between the evolution of spas and hotels. I believe spas have a huge part to play in our digital age as they are viewed as an antidote to the stress-related problems we face.

Couples booking through Mr & Mrs Smith are now looking for places that provide an extra element of experience – it is becoming more acceptable for people to admit they are stressed and the burgeoning wellness arena provides an essential escape. Indeed, wellness is driving online bookings for Mr & Mrs Smith – the number one request we receive from

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At Mr & Mrs Smith, we aim to combine the hi-tech with a high-touch approach in order to increase guest satisfaction.

In response to demand from our customers, we are now collaborating with The School of Life, which provides workshops for guests to develop emotional intelligence and learn the skills to build long-lasting relationships.

Elsewhere, I love the new trend for guest healers at spas as it keeps their offer fresh. Also, there is a real buzz, certainly in London, about salons – in the traditional sense of the word – where people gather to hear a speaker. I think that taking this into spas and hotels is a great way to engage guests and make their stay a little bit more special.

Digital detox is another popular trend at the moment, but as a mum who runs her own business, total disconnection would actually make me anxious, although I totally agree with disconnecting for set periods of time.

These days people want to be able to trust and feel looked after and there is a real role for hotels and spas here – our industry touches the guest in a thousand different ways, so to those that get it right, hats off to you!

Meet the expert Technology strategist and marketing entrepreneur Tamara Lohan is responsible for evolving the digital infrastructure of Mr & Mrs Smith, which currently endorses a collection of more than 1,000 hotels in 81 countries, all of them reviewed anonymously. The brand has offices in London, New York, Los Angeles and Singapore. In 2014, co-founders Tamara and James Lohan were awarded MBEs for services to the British travel industry. www.mrandmrssmith.com

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TM

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Vice President of U.S. Business Development Spa & Massage

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