Business News & industry developments
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como reopens ITALY: Following an extensive renovation, Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como has reopened, along with its 1,300sqm spa. Surrounded by rolling hills, the lakeside property, located in Blevio, features the 19th century Villa Roccabruna at its heart, with 21 bedrooms, 52 suites and two private, standalone villas. Interior designer Eric Egan was tasked with combining ‘a sense of modern Italian elegance’ and ‘subtle Oriental charm’ to both the hotel’s accommodation and its spa. The Spa at Mandarin Oriental provides four private suites and a distinctive selection of heat and water experiences supplied by Starpool, including a 16m outdoor swimming pool, a heated indoor pool and a beauty studio. Technogym has equipped the fitness centre and treatments will use Aromatherapy Associates products for protocols delivered on beds by Lemi. The spa menu also includes Mandarin Oriental’s signature spa therapies. For the exterior spaces, leading Italian landscape designer Patrizia Pozzi used materials that referred to the neoclassical elements of the original villa and gardens, which are home to a variety of plants, trees and flowers. www.mandarinoriental.com
Champneys Charity Gala Ball raises £300,000 for Cancer Research UK
BC Softwear moves to new HQ
UK: The recent Champneys Charity Ball, which took place at the London Marriott Hotel on March 14, raised more than £300,000 (€342,000) in aid of Cancer Research UK. Attended by a wealth of celebrities, sportspeople and special guests, including Cherie and Tony Blair (below right) Lydia Bright and Denise van Outen (bottom right), the event was organised by the Champneys health spa group. Pictured below left with co-owner Dorothy Purdew, OBE, Stephen Purdew said: “The total raised is an incredible achievement. Our thanks go out to all our celebrity friends, sponsors and the Champneys team, as without them it would not have been possible.” www.champneys.com
UK: Leading luxury textiles supplier BC Softwear has moved to new premises in Berkshire to help facilitate its large volumes of stock and further improve its customer service. Since the company’s launch in 2002, it has grown to employ 24 staff in the UK and Turkey, currently supplying spa linen, luxury towels and bathrobes to more than 12,000 customers across five continents, with further plans for international Elaine McDonald distributors in 2019. The large property in Maidenhead includes a new showroom and ample car parking, while the warehouse has been fitted with PSI sensors to reduce energy usage and where possible use natural daylight. There is also an improved embroidery room with additional space for a dedicated sewing room, and a fresh air system has been installed in the office space to encourage staff health and wellbeing. Strengthening the team, Elaine McDonald has become the company’s business development manager in Scotland. Previously at Ellison’s for 18 years, McDonald said: “I’m extremely excited to have joined the team at BC Softwear. I’m already enjoying introducing new customers to the vast range of products we offer and providing ongoing support to our existing customers.” www.bcsoftwear.co.uk
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