The spa and wellness industry is mourning the loss of Sharilyn Abbajay, honoured industry veteran and consultant who died recently.
With more than 45 years' experience in operations, brand development, strategy, retail and innovation, Abbajay devoted her professional life to the spa and beauty industry.
Her experience included two years as VP of global spa, retail and fitness operations for Marriott International and time as senior VP of Elizabeth Arden's Red Door Spa operations. She also ran her own consultancy, Abbajay and Associates, providing strategy and operations advice to a diverse portfolio of clients.
More recently, she had senior COO roles in the plastic surgery market.
Abbajay played a crucial role in the growth of the International Spa
Association (ISPA), writing textbooks for the association, serving on the board and giving lectures on the institution's behalf. Her commitment was honoured in 2015 with a Dedicated Contributor Award.
Lynne McNees, president of ISPA, said: "Sharilyn was not only
an exceptional leader and former ISPA board member, but also a dear friend to so many, always sharing her passion for the spa industry with warmth and generosity. Her love for what she did touched countless lives and she will be deeply missed".
Prof Mark Moss proves scents affect the brain
Neil Orvay outlines plans for new contract
■ Sharilyn Abbajay was one of the leading founders of the spa sector
spa business people
Neil Orvay's Sense of Touch to operate spa at The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong
Asian spa operations company, Sense of Touch, has partnered with The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong to deliver treatments at the property’s newly rebranded Sense of Touch Southside spa.
Sense of Touch brings with it a client base of more than 50,000 people, including those local to the hotel and the city’s Southern District.
Sense of Touch’s CEO, Neil Orvay, told Spa Business: "Sense of Touch has established such a strong client base, having operated a day spa at upmarket leisure destination The Repulse Bay, also in the South Side, for 15 years."
When asked how Sense of Touch would boost business for
Inspired by wine culture, treatments will use resveratrol-rich products by Natural Benefits
Diana Mestre
Sense
of Touch brings 23 years of local experience to The
Fullerton
Neil Orvay
The Fullerton, Orvay added: “By reopening on the South Side, we will be able to service these clients again at a destination location of the highest quality.
"Sense of Touch brings 23 years of local spa and wellness knowledge and experience to The Fullerton," Orvay added. "Over time, we shall introduce both technical and treatment innovations to position Sense of Touch South Side at the Fullerton to be Hong Kong's number one spa location!"
The new therapies using advanced technology will include the introduction of LPG’s Cellu M6 Infinity. The device offers a range of firming and anti-ageing treatments.
MORE >>> http://lei.sr/5d7x8_B
Diana Mestre and daughter design Pueblo Bonito spa and wellness centre
Pueblo Bonito Resorts will launch a luxury property and spa under its new brand, Pueblo Bonito Vantage, in the Mexican city of San Miguel de Allende in September.
Consultancy Mestre y Mestre Spa and Wellness, led by Diana Mestre (pictured on the left) and her daughter Diana Mestre Jr (on the right), has designed the wellness facilities.
A spa, wellness centre for advanced tech therapies and fitness centre are located in a
series of standalone buildings around a 237sq m botanical garden, adjacent to the hotel lobby.
The 768sq m Aromátika Spa is inspired by the local wine culture. It will have two single treatment rooms, one couple’s room and a VIP suite.
The spa menu will also offer vinotherapy treatments using an exclusive signature skincare range developed by Natural Benefits.
The 126sq m Aromátika Wellness Centre is a space for more advanced and technological treatments.
MORE >>> http://lei.sr/7A9k6_B
PHOTO: DENISE PONTAK
Robin Ruiz
Robin Ruiz's WITT and WTA launch wellness standards
WITT (Wellness in Travel and Tourism) and the Wellness Tourism Association (WTA), which are both owned by Robin Ruiz, have partnered to launch a set of measurable wellness benchmarks and a certification process for hotels around the world.
The new initiative, called Core Wellness Standards for Hotels, has been developed with guidance from experts in hospitality, fitness, nutrition, sustainability and travel from WITT’s Standards Advisory Committee.
The standards offer hotels targets and certification to give travellers confidence that wellness offerings have been independently verified.
The standards are built around five essential pillars: healthy eating, holistic healing, nature, movement and local impact.
Robin Ruiz said: “This collaboration between the Wellness Tourism Association and WITT brings a longoverdue level of clarity to the wellness tourism space."
Robin Ruiz
Robin Ruiz's two organisations have partnered to launch Core Wellness Standards for Hotels
The Chancery Rosewood
Guests can now stay at the transformed former US embassy, in the luxury hotel and its Asaya Spa
SPA BUSINESS INSIGHTS
Modern Roman recreation
Studio Apostoli reveals designs for a thermal bathing park in Italy, inspired by ancient Roman rituals
Jungle gym
Four Seasons Resort Bali has opened its new Fitness Hub, complete with extensive recovery facilities
Aromatherapy proof
Prof Mark Moss of Northumbria University's psychology department reveals brain science behind aromatherapy
Supplier news
The latest in products and innovation from Subtle Energies, La Prairie, Trybe, Seed to Skin and Sodashi
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spa business news
The Chancery Rosewood opens in former US Embassy London
The Chancery Rosewood has opened its doors, revealing the luxury hotel and Asaya Spa that took four years to develop inside the former US Embassy in London’s Mayfair district, UK.
Redeveloped by Qatari Diar Europe LLP, the Grade II-listed property has been reimagined with 114 suites by David Chipperfield and David Chipperfield Architects. It was originally designed in 1960 by Finnish American architect Eero Saarinen. The property's interior design is by Joseph Dirand.
The 1,119sq m subterranean Asaya Spa has been designed by
DEVELOPMENT
Yabu Pushelberg and is open all week between 8am and 9pm. It has five treatment rooms, a sauna, steamroom, relaxation areas and a 25-metre swimming pool.
Treatments in the spa will be delivered using skincare products and protocols by EviDenS de Beauté, MoodsPro. Neuroaromatics spa brand MoodsPro debuts the Asaya Spa, exclusively available in London at this location.
Aesthetics therapies will be on offer at what Rosewood is calling the first hotel clinic of its kind - The Taktouk Clinic at The Chancery Rosewood.
MORE >>> http://lei.sr/k8Q9T_B
The Sanctuary spa to launch at Wilderness safari properties
Simply being in the wild becomes a form of healing in itself
Alexandra Margull, Wilderness COO
Conservation and hospitality company, Wilderness, which specialises in safari camps and lodges, will unveil a new spa called The Sanctuary at two of its most luxurious properties, Wilderness Bisate in Rwanda and Wilderness Mombo property in Botswana. Both will open in December.
Wilderness operates 60 camps in eight African countries, all of which are due to adopt a more deeply embedded concept of wellness across its portfolio as it seeks to evolve the guest experience.
■ The property's eagle sculpture remains
The Chancery Rosewood is set to provide an exceptional new experience in London Magdy Abdelaty, Director of Wellness
■ The Sanctuary spas will both open in December
The Sanctuary is a new space for guests to ground themselves, re-centre and unwind.
The Sanctuary at Wilderness Bisate and Wilderness Mombo will each have four treatment rooms, one of which will be a double.
MORE >>> http://lei.sr/6P6V8_B
EXPANSION
Rigs Recovery expands with third site
Rigs Recovery, an operator of contrast therapy-focused sports recovery centres in Australia has opened its third and largest location in Currumbin on the outskirts of Gold Coast in Queensland.
Ayres Consultancy, a management consultancy, worked with Rigs Recovery to scale and deliver the new 344sq m site. The two existing centres are in Gold Coast’s suburbs, Palm Beach (measuring 184sq m) and Bundall (ranging 232sq m).
Rigs Recovery wanted to ensure the longevity of the centres and
PROGRAMMING
JA Manafaru offers epigenetics detox spa programmes
JA Manafaru, a five-star hotel in the Maldives, is hosting two programmes focused on mindfulness and detoxification.
The programmes, which last either five, seven or 10 days, are called Detox and Reset and Mindful Journey.
The Detox and Reset programme includes spa treatments, mindful rituals and nutrition based on epigenetic testing prior to arrival.
A spokesperson for JA Manafaru told Spa Business that the noninvasive epigenetic test involves guests sending a hair follicle sample to a specialist laboratory in Germany. The researchers generate a 36-page
This facility will serve as a cornerstone for the company's expansion
Ryan
Ayres, MD, Ayres Consulting
offer the most cutting-edge and complete experiences for guests.
The space is mainly occupied by plunge pools of different temperatures with varying concentrations of magnesium.
The
leading resorts
Rita
Gupta, director of spa, JA Manafaru
report per guest, to inform bespoke nutritional plans during the retreat.
The price for the five day ‘Detox and Reset’ starts at US$1,538 (€1,323, £1,138) per night.
DESIGNED FOR EVERY BODY EVERY EXPERIENCE
SPA FUSION FLOW
Multi-functional for manicures, pedicures, massages and facials
The New Thermal Park is both a continuation of the area’s history and a projection of the future of wellness tourism
Alberto
Apostoli, founder, Studio Apostoli
Modern Roman recreation
A thermal spring spa park in Italy has been designed by Studio Apostoli to be a global wellness tourism destination
Studio Apostoli has designed a thermal bathing complex called New Thermal Park in Civitavecchia, Italy, next to the ruins of a Roman bathhouse site – Terme Taurine – as part of a project to revitalise the Lazio region.
The land is owned by Terme dei Papi SpA, a company that has a thermal bathing site of the same name in Viterbo, also in the Lazio region. Terme dei Papi has been operated by the Sensi family since 1993.
The New Thermal Park is set to attract an international clientele to both the new privately-owned facility and the publicly-owned archaeological site next-door.
The development will be marketed as a high-profile destination for wellness tourism, taking advantage
■ The bathing journey takes guests through four Roman-era-inspired areas: Mare Nostrum, Eastern Provinces, The Great North and Imperial Rome
ALL PHOTOS: STUDIO APOSTOLI
Visitors can relive the experiences and emotions stirred by ancient bathing culture, reinterpreted for the contemporary era
of Civitavecchia’s port and its 3.5 million annual visitor arrivals.
Design
The New Thermal Park ranges across approximately 26,000sq m and will feature a large outdoor area with three terraces that follow the land’s natural contours. There will also be a complex that revitalises a historic rural structure known as Casale dei Bagni.
A total of 14 pools, will have a footprint of 1,440sq m, with the water sourced from natural thermal springs. Prefabricated construction elements will be used to reduce environmental impact and accelerate the building schedule.
The visitor experience
Visitors will start the bathing journey in Mare Nostrum, the first of four
Roman-inspired areas, . This journey begins in the Casale dei Bagni and will be linked to the upper terrace by a pergola. It will have 32ºC thermal pools and a leisure zone.
In the Eastern Provinces zone, there will be a series of pools of varying temperatures and salinity for relaxation. Surrounding these, guests will find circular structures inspired by those associated with the Oracle of Delphi, as well as hammams, lounge spaces and relaxation areas.
The Great North area will be dedicated to contrast therapy, with a Kneipp circuit, panoramic Finnish sauna, plus cold and hot plunge pools.
The final section will be called Imperial Rome and in homage to Roman grandeur, the space will have thermal and non-thermal pools, multi-level waterfalls and a lounge bar.
■ The park will be built in neutraltoned materials to avoid disrupting bird migration routes. More than 500 native trees will be planted
■ The park will range across 26,000sq m, with 14 thermal pools
■ There are three outdoor plunge pools of di erent temperatures for recovery
Jungle gym
A new Fitness Hub is located high above the Ayung River at Four Seasons Bali, with panoramic views of the rainforest
Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan in Ubud, Indonesia, has unveiled a new Fitness Hub, almost year after the property launched its redesigned Sacred River Spa at Sayan.
The new 536sq m fitness centre is located high above the Ayung River, with panoramic views of the jungle.
Training and recovery combined
The hub has a range of training modalities and recovery therapies,
with facilities on o er including a gym, measuring 75sq m, with equipment by Prima Fit Indonesia and Life Fitness.
There's also a private gym, a pilates studio, consultation room, lounge and reception.
A separate recovery room houses an ice bath by Age In Reverse, a steamroom, sauna and zero-gravity lounger with infrared technology, as well as a PEMF mat by HealthyLine.
Three 30sq m plunge pools are located outdoors, with the water
set to a di erent temperature: warm, hot and ambient.
The changing rooms each have their own steamroom and sauna, supplied by Indonesian manufacturer Mimba Jaya.
Additional facilities include a boutique, selling sportswear and other equipment, as well as a Fit Bar for drinks and food to fuel workouts and assist recovery. These include snacks, such as protein bars, kombucha and sugar-free cookies.
Pricing
Access to the main gym is free, but there are charges for access to the recovery facilities, Pilates studio and the private gym, which accommodates two guests at a time for a more personalised experience.
A 90-minute guided contrast therapy and breathwork session in the recovery suite – using the ice bath, steamroom and zero-gravity lounger – costs IDR2,500,000 (US$153, €130, £117).
■ The Fitness Hub's gym is free to access but there are charges for using the other studios and recovery facilities
Fitness Hub is designed to support your mind and body. It's perfect for unwinding, detoxing, and recovering after your workout
A 30-minute self-paced hydrotherapy session, with access to the steamroom and ice bath, costs IDR1,000,000 (US$61, €52, £46).
Personal trainers and specialists in yoga are available for tailored sessions. Luisa Anderson, regional director of spa for Four Seasons in Asia Pacific told Spa Business: “Fitness Hub is a complete space, designed to support mind and body. It’s perfect for unwinding, detoxing, and recovering after a workout.” ●
spa business opinion
Aromatherapy should be a complementary intervention in a truly integrated healthcare system
Professor Mark Moss, head of the department of Psychology, University of Northumbria, UK
The power of aroma
Aromatherapy meets neuroscience at the Brain Performance Research Centre
Aromas have been used in human rituals, therapeutic practices and everyday life since before written records began, yet the profession faces the ongoing challenges of being seen as unscientific folk medicine or similar.
When French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé coined the term ‘aromatherapy’ in 1937, he effectively named a new discipline – creating a category within which a wide range of practitioners could gather, work and find identity.
■ Prof Moss tested new spa brand MoodsPro's aromas in his lab
Today, millions of people practice aromatherapy in an industry estimated to be worth US$15 billion (€12.8 billion, £11.1 billion) a year by 2030.
Evidence is changing attitudes
Scientists from the fields of medicine, psychology, biology, pharmacology and neuroscience are finally turning their attention to rigorous investigations of the potential therapeutic benefits of the aromas of essential oils.
The neuroscience is clear: the inhalation of aromas of essential oils changes the pattern of electrical signalling between nerve cells in the brain. This means purportedly sedative aromas, such as lavender, increase signalling associated with sleep. Arousing aromas such as rosemary, increase signalling associated with alert states of mind.
Cognitive effects
The brain is a particularly greedy organ, using around 20 per cent of the body's energy production at rest, despite only accounting for about 2 per cent of the body’s weight.
■ Aromatherapy interventions can reduce cortisol levels
Data recently collected in our lab has shown that aromas of essential oils can increase energy utilisation when completing challenging cognitive tasks, while improving performance on those tasks.
Some of the compounds in essential oils have also been assessed for neurochemical activity and affect levels of biochemical signalling between neurons in areas of the brain linked to memory.
Stress and anxiety
Social anxiety and stress are linked to the level and daily variation of a number of hormones, particularly cortisol and aromatherapists often help people with stress and anxiety, with a growing body of research supporting the efficacy of these approaches.
Our research has shown that aromatherapy interventions can reduce cortisol levels and rebalance the daily cycle of cortisol after a two-week treatment regimen.
A major proposition of aromatherapists worldwide is that essential oils work together in synergy, producing a whole that is greater
Modern scientific investigation is slowly catching up with thousands of years of aromatherapy practice
than the sum of its parts. Evidence from our lab supports this when the blending is purposeful and evidence-based.
Data indicate the aroma of some blends, such as those we've tested by spa brand MoodsPro, outperform single oil aromas in studies of cognitive performance, attention, anxiety and stress.
http://lei.sr/u6L9j
In conclusion, aromatherapy should not be considered as a panacea or a replacement for modern medicine. Rather it should be widely recognised as an complementary intervention in a truly integrated healthcare system. ●
Professor Mark Moss is head of the department of psychology and a founding member of the Brain Performance and Nutrition Research Centre at Northumbria University. More: www.spabusiness.com/MMoss
Fitness, health, wellness
Fitness, health, wellness
Excitement is building for the new all-keynote HCM Summit 2025 from Spa Business magazine and HCM magazine.
The event will bring together a powerful lineup of speakers to share insights and experience, with a focus on business success and innovation.
You’ll go away inspired and informed, with ideas to implement in your professional life, as well as valuable contacts and access to best practice to drive your success as we head into 2026.
In addition to the summit talks, a carefully curated exhibition will showcase the latest innovations, while summit networking events, including the After Party, hosted by Les Mills, will give the opportunity to make new contacts and do business.
All this, along with product sampling, book signings and activations make the summit a powerful and useful event for the sector.
Liz Terry HCM editor and CEO of Leisure Media
SUPPLIER NEWS
Suppliers tell Spa Business insider about their latest product, design and technology launches
■ Booking data from Trybe's platform is plugged into Revinate's system to expand guest profiles with preferences
Trybe integrates into booking platform Revinate for enhanced customer insights
Spa and leisure booking platform Trybe has integrated its service with direct booking platform Revinate to help hospitality clients understand the guest decision-making process and generate revenue.
Booking data from Trybe’s platform is plugged into Revinate’s system, enhancing guest profiles with preferences and insights that go beyond those related to accommodation.
This integration allows hotels to understand what specific guests are looking for and to
tailor their promotions and engagements accordingly.
The real-time syncing between the two platforms eliminates the need for manual data handling, which can boost hotels’ operational efficiency.
More relevant and personalised communication with guests, based on these combined in-depth insights, can also foster stronger guest loyalty.
Ricky Daniels, Trybe co-founder, said, “Trybe and Revinate’s integration is streamlining essential operations, empowering hotels to deliver even more exceptional guest experiences across the
■ Ricky Daniels, co-founder, Trybe
hospitality industry, all from one easy-to-access platform.”
Dan Hang, president and COO for Revinate, added, “We’re thrilled hoteliers can see a unified view of their guest data." MORE ON spa-kit.net
PHOTO: TRYBE/ REVINATE
PHOTO: TRYBE
SUPPLIER NEWS
Subtle Energies introduces Alpine Body Blends infused with mountain plant extracts
Aromatherapy brand Subtle Energies has introduced two new massage formulas, infused with plant extracts from highaltitude regions in North America and Europe, called Alpine Body Blends. The blends have been crafted to deliver benefits on a cellular level for the body, mind and the soul.
■ Nick Irani, director of operations and brand development, Subtle Energies
The active ingredients within the new oils have been sourced from alpine and mountain wildernesses and include Swiss pine, sweet thyme and Angelica root. Wild juniper has also been distilled using glacial waters.
Both blends can be applied via a thin layer all over the body or in targeted areas, such as the nape of the neck, naval or feet.
The Alpine Detox Massage Blend provides an uplifting and invigorating experience during treatments. This solution has been designed for clients seeking to cleanse and revitalise their skin naturally. It is also used in therapies to assist with detoxification.
La Prairie unveils Pure Gold Revitalising Essence
Swiss skincare company La Prairie has revealed its Pure Gold Revitalising Essence.
The Essence is a soothing formula that joins the company’s densifying and nourishing Pure Gold collection for age-related hormonal changes that affect the skin.
The new solution is designed to treat extreme dryness, density loss, dullness, age spots and uneven skin – all of which the brand says are the result of a decline in oestrogen levels and lack of peptide synthesis as people age.
Dr Jacqueline Hill, director of strategic innovation and science at La Prairie, said: “The decline in oestrogen that affects women at various stages of their lives leads to many different negative
■ Active ingredients have been sourced from high altitude regions
The Alpine Calming Massage Blend features a rare quality of rose oil, lavender and cedarwood – all of which are known for their soothing effects on the skin.
MORE ON spa-kit.net
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■ The formula has soothing and hydrating properties
consequences, particularly during menopause. These include thinner skin and impaired barrier function.
"This is why we developed a revitalising essence with soothing and comforting benefits,” said Hill.
MORE ON spa-kit.net
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■ Dr Jacqueline Hill
Seed to Skin to create medi-spa products with cosmetics doctor
Skincare company Seed to Skin Tuscany has partnered with cosmetics and aesthetics practitioner Dr Arthur Swift to develop new formulations for medi-spas and educational programmes for professionals.
Dr Swift joins the company as an investor, board member and research partner. His experience as a plastic surgeon will be leveraged to advance Seed to Skin’s bioactive compounds to deliver the most effective results.
Already rooted in biotechnological innovation, Seed to Skin will develop products with Dr Swift that are designed to be used in professional medical spa skincare settings.
Jeanette Thottrup, founder of Seed to Skin, said, “Dr Swift’s depth of clinical knowledge: how skin heals, reacts and thrives at a biological level, gives us access to insights we’ve never had before. His career has exposed him to the most advanced skincare innovations in the world.”
■ L-R
Swift said: “In an era of quick fixes, Seed to Skin has proven that nature, when harnessed with scientific precision, can rival even the most advanced skinenhancing innovations. My work has been about enhancing the skin’s innate vitality, never masking it.”
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Sodashi appoints Caroline Johnston as CEO for global expansion
Caroline Johnston has joined Australian brand Sodashi Skincare as CEO. Johnston will leverage her experience in global leadership roles across Europe, America and Australasia in luxury fashion, jewellery and bridal markets to expand Sodashi’s presence worldwide.
Founder Megan Larsen has appointed Johnston to lead the brand into a new chapter of growth, while remaining true to the company’s commitment to holistic wellbeing.
Johnston will grow the brand’s footprint in hotel spas, retail spa lounges and direct to customer online retail channels.
Johnston has worked in strategic consultancy and established companies across a range of industries and cultures. She returns to her home town of Perth after working overseas for the past eight years.
Johnston told Spa Business, “Despite being stocked in 22 countries and the most prestigious spa destinations, our story has remained relatively quiet. That changes now. It’s time to fully embrace what it means to be artisan, to be truly unique."
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Jeanette Thottrup, founder, Dr Arthur Swift, Anna Buonocore, co-founder of Seed to Skin
■ Caroline Johnston will expand Sodashi's presence worldwide
WEB ADDRESS BOOK
Connect with spa organisations from around the world. We welcome your entries – write to spateam@leisuremedia.com
Asia-Pacific Spa & Wellness
Coalition (APSWC)
■ www.apswc.org
Association of Malaysian Spas (AMSPA)
■ www.amspa.org.my
Australian Hot and Mineral Springs Alliance
■ www.bathing.org
Bali Spa and Wellness Association
■ www.balispaandwellnessassociation.id
Bulgarian Union for Balneology and Spa Tourism (BUBSPA)
■ www.bubspa.org
Association of Spas of the Czech Republic
■ www.jedemedolazni.cz
Day Spa Association
■ https://dayspaassociation.com
Estonian Spa Association
■ www.estonianspas.eu
European Historic Thermal Towns Association
■ www.historicthermaltowns.eu
European Spas Association
■ www.europeanspas.eu
Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT)
■ www.fht.org.uk
Federterme
■ www.federterme.it
FEMTEC (the World Federation of Hydrotherapy and Climatotherapy)
