FAMILY SPA

Schloss Elmau Krün, Germany / opened: 2015

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t Germany’s Schloss Elmau – which bills itself as a ‘luxury spa retreat and cultural hideaway’ – families often visit each year with multiple generations, and the cultural programming and spa accessibility extends to all ages. Three of the spas are aimed at families, including the Shantigiri Family Spa, which has an outdoor lap pool, seven treatment rooms, gym, spa lounge and restaurant; and the Family Spa at the Hideaway, which includes an indoor lap pool, five saunas and steam baths, a relaxation area and tea lounge. Treatments for children and teenagers are available, but there are also three separate

adults-only spas, and even silent areas just for adults. “This strict separation enables high-quality service for all different age groups,” says Johannes Mikenda, director of spa and sport. Additionally, Schloss Elmau’s Edutainment Workshops, designed and run by artists, authors and educators, go far beyond a traditional kids club, to include a chess academy, yoga for kids and teens, a debating club, theatre courses, iPhone photo workshops, philosophy classes and science lab, helping to address wellness in a more holistic way. Children stay for free at the resort and all of the cultural activities and use of the spa are included in the room rate.

Finisterra Spa, Martinhal Family Resorts Four locations, Portugal / opened: 2010

Finisterra’s parent-and-child experience is booked nearly every day

Schloss Elmau has three family spas and ‘edutainment’ workshops which go way beyond typical kids clubs

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artinhal Family Resorts, which runs four hotels in Portugal, has positioned itself as five-star familyfriendly hospitality, and its spas offer a wide range of treatments for all ages – from babies to grandparents. Children are welcome everywhere, including the spas, where whirlpools, saunas and steamrooms are set at lower temperatures to suit their sensitive skin, and hydrotherapy pool jets have a softer pressure. “Every nook and corner has to be about the whole family; there’s no space in any of our hotels that is not for families,” explains Seema Lodi, GM of Martinhal Lisbon Cascais. Martinhal also offers treatments for children aged 6 onwards, including a popular

Part 2 of this article will appear in the next issue of Spa Business, and will look at innovative ways traditional spas are incorporating wellness programming for children and families

96 spabusiness.com issue 2 2019

25-minute, €65 (US$73, £56) parent-and-child massage, which Lodi says is booked almost every day. “The millennials especially are investing more time with their children,” says Lodi. “These young adults are looking for meaningful experiences with their children, so if we don’t start looking at what they want, we’ll be falling way behind.” This summer, Martinhal plans to add a range of ayurveda treatments for families, as well as classes in baby massage and family meditation and yoga sessions. “If they can learn football or tennis at 4, they can also learn meditation,” says Lodi. “Experiencing these as a family, and learning something you can carry on when you go home – we can add a lot of value.” l

Jane Kitchen is a consulting editor at Spa Business n janekitchen@spabusiness.com