TOURISM
Every leading luxury brand w i l l h av e a ‘ p o l a r p r o p e r t y ’ i n i t s p o r t f o l i o i n t h e n ex t d e c a d e
The Union Glacier Camp is just 1,000km from the South Pole and can accommodate up to 70 guests in its double-walled tents
Arctic spas Interestingly, none of these establishments boasts a particularly remarkable spa offer. The general focus is on saunas and hot tubs that allow you to connect with the majestic natural setting. Iceland’s Blue Lagoon geothermal springs, attracting up to 1 million visitors a year, is ahead of the curve, having built a hotel and a subterranean lava spa last year (see SB18/2 p40). But as the sector matures, there are other intriguing schemes on the horizon with a stronger emphasis on spa. These include the Arctic Bath, a floating wellness hotel that’s scheduled to launch on the Lule River in Swedish Lapland in February 2020 and the recently announced Six Senses Össurá Valley, set on a 4,000 acre estate in south Iceland that’s expected in 2022.
54 spabusiness.com issue 4 2019
Some developments are tapping into local folklore. The eco-focused Arctic Elements Lakeside Spa, due to open in Finland’s far north in December 2019, will offer traditional shamanic wellbeing rituals and five saunas named after mythological Gods and Goddesses – including a two-storey panoramic heat experience dedicated to watching the Northern Lights. Meanwhile tales of trolls, elves, monsters and invisible men roaming Iceland’s spell-binding volcanic landscape inspired Johannes Torpe’s Red Mountain Resort design (see SB17/4 p36) – although, admittedly, this project seems to be more of an ‘idea’ than a reality at this stage. The growing trend in cold spa therapies and extreme bathing plays right into the hands of the polar tourism market,
inviting participants to explore the limits of hot and cold, breathing and breath retention, exertion and relaxation. It seems inevitable that the likes of Wim Hof (SB17/4 p22) and Dr Marc Cohen (see SB19/1 p46) will take the methods they’ve been evolving and work with local partners to apply them in spectacular settings. In an interesting twist, Nordic wellness concepts – those focused on bathing and thermal circuits based on alternating hot and cold experiences – are also becoming a popular export. Raison d’Etre is championing this with its LivNordic offering on board Viking Cruise Ships and beyond. While Groupe Nordik’s stunning hot spring facilities (see p36) are a prime example of the Scandi spa influence in Canada.