Yes! Send me the FREE digital editions of Spa Business and Spa Business insider magazines and the FREE weekly Spa Business and Spa Business insider ezines and breaking news alerts!
“The more fun we make it, the more they’ll want to take part,” says Ingo Schweder of GOCO
Many of today’s family travellers are looking for something more than a kids club where they can park their children for a few hours of babysitting – they want healthy activities that they can engage with together as a family. It’s an ideal moment for spas to get involved, creating healthy multi-generational programming and helping to educate the next generation of consumers to make wellness a part of their lives. “Our early years have a major impact on our total lifetime wellness, so it’s important to involve children in living healthy lifestyles, as the earlier healthy habits are formed, the better,” explains Ingo Schweder, CEO of GOCO Hospitality.
Many aspects of a spa’s thermal areas can be made safe for children. In Finland, babies and children are taken regularly into the sauna, as the health benefits – including a boost to the immune system – are the same for children and adults. It stands to reason that if children are exposed to wellness activities early in life, they’ll not only enjoy the benefits, but they’ll also likely make spas a part of their lives as they transition into adulthood. “There are so many benefits to the spa for younger guests, including educating teens on the benefits of the spa journey and how using the thermal rooms can have a positive effect on your whole wellbeing,” says Lizzie Bath, spa director at UK’s Ye Olde Bell, who has welcomed younger guests.
Wellness programming for kids need not be limited to the spa however; healthy cooking classes, nature exploration hikes, physical activities such as dance or sports, and meditation for children are all excellent opportunities to engage younger guests – and win points from their parents. “The more fun we make it, the more they will want to take part,” says Schweder.
For existing spas that want to address this growing need, a little investment in targeted programming can pay off. In the following pages, we look at some of the creative ways spas around the world are making themselves more family-friendly.
Six Senses
Locations worldwide
Anna Bjurstam
In 2018, Six Senses launched Grow With Six Senses, a framework for children’s programming and family wellness, which is designed to encourage younger guests to understand more about what’s going on inside them and in the world around them. “Grow With Six Senses incorporates the six dimensions of wellness (social, environmental, physical, spiritual, emotional and intellectual) and brings kids ‘back to basics’ in order to reconnect with nature and others around them,” says Anna Bjurstam, Six Senses’ VP of wellness.
Programmes vary from resort to resort, but introduce specifically designed physical activities, yoga and mindfulness, local culture, sustainability and social experiences, as well as spa treatments. At Six Senses Samui, for instance, programmes include Tibetan singing bowls, healthy smoothie classes, how to massage your parents, sustainability walks, kids yoga and recycled jewellery classes (all complimentary), along with Muay Thai for Young Boxers priced at THB600 (£15, €17, US$19) per child and umbrella painting which costs THB500 (£13, €14, US$16) per child.
Grow With Six Senses teaches children about what’s going on inside them and around them
Ye Olde Bell
Barnby Moor, UK
Lizzie Bath
Once a month, children are able to enjoy the 17,000sq ft spa at Ye Olde Bell, UK. After customer requests – and inspiration from her own son – spa director Lizzie Bath launched a Tween Spa evening in 2018 for spa goers aged 11-16. "As a mother, I’m always looking for ways to stay engaged with my child – especially as he gets older," says Bath. "Their lives are now so digitally obsessed, and a spa session leads to quality one-on-one time together."
On a slow weekday from 4:30-7:30pm, the spa is opened especially for children, who have access to a range of thermal experiences – set at a lower temperature for safety. For the first Tween Spa, Bath placed an ad on Facebook and was astounded when the event filled up in 48 hours. "From the response, we knew it had hit the right note with our spa guests," she says.
Soon after, fellow spa director Sadie Ardron-Levack pushed for extending the age reach with a Tiny Spa night for children aged 5-10. Health and safety concerns were heightened with this younger group, with the hottest sauna and steamroom turned off, and all other rooms placed on the lowest setting – no higher than 35-40˚C. The event – which is limited to 20 children and 20 carers – includes full spa access plus refreshments, for £69 (US$87, €77), and sold out an hour after the Facebook ad was posted.
Bath says the events have been a huge success. "We now have a busy spa on a night that was previously either quiet or closed, and we see a noticeable difference in our sales figures on the weeks we hold the tween events. It’s given us loyalty from the spa-loving parents too and a way to connect with the next generation."
Tween and Tiny Spa nights have been a sell-out success
GOCO Spa Daios Cove
Cyprus
GOCO Spa Daios Cove is creating healthy programming through kids with a series of visiting practitioners. Sarah Safarian, CEO and founder of Humbly Healthy, runs plant-based cooking workshops for both adults and children – Little Chefs workshops are priced at €35 (US$40, £31) per child. The resort’s kids clubs also focus on providing young guests with experiences that keep them physically active, socially engaged and culturally aware. There are regular swimming activities, trips to local olive farms, archaeological tours of ancient sites, Greek Zorba dancing, treasure hunts, yoga classes and a baby spa. “Wellness activities provide excellent opportunities for family members to come together and bond,” says Ingo Schweder, CEO of GOCO Hospitality.
Daios Cove offers a range of healthy activities plus visiting practitioners
Santiburi Koh Samui
Thailand
Santiburi Koh Samui offers treatments designed especially for younger guests, from Mini Me massages starting at £39 (US$49, €44) for 45 minutes for 5-10 year olds, or £45 (US$57, €50) for 60 minutes for 11-13 year olds and 30-minute Mini Me facials for £36 (US$45, €40). Others packages include Mummy and Me and beachfront massage where the ocean serves as the backdrop. A new Family Time Spa package lets guests purchase 10 hours of spa time for £436 (US$486, €550), allowing families to mix and match treatments and share time together.
"Following a few requests from family groups, we decided to introduce this new family wellness experience, as we feel that it’s important to educate our younger guests on the importance of living a healthy life," says Santiburi’s wellbeing manager, Jennifer Linder. "We think it’s important to introduce and help bring families together to ensure they leave feeling their very best with the motivation to continue living a healthy life in their everyday lives."
Mini Me massages for 5-10 year olds cost US$49 for 45 minutes UfaBizPhoto/SHUTTERSTOCK
Rosewood
Locations worldwide
Many Rosewood resorts include family programming under the wellness umbrella, including Las Ventanas al Paraíso in Los Cabos, Mexico, which combines yoga-based deep breathing, gentle stretching and simulated laughter exercises for guided ‘laughter yoga’ sessions either before or after a family spa retreat. At the Rosewood Sanya in China, speciality Gold Massages and Li Bathing Bal treatments have been created for mothers and daughters, while the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris offers a family bootcamp set in the Jardin des Tuileries, and the Rosewood Baha Mar in the Bahamas offers Mommy & Me spa treatments and Daddy & Me golf lessons.
Chia Laguna
Sardinia, Italy
Italian Hospitality Collection’s five-star family resort has launched a series of Mini Mindfulness children’s activities, free through the resort’s Kids Club (which is also free for guests). Activities include smiling yoga (a technique that combines laughter with yoga and breathing exercises) and al fresco painting. Tours of the resort’s herbal garden provide a sensory experience, where aspiring botanists are taught to recognise and use various herbs for food and health purposes, before being shown how to combine the herbs they have foraged with fresh fruit and honey to create their own relaxing face masks.
All Mini Mindfulness activities at Chia Laguna are free
Amra Skincare has positioned itself at the forefront of dermatological science and
introduced its Micro-Cellular Actives line – a range of innovative molecular agents
formulated to redefine the brand’s clinically-driven skincare applications for unparalleled
results. [more...]
The Natural Beauty Expo is returning to London from 14-15 April to showcase the latest
trend-setting natural, organic and sustainable spa, beauty and skincare products. [more...]
“The more fun we make it, the more they’ll want to take part,” says Ingo Schweder of GOCO
Many of today’s family travellers are looking for something more than a kids club where they can park their children for a few hours of babysitting – they want healthy activities that they can engage with together as a family. It’s an ideal moment for spas to get involved, creating healthy multi-generational programming and helping to educate the next generation of consumers to make wellness a part of their lives. “Our early years have a major impact on our total lifetime wellness, so it’s important to involve children in living healthy lifestyles, as the earlier healthy habits are formed, the better,” explains Ingo Schweder, CEO of GOCO Hospitality.
Many aspects of a spa’s thermal areas can be made safe for children. In Finland, babies and children are taken regularly into the sauna, as the health benefits – including a boost to the immune system – are the same for children and adults. It stands to reason that if children are exposed to wellness activities early in life, they’ll not only enjoy the benefits, but they’ll also likely make spas a part of their lives as they transition into adulthood. “There are so many benefits to the spa for younger guests, including educating teens on the benefits of the spa journey and how using the thermal rooms can have a positive effect on your whole wellbeing,” says Lizzie Bath, spa director at UK’s Ye Olde Bell, who has welcomed younger guests.
Wellness programming for kids need not be limited to the spa however; healthy cooking classes, nature exploration hikes, physical activities such as dance or sports, and meditation for children are all excellent opportunities to engage younger guests – and win points from their parents. “The more fun we make it, the more they will want to take part,” says Schweder.
For existing spas that want to address this growing need, a little investment in targeted programming can pay off. In the following pages, we look at some of the creative ways spas around the world are making themselves more family-friendly.
Six Senses
Locations worldwide
Anna Bjurstam
In 2018, Six Senses launched Grow With Six Senses, a framework for children’s programming and family wellness, which is designed to encourage younger guests to understand more about what’s going on inside them and in the world around them. “Grow With Six Senses incorporates the six dimensions of wellness (social, environmental, physical, spiritual, emotional and intellectual) and brings kids ‘back to basics’ in order to reconnect with nature and others around them,” says Anna Bjurstam, Six Senses’ VP of wellness.
Programmes vary from resort to resort, but introduce specifically designed physical activities, yoga and mindfulness, local culture, sustainability and social experiences, as well as spa treatments. At Six Senses Samui, for instance, programmes include Tibetan singing bowls, healthy smoothie classes, how to massage your parents, sustainability walks, kids yoga and recycled jewellery classes (all complimentary), along with Muay Thai for Young Boxers priced at THB600 (£15, €17, US$19) per child and umbrella painting which costs THB500 (£13, €14, US$16) per child.
Grow With Six Senses teaches children about what’s going on inside them and around them
Ye Olde Bell
Barnby Moor, UK
Lizzie Bath
Once a month, children are able to enjoy the 17,000sq ft spa at Ye Olde Bell, UK. After customer requests – and inspiration from her own son – spa director Lizzie Bath launched a Tween Spa evening in 2018 for spa goers aged 11-16. "As a mother, I’m always looking for ways to stay engaged with my child – especially as he gets older," says Bath. "Their lives are now so digitally obsessed, and a spa session leads to quality one-on-one time together."
On a slow weekday from 4:30-7:30pm, the spa is opened especially for children, who have access to a range of thermal experiences – set at a lower temperature for safety. For the first Tween Spa, Bath placed an ad on Facebook and was astounded when the event filled up in 48 hours. "From the response, we knew it had hit the right note with our spa guests," she says.
Soon after, fellow spa director Sadie Ardron-Levack pushed for extending the age reach with a Tiny Spa night for children aged 5-10. Health and safety concerns were heightened with this younger group, with the hottest sauna and steamroom turned off, and all other rooms placed on the lowest setting – no higher than 35-40˚C. The event – which is limited to 20 children and 20 carers – includes full spa access plus refreshments, for £69 (US$87, €77), and sold out an hour after the Facebook ad was posted.
Bath says the events have been a huge success. "We now have a busy spa on a night that was previously either quiet or closed, and we see a noticeable difference in our sales figures on the weeks we hold the tween events. It’s given us loyalty from the spa-loving parents too and a way to connect with the next generation."
Tween and Tiny Spa nights have been a sell-out success
GOCO Spa Daios Cove
Cyprus
GOCO Spa Daios Cove is creating healthy programming through kids with a series of visiting practitioners. Sarah Safarian, CEO and founder of Humbly Healthy, runs plant-based cooking workshops for both adults and children – Little Chefs workshops are priced at €35 (US$40, £31) per child. The resort’s kids clubs also focus on providing young guests with experiences that keep them physically active, socially engaged and culturally aware. There are regular swimming activities, trips to local olive farms, archaeological tours of ancient sites, Greek Zorba dancing, treasure hunts, yoga classes and a baby spa. “Wellness activities provide excellent opportunities for family members to come together and bond,” says Ingo Schweder, CEO of GOCO Hospitality.
Daios Cove offers a range of healthy activities plus visiting practitioners
Santiburi Koh Samui
Thailand
Santiburi Koh Samui offers treatments designed especially for younger guests, from Mini Me massages starting at £39 (US$49, €44) for 45 minutes for 5-10 year olds, or £45 (US$57, €50) for 60 minutes for 11-13 year olds and 30-minute Mini Me facials for £36 (US$45, €40). Others packages include Mummy and Me and beachfront massage where the ocean serves as the backdrop. A new Family Time Spa package lets guests purchase 10 hours of spa time for £436 (US$486, €550), allowing families to mix and match treatments and share time together.
"Following a few requests from family groups, we decided to introduce this new family wellness experience, as we feel that it’s important to educate our younger guests on the importance of living a healthy life," says Santiburi’s wellbeing manager, Jennifer Linder. "We think it’s important to introduce and help bring families together to ensure they leave feeling their very best with the motivation to continue living a healthy life in their everyday lives."
Mini Me massages for 5-10 year olds cost US$49 for 45 minutes UfaBizPhoto/SHUTTERSTOCK
Rosewood
Locations worldwide
Many Rosewood resorts include family programming under the wellness umbrella, including Las Ventanas al Paraíso in Los Cabos, Mexico, which combines yoga-based deep breathing, gentle stretching and simulated laughter exercises for guided ‘laughter yoga’ sessions either before or after a family spa retreat. At the Rosewood Sanya in China, speciality Gold Massages and Li Bathing Bal treatments have been created for mothers and daughters, while the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris offers a family bootcamp set in the Jardin des Tuileries, and the Rosewood Baha Mar in the Bahamas offers Mommy & Me spa treatments and Daddy & Me golf lessons.
Chia Laguna
Sardinia, Italy
Italian Hospitality Collection’s five-star family resort has launched a series of Mini Mindfulness children’s activities, free through the resort’s Kids Club (which is also free for guests). Activities include smiling yoga (a technique that combines laughter with yoga and breathing exercises) and al fresco painting. Tours of the resort’s herbal garden provide a sensory experience, where aspiring botanists are taught to recognise and use various herbs for food and health purposes, before being shown how to combine the herbs they have foraged with fresh fruit and honey to create their own relaxing face masks.
All Mini Mindfulness activities at Chia Laguna are free
The Asia Pacific Spa & Wellness Coalition (APSWC) recently marked another year of industry
achievement with a prestigious awards ceremony held during the 2024 APSWC Round Table
event in Bangkok, Thailand.
Luxury health and wellness brand The Ranch is gearing up to open its first East Coast
destination in the Hudson Valley near Tuxedo Park, New York, on 18 April.
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is the latest brand to join the collection of luxury hospitality
partners at Saudi Arabia's upcoming regenerative tourism destination Amaala.
The Covery, a lifestyle optimisation wellness brand, has announced a new licensing partnership
with Aura Spa, solidifying its commitment to broadening access to recovery and wellness
therapies throughout the US.
Egym, which raised €207 million last year in new investment, continues to build its top team
with the appointment of former Technogym MD, Steve Barton, as country director for the UK.
The International Spa Association (ISPA) Foundation has released the 2024 edition of its
Consumer Snapshot research initiative, shedding light on the behaviours and preferences of
regular spa-goers in the US.
The team behind TRIB3 has launched a reformer Pilates studio concept called PILAT3S, which
will be available either as a standalone franchise, or as a club-in-club concept, aiming to take
the exercise modality into the mainstream.
The International Sauna Association's (ISA) Sauna Aid initiative is asking for donations to
establish a sauna complex in Ukraine to provide a sanctuary for Ukrainians amid the conflict
with Russia.
Janu – Aman’s highly-anticipated sister brand – has opened its inaugural hotel in Tokyo,
marking the first in its pipeline of 13 properties across city, country and coastal destinations.
Amra Skincare has positioned itself at the forefront of dermatological science and
introduced its Micro-Cellular Actives line – a range of innovative molecular agents
formulated to redefine the brand’s clinically-driven skincare applications for unparalleled
results. [more...]
The Natural Beauty Expo is returning to London from 14-15 April to showcase the latest
trend-setting natural, organic and sustainable spa, beauty and skincare products. [more...]