Inspired by China’s royal residences, the Spa at Wynn Palace promises opulent tranquillity and healing techniques to leave guests feeling transformed. Neena Dhillon puts it to the test
By Neena Dhillon | Published in Spa Business 2017 issue 3
l The design of the Wynn Palace is by TAL Studios, who worked with Wynn’s in-house design team
The special administrative region of Macau, situated on China’s southern coast, beckons with the glitz of Michelin-starred dining, retail malls, themed attractions, and casinos befitting Asia’s gaming capital.
In a move to diversify Macau’s appeal beyond gambling, hotel and casino operators are competing to introduce unparalleled facilities under one roof – including sizeable spas – with the reclaimed land that forms the area of Cotai proving the location for most of the new resorts.
Unveiled last August, the US$4.2bn (€3.6bn, £3.2bn) Wynn Palace has been a labour of love – six years in the making – for owner Steve Wynn. This, his second luxury resort in Macau, seeks to set the bar in terms of experience and surroundings.
The 4,497sq m (48,405sq ft) spa, designed by TAL Studio and the Wynn Design & Development team, occupies its own floor and includes a salon, swimming pool, café, fitness centre and boutique.
Engaging design As a 45-year-plus hospitality veteran, Wynn has spoken about creating a destination that makes guests feel joyful. By the time I arrive at Wynn Palace, well into a 10-day tour of Macau hotels, I’ve inspected several properties, walked for miles and I’m feeling a little jaded. Yet I find myself re-energised within minutes of wandering the public spaces, marvelling at the fearless use of colour, the art collections, which are worth more than US$125m (€112m, £98m), and the intricate layering that forms the basis of an exuberant design, which has been inspired by the tradition of chinoiserie.
There are crowds milling around the two entrance atriums taking pictures of floral sculptures which have been installed by designer Preston Bailey. These include a carousel whose display alone contains more than 83,000 flowers (see image below).
Across the hotel, there’s a visual conversation between East and West, with Chinese-influenced decorative arts taking pride of place. This theme flows down to the spa, where hand-painted murals by Paul Montgomery, depicting life in Chinese royal residences, decorate the entrance corridors. As a small example of the way Wynn has looked to inject luxury at every turn, the hallways are eight feet wide instead of the typical five, rooms feel deeper and ceilings higher. Since the entrance hallway leads to several amenities, the design team has installed an arresting Foucault pendulum directly in front of the entrance to the spa. Executive director of spa Jennifer Simms explains that this calming feature encourages people to stop using their phones, taking time instead to watch the brass pendulum.
Both times I visit, reception staff are on standby to explain the layout and how to use the facilities. Since this is such a big spa, I worry I might feel overwhelmed, but the central corridor around which the treatment suites are arranged is on an axial grid, giving a sense of proportion and navigational flow. This said, the team of 62 is well-versed in giving directions and equipped with radios to ensure there’s a member of staff ready to escort guests between the changing rooms, wet areas and treatment zones at any time.
Echoing the spa’s theme, guardian lions known as ‘Shi’ – symbols associated with the Chinese imperial court – flank the same corridor, the males holding an embroidered ball and the females carrying a cub, in a representation of yin and yang. A sculptural peacock provides a focal point, with silk floral friezes adding adornment. The whole effect is stunning, but TAL Studio has tempered these grand areas with more sedate treatment zones, in which Etimoe Veneer, a warm and multidimensional wood, is used alongside fabrics that glisten with a subtle sheen, tasteful art and a well-judged colour palette that appeals to both sexes. It’s glamorous yet more restrained than other parts of the hotel, ensuring the environment is suited to relaxation.
Depending on the treatments selected, guests are either shown to single or couple’s suites, the latter more than 200sq ft (18.5sq m) in size. Of the 22 treatment rooms, eight have their own private changing facilities with steamroom, spa bath and experience shower. Simms explains that guests never see therapists clearing away equipment or used linens because each suite has its own private door to the back-of-house area.
Water & heat therapies All those who’ve booked treatments are invited to enjoy water and heat experiences, provided in both male and female areas, to be taken before or after – or both. I’ve asked the receptionist when things are quietest, so at 7.30pm on a Saturday, I’m sharing a whirlpool with multiple airbeds, plunge pools, steamroom, Finnish sauna, experience showers and tepidariums with just one other guest. The area is immaculate, the customised scent of mandarin and lily is appealing, and I enjoy sampling the Natura Bissé products in the makeup area, along with fragrances at the perfume bar. There is a lounge – luxurious and residential – in which to leaf through magazines and enjoy the spa’s signature teas and healthy snacks.
Effective scheduling is a priority for Simms’ team, who aim to stagger appointments and take advantage of all their treatment suites to ensure none of the facilities become overcrowded. For guests who wish to use the heat and water experiences without booking a treatment, a day pass is available at MOP500 (US$62, €55, £49) to ensure they are serious, and no external membership scheme is offered. “We would never want external traffic to overwhelm in-house guests,” Simms says.
The spa is open between 9am and 10.30pm, but the team also offers 24-hour in-room services, as some of the hotel’s VIP suites are equipped with massage rooms – it’s not unusual for Chinese guests to finish gambling in the early hours and request massages.
I’m intrigued by the provision of LED light therapy masks, but opt to have a short session on the Oxyvital oxygen machine, a system designed for those concerned about air pollution. When I ask for assistance on the machine, the only hitch in my visit occurs: the attendant is unsure of how to apply the equipment to my face, but rectifies this quickly by seeking assistance from a colleague who is adept at showing me how it works.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Promotional feature: Elemis - Deep Benefits
With its market-leading Pro-Collagen skincare products already
a worldwide success, Elemis has further expanded its premium
anti-ageing range with a potent new seaweed-based Marine Oil
Promotional feature: RKF - a touch of luxury
As a global leader in the field of luxury
fabrics for spas and hospitality, RKF
is known for pushing the boundaries
of design and function. We find out
about the company's latest work
During a second visit, I’m shown to a VIP suite for a two-hour Royal Enchantment therapy. Working on the acupuncture meridian pathways that support chi energy flow, this treatment involves two therapists synchronising rhythmic strokes to calm the nervous system, and presents a chance to try a four-hand massage. Simms believes in drawing on tried-and-tested techniques from age-old therapies and incorporating these into evidence-based treatments. She also makes sure her experienced therapists use their intuition to ascertain how someone might be feeling and adapt the treatment accordingly.
I’m not surprised to find that the VIP suite facilities are top-notch. My two therapists, Trishna and Ari, have prepared a three-step water therapy consisting of a shower, steam and soak in the spa bath, explaining this will soften and warm my muscles. Rather than disturb my privacy, they tell me they will dim the lights five minutes in advance of the massage beginning. I’m then led into a second, more intimate room, and asked about temperature, music preference and comfort as I lie down. Ninety minutes on and I’m sold on the effectiveness of a four-hand massage: as both sides of my body are treated in perfect synchronicity, I don’t wait as I usually would for the moment when one leg has been massaged and the other prepares for treatment. Removing this sense of anticipation means I switch off completely as the therapists move from head to toe, also using a herbal compress.
What I’m most impressed with is the way they intuitively stimulate my respiratory system – I’d mentioned that I’d been struggling with asthmatic symptoms of late. After the treatment, my nose and chest are unblocked, I sleep soundly and I feel a meaningful sense of contentment. The care and attention that Trishna and Ari have shown is something I won’t soon forget, and I leave the spa mentally and physically ready for the meetings and long-haul travel ahead.
Back doors to treatment rooms ensure privacy
The floral sculpture of a carousel by Preston Bailey
The design of the Wynn Palace is by TAL Studios, who worked with Wynn’s in-house design team
Hallways are eight feet wide – in contrast to the usual five – in a layout which injects luxury at every turn
Spa director Jennifer Simms believes in drawing on age-old therapies
In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to
our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Voya Organic Beauty
Voya Organic Beauty, founded in 2006 in Ireland by Mark Walton and Kira Guckian Walton, is a private [more...]
UK Spa Association
Our mission is to raise awareness of our industry within schools, colleges, society and crucially at [more...]
Inspired by China’s royal residences, the Spa at Wynn Palace promises opulent tranquillity and healing techniques to leave guests feeling transformed. Neena Dhillon puts it to the test
By Neena Dhillon | Published in Spa Business 2017 issue 3
l The design of the Wynn Palace is by TAL Studios, who worked with Wynn’s in-house design team
The special administrative region of Macau, situated on China’s southern coast, beckons with the glitz of Michelin-starred dining, retail malls, themed attractions, and casinos befitting Asia’s gaming capital.
In a move to diversify Macau’s appeal beyond gambling, hotel and casino operators are competing to introduce unparalleled facilities under one roof – including sizeable spas – with the reclaimed land that forms the area of Cotai proving the location for most of the new resorts.
Unveiled last August, the US$4.2bn (€3.6bn, £3.2bn) Wynn Palace has been a labour of love – six years in the making – for owner Steve Wynn. This, his second luxury resort in Macau, seeks to set the bar in terms of experience and surroundings.
The 4,497sq m (48,405sq ft) spa, designed by TAL Studio and the Wynn Design & Development team, occupies its own floor and includes a salon, swimming pool, café, fitness centre and boutique.
Engaging design As a 45-year-plus hospitality veteran, Wynn has spoken about creating a destination that makes guests feel joyful. By the time I arrive at Wynn Palace, well into a 10-day tour of Macau hotels, I’ve inspected several properties, walked for miles and I’m feeling a little jaded. Yet I find myself re-energised within minutes of wandering the public spaces, marvelling at the fearless use of colour, the art collections, which are worth more than US$125m (€112m, £98m), and the intricate layering that forms the basis of an exuberant design, which has been inspired by the tradition of chinoiserie.
There are crowds milling around the two entrance atriums taking pictures of floral sculptures which have been installed by designer Preston Bailey. These include a carousel whose display alone contains more than 83,000 flowers (see image below).
Across the hotel, there’s a visual conversation between East and West, with Chinese-influenced decorative arts taking pride of place. This theme flows down to the spa, where hand-painted murals by Paul Montgomery, depicting life in Chinese royal residences, decorate the entrance corridors. As a small example of the way Wynn has looked to inject luxury at every turn, the hallways are eight feet wide instead of the typical five, rooms feel deeper and ceilings higher. Since the entrance hallway leads to several amenities, the design team has installed an arresting Foucault pendulum directly in front of the entrance to the spa. Executive director of spa Jennifer Simms explains that this calming feature encourages people to stop using their phones, taking time instead to watch the brass pendulum.
Both times I visit, reception staff are on standby to explain the layout and how to use the facilities. Since this is such a big spa, I worry I might feel overwhelmed, but the central corridor around which the treatment suites are arranged is on an axial grid, giving a sense of proportion and navigational flow. This said, the team of 62 is well-versed in giving directions and equipped with radios to ensure there’s a member of staff ready to escort guests between the changing rooms, wet areas and treatment zones at any time.
Echoing the spa’s theme, guardian lions known as ‘Shi’ – symbols associated with the Chinese imperial court – flank the same corridor, the males holding an embroidered ball and the females carrying a cub, in a representation of yin and yang. A sculptural peacock provides a focal point, with silk floral friezes adding adornment. The whole effect is stunning, but TAL Studio has tempered these grand areas with more sedate treatment zones, in which Etimoe Veneer, a warm and multidimensional wood, is used alongside fabrics that glisten with a subtle sheen, tasteful art and a well-judged colour palette that appeals to both sexes. It’s glamorous yet more restrained than other parts of the hotel, ensuring the environment is suited to relaxation.
Depending on the treatments selected, guests are either shown to single or couple’s suites, the latter more than 200sq ft (18.5sq m) in size. Of the 22 treatment rooms, eight have their own private changing facilities with steamroom, spa bath and experience shower. Simms explains that guests never see therapists clearing away equipment or used linens because each suite has its own private door to the back-of-house area.
Water & heat therapies All those who’ve booked treatments are invited to enjoy water and heat experiences, provided in both male and female areas, to be taken before or after – or both. I’ve asked the receptionist when things are quietest, so at 7.30pm on a Saturday, I’m sharing a whirlpool with multiple airbeds, plunge pools, steamroom, Finnish sauna, experience showers and tepidariums with just one other guest. The area is immaculate, the customised scent of mandarin and lily is appealing, and I enjoy sampling the Natura Bissé products in the makeup area, along with fragrances at the perfume bar. There is a lounge – luxurious and residential – in which to leaf through magazines and enjoy the spa’s signature teas and healthy snacks.
Effective scheduling is a priority for Simms’ team, who aim to stagger appointments and take advantage of all their treatment suites to ensure none of the facilities become overcrowded. For guests who wish to use the heat and water experiences without booking a treatment, a day pass is available at MOP500 (US$62, €55, £49) to ensure they are serious, and no external membership scheme is offered. “We would never want external traffic to overwhelm in-house guests,” Simms says.
The spa is open between 9am and 10.30pm, but the team also offers 24-hour in-room services, as some of the hotel’s VIP suites are equipped with massage rooms – it’s not unusual for Chinese guests to finish gambling in the early hours and request massages.
I’m intrigued by the provision of LED light therapy masks, but opt to have a short session on the Oxyvital oxygen machine, a system designed for those concerned about air pollution. When I ask for assistance on the machine, the only hitch in my visit occurs: the attendant is unsure of how to apply the equipment to my face, but rectifies this quickly by seeking assistance from a colleague who is adept at showing me how it works.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Promotional feature: Elemis - Deep Benefits
With its market-leading Pro-Collagen skincare products already
a worldwide success, Elemis has further expanded its premium
anti-ageing range with a potent new seaweed-based Marine Oil
Promotional feature: RKF - a touch of luxury
As a global leader in the field of luxury
fabrics for spas and hospitality, RKF
is known for pushing the boundaries
of design and function. We find out
about the company's latest work
During a second visit, I’m shown to a VIP suite for a two-hour Royal Enchantment therapy. Working on the acupuncture meridian pathways that support chi energy flow, this treatment involves two therapists synchronising rhythmic strokes to calm the nervous system, and presents a chance to try a four-hand massage. Simms believes in drawing on tried-and-tested techniques from age-old therapies and incorporating these into evidence-based treatments. She also makes sure her experienced therapists use their intuition to ascertain how someone might be feeling and adapt the treatment accordingly.
I’m not surprised to find that the VIP suite facilities are top-notch. My two therapists, Trishna and Ari, have prepared a three-step water therapy consisting of a shower, steam and soak in the spa bath, explaining this will soften and warm my muscles. Rather than disturb my privacy, they tell me they will dim the lights five minutes in advance of the massage beginning. I’m then led into a second, more intimate room, and asked about temperature, music preference and comfort as I lie down. Ninety minutes on and I’m sold on the effectiveness of a four-hand massage: as both sides of my body are treated in perfect synchronicity, I don’t wait as I usually would for the moment when one leg has been massaged and the other prepares for treatment. Removing this sense of anticipation means I switch off completely as the therapists move from head to toe, also using a herbal compress.
What I’m most impressed with is the way they intuitively stimulate my respiratory system – I’d mentioned that I’d been struggling with asthmatic symptoms of late. After the treatment, my nose and chest are unblocked, I sleep soundly and I feel a meaningful sense of contentment. The care and attention that Trishna and Ari have shown is something I won’t soon forget, and I leave the spa mentally and physically ready for the meetings and long-haul travel ahead.
Back doors to treatment rooms ensure privacy
The floral sculpture of a carousel by Preston Bailey
The design of the Wynn Palace is by TAL Studios, who worked with Wynn’s in-house design team
Hallways are eight feet wide – in contrast to the usual five – in a layout which injects luxury at every turn
Spa director Jennifer Simms believes in drawing on age-old therapies
TLee Spas and Wellness has revealed the design concept for a high-tech spa with body
mapping scanners to improve public health, for AI company Midjourney.
Ameyalli, the 78-acre wellbeing resort and residential community in Midway in Utah, US, has
broken ground on phase two of the hot spring development – the Ameyalli Resort and Spa –
which is due to open in 2028.
Gran Hotel Taoro in northern Tenerife, Spain, has completed the final phase of its three-year
renovation with the debut of its Sandára Wellness Centre.
Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa, the spa business with more than 650 locations across
the US and Canada, has appointed franchise expert Carrie Walsh as CEO as the company plans
to expand.
Synergy – The Retreat Show, the global trade show for retreats, has launched a global research
initiative that will provide insights into the retreat sector from both consumer and industry
perspectives.
The Wellness Tourism Association (WTA) has published a non-regulatory global industry
framework designed to ensure the retreat market offers responsible experiences.
A new survey of UK and international spa practitioners shows that stress, burnout and
wellbeing concerns have caused one in three respondents to consider leaving the industry.
The UK's four Chief Medical Officers have published a refreshed edition of Physical activity
guidelines: UK Chief Medical Officers' report, updating the evidence that underpins the nation's
physical activity recommendations and placing greater emphasis on strength, balance, reducing
sedentary behaviour and, for the first time, supporting people taking weight loss medications.
In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to
our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Voya Organic Beauty Voya Organic Beauty, founded in 2006 in Ireland by Mark Walton and Kira Guckian Walton, is a private [more...]
