The hotel and spa are part of a waterfront regeneration scheme by Frank Gehry
Global spa consultancy Raison d’Etre has designed and implemented one of Denmark’s largest spa and wellness facilities at the new Alsik hotel.
The Steigenberger property opened in May in the harbour of Sønderborg and is part of Frank Gehry’s masterplan to transform the industrial waterfront into a vibrant urban development.
The 4,500sq m spa component spans four floors of the 190-bed hotel and is “heavily influenced” by Nordic design – think nature, light, water and forests. It offers a “journey into the age-old Nordic combination of water, heat and cold” with a wide array of hydrothermal experiences supplied by Austrian-based Spa4, access to which costs DKK495 (US$74, €66, £61) for day spa visitors or DKK299 (US$45, €40, £37) for hotel guests.
Highlights include an Aurora Cave which promises a northern lights sensation, an outdoor seawater infinity pool with views across the Alssund straight and a cosy, calming fire lounge, plus a waterbed relaxation area. A mystic dome sauna takes guests through a journey of the seasons, while red clover wraps and scrubs are offered in a mineral serail. Meanwhile a spa cafe serves organic food and drink.
More than 60 wellness experiences are available in total. Product houses include Skin Regimen and Raaw, an organic label that “celebrates the healing power of nature in all its raw glory”, which has been created by Danish born Trice Angie Christiansen. Raison d’Etre is also offering managerial support during the spa’s opening phase.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Spa Programmes: On the menu
Energy medicine at Six Senses; aroma retreat on Croatia’s Island of Vitality and menopause programming all feature in our spa menu round-up
Top team: Rosewood
Jane Kitchen talks to the wellness team behind Rosewood, and its forward-thinking spa concepts, as CEO Sonia Cheng leads a vigorous global rollout
Everyone’s talking about: CBD
Are CBD treatments and products an unregulated fad, or a serious business proposition? Spa Business investigates
Promotional feature: The Madison Collection
Innovation of form and function in robes and towels is a vital part of attracting the next generation of wellness consumers. Charmaine T Lang from The Madison Collection explains how her company consistently maintains its successful point of difference
Interview: Markus Engel
The CEO of Asia’s Urban Resort Concepts talks to Spa Business about positive disruption in the hospitality and spa sector
Promotional feature: The Wellness
A beautiful pool can be the standout feature that draws new customers. It can also cut your running costs if it’s designed to be sustainable. Mohammed Ibrahim, CEO of The Wellness, explains
Interview: Davide Bollati
Liz Terry speaks to the founder of Comfort Zone about the group’s new botanical garden and ongoing commitment to environmentalism
Research: Generation gap
A new consumer study by ISPA uncovers spa-goer preferences and habits across different age groups
Promotional feature: Phytomer
Formulating the ultimate universal product to heal and defend the skin has taken three years of R&D for Phytomer, the French luxury marine skincare brand. The company’s scientific director tells Spa Business about the launch of the groundbreaking Prebioforce serum
Event Report: APSWC Round Table
Industry leaders contribute to APSWC’s third white paper at annual gathering. Catharine Nicol reports from Malaysia
Family spa: Play time
Spa Business takes a look at innovative spa programmes for children and families
Eco spa: Going green
Joanna Roche and Bonnie Baker share their ambitions for the Green Spa Network
The hotel and spa are part of a waterfront regeneration scheme by Frank Gehry
Global spa consultancy Raison d’Etre has designed and implemented one of Denmark’s largest spa and wellness facilities at the new Alsik hotel.
The Steigenberger property opened in May in the harbour of Sønderborg and is part of Frank Gehry’s masterplan to transform the industrial waterfront into a vibrant urban development.
The 4,500sq m spa component spans four floors of the 190-bed hotel and is “heavily influenced” by Nordic design – think nature, light, water and forests. It offers a “journey into the age-old Nordic combination of water, heat and cold” with a wide array of hydrothermal experiences supplied by Austrian-based Spa4, access to which costs DKK495 (US$74, €66, £61) for day spa visitors or DKK299 (US$45, €40, £37) for hotel guests.
Highlights include an Aurora Cave which promises a northern lights sensation, an outdoor seawater infinity pool with views across the Alssund straight and a cosy, calming fire lounge, plus a waterbed relaxation area. A mystic dome sauna takes guests through a journey of the seasons, while red clover wraps and scrubs are offered in a mineral serail. Meanwhile a spa cafe serves organic food and drink.
More than 60 wellness experiences are available in total. Product houses include Skin Regimen and Raaw, an organic label that “celebrates the healing power of nature in all its raw glory”, which has been created by Danish born Trice Angie Christiansen. Raison d’Etre is also offering managerial support during the spa’s opening phase.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Spa Programmes: On the menu
Energy medicine at Six Senses; aroma retreat on Croatia’s Island of Vitality and menopause programming all feature in our spa menu round-up
Top team: Rosewood
Jane Kitchen talks to the wellness team behind Rosewood, and its forward-thinking spa concepts, as CEO Sonia Cheng leads a vigorous global rollout
Everyone’s talking about: CBD
Are CBD treatments and products an unregulated fad, or a serious business proposition? Spa Business investigates
Promotional feature: The Madison Collection
Innovation of form and function in robes and towels is a vital part of attracting the next generation of wellness consumers. Charmaine T Lang from The Madison Collection explains how her company consistently maintains its successful point of difference
Interview: Markus Engel
The CEO of Asia’s Urban Resort Concepts talks to Spa Business about positive disruption in the hospitality and spa sector
Promotional feature: The Wellness
A beautiful pool can be the standout feature that draws new customers. It can also cut your running costs if it’s designed to be sustainable. Mohammed Ibrahim, CEO of The Wellness, explains
Interview: Davide Bollati
Liz Terry speaks to the founder of Comfort Zone about the group’s new botanical garden and ongoing commitment to environmentalism
Research: Generation gap
A new consumer study by ISPA uncovers spa-goer preferences and habits across different age groups
Promotional feature: Phytomer
Formulating the ultimate universal product to heal and defend the skin has taken three years of R&D for Phytomer, the French luxury marine skincare brand. The company’s scientific director tells Spa Business about the launch of the groundbreaking Prebioforce serum
Event Report: APSWC Round Table
Industry leaders contribute to APSWC’s third white paper at annual gathering. Catharine Nicol reports from Malaysia
Family spa: Play time
Spa Business takes a look at innovative spa programmes for children and families
Eco spa: Going green
Joanna Roche and Bonnie Baker share their ambitions for the Green Spa Network
People taking GLP-1 weight loss medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound
may be losing weight, but they’re also becoming less physically active, according to new
research presented at the ENDO 2026 annual meeting of the Endocrine Society
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Global retreat trade show, Synergy The Retreat Show, has launched a resource called The
Source, which hosts an open-access online Transformation Series programme.
The Standards Authority for Touch in Cancer Care (SATCC) charity has announced its first five-
day Living with Cancer and Beyond retreat, which will be held at Carden Park Hotel and Spa in
Cheshire, UK, between 1 and 5 September.
Patmos Aktis, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, has opened in Greece, with a renovated and
rebranded wellness offering called Ansana Wellness and Spa.
The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, an Autograph Collection property in Hawaii, US, has opened its
22,000 sq ft indoor-outdoor Spa at Mauna Kea as the final step in the property’s overall
renovation, which has cost more than US$180 million (€166 million, £140 mill
The UK spa review and discovery platform for consumers, the Good Spa Guide, has announced
it will host the Good Spa Guide Awards 2026 during an event on 16 November at Sopwell House
Hotel in St Albans, UK.
Eighty-four per cent of consumers now say wellness is a top priority in their lives, with this
percentage increasing year on year, according to a preview presentation of McKinsey’s Future of
Wellness 2026 research report.
Mass protests have been taking place since Monday 1 June in Albania over the development of
a luxury resort by Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner.
Global Wellness Day (GWD) marked its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
