As spas across the world were forced to close in the coronavirus pandemic,
a number of forward-thinking operators created wellness offerings online. We
take a look at some of the programmes pulled together in lightning-fast time
By Megan Whitby | Published in Spa Business 2020 issue 2
Spa and resort operator Six Senses was one of the first companies to connect with guests online with the launch of its At Home content portal on 24 March.
The service uses videos, tutorials and articles to deliver wellbeing advice adopted from its in-resort wellness experiences based on the pillars of mindfulness, eat, sleep, move, live naturally and connect.
It’s available to everyone, whether or not they’ve previously stayed at a Six Senses property. Tips include everything from how to reduce anxiety and loneliness when practising social distancing, as well as advice on food to support the immune system, working from home and good sleep routines.
Thai destination spa Chiva-Som is combatting widespread anxiety and social isolation during lockdown by offering one-on-one live wellbeing consultations with its naturopaths, physiotherapists and exercise professionals.
An initial 50-minute consultation includes personalised feedback regarding lifestyle and nutrition and advisors can also refer clients to either a private naturopathic consultation, a natural fertility treatment session or an exercise tutorial.
The resort is also offering private yoga and meditation sessions as well as daily wellbeing advice – from self-massage to immune-boosting tips – across its social media channels.
Past and regular guests have unlimited use of consultations and tutorials. The general public can book one consultation and a referral tutorial for free, after that customer sessions start at THB3,500 (US$108, €99, £87).
“Now is a time for support, collaboration and encouragement,” says CEO Krip Rojanastien. “We’re committed to our guests and community, in which we’re striving to distribute our wellness resources to support people’s wellbeing without boundaries. We shall pass this together.”
Energy healing, ayurvedic, spiritual wellness and life coaching sessions are being offered to people in their own homes for free during the lockdown thanks to a programme set up by Healing Hotels of the World.
The Healing@Home series is being delivered by six global practitioners who have previously worked with Healing Hotels. The sessions, arranged by contacting [email protected], are designed to help clients step into new perspectives, find inner balance and transform fear into positivity and strength while coping with the pandemic.
“Although we’re unable to travel at the moment and most of our Healing Hotels are closed due to COVID-19, their hearts are still beating strongly,” says co-founder Anne Biging, “our shared mission to guide you on your healing journey is stronger than ever.”
Marina Efraimolgou owns the spa which is known for its transformation retreats
Greek transformation spa, Euphoria, has unveiled a free five-week immersive virtual retreat inspired by Greek mythology and the five elements.
The retreat will explore and focus on one of the five elements – water, wood, fire, earth and metal – in order to help people reset and focus on their energy balance, as well as understand specific organs and their emotions in relation to each of the elements.
It will be conducted online via a series of healing, grounding, and uplifting wellness practices and activities. Every week participants will be guided through two 45-minute webinars by Euphoria’s founder, Marina Efraimolgou, and spiritual mentor, Mary Vandorou.
Efraimolgou says: “We’ve based our virtual offering on our signature retreat – ‘Emotional and Physical Transformation’ – and participants can join us for just one day, one week or sign up for the full five weeks to discover the power of all the elements.”
Italian destination spa Borgo Egnazia has designed an online wellness platform to bring its unique experience into guest’s homes.
Egnazia is known for its Vair spa that addresses emotional and physical tension with more mindful treatments such as laughter therapy and olfactory tests, and the new Casa Egnazia platform celebrates this offering alongside the local Apulian culture. Content such as tips for happiness and beauty, sports for longevity and food for wellness has been generated by employees who each have their own area of expertise. It’s even recording sessions of village musicians to recreate a local festival and sending guests samples of its signature homemade tomato sauce to keep them front of mind.
“We’re generating all this great content and creating a new part of the business which I think we can still offer once we do reopen,” said spa director Erica D’Angelo on a Professional Beauty webinar. “It’s also a great opportunity to get feedback from our clients.”
Spa and hospitality recruitment firm Hutchinson Consulting has revealed a weekly video web series to help industry colleagues with questions about their career development to navigate the pandemic. The free Coffee with the Coaches sessions take place every Wednesday and are delivered by industry leader Michael Tompkins and other Hutchinson team members. Each session is recorded and shared on the company’s website.
Wellbeing hub The Well, based in New York City, launched a monthly online membership with an introductory price of US$99 (€91, £79) and US$149 (€137, £120) thereafter.
Members receive access to a ‘complete ecosystem’ for wellness online, including twice-weekly support circles, daily mindful movement and meditation classes, programming, and online appointments. Monthly coaching sessions focus on topics such as sleep health and managing anxiety during social distancing.
In late March The Well also teamed up with alternative medicine expert Deepak Chopra to live-stream a global meditation event, called H(om)e, to encourage people to stay at home and have hope during the pandemic.
With so many virtual meetings now taking place wellness PR firm S’well has created a free digital toolkit to facilitate more effective, healthier online gatherings.
The Virtually Well Meeting Recipe Book includes tips to help participants remain engaged with techniques such as intermittent mindfulness practices, using live scribing and movement exercises. In addition, it suggests using colourful mind maps to help keep track of people’s contributions and advises enriching virtual meetings with live music breaks.
S’well co-founders, Kim Marshall and Darlene Fiske, revealed the toolkit on 2 April via a webinar with the ‘methods’ demonstrated by industry figures.
Five Four Seasons resorts in Hawaii has created a series of at-home experiences, including spa treatments, designed to transport guests to the islands.
At Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, for example, spa director Cecila Hercik has unveiled an at-home Niu Bath Treatment recipe made with coconuts which is inspired by local healing traditions and ingredients. Meanwhile, the team at Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort is offering guidance on using journaling and meditation for self-reflection. The resort is owned by billionaire Larry Ellison and spa leader Andrew Gibson is a senior executive (see SB19/4).
Globally, the Four Seasons group is also releasing digital at-home fitness content called Fit with Four Seasons, led by celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2020 issue 2
Editor’s letter: Our greatest challenge
Spa and wellness businesses will reopen while COVID-19 is still circulating in the community, meaning we have to find models which work in this new reality, says Katie Barnes. So how will this change the industry?
On the menu: Pivot to digital
Which forward-thinking spas are taking their offerings online during the coronavirus pandemic?
Interview: Mary Celeste Beall
The celebrated Blackberry Farm has opened a sister property in the mountains of Tennessee. The owner tells Spa Business why wellness through nature underpins the new destination
Everyone’s talking about: COVID-19
Spa operators, wellness companies and organisations from around the world talk to Spa Business about the impact of coronavirus and what to expect down the line
Promotion: Simone Gibertoni: Clinique La Prairie
World-renowned medical spa, Clinique La Prairie, is creating a global network of
locations to support clients with their wellbeing, every day of the year, says its CEO
Research: First responders
ISPA’s COVID-19 survey offers insights into how the industry has responded to the global pandemic. Spa Business magazine examines the findings
Hotel spa: Country life: The Newt
Karen Roos, owner of the world-renowned hotel The Newt, on design, gardens and a spa housed in an old cow barn
Insights: Calls to action
Industry leaders around the world come together in a crisis to share ideas and innovations in a series of GWS Collaboration calls. Spa Business magazine reports on the highlights
Insights: Webinar wisdom
Spa Business shares its industry-relevant takeaways from the masses of webinars that are being streamed worldwide
Research: Measure for measure
Intelligent Spas reveals its latest global spa benchmarks and explores what they mean in today’s ever-changing climate
Focus on: Extreme wellness
Spa Business tries out two boundary-pushing, cold immersion retreats led by ‘The Iceman’ Wim Hof and Dr Marc Cohen
Promotion: Barr and Wray: Creating
a seamless journey
With 60 years of experience, Barr and Wray has long been known for excellence in technical design for wellness. Design director Graeme Banks explains the company also offers interior design services
Interview: Juliu Horvath
The founder of Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis tells Spa Business why he’ll never stop adapting his famous movement modality
Promotion: ISPA publishes Reopening Toolkit
A much-needed guide by ISPA gives essential advice on business planning, standard operating procedures, marketing and communications to support spas through the coronavirus crisis
In today’s premium spa environment, every detail shapes the guest experience – right down to
the softness of towels and the freshness of linens. [more...]
As spas across the world were forced to close in the coronavirus pandemic,
a number of forward-thinking operators created wellness offerings online. We
take a look at some of the programmes pulled together in lightning-fast time
By Megan Whitby | Published in Spa Business 2020 issue 2
Spa and resort operator Six Senses was one of the first companies to connect with guests online with the launch of its At Home content portal on 24 March.
The service uses videos, tutorials and articles to deliver wellbeing advice adopted from its in-resort wellness experiences based on the pillars of mindfulness, eat, sleep, move, live naturally and connect.
It’s available to everyone, whether or not they’ve previously stayed at a Six Senses property. Tips include everything from how to reduce anxiety and loneliness when practising social distancing, as well as advice on food to support the immune system, working from home and good sleep routines.
Thai destination spa Chiva-Som is combatting widespread anxiety and social isolation during lockdown by offering one-on-one live wellbeing consultations with its naturopaths, physiotherapists and exercise professionals.
An initial 50-minute consultation includes personalised feedback regarding lifestyle and nutrition and advisors can also refer clients to either a private naturopathic consultation, a natural fertility treatment session or an exercise tutorial.
The resort is also offering private yoga and meditation sessions as well as daily wellbeing advice – from self-massage to immune-boosting tips – across its social media channels.
Past and regular guests have unlimited use of consultations and tutorials. The general public can book one consultation and a referral tutorial for free, after that customer sessions start at THB3,500 (US$108, €99, £87).
“Now is a time for support, collaboration and encouragement,” says CEO Krip Rojanastien. “We’re committed to our guests and community, in which we’re striving to distribute our wellness resources to support people’s wellbeing without boundaries. We shall pass this together.”
Energy healing, ayurvedic, spiritual wellness and life coaching sessions are being offered to people in their own homes for free during the lockdown thanks to a programme set up by Healing Hotels of the World.
The Healing@Home series is being delivered by six global practitioners who have previously worked with Healing Hotels. The sessions, arranged by contacting [email protected], are designed to help clients step into new perspectives, find inner balance and transform fear into positivity and strength while coping with the pandemic.
“Although we’re unable to travel at the moment and most of our Healing Hotels are closed due to COVID-19, their hearts are still beating strongly,” says co-founder Anne Biging, “our shared mission to guide you on your healing journey is stronger than ever.”
Marina Efraimolgou owns the spa which is known for its transformation retreats
Greek transformation spa, Euphoria, has unveiled a free five-week immersive virtual retreat inspired by Greek mythology and the five elements.
The retreat will explore and focus on one of the five elements – water, wood, fire, earth and metal – in order to help people reset and focus on their energy balance, as well as understand specific organs and their emotions in relation to each of the elements.
It will be conducted online via a series of healing, grounding, and uplifting wellness practices and activities. Every week participants will be guided through two 45-minute webinars by Euphoria’s founder, Marina Efraimolgou, and spiritual mentor, Mary Vandorou.
Efraimolgou says: “We’ve based our virtual offering on our signature retreat – ‘Emotional and Physical Transformation’ – and participants can join us for just one day, one week or sign up for the full five weeks to discover the power of all the elements.”
Italian destination spa Borgo Egnazia has designed an online wellness platform to bring its unique experience into guest’s homes.
Egnazia is known for its Vair spa that addresses emotional and physical tension with more mindful treatments such as laughter therapy and olfactory tests, and the new Casa Egnazia platform celebrates this offering alongside the local Apulian culture. Content such as tips for happiness and beauty, sports for longevity and food for wellness has been generated by employees who each have their own area of expertise. It’s even recording sessions of village musicians to recreate a local festival and sending guests samples of its signature homemade tomato sauce to keep them front of mind.
“We’re generating all this great content and creating a new part of the business which I think we can still offer once we do reopen,” said spa director Erica D’Angelo on a Professional Beauty webinar. “It’s also a great opportunity to get feedback from our clients.”
Spa and hospitality recruitment firm Hutchinson Consulting has revealed a weekly video web series to help industry colleagues with questions about their career development to navigate the pandemic. The free Coffee with the Coaches sessions take place every Wednesday and are delivered by industry leader Michael Tompkins and other Hutchinson team members. Each session is recorded and shared on the company’s website.
Wellbeing hub The Well, based in New York City, launched a monthly online membership with an introductory price of US$99 (€91, £79) and US$149 (€137, £120) thereafter.
Members receive access to a ‘complete ecosystem’ for wellness online, including twice-weekly support circles, daily mindful movement and meditation classes, programming, and online appointments. Monthly coaching sessions focus on topics such as sleep health and managing anxiety during social distancing.
In late March The Well also teamed up with alternative medicine expert Deepak Chopra to live-stream a global meditation event, called H(om)e, to encourage people to stay at home and have hope during the pandemic.
With so many virtual meetings now taking place wellness PR firm S’well has created a free digital toolkit to facilitate more effective, healthier online gatherings.
The Virtually Well Meeting Recipe Book includes tips to help participants remain engaged with techniques such as intermittent mindfulness practices, using live scribing and movement exercises. In addition, it suggests using colourful mind maps to help keep track of people’s contributions and advises enriching virtual meetings with live music breaks.
S’well co-founders, Kim Marshall and Darlene Fiske, revealed the toolkit on 2 April via a webinar with the ‘methods’ demonstrated by industry figures.
Five Four Seasons resorts in Hawaii has created a series of at-home experiences, including spa treatments, designed to transport guests to the islands.
At Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, for example, spa director Cecila Hercik has unveiled an at-home Niu Bath Treatment recipe made with coconuts which is inspired by local healing traditions and ingredients. Meanwhile, the team at Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort is offering guidance on using journaling and meditation for self-reflection. The resort is owned by billionaire Larry Ellison and spa leader Andrew Gibson is a senior executive (see SB19/4).
Globally, the Four Seasons group is also releasing digital at-home fitness content called Fit with Four Seasons, led by celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2020 issue 2
Editor’s letter: Our greatest challenge
Spa and wellness businesses will reopen while COVID-19 is still circulating in the community, meaning we have to find models which work in this new reality, says Katie Barnes. So how will this change the industry?
On the menu: Pivot to digital
Which forward-thinking spas are taking their offerings online during the coronavirus pandemic?
Interview: Mary Celeste Beall
The celebrated Blackberry Farm has opened a sister property in the mountains of Tennessee. The owner tells Spa Business why wellness through nature underpins the new destination
Everyone’s talking about: COVID-19
Spa operators, wellness companies and organisations from around the world talk to Spa Business about the impact of coronavirus and what to expect down the line
Promotion: Simone Gibertoni: Clinique La Prairie
World-renowned medical spa, Clinique La Prairie, is creating a global network of
locations to support clients with their wellbeing, every day of the year, says its CEO
Research: First responders
ISPA’s COVID-19 survey offers insights into how the industry has responded to the global pandemic. Spa Business magazine examines the findings
Hotel spa: Country life: The Newt
Karen Roos, owner of the world-renowned hotel The Newt, on design, gardens and a spa housed in an old cow barn
Insights: Calls to action
Industry leaders around the world come together in a crisis to share ideas and innovations in a series of GWS Collaboration calls. Spa Business magazine reports on the highlights
Insights: Webinar wisdom
Spa Business shares its industry-relevant takeaways from the masses of webinars that are being streamed worldwide
Research: Measure for measure
Intelligent Spas reveals its latest global spa benchmarks and explores what they mean in today’s ever-changing climate
Focus on: Extreme wellness
Spa Business tries out two boundary-pushing, cold immersion retreats led by ‘The Iceman’ Wim Hof and Dr Marc Cohen
Promotion: Barr and Wray: Creating
a seamless journey
With 60 years of experience, Barr and Wray has long been known for excellence in technical design for wellness. Design director Graeme Banks explains the company also offers interior design services
Interview: Juliu Horvath
The founder of Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis tells Spa Business why he’ll never stop adapting his famous movement modality
Promotion: ISPA publishes Reopening Toolkit
A much-needed guide by ISPA gives essential advice on business planning, standard operating procedures, marketing and communications to support spas through the coronavirus crisis
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day
(GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and shaped by four pillars of Joy – in
alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the 2026 event in
Phuket, Thailand, later this year with the theme: The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness.
Auko, an all-inclusive development, is opening in Phong Nha in Vietnam in Q3 2026, with a
series of 30 tented eco-lodges and wellness hospitality operations by Lumina Wellbeing.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, has opened a 2,800sq m spa called The Sanctuary,
with the design and concept inspired by the Native American people that populated Florida’s
Southwest coast – the Calusa.
Swire Hotels’ luxury hospitality brand Upper House has revealed it will roll out its two-day
House of Healing retreats at its three hotels in Hong Kong, Chengdu and Shanghai.
LVMH-owned beauty house Guerlain will launch up to five spas with partners a year as part of
its plan to expand globally, according to the brand’s international spa and wellness director,
Diane Davody.
A new global study by Kevin Kelly and Peter Yesawich, called WELLSurvey 2.0, has revealed
more than half of consumers in the UK, US and Germany would not choose numerous high-
profile wellness resort brands for a future trip.
In today’s premium spa environment, every detail shapes the guest experience – right down to
the softness of towels and the freshness of linens. [more...]
