The resort focuses on the four pillars of mind, skin, microbiome and energy / photo: Joali Being
A new nature-immersive wellbeing retreat is being built on the Maldivian island of Bodufushi. Scheduled to open in late 2021, Joali Being has been conceptualised and designed by Spa Strategy’s Claire Way while uplifting programmes have been created by Gerry Bodeker.
The Joali brand is the brainchild of owner and entrepreneur Esin Güral Argat, from Turkish-based Gürallar Group and complements the conglomerate’s mid-range Ali Bey Hotels & Resorts.
Joali Being will be a sister site to Joali Maldives which opened in 2019 with a signature ESPA Life spa.
The upcoming 68-villa destination is billed to be the brand’s biggest commitment to wellbeing yet – the spa itself features 39 treatment rooms – and has been designed to go beyond the scope of other tropical wellbeing retreats.
Transformational spaces Way has been working on the project for more than three years. She says the beating heart of Joali Being will be the expansive Areka spa. Aside from the 39 treatment rooms, with equipment by Lemi, there will be a large hydrotherapy hall, including a sensory deprivation room, Russian banya, water therapies, halotherapy suite and a hammam. Guests will also have access to a Sound Therapy Hall and Discovery Sound Path (designed by the Svar Academy, India), fitness offerings and an over-water meditation deck.
Areka will be complemented by Aktar, Joali Being’s dedicated herbology centre. Here, guests will be able to address wellbeing concerns with a resident herbalist who specialises in preparing natural remedies using plants, spices and essential oils.
Way describes Joali Being as a stunning location that’s a complete break from everyday life and which is both remote yet accessible. In her opinion, the property will be one-of-a-kind, because the retreat will be the island’s only destination.
“There are no distractions, only transformational spaces spread across the island, where everything you do enhances your health,” she says, “the entire location is dedicated to enhancing wellbeing.”
Sense of weightlessness The retreat’s philosophy is underpinned by four wellbeing pillars – mind, skin, microbiome and energy – and the project has been conceived with a sense of purpose and synergy, so all elements work together to help guests leave feeling healthier and happier, even if they decide not to deeply engage in wellbeing services.
Programmes will last between five days and three weeks and consist of a range of scientific therapies, diagnostic services, educational sessions and specialised therapeutic and complementary healing treatments.
All begin with an intelligent movement analysis and an integrative health assessment.
Going weightless A concept of weightlessness has been developed with the help of Bodeker – researcher, industry figure and chair of the GWI’s Mental Wellness Initiative.
“We created programmes that would enable guests to experience transcendence and lightness, a sense of having lifted out of the weight of everyday cares and entered into new experiences of clarity and joy that could be carried home with support from the Joali wellbeing specialists,” he says.
“The pathways to these experiences include a unique world of programmes and experiences designed to ease away fatigue and tensions.”
Educational elements Susanne Fisch will be spa and wellness manager, supported by industry consultant and founder of Spa and Wellness Collective, Melany Martinez Thomas, who is Joali’s director of wellbeing for both the company’s properties.
With a curated library and a calendar of interactive workshops, guests will also be able to discover the benefits of herbal teas and learn to make natural body creams, face masks and massage oils. In addition, a boutique will offer a handpicked selection of dried herbs, oils and natural cosmetics for purchase.
Guests will have access to a Learning Centre and a schedule of educational workshops and experiential classes with wellbeing experts and culinary maestros.
To round out the offering and cater to the microbiome pillar, Joali Being will offer fresh earth-to-table cuisine at a range of dining concepts where all menus have been curated by the retreat’s on-site nutritionists.
“Joali Being will be a perfect destination for everyone,” Way adds, “because everything they do comes from a place of positive wellbeing”.
Nature-immersive Way says the design is inspired by the island setting and integrates nature throughout. During construction wild forest has been untouched and architects Cuneyt Bukulmez and interior design studio Autoban are realising the destination with biophilic principles to achieve harmony with nature.
Conservation and sustainability will play a major part in the retreat’s operation, with plans for a turtle sanctuary, a reef restoration project, greywater recycling system and food waste composter, among others.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2021 issue 3
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With global staff shortages threatening to stall economic recovery, it’s time to reboot our commitment to driving improvements in pay and working conditions across the spa and wellness industry
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The resort focuses on the four pillars of mind, skin, microbiome and energy / photo: Joali Being
A new nature-immersive wellbeing retreat is being built on the Maldivian island of Bodufushi. Scheduled to open in late 2021, Joali Being has been conceptualised and designed by Spa Strategy’s Claire Way while uplifting programmes have been created by Gerry Bodeker.
The Joali brand is the brainchild of owner and entrepreneur Esin Güral Argat, from Turkish-based Gürallar Group and complements the conglomerate’s mid-range Ali Bey Hotels & Resorts.
Joali Being will be a sister site to Joali Maldives which opened in 2019 with a signature ESPA Life spa.
The upcoming 68-villa destination is billed to be the brand’s biggest commitment to wellbeing yet – the spa itself features 39 treatment rooms – and has been designed to go beyond the scope of other tropical wellbeing retreats.
Transformational spaces Way has been working on the project for more than three years. She says the beating heart of Joali Being will be the expansive Areka spa. Aside from the 39 treatment rooms, with equipment by Lemi, there will be a large hydrotherapy hall, including a sensory deprivation room, Russian banya, water therapies, halotherapy suite and a hammam. Guests will also have access to a Sound Therapy Hall and Discovery Sound Path (designed by the Svar Academy, India), fitness offerings and an over-water meditation deck.
Areka will be complemented by Aktar, Joali Being’s dedicated herbology centre. Here, guests will be able to address wellbeing concerns with a resident herbalist who specialises in preparing natural remedies using plants, spices and essential oils.
Way describes Joali Being as a stunning location that’s a complete break from everyday life and which is both remote yet accessible. In her opinion, the property will be one-of-a-kind, because the retreat will be the island’s only destination.
“There are no distractions, only transformational spaces spread across the island, where everything you do enhances your health,” she says, “the entire location is dedicated to enhancing wellbeing.”
Sense of weightlessness The retreat’s philosophy is underpinned by four wellbeing pillars – mind, skin, microbiome and energy – and the project has been conceived with a sense of purpose and synergy, so all elements work together to help guests leave feeling healthier and happier, even if they decide not to deeply engage in wellbeing services.
Programmes will last between five days and three weeks and consist of a range of scientific therapies, diagnostic services, educational sessions and specialised therapeutic and complementary healing treatments.
All begin with an intelligent movement analysis and an integrative health assessment.
Going weightless A concept of weightlessness has been developed with the help of Bodeker – researcher, industry figure and chair of the GWI’s Mental Wellness Initiative.
“We created programmes that would enable guests to experience transcendence and lightness, a sense of having lifted out of the weight of everyday cares and entered into new experiences of clarity and joy that could be carried home with support from the Joali wellbeing specialists,” he says.
“The pathways to these experiences include a unique world of programmes and experiences designed to ease away fatigue and tensions.”
Educational elements Susanne Fisch will be spa and wellness manager, supported by industry consultant and founder of Spa and Wellness Collective, Melany Martinez Thomas, who is Joali’s director of wellbeing for both the company’s properties.
With a curated library and a calendar of interactive workshops, guests will also be able to discover the benefits of herbal teas and learn to make natural body creams, face masks and massage oils. In addition, a boutique will offer a handpicked selection of dried herbs, oils and natural cosmetics for purchase.
Guests will have access to a Learning Centre and a schedule of educational workshops and experiential classes with wellbeing experts and culinary maestros.
To round out the offering and cater to the microbiome pillar, Joali Being will offer fresh earth-to-table cuisine at a range of dining concepts where all menus have been curated by the retreat’s on-site nutritionists.
“Joali Being will be a perfect destination for everyone,” Way adds, “because everything they do comes from a place of positive wellbeing”.
Nature-immersive Way says the design is inspired by the island setting and integrates nature throughout. During construction wild forest has been untouched and architects Cuneyt Bukulmez and interior design studio Autoban are realising the destination with biophilic principles to achieve harmony with nature.
Conservation and sustainability will play a major part in the retreat’s operation, with plans for a turtle sanctuary, a reef restoration project, greywater recycling system and food waste composter, among others.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2021 issue 3
Editor's letter: All about the people
With global staff shortages threatening to stall economic recovery, it’s time to reboot our commitment to driving improvements in pay and working conditions across the spa and wellness industry
Spa people: Dr Mark Hyman
Dr Mark Hyman MD believes functional medicine has the power to be life-changing in the health and wellbeing of patients.
New opening: Six Senses Shaharut
Six Senses has opened the doors to its new 60-key retreat in Israel’s southern Negev Desert, complete with a 1,900sq m, two-level spa and wellness sanctuary
New opening: QC NY
A 74,000sq ft Italian day spa has opened on New York’s Governors Island after a US$50m investment and seven years of planning, building and restoration.
Interview: Kenneth Ryan
We talk to the global head of spa at Marriott International about navigating the global lockdown, re-imagining the company's brand portfolio and what it will take to succeed post-COVID-19
Sponsored: Time out
Answering a growing demand
for non-invasive, anti-ageing skin
care, Comfort Zone is relaunching
its Sublime Skin line with a new
filler-like natural formula that
reverses cellular degeneration
Research: Total impact
Latest ISPA report considers the economic fallout of the pandemic and the spa industry's road to recovery
Sponsored: Gharieni Group
CEO Sammy Gharieni talks about his relentless drive
to deliver innovative products to underpin operators’ success
Analysis: Role model
What business models are showing the most potential in the wellness industry? Lyndsay Madden Nadeau shares her insights
Interview: Lorenzo Giannuzzi
The hospitality veteran dreamed of reinventing an historic Italian palazzo as a world-class medical spa. Lisa Starr went to find out more
Sponsored: TechnoAlpin
Snow rooms are creating a ‘wow’ factor for customers,
while reducing operating costs in the delivery of hot and cold
experiences
Interview: Gloria Caulfield
The executive director of Lake Nona wellness community talks about tapping into the latest tech to create healthy living environments
Software: Revenue management
How software suppliers have been supporting spas to get savvy with yield management since the pandemic began
Promotion: Iyashi Dôme
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alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
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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.
Luxury hospitality and wellness pioneer Jeremy McCarthy has launched Leisure Alchemy, a
digital platform that will provide professionals with strategic guidance on how to build
transformational leisure experiences that drive profit.
The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. [more...]
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...]
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COMPANY PROFILES
BC Softwear Ltd Established in 2002 by Barbara Cooke, BC SoftWear provides unmatched expertise in the crafting of th [more...]
