The new Sothys Academy has the capacity to host 24 therapists / PHOTO: sothys
High-quality effective training is one of the most fundamental pillars of any successful professional spa brand. For Sothys Group, this is one of its founding principles and has served as the inspiration behind the creation of its new international training centre in the heart of Paris.
Located in the 8th arrondissement, The Sothys Academy has been established to support and inspire skincare professionals globally. It constitutes not only the training headquarters for the group’s three brands – Sothys, Bernard Cassiere and Beauty Garden – but also houses the group’s HQ.
Sothys Group’s vision was to create a highly adaptable working environment with a quintessentially Parisian feel. To execute this vision, it tapped the expertise of French architectural firm, Studio Kompa, and created a facility featuring areas for theory-based and practical training.
A global approach Capable of hosting 24 therapists, the centre is overseen by a team of four international trainers, two US trainers, six local trainers and one for Latin America.
“The Sothys Academy has been created by and for beauticians to make learning a shared pleasure,” explains Isabelle Villey, Sothys training director.
“It champions a varied, fun and participative teaching approach that enables students to become global Sothys ambassadors. Its opening marks the establishment of a major new European flagship for our brands, as well as the introduction of an important central learning hub for our global partners.
“The academy’s launch has elevated the Sothys Group name further and reinforced its position as one of the world’s leading premium spa brands.”
The company has devised an innovative schedule of training sessions to enable partner spas and their teams to top up their knowledge and upskill throughout the year.
For new spa partners, The Sothys Academy is hosting introductory account-opening training, plus one-day courses focused on signature treatments. Additional programmes include one-day sessions highlighting new product launches and a module dedicated to product advice and sales.
"The Sothys Academy has been created by and for beauticians to make learning a shared pleasure" – Isabelle Villey,
Sothys Academy Director
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2023 issue 3
Editor's letter: Reflection point
As Spa Business celebrates its 20th birthday, Katie Barnes pauses for thought and rejoices in the industry’s evolution
Spa People: 20th anniversary issue: Anna Bjurstam
The strategic senior advisor at Six Senses and Raison d'Etre on being initiated as a shaman, why psychedelics are here to stay and her bigger fear for the global spa industry
Promotion: Klafs: Relax into wellbeing
Klafs and Studio F. A. Porsche have combined their design and wellness expertise to create an oasis for total-body relaxation
News report: Eastern promise
Japan’s spa industry is valued at US$4.2 billion and is part of the world's third highest-performing wellness economy
Jeremy McCarthy: Theory of evolution
From spa to wellness and now leisure – Spa Business’ contributing editor looks at where hospitality experiences are heading
Promotion: Lemi: Built to last
Lemi is committed to leading with innovation to create
cutting-edge treatment room solutions that excel
in terms of performance and eco-credentials
Promotion: G.M. COLLIN: Collagen pioneers
GM Collin’s expertise in collagen research and product formulation has resulted in the creation of a new serum that combats age-related skin degeneration
Promotion: Comfort Zone: A brighter future
Consumers are increasingly interested in reducing dark spots and hyperpigmentation and a new line from Comfort Zone has been launched to address this emerging need
Promotion: Art of Cryo: Life changing experience
Vikki and Robbie are often exhausted after work. A visit to the spa to experience
the Art of Cryo Tech-Spa Module is a chance to re-set and rejuvenate together
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...]
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...]
The new Sothys Academy has the capacity to host 24 therapists / PHOTO: sothys
High-quality effective training is one of the most fundamental pillars of any successful professional spa brand. For Sothys Group, this is one of its founding principles and has served as the inspiration behind the creation of its new international training centre in the heart of Paris.
Located in the 8th arrondissement, The Sothys Academy has been established to support and inspire skincare professionals globally. It constitutes not only the training headquarters for the group’s three brands – Sothys, Bernard Cassiere and Beauty Garden – but also houses the group’s HQ.
Sothys Group’s vision was to create a highly adaptable working environment with a quintessentially Parisian feel. To execute this vision, it tapped the expertise of French architectural firm, Studio Kompa, and created a facility featuring areas for theory-based and practical training.
A global approach Capable of hosting 24 therapists, the centre is overseen by a team of four international trainers, two US trainers, six local trainers and one for Latin America.
“The Sothys Academy has been created by and for beauticians to make learning a shared pleasure,” explains Isabelle Villey, Sothys training director.
“It champions a varied, fun and participative teaching approach that enables students to become global Sothys ambassadors. Its opening marks the establishment of a major new European flagship for our brands, as well as the introduction of an important central learning hub for our global partners.
“The academy’s launch has elevated the Sothys Group name further and reinforced its position as one of the world’s leading premium spa brands.”
The company has devised an innovative schedule of training sessions to enable partner spas and their teams to top up their knowledge and upskill throughout the year.
For new spa partners, The Sothys Academy is hosting introductory account-opening training, plus one-day courses focused on signature treatments. Additional programmes include one-day sessions highlighting new product launches and a module dedicated to product advice and sales.
"The Sothys Academy has been created by and for beauticians to make learning a shared pleasure" – Isabelle Villey,
Sothys Academy Director
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2023 issue 3
Editor's letter: Reflection point
As Spa Business celebrates its 20th birthday, Katie Barnes pauses for thought and rejoices in the industry’s evolution
Spa People: 20th anniversary issue: Anna Bjurstam
The strategic senior advisor at Six Senses and Raison d'Etre on being initiated as a shaman, why psychedelics are here to stay and her bigger fear for the global spa industry
Promotion: Klafs: Relax into wellbeing
Klafs and Studio F. A. Porsche have combined their design and wellness expertise to create an oasis for total-body relaxation
News report: Eastern promise
Japan’s spa industry is valued at US$4.2 billion and is part of the world's third highest-performing wellness economy
Jeremy McCarthy: Theory of evolution
From spa to wellness and now leisure – Spa Business’ contributing editor looks at where hospitality experiences are heading
Promotion: Lemi: Built to last
Lemi is committed to leading with innovation to create
cutting-edge treatment room solutions that excel
in terms of performance and eco-credentials
Promotion: G.M. COLLIN: Collagen pioneers
GM Collin’s expertise in collagen research and product formulation has resulted in the creation of a new serum that combats age-related skin degeneration
Promotion: Comfort Zone: A brighter future
Consumers are increasingly interested in reducing dark spots and hyperpigmentation and a new line from Comfort Zone has been launched to address this emerging need
Promotion: Art of Cryo: Life changing experience
Vikki and Robbie are often exhausted after work. A visit to the spa to experience
the Art of Cryo Tech-Spa Module is a chance to re-set and rejuvenate together
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.
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.
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...]
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...]
