From a director of spa at Four Seasons to an entrepreneur who introduces exciting new beauty brands to five-star facilities, Shawna Morneau’s experience on both sides of the industry is enabling her consultancy to have an impact worldwide
What’s the core business of Neaumorinc? We’re a beauty brand development consultancy based in Dubai, and our mission is to help emerging skincare, beauty, fragrance and lifestyle brands expand their reach globally.
We work with businesses, many of which are family-owned, that have developed exceptional products and had some success in smaller markets, and we help to pair them with the best five-star spa facilities around the world.
It’s so rewarding to see these small businesses grow and achieve their goals.
As we’re based in Dubai, we’re also in a strong position to help brands looking to enter the UAE market in particular. We assist them in finding reputable distributors and negotiate the best terms, as well as handle all aspects of the UAE registration process on their behalf.
The final strand of our business is product formulation, and we can help companies and private clients develop their own bespoke ranges.
These are not white label, generic products, but formulations that we know have the ability to become known brands, based on our market research.
What’s your background in the industry? I studied medical aesthetics in Canada and went on to become a lead therapist for Suki’s International in Vancouver. I then worked for Four Seasons in Sydney before travelling through Asia and learning acupressure and Thai massage. From there I went to New Zealand and then back to Canada where I knew I didn’t want to return to working for just one company.
In Vancouver I launched the original version of this consultancy in 2009, and we’ve been expanding ever since, working with leading companies in worldwide locations – including developing the spa for the First Lady of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva, at the Four Seasons hotel in Baku.
I’m also currently studying cosmetic chemistry at the Society for Cosmetic Science in London.
What service do you provide for product brands? We only work with brands that have high quality products, and we effectively coach them in all aspects of their business – from staff training to treatment development and product packaging – so we are then able to position them in front of the kind of five star facilities that might normally be more challenging for them to reach.
How does your consultancy benefit the five star facilities? The many years I’ve spent working both in and alongside five star hotels and spas means that I know exactly what will assist these companies. As a consultancy we don’t just go into these sites and talk about the products we represent. We do key market analysis and benchmarking, so we’re able to prove exactly why a particular brand will work for them.
You’re soon to launch your own hammam range. Can you tell us more about this? I’ve been working for the past six years to develop an all-natural hammam range. I identified a need for it in the market, and it will launch later this year.
I started my research while working as head of department for the spa at Richard Branson’s Kasbah Tamadot in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, just outside Marrakech. While working there I lived alongside the Berbers, and as a hobby started to experiment with the many local plants and botanicals for cosmetics.
I’ve always been fascinated by formulations. My grandmother used to work for Procter and Gamble, in charge of the Cover Girl, Max Factor and Oil of Olay brands. I used to spend hours as a child playing with her cosmetic products, mixing eye shadows into creams and coming up with all sorts of concoctions. In Morocco, I came up with 47 all-natural formulations, so I guess it’s in my genes!
What qualities do you look for in potential skincare ingredients? We’re extremely careful about where and how we source our ingredients. They must be pure and fair trade. Currently we’re working with figue de barbary (prickly pear), found in North Africa, which produces a highly anti-ageing and antioxidant facial oil. We’ve also extracted the anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing properties from saffron while eliminating the problem of its yellow staining.
The laboratory we use in Morocco picks ingredients from the trees on-site and take them straight to the lab. You can’t get fresher or more local than that.
How important is packaging? It’s key, and like our ingredients, we’re careful with our sourcing. Materials must be green and recyclable. For example, with my hammam range, the containers are recyclable and the tops are engraved with rose gold and henna, so they can convert to decorative coasters when the customer has finished the product.
For design, we work with our partner design firm in Paris, which creates packaging for several famous brands.
What excites you about the industry? I love the fact that it’s ever evolving, and also that we’re mindfully creating products and experiences that make people feel better. The more I travel, the more I realise it’s a very small industry. I attend eight major trade shows a year and always look forward to meeting and learning from my peers. Industry influencers like Sammy Gharieni, CEO of Gharieni, and Riad Bouaziz, CEO of RKF Luxury Linen, have been great mentors to me.
I also enjoy a close working relationship with Kathryn Moore of Spa Connectors. We regularly swap entrepreneurial ideas and inspire each other.
I always say that I don’t have a job, I have a passion. Working in the wellness industry has also taught me how to find balance in my own life so that I’m better able to serve others.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2016 issue 2
Editor’s letter: Who will own the well-life consumer?
It’s the wild west out there and there’s a land grab going on as interested parties make their play to own the well-life consumer. It’s not clear yet how this will pan out as the industry matures, or where spa stands in the pecking order, but the threats are clear
Spa people: Tyler Gage
Runa’s Tyler Gage working with Channing Tatum on an Amazon healing centre
Spa people: Todd Hewitt
For the first time in four years, Shangri-La appoints a global head of spas. Spa Business talks to Todd Hewitt, the man to fill the role
Spa people: James White
Thermal spa researcher and consultant to head up major overhaul of Maruia Hot Springs in New Zealand
Interview: Irene Forte
Daughter of hotelier Sir Rocco Forte and niece of designer Olga Polizzi tells Jane Kitchen why the Rocco Forte Hotel’s new spa concept is a family affair
Design: Natural wonderland
Neena Dhillon visits the striking new Keemala resort and spa in Phuket and finds out about its unique design
Science: Skin deep
Modern research is redefining the way we think about skin. Neuroscientist Dr Claudia Aguirre explains what the findings mean for spas
Promotional feature: Clarins
Clarins’ head of Spas, My Blend and Retail, Prisca Courtin-Clarins, talks about the strides the company is making in highly prescriptive skincare, and the development of hotel spa concepts with the My Blend brand
Promotional feature: Massage Heights
There’s a clear gap in the UK spa market for an affordable local offering that places an emphasis on top-quality treatments and services. Is Massage Heights, the successful US franchise chain, the solution?
Promotional feature: Neaumorinc
From a director of spa at Four Seasons to an entrepreneur who introduces exciting new beauty brands to five-star facilities, Shawna Morneau’s experience on both sides of the industry is enabling her consultancy to have an impact worldwide
Promotional feature: Dr Burgener Switzerland
Dr Burgener Switzerland to launch Haute Couture, a revolutionary skin treatment that personalises product and treatments to each person’s skin, using cutting-edge technology
Sensory zone: Set adrift
Niamh Madigan talks to researcher Justin Feinstein who thinks floatation could be a shortcut to meditation
Fitness: Defying gravity
The founder of AntiGravity® Aerial Yoga tells Niamh Madigan about the technique and a new suspension massage he’s developing for spas
Promotional feature: Gharieni
As Gharieni prepares to celebrate 25 years in the industry, founder and CEO Sammy Gharieni talks about the company’s culture of innovation, and how there will so many more exciting products to come
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...]
From a director of spa at Four Seasons to an entrepreneur who introduces exciting new beauty brands to five-star facilities, Shawna Morneau’s experience on both sides of the industry is enabling her consultancy to have an impact worldwide
What’s the core business of Neaumorinc? We’re a beauty brand development consultancy based in Dubai, and our mission is to help emerging skincare, beauty, fragrance and lifestyle brands expand their reach globally.
We work with businesses, many of which are family-owned, that have developed exceptional products and had some success in smaller markets, and we help to pair them with the best five-star spa facilities around the world.
It’s so rewarding to see these small businesses grow and achieve their goals.
As we’re based in Dubai, we’re also in a strong position to help brands looking to enter the UAE market in particular. We assist them in finding reputable distributors and negotiate the best terms, as well as handle all aspects of the UAE registration process on their behalf.
The final strand of our business is product formulation, and we can help companies and private clients develop their own bespoke ranges.
These are not white label, generic products, but formulations that we know have the ability to become known brands, based on our market research.
What’s your background in the industry? I studied medical aesthetics in Canada and went on to become a lead therapist for Suki’s International in Vancouver. I then worked for Four Seasons in Sydney before travelling through Asia and learning acupressure and Thai massage. From there I went to New Zealand and then back to Canada where I knew I didn’t want to return to working for just one company.
In Vancouver I launched the original version of this consultancy in 2009, and we’ve been expanding ever since, working with leading companies in worldwide locations – including developing the spa for the First Lady of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva, at the Four Seasons hotel in Baku.
I’m also currently studying cosmetic chemistry at the Society for Cosmetic Science in London.
What service do you provide for product brands? We only work with brands that have high quality products, and we effectively coach them in all aspects of their business – from staff training to treatment development and product packaging – so we are then able to position them in front of the kind of five star facilities that might normally be more challenging for them to reach.
How does your consultancy benefit the five star facilities? The many years I’ve spent working both in and alongside five star hotels and spas means that I know exactly what will assist these companies. As a consultancy we don’t just go into these sites and talk about the products we represent. We do key market analysis and benchmarking, so we’re able to prove exactly why a particular brand will work for them.
You’re soon to launch your own hammam range. Can you tell us more about this? I’ve been working for the past six years to develop an all-natural hammam range. I identified a need for it in the market, and it will launch later this year.
I started my research while working as head of department for the spa at Richard Branson’s Kasbah Tamadot in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, just outside Marrakech. While working there I lived alongside the Berbers, and as a hobby started to experiment with the many local plants and botanicals for cosmetics.
I’ve always been fascinated by formulations. My grandmother used to work for Procter and Gamble, in charge of the Cover Girl, Max Factor and Oil of Olay brands. I used to spend hours as a child playing with her cosmetic products, mixing eye shadows into creams and coming up with all sorts of concoctions. In Morocco, I came up with 47 all-natural formulations, so I guess it’s in my genes!
What qualities do you look for in potential skincare ingredients? We’re extremely careful about where and how we source our ingredients. They must be pure and fair trade. Currently we’re working with figue de barbary (prickly pear), found in North Africa, which produces a highly anti-ageing and antioxidant facial oil. We’ve also extracted the anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing properties from saffron while eliminating the problem of its yellow staining.
The laboratory we use in Morocco picks ingredients from the trees on-site and take them straight to the lab. You can’t get fresher or more local than that.
How important is packaging? It’s key, and like our ingredients, we’re careful with our sourcing. Materials must be green and recyclable. For example, with my hammam range, the containers are recyclable and the tops are engraved with rose gold and henna, so they can convert to decorative coasters when the customer has finished the product.
For design, we work with our partner design firm in Paris, which creates packaging for several famous brands.
What excites you about the industry? I love the fact that it’s ever evolving, and also that we’re mindfully creating products and experiences that make people feel better. The more I travel, the more I realise it’s a very small industry. I attend eight major trade shows a year and always look forward to meeting and learning from my peers. Industry influencers like Sammy Gharieni, CEO of Gharieni, and Riad Bouaziz, CEO of RKF Luxury Linen, have been great mentors to me.
I also enjoy a close working relationship with Kathryn Moore of Spa Connectors. We regularly swap entrepreneurial ideas and inspire each other.
I always say that I don’t have a job, I have a passion. Working in the wellness industry has also taught me how to find balance in my own life so that I’m better able to serve others.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2016 issue 2
Editor’s letter: Who will own the well-life consumer?
It’s the wild west out there and there’s a land grab going on as interested parties make their play to own the well-life consumer. It’s not clear yet how this will pan out as the industry matures, or where spa stands in the pecking order, but the threats are clear
Spa people: Tyler Gage
Runa’s Tyler Gage working with Channing Tatum on an Amazon healing centre
Spa people: Todd Hewitt
For the first time in four years, Shangri-La appoints a global head of spas. Spa Business talks to Todd Hewitt, the man to fill the role
Spa people: James White
Thermal spa researcher and consultant to head up major overhaul of Maruia Hot Springs in New Zealand
Interview: Irene Forte
Daughter of hotelier Sir Rocco Forte and niece of designer Olga Polizzi tells Jane Kitchen why the Rocco Forte Hotel’s new spa concept is a family affair
Design: Natural wonderland
Neena Dhillon visits the striking new Keemala resort and spa in Phuket and finds out about its unique design
Science: Skin deep
Modern research is redefining the way we think about skin. Neuroscientist Dr Claudia Aguirre explains what the findings mean for spas
Promotional feature: Clarins
Clarins’ head of Spas, My Blend and Retail, Prisca Courtin-Clarins, talks about the strides the company is making in highly prescriptive skincare, and the development of hotel spa concepts with the My Blend brand
Promotional feature: Massage Heights
There’s a clear gap in the UK spa market for an affordable local offering that places an emphasis on top-quality treatments and services. Is Massage Heights, the successful US franchise chain, the solution?
Promotional feature: Neaumorinc
From a director of spa at Four Seasons to an entrepreneur who introduces exciting new beauty brands to five-star facilities, Shawna Morneau’s experience on both sides of the industry is enabling her consultancy to have an impact worldwide
Promotional feature: Dr Burgener Switzerland
Dr Burgener Switzerland to launch Haute Couture, a revolutionary skin treatment that personalises product and treatments to each person’s skin, using cutting-edge technology
Sensory zone: Set adrift
Niamh Madigan talks to researcher Justin Feinstein who thinks floatation could be a shortcut to meditation
Fitness: Defying gravity
The founder of AntiGravity® Aerial Yoga tells Niamh Madigan about the technique and a new suspension massage he’s developing for spas
Promotional feature: Gharieni
As Gharieni prepares to celebrate 25 years in the industry, founder and CEO Sammy Gharieni talks about the company’s culture of innovation, and how there will so many more exciting products to come
A recent survey by the UK Spa Association (UKSA) into the industry’s approach to cancer care
has revealed that almost half of participating respondents (46 per cent) are unaware that
cancer is a disability and guests with a cancer diagnosis must be given
Mexican operator, Solmar Hotels and Resorts, is hosting a series of events in celebration of
Global Wellness Day, including a Temazcal ceremony at its Playa Grande Resort and Spa in Los
Cabos.
Mandarin Oriental has announced a standalone residence brand, Mansions, which will debut at
Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions, Abu Dhabi, in 2029.
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.
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...]
