The spa is offering ‘an ever-evolving’ treatment menu / Photo: Fairmont Hotels and Resorts/CPZ
How has Yabu Pushelberg’s design set the scene? It’s a clean and minimal space, yet features intricate touches, such as detailed woodwork and beautiful marble. The high arching ceilings within the grand treatment rooms give a modern global feel, yet with a nostalgic elegant grandeur.
We’ve designed our experiences to pay homage to the past, bringing tried and true ancient modalities to our guests in a modern way.
Tell us about the biohacking room It offers experiences focused on mindfulness, improved sleep and stress elimination – all things that are plaguing many people, especially now – given the world we live in.
Biohacking sessions have been curated to maximise the time and effectiveness of different tools to directly impact guests’ wellbeing, not only on the day of their treatment, but also moving forward in their life. Session includes an anti-gravity chair, PEMF infrared mat, compression boots and a Nucalm session, all proven to impact mental and physical health.
We believe it’s extremely important to engage in therapies that support mental health and recovery and have a lasting effect on wellbeing.
These biohacking treatments complement many other offerings throughout the property that have a focus on mental and physical recovery and range from curated meditation moments on our front drive, to virtual fitness and recovery sessions accessible on our TVs, and a recovery station in the fitness centre by Three Sages Wellness.
Tell us about your partnerships Having strategic partners enables us to be at the top of the game in various categories by engaging with the experts in each area. I often joke that I know a little about a lot, and can then find those who know the most within their respective space. Having these strategic partnerships also allows guests to access new experts.
You’ve gone to great lengths to engage all the senses. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind this? In everything we do, the magic is in the detail, which I have always found to be extremely important.
In the luxury market, there’s a high expectation of great service and beautiful facilities, so the curation of the details is what sets you apart.
Targeting the senses is the place to start. The subtleties of how something feels, tastes, smells and looks is the best part of what we do. In addition, it’s the element of surprise and delight that creates an outstanding memorable experience.
From the moment guests arrive they’re welcomed by our signature sunset aroma. In the treatment rooms they lie on special wellness linens atop custom-made heated tables and their experiences conclude with a locally-inspired tasting in our relaxation space. We also fill the spa with soothing binaural beats with healing frequencies. I often smile to myself that we’re helping heal people and they don’t even realise it!
Can the service continue to live up to the hotel’s reputation? It’s been an honour and privilege to be the opening GM for this property and spa. We’ve been given the creative freedom to curate special experiences for our guests that we believe are unparalleled. As a leader there’s not a lot more I can ask for, apart from an outstanding team, which is exactly what we have.
photo: Fairmont Hotels and Resorts/CPZ
"It’s the element of surprise and delight that creates an outstanding memorable experience," – Magdaleena Nikolov
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2022 issue 2
Editor's letter: The wellness metaverse
We’re being handed a powerful new tool that will become a channel for creativity and innovation – pioneering wellness operators are already getting to grips with its exciting potential
Spa People: Michael Stusser
The wellness pioneer explains how he created an authentic Japanese bathing experience in the heart of the California hills
Spa People: Scot Toon
The Asia MD of The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts unveils the company's latest island development plans
Project preview: Off-grid
Svart Six Senses is set to open in Norway in 2024, and redefine the meaning of sustainable wellness tourism and regenerative travel
Sponsored: Myrtha Wellness: watertight expertise
Myrtha has transformed the world of aquatics over the last 60 years. Now it’s bringing its ingenuity-driven expertise to the international wellness industry
Interview: Rainer Usselmann
Tech business Happy Finish is bringing metaverse-based experiences to the wellness sector, working with Wund
Everyone's talking about: Menopause
From taboo to hot topic – how can spas offer treatments and a safe space for women to explore this often challenging phase of life?
Research: Bounceback
PwC says the US spa market was worth US$1bn in 2021 and growing well, according to data from ISPA's latest industry-wide study
First person: An icon reborn
Fairmont unveils the stunning renovation of its iconic Century Plaza hotel in LA, and Rianna Riego checks out the new spa
Q&A: Magdaleena Nikolov
The GM of spa, wellness and retail at Fairmont
Century Plaza talks to Jane Kitchen
Q&A: Mia Kyricos
The wellness leader talks about the creation of her new trademarked framework for the development and delivery of wellness interventions
Sponsored: Art of Cryo: raising the bar
Art of Cryo is complementing its high
performance cryotherapy range with advanced
new technology to enhance treatment benefits
Mystery Shopper: The Londoner
Our reviewer travels undercover to check out the spa offering at The Londoner – one of the most high profile openings in the capital in recent times
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 a world where imbalance often accumulates quietly, Wildsmith unveils its newest
wellbeing innovation: Silent Loads, an approach designed to meet the needs of modern spa
guests with precision and depth. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Nilo Spa Design
Nilo SPA Design, part of the Maletti group, has led the Beauty & Wellness sector for over 35 years p [more...]
The spa is offering ‘an ever-evolving’ treatment menu / Photo: Fairmont Hotels and Resorts/CPZ
How has Yabu Pushelberg’s design set the scene? It’s a clean and minimal space, yet features intricate touches, such as detailed woodwork and beautiful marble. The high arching ceilings within the grand treatment rooms give a modern global feel, yet with a nostalgic elegant grandeur.
We’ve designed our experiences to pay homage to the past, bringing tried and true ancient modalities to our guests in a modern way.
Tell us about the biohacking room It offers experiences focused on mindfulness, improved sleep and stress elimination – all things that are plaguing many people, especially now – given the world we live in.
Biohacking sessions have been curated to maximise the time and effectiveness of different tools to directly impact guests’ wellbeing, not only on the day of their treatment, but also moving forward in their life. Session includes an anti-gravity chair, PEMF infrared mat, compression boots and a Nucalm session, all proven to impact mental and physical health.
We believe it’s extremely important to engage in therapies that support mental health and recovery and have a lasting effect on wellbeing.
These biohacking treatments complement many other offerings throughout the property that have a focus on mental and physical recovery and range from curated meditation moments on our front drive, to virtual fitness and recovery sessions accessible on our TVs, and a recovery station in the fitness centre by Three Sages Wellness.
Tell us about your partnerships Having strategic partners enables us to be at the top of the game in various categories by engaging with the experts in each area. I often joke that I know a little about a lot, and can then find those who know the most within their respective space. Having these strategic partnerships also allows guests to access new experts.
You’ve gone to great lengths to engage all the senses. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind this? In everything we do, the magic is in the detail, which I have always found to be extremely important.
In the luxury market, there’s a high expectation of great service and beautiful facilities, so the curation of the details is what sets you apart.
Targeting the senses is the place to start. The subtleties of how something feels, tastes, smells and looks is the best part of what we do. In addition, it’s the element of surprise and delight that creates an outstanding memorable experience.
From the moment guests arrive they’re welcomed by our signature sunset aroma. In the treatment rooms they lie on special wellness linens atop custom-made heated tables and their experiences conclude with a locally-inspired tasting in our relaxation space. We also fill the spa with soothing binaural beats with healing frequencies. I often smile to myself that we’re helping heal people and they don’t even realise it!
Can the service continue to live up to the hotel’s reputation? It’s been an honour and privilege to be the opening GM for this property and spa. We’ve been given the creative freedom to curate special experiences for our guests that we believe are unparalleled. As a leader there’s not a lot more I can ask for, apart from an outstanding team, which is exactly what we have.
photo: Fairmont Hotels and Resorts/CPZ
"It’s the element of surprise and delight that creates an outstanding memorable experience," – Magdaleena Nikolov
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2022 issue 2
Editor's letter: The wellness metaverse
We’re being handed a powerful new tool that will become a channel for creativity and innovation – pioneering wellness operators are already getting to grips with its exciting potential
Spa People: Michael Stusser
The wellness pioneer explains how he created an authentic Japanese bathing experience in the heart of the California hills
Spa People: Scot Toon
The Asia MD of The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts unveils the company's latest island development plans
Project preview: Off-grid
Svart Six Senses is set to open in Norway in 2024, and redefine the meaning of sustainable wellness tourism and regenerative travel
Sponsored: Myrtha Wellness: watertight expertise
Myrtha has transformed the world of aquatics over the last 60 years. Now it’s bringing its ingenuity-driven expertise to the international wellness industry
Interview: Rainer Usselmann
Tech business Happy Finish is bringing metaverse-based experiences to the wellness sector, working with Wund
Everyone's talking about: Menopause
From taboo to hot topic – how can spas offer treatments and a safe space for women to explore this often challenging phase of life?
Research: Bounceback
PwC says the US spa market was worth US$1bn in 2021 and growing well, according to data from ISPA's latest industry-wide study
First person: An icon reborn
Fairmont unveils the stunning renovation of its iconic Century Plaza hotel in LA, and Rianna Riego checks out the new spa
Q&A: Magdaleena Nikolov
The GM of spa, wellness and retail at Fairmont
Century Plaza talks to Jane Kitchen
Q&A: Mia Kyricos
The wellness leader talks about the creation of her new trademarked framework for the development and delivery of wellness interventions
Sponsored: Art of Cryo: raising the bar
Art of Cryo is complementing its high
performance cryotherapy range with advanced
new technology to enhance treatment benefits
Mystery Shopper: The Londoner
Our reviewer travels undercover to check out the spa offering at The Londoner – one of the most high profile openings in the capital in recent times
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.
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 a world where imbalance often accumulates quietly, Wildsmith unveils its newest
wellbeing innovation: Silent Loads, an approach designed to meet the needs of modern spa
guests with precision and depth. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Nilo Spa Design Nilo SPA Design, part of the Maletti group, has led the Beauty & Wellness sector for over 35 years p [more...]
