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The fashion designer’s hotel will host a Brain Edit retreat in April / photo: Jose Castellar/vermelho
He’s famous for the most stylish and sought-after women’s shoes in the world, but over the past few years, this fashion designer has been making a name for himself in hospitality and is now staking his claim in wellness.
We’re talking about Christian Louboutin, whose hotel in Portugal will host a Brain Edit retreat on 6-9 April.
Hotel by accident The French fashion icon is known for his signature red-soled high heels, which sell for €1,000 (US$1,053, 828) upwards. In 2023, however, he turned his hand to hospitality with Vermelho, a boutique hotel in the coastal hamlet of Melides. The destination is 90 minutes south of Lisbon and has become a hub for sculptors, architects and musicians (Philippe Starck is just one of the creatives who has a second home there).
Vermelho is operated by Marugal Hotel Management and is also part of the Relais & Chateaux portfolio.
“To be honest, I never planned to open a hotel,” he says in an article in Insidehook, “I had a place in [the nearby town of] Comporta but over the years it became a bit too cemented for me.”
Stumbling over the picturesque Melides on a drive one day, he was captured by its sleepy charm and bought a fisherman’s house there, followed by a plot of land to build a restaurant on. He adds: “The mayor came to me and mentioned it was quite a big plot for a restaurant [and said] ‘Why not open a hotel instead?’ I said yes – as simple as that.”
Louboutin worked with Portuguese architect Madalena Caiado on the project. Outside, Vermelho reflects the style of the country’s traditional buildings. Yet inside, it oozes with the designer’s eclectic style and bold hues – vermelho means red in Portuguese, paying homage to Louboutin’s trademark colour.
Louboutin on wellness Alongside its 13 bedrooms and Xtian restaurant, serving refined Portuguese cuisine, there’s an equally intimate wellness area in a maximalist design featuring sacred stones from ancient churches. A mix of Indian healing practices and Anne Semonin treatments – a 60-minute massage starts at €120 (US$126, £99) – are offered in one of two treatment rooms and complimentary yoga sessions take place every Saturday morning.
In a recent interview with Vogue India, Louboutin highlighted his emotional strength and how he tries to keep active. “Some people build their lives trying to prove something to others, trying to fight against whatever negativity they experienced growing up,” he says, explaining, “I grew up in a very protective, loving environment. It’s hard to be knocked down when you’re raised with that kind of love and confidence.”
He adds: “Wellness is an interesting concept for me. I’ve never been much into sports – never watched them – but I’ve always done some kind of physical activity.”
Brain Edit retreat Part of Louboutin’s wellness regime is guided by his personal trainer Terrence the Teacher, a UK-based health and fitness specialist who added neurolinguistic programming to his repertoire in 2001.
Terrence has made a name for himself in the fashion world with models, designers and editors seeking help for anything from anxiety and panic attacks to insomnia. And now he’s set to host a Brain Edit Mindfulness & Meditation retreat at Vermelho on 6-9 April to “teach guests how to harness the power of their mind, cultivating lasting change”.
With prices starting at €2,523 (US$2,658, £2,090), the four-day programme includes a one-on-one session with Terrence, lectures, meditation and breathwork experiences, morning yoga group classes and two guided mindfulness sessions in the evening. Spa treatments can be booked during meals, yoga and free time at an extra cost.
Aside from aiding self-discovery, other benefits of such a retreat, says Terrence, could include reduced stress, enhanced relaxation and better coping skills, plus improvements in the immune system, creativity and mental health.
Brand extension Louboutin’s crossover into hospitality isn’t the first of its kind. Spa Business has widely reported on fashion spas and hotels over the years. Most recently it delved into the offerings at the new Palazzo Versace and Karl Lagerfeld spas in Grand Lisboa Palace, Macau (see www.spabusiness.com/versace_lagerfeld).
Last July, Louboutin also acquired a stake in Experimental Group using his personal funds. Experimental is a Paris-based hospitality group which runs 20 boutique hotels, restaurants and bars across Europe. It’s known for owning Cowley Manor in the UK, is planning openings in Val d’Isère, Rome and Paris this year and has also expressed an interest in expanding into the US.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2025 issue 1
Editor's letter: Auto spas
Fully automated, self-service spas are set to enter the market, presenting a disruptive opportunity for investors and operators
Spa People: Christian Louboutin
The fashion designer teams up with his personal trainer to create a Brain Edit retreat at his hotel in Portugal
Spa People: Julien Alfred
Exercise, endurance and resilience are the focus of a programme being led by Olympic 100m winner Julien Alfred at BodyHoliday in St Lucia
News report: Emerging economies
Two fresh GWI reports highlight the potential of the wellness markets in the Maldives and Saudi Arabia
Interview: Paul Hawco
Katie Barnes talks to the man heading up wellbeing at Banyan Group as it prepares to open its 100th resort and reports a 16 per cent rise in revenue
Wellness design: Design of the times
Sixteen experts share their insights on how wellness design can be used to create more impactful and profitable spas in a new white paper by Accor
Opinion: High leverage learning
What three skills do people need to master to future-proof their spa careers? Jeremy McCarthy reports
Spa tourism: Hot on the trail
A famous pilgrimage route and natural hot springs are being combined in an innovative tourism package in Spain
Opinion: Beacons of light
As cities in the US start to hire chief wellness officers, Mia Kyricos reveals what this means for our sector
Sponsored: 111SKIN - Winning formulation
111SKIN’s spa/clinic concept is making waves globally – backed by a combination of medical expertise, intuitive partner support and potent products
Product focus: AI and robot massage
Spas around the world are starting to offer AI massage. We highlight the different types of equipment coming to market
Menu engineering: At your service
A dedicated brain health facility at Kamalaya and a menopause package by actor Naomi Watts feature in our programming pages this issue
Finishing touch: Big business
Companies investing in workers’ happiness outperform other portfolios in major global stock markets, according to new research
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...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Kemitron GmbH
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portfolio is divided into four product areas; Technology, Fragrances, Disinfectant and Cleaners [more...]
The fashion designer’s hotel will host a Brain Edit retreat in April / photo: Jose Castellar/vermelho
He’s famous for the most stylish and sought-after women’s shoes in the world, but over the past few years, this fashion designer has been making a name for himself in hospitality and is now staking his claim in wellness.
We’re talking about Christian Louboutin, whose hotel in Portugal will host a Brain Edit retreat on 6-9 April.
Hotel by accident The French fashion icon is known for his signature red-soled high heels, which sell for €1,000 (US$1,053, 828) upwards. In 2023, however, he turned his hand to hospitality with Vermelho, a boutique hotel in the coastal hamlet of Melides. The destination is 90 minutes south of Lisbon and has become a hub for sculptors, architects and musicians (Philippe Starck is just one of the creatives who has a second home there).
Vermelho is operated by Marugal Hotel Management and is also part of the Relais & Chateaux portfolio.
“To be honest, I never planned to open a hotel,” he says in an article in Insidehook, “I had a place in [the nearby town of] Comporta but over the years it became a bit too cemented for me.”
Stumbling over the picturesque Melides on a drive one day, he was captured by its sleepy charm and bought a fisherman’s house there, followed by a plot of land to build a restaurant on. He adds: “The mayor came to me and mentioned it was quite a big plot for a restaurant [and said] ‘Why not open a hotel instead?’ I said yes – as simple as that.”
Louboutin worked with Portuguese architect Madalena Caiado on the project. Outside, Vermelho reflects the style of the country’s traditional buildings. Yet inside, it oozes with the designer’s eclectic style and bold hues – vermelho means red in Portuguese, paying homage to Louboutin’s trademark colour.
Louboutin on wellness Alongside its 13 bedrooms and Xtian restaurant, serving refined Portuguese cuisine, there’s an equally intimate wellness area in a maximalist design featuring sacred stones from ancient churches. A mix of Indian healing practices and Anne Semonin treatments – a 60-minute massage starts at €120 (US$126, £99) – are offered in one of two treatment rooms and complimentary yoga sessions take place every Saturday morning.
In a recent interview with Vogue India, Louboutin highlighted his emotional strength and how he tries to keep active. “Some people build their lives trying to prove something to others, trying to fight against whatever negativity they experienced growing up,” he says, explaining, “I grew up in a very protective, loving environment. It’s hard to be knocked down when you’re raised with that kind of love and confidence.”
He adds: “Wellness is an interesting concept for me. I’ve never been much into sports – never watched them – but I’ve always done some kind of physical activity.”
Brain Edit retreat Part of Louboutin’s wellness regime is guided by his personal trainer Terrence the Teacher, a UK-based health and fitness specialist who added neurolinguistic programming to his repertoire in 2001.
Terrence has made a name for himself in the fashion world with models, designers and editors seeking help for anything from anxiety and panic attacks to insomnia. And now he’s set to host a Brain Edit Mindfulness & Meditation retreat at Vermelho on 6-9 April to “teach guests how to harness the power of their mind, cultivating lasting change”.
With prices starting at €2,523 (US$2,658, £2,090), the four-day programme includes a one-on-one session with Terrence, lectures, meditation and breathwork experiences, morning yoga group classes and two guided mindfulness sessions in the evening. Spa treatments can be booked during meals, yoga and free time at an extra cost.
Aside from aiding self-discovery, other benefits of such a retreat, says Terrence, could include reduced stress, enhanced relaxation and better coping skills, plus improvements in the immune system, creativity and mental health.
Brand extension Louboutin’s crossover into hospitality isn’t the first of its kind. Spa Business has widely reported on fashion spas and hotels over the years. Most recently it delved into the offerings at the new Palazzo Versace and Karl Lagerfeld spas in Grand Lisboa Palace, Macau (see www.spabusiness.com/versace_lagerfeld).
Last July, Louboutin also acquired a stake in Experimental Group using his personal funds. Experimental is a Paris-based hospitality group which runs 20 boutique hotels, restaurants and bars across Europe. It’s known for owning Cowley Manor in the UK, is planning openings in Val d’Isère, Rome and Paris this year and has also expressed an interest in expanding into the US.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2025 issue 1
Editor's letter: Auto spas
Fully automated, self-service spas are set to enter the market, presenting a disruptive opportunity for investors and operators
Spa People: Christian Louboutin
The fashion designer teams up with his personal trainer to create a Brain Edit retreat at his hotel in Portugal
Spa People: Julien Alfred
Exercise, endurance and resilience are the focus of a programme being led by Olympic 100m winner Julien Alfred at BodyHoliday in St Lucia
News report: Emerging economies
Two fresh GWI reports highlight the potential of the wellness markets in the Maldives and Saudi Arabia
Interview: Paul Hawco
Katie Barnes talks to the man heading up wellbeing at Banyan Group as it prepares to open its 100th resort and reports a 16 per cent rise in revenue
Wellness design: Design of the times
Sixteen experts share their insights on how wellness design can be used to create more impactful and profitable spas in a new white paper by Accor
Opinion: High leverage learning
What three skills do people need to master to future-proof their spa careers? Jeremy McCarthy reports
Spa tourism: Hot on the trail
A famous pilgrimage route and natural hot springs are being combined in an innovative tourism package in Spain
Opinion: Beacons of light
As cities in the US start to hire chief wellness officers, Mia Kyricos reveals what this means for our sector
Sponsored: 111SKIN - Winning formulation
111SKIN’s spa/clinic concept is making waves globally – backed by a combination of medical expertise, intuitive partner support and potent products
Product focus: AI and robot massage
Spas around the world are starting to offer AI massage. We highlight the different types of equipment coming to market
Menu engineering: At your service
A dedicated brain health facility at Kamalaya and a menopause package by actor Naomi Watts feature in our programming pages this issue
Finishing touch: Big business
Companies investing in workers’ happiness outperform other portfolios in major global stock markets, according to new research
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-
powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-
focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is
expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and
2029.
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.
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...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Kemitron GmbH Our
portfolio is divided into four product areas; Technology, Fragrances, Disinfectant and Cleaners [more...]
