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Julien Alfred secured St Lucia’s first-ever Olympic medal when she won gold in the 100m in Paris / photo: PA Images : Alamy Stock Photo
Julien Alfred shot out of the blocks and onto the world stage in 2024 after winning gold and silver in the women’s 100m and 200m in the Paris Olympics. More than becoming the fastest female on earth, however, the 23-year-old sprinter has become a national icon for her home country of St Lucia by securing its first-ever Olympic medals. Now, Alfred is set to host an exclusive retreat at Saint Lucian wellness destination BodyHoliday.
Journey of determination Alfred born in Ciceron, Castries – the capital city of the small Caribbean island – hasn’t had an easy path to success. Opening up about her childhood on the recent Netflix documentary Sprint, she says: “I never imagined myself here. I grew up in poverty. There would be gunshots throughout the night. It was a very rough community. I just thought I could use my talent to get out of the ghetto… and it’s been a hell of a ride.”
Understated, yet quietly confident, she received a scholarship to Texas University aged only 16, training under leading coaches and perfecting her skills by competing against high-level athletes. Remaining relatively under the radar in the run-up to the Olympics, she became an overnight star in a convincing win over event favourite Sha’Carri Richardson. In a heartfelt Sprint scene straight after the Olympic final, she says: “All I’m thinking about right now is that I’ve finally made it. All my hard work, all my sacrifices have paid off … A little girl from St Lucia is finally here.”
BodyHoliday exclusive According to BodyHoliday, Alfred stayed at the resort in preparation for Paris “relaxing in the pristine surroundings” and taking advantage of its personalised fitness programmes and spa treatments allowing her “to concentrate on her game plan … and keep clear-headed as she entered the Olympics with renewed energy and determination”.
Further cementing the relationship, it’s been revealed that the elite athlete will lead a one-week retreat at the resort this year. Finer programme details have yet to be announced, but Spa Business can confirm that it will involve Alfred taking participants through exercises in endurance, strength and resilience, as well as giving motivational talks based on her inspiring life story.
“Our guests are in for an unforgettable experience – learning, growing and being motivated by one of the best,” BodyHoliday CEO Andrew Barnard tells Spa Business. “BodyHoliday has always been a space where longevity, rejuvenation and fitness meet … and this partnership with someone of such calibre is a testament to our ongoing commitment to providing our guests with exceptional and transformative experiences.
“Julien’s story is not just one of athletic achievement, but of perseverance and heart, qualities that resonate with our guests and anyone seeking to improve their wellness, fitness and overall wellbeing.”
Local support As part of the collaboration with Alfred, BodyHoliday has pledged an annual donation to The Julien Alfred Foundation, a charity created by the Saint Lucia Athletics Association last year to empower youth through education, sports and community development initiatives.
The move ties in with the runner’s own philanthropic ventures which see her conduct outreach programmes and motivational talks across St Lucia with an emphasis on encouraging young sportspeople to pursue their dreams relentlessly.
Alfred says: “I’m thrilled to partner with BodyHoliday and share my Olympic journey and training insights with their guests.
“This collaboration is a fantastic opportunity to inspire others on their fitness and wellness journeys while supporting my foundation’s mission to uplift the next generation of athletes and give back to the community.”
Olympic takeover Barnard says the tie-up with Alfred is “truly significant” for BodyHoliday which has a long history of inviting guests to train alongside professional sportspeople such as Randy Moss and Daley Thompson. Now, he says, it gets to do this with a global star from the very island it calls home.
While BodyHoliday has been taking this approach for years, an increasing number of other operators are starting to collaborate with high-profile athletes and Olympians to enhance wellness programming and attract fitness enthusiasts.
For example, Aman recently appointed tennis superstar Novak Djokovic as its first global wellness advisor and already works with Maria Sharapova (see www.spabusiness.com/djokovic and www.spabusiness.com/sharapova). Meanwhile, SIRO, one of the world’s first fitness and recovery hotel brands, counts football team AC Milan and swimming star Adam Peaty, among its consultants (see www.spabusiness.com/siro).
BodyHoliday reveals Portuguese site In other exciting news from BodyHoliday, a second long-awaited site in Portugal has just been confirmed in the Algarve municipality of Vila Real de Santo Antonio (VRSA).
Construction on a five-star hotel, representing an investment of €158 million (US$166.1 million, £131.1 million), will begin this year and is expected to be complete in 2027, according to a press statement from the municipality.
BodyHoliday is developing the hotel which will feature 220 bedrooms, five restaurants and a wellness centre with 50 treatment rooms designed by Clodagh. It’s placing an emphasis on sustainability and is looking to obtain international certification from BREEAM, one of the world’s leading standards for eco-friendly building.
VRSA mayor Álvaro Araújo, says BodyHoliday Portugal “will change the tourism paradigm of Vila Real de Santo Antonio, strengthening the quality of the offer and attracting visitors from luxury segments”.
VRSA deputy mayor Ricardo Cipriano adds that the project “will diversify the tourist offer [of the region] reducing seasonality and extending the average age [of visitors]”.
The target markets, they say, are high-end tourists from the UK, where BodyHoliday has a strong loyal following, the US, Canada, France, Germany and Italy.
photo: The BodyHoliday
"Julien’s story is not just one of athletic achievement, but of perseverance and heart" – CEO Andrew Barnard
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
Julien Alfred secured St Lucia’s first-ever Olympic medal when she won gold in the 100m in Paris / photo: PA Images : Alamy Stock Photo
Julien Alfred shot out of the blocks and onto the world stage in 2024 after winning gold and silver in the women’s 100m and 200m in the Paris Olympics. More than becoming the fastest female on earth, however, the 23-year-old sprinter has become a national icon for her home country of St Lucia by securing its first-ever Olympic medals. Now, Alfred is set to host an exclusive retreat at Saint Lucian wellness destination BodyHoliday.
Journey of determination Alfred born in Ciceron, Castries – the capital city of the small Caribbean island – hasn’t had an easy path to success. Opening up about her childhood on the recent Netflix documentary Sprint, she says: “I never imagined myself here. I grew up in poverty. There would be gunshots throughout the night. It was a very rough community. I just thought I could use my talent to get out of the ghetto… and it’s been a hell of a ride.”
Understated, yet quietly confident, she received a scholarship to Texas University aged only 16, training under leading coaches and perfecting her skills by competing against high-level athletes. Remaining relatively under the radar in the run-up to the Olympics, she became an overnight star in a convincing win over event favourite Sha’Carri Richardson. In a heartfelt Sprint scene straight after the Olympic final, she says: “All I’m thinking about right now is that I’ve finally made it. All my hard work, all my sacrifices have paid off … A little girl from St Lucia is finally here.”
BodyHoliday exclusive According to BodyHoliday, Alfred stayed at the resort in preparation for Paris “relaxing in the pristine surroundings” and taking advantage of its personalised fitness programmes and spa treatments allowing her “to concentrate on her game plan … and keep clear-headed as she entered the Olympics with renewed energy and determination”.
Further cementing the relationship, it’s been revealed that the elite athlete will lead a one-week retreat at the resort this year. Finer programme details have yet to be announced, but Spa Business can confirm that it will involve Alfred taking participants through exercises in endurance, strength and resilience, as well as giving motivational talks based on her inspiring life story.
“Our guests are in for an unforgettable experience – learning, growing and being motivated by one of the best,” BodyHoliday CEO Andrew Barnard tells Spa Business. “BodyHoliday has always been a space where longevity, rejuvenation and fitness meet … and this partnership with someone of such calibre is a testament to our ongoing commitment to providing our guests with exceptional and transformative experiences.
“Julien’s story is not just one of athletic achievement, but of perseverance and heart, qualities that resonate with our guests and anyone seeking to improve their wellness, fitness and overall wellbeing.”
Local support As part of the collaboration with Alfred, BodyHoliday has pledged an annual donation to The Julien Alfred Foundation, a charity created by the Saint Lucia Athletics Association last year to empower youth through education, sports and community development initiatives.
The move ties in with the runner’s own philanthropic ventures which see her conduct outreach programmes and motivational talks across St Lucia with an emphasis on encouraging young sportspeople to pursue their dreams relentlessly.
Alfred says: “I’m thrilled to partner with BodyHoliday and share my Olympic journey and training insights with their guests.
“This collaboration is a fantastic opportunity to inspire others on their fitness and wellness journeys while supporting my foundation’s mission to uplift the next generation of athletes and give back to the community.”
Olympic takeover Barnard says the tie-up with Alfred is “truly significant” for BodyHoliday which has a long history of inviting guests to train alongside professional sportspeople such as Randy Moss and Daley Thompson. Now, he says, it gets to do this with a global star from the very island it calls home.
While BodyHoliday has been taking this approach for years, an increasing number of other operators are starting to collaborate with high-profile athletes and Olympians to enhance wellness programming and attract fitness enthusiasts.
For example, Aman recently appointed tennis superstar Novak Djokovic as its first global wellness advisor and already works with Maria Sharapova (see www.spabusiness.com/djokovic and www.spabusiness.com/sharapova). Meanwhile, SIRO, one of the world’s first fitness and recovery hotel brands, counts football team AC Milan and swimming star Adam Peaty, among its consultants (see www.spabusiness.com/siro).
BodyHoliday reveals Portuguese site In other exciting news from BodyHoliday, a second long-awaited site in Portugal has just been confirmed in the Algarve municipality of Vila Real de Santo Antonio (VRSA).
Construction on a five-star hotel, representing an investment of €158 million (US$166.1 million, £131.1 million), will begin this year and is expected to be complete in 2027, according to a press statement from the municipality.
BodyHoliday is developing the hotel which will feature 220 bedrooms, five restaurants and a wellness centre with 50 treatment rooms designed by Clodagh. It’s placing an emphasis on sustainability and is looking to obtain international certification from BREEAM, one of the world’s leading standards for eco-friendly building.
VRSA mayor Álvaro Araújo, says BodyHoliday Portugal “will change the tourism paradigm of Vila Real de Santo Antonio, strengthening the quality of the offer and attracting visitors from luxury segments”.
VRSA deputy mayor Ricardo Cipriano adds that the project “will diversify the tourist offer [of the region] reducing seasonality and extending the average age [of visitors]”.
The target markets, they say, are high-end tourists from the UK, where BodyHoliday has a strong loyal following, the US, Canada, France, Germany and Italy.
photo: The BodyHoliday
"Julien’s story is not just one of athletic achievement, but of perseverance and heart" – CEO Andrew Barnard
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
Global Wellness Day (GWD) will mark its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its
site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French
West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to
celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
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
