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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
The MSpa Oslo series is a perennial bestseller in global markets. With innovative
engineering and premium performance, this completely portable spa line-up is expertly
designed to meet the needs of customers worldwide. [more...]
Contrast therapy, based on the alternation of hot and cold rituals, has become one of the
most valued practices in the fields of wellness and recovery. [more...]
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
Anna Bjurstam has left her role as Wellness Pioneer at Six Senses Hotels and Resorts and
launched a new wellness, longevity and “consciousness consultancy” called Wahayla.
Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere, has opened today (10 July) in the Northwest of England with a
1,715sq m Fairmont Spa that has been designed using a ‘Wellness without Walls’ concept.
Wellness hotels generating less than US$1 million (€932,700, £785,200) – or 10 per cent of
total revenue from wellness and leisure – recorded the strongest RevPAR and TRevPAR growth
in 2025 across categories when compared with 2024, according to the latest Wellness Real
Estate Report by RLA Global, produced in partnership with P and L benchmarking firm HotStats.
Lefay Resorts, the portfolio of two luxury wellness properties in Italy, has added emotional
dance classes and group cold plunge sessions in response to market demand for social
connection.
Aditya Saluja, an industry leader in luxury wellness hospitality, has been
appointed as
commercial director of spa and wellness for the spa management division of
Minor Hotels,
MSpa International.
Preidlhof Luxury DolceVita Resort, a destination resort and spa in Naturno, South Tyrol in Italy,
will reveal a new spa in February 2027, which has been designed by wellness expert and
consultant Patrizia Bortolin.
The MSpa Oslo series is a perennial bestseller in global markets. With innovative
engineering and premium performance, this completely portable spa line-up is expertly
designed to meet the needs of customers worldwide. [more...]
Contrast therapy, based on the alternation of hot and cold rituals, has become one of the
most valued practices in the fields of wellness and recovery. [more...]
