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Formerly director of spa operations for Hyatt, O’Connell has directed Rosewood’s new spa concept, Asaya
At the end of last year, Rosewood Hotels announced two significant spa and wellness developments: a new integrative wellness concept called Asaya, and a new group vice president of guest experience and wellness, Niamh O’Connell.
Formerly director of spa operations and development for Hyatt, O’Connell is a veteran of the spa industry who has also worked in operations for ESPA. It’s under her direction that Rosewood has developed Asaya – a new spa concept for the brand that will make its debut at the upcoming Rosewood Phuket when it opens later this year, and at the Rosewood Hong Kong in 2018.
Asaya is rooted in a belief of self-acceptance and self-discovery, fusing complementary therapies, lifestyle and nutrition coaching with educational wellness programming, fitness activities and specialised healing. Spa treatments will be delivered using authentic ingredients, while “thoughtful” design will include social spaces, as well as areas dedicated to relaxation, reflection and fitness.
“Consciously and unconsciously, wellness is becoming more significant in our day-to-day lives – in the ways we work, eat, sleep and socialise,” says O’Connell. “Asaya is designed to assist guests in recognising areas of their lives they’d like to change and then providing the tools and support they need to make these changes – whether through complementary therapies, fitness activities, or authentic healing treatments. Ultimately this process enables people to adopt an enhanced lifestyle and have a more complete sense of self-acceptance.”
In keeping with Rosewood’s ‘A Sense of Place’ guiding concept, treatments will be strongly rooted in the local culture, featuring recipes from native experts as well as indigenous and natural ingredients. “We want to offer treatments that speak to the location in a very authentic and impactful way,” says O’Connell.
Guests may extend their experience with a stay in an overnight Asaya Suite, with separate sleeping, living and therapy areas.
The Asaya concept will include a wide variety of both indoor and outdoor fitness endeavours, complemented by a partnership with Technogym. It also marks the first time Rosewood has introduced global skincare partnerships, with Maison Caulières and EviDenS de Beautè both on offer.
Rosewood’s existing spa concept, Sense Spa, which focuses on offering reviving indigenous remedies in a luxury setting, will continue to operate. O’Connell says the introduction of Asaya is not the end for Sense and that Rosewood will offer both options going forward. “Sense Spa is a very well-established and valued concept that will remain in operation at many of Rosewood’s properties,” says O’Connell.
Each location will be considered individually to determine whether a Sense Spa or Asaya wellness concept is more suitable, she explains, but any new renovations will incorporate Asaya’s design attributes, as well as the all-important social spaces.
“We’re finding that people are looking to connect and socialise through wellness, a trend that’s becoming known as ‘intelligent socialising,’” says O’Connell. As a result, she says a number of social spaces have been incorporated into Asaya’s design. The reception area will include retail and “lifestyle ateliers” designed for small group wellness seminars, and private Signature Suites and Villas will offer a chance for groups to lounge and explore the concept in a more relaxed way, with dedicated treatment areas and hydrotherapy zones.
“We expect that the residential spaces offered within Asaya will be very popular among brides-to-be and their wedding parties, mother-daughter groups, and friends and families travelling together, but should they not be occupied by a group, the suites and villas will offer individuals an opportunity to experience Asaya in complete privacy,” explains O’Connell.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Interview: Jeremy McCarthy
Mandarin Oriental’s group director
of spa and wellness discusses mental
wellness, spas and technology
Promotional feature: Beautyworld Middle East
Set to take place May 14-16, 2017 in Dubai, Beautyworld Middle East is billed as “three days to rediscover wellness and shake up the industry.”
Promotional feature: ESPA
ESPA has been a leader in the field of therapeutic skincare and luxury spa design and management for 25 years. Founder Susan Harmsworth explains how the company’s recent brand evolution will make ESPA even more relevant to the future of wellness
Promotional feature: Riceforce
Rice Force is set to make further inroads into the spa market in 2017 with the
launch of its new aromatic oils and treatment protocol
Promotional feature: Oakworks
Oakworks’ new Masters’ Collection range, which will consist of over 15 models by the end of 2017, has been designed to offer spa operators the ultimate in modern styling, with solutions and functionality that address each spa’s practical needs
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Formerly director of spa operations for Hyatt, O’Connell has directed Rosewood’s new spa concept, Asaya
At the end of last year, Rosewood Hotels announced two significant spa and wellness developments: a new integrative wellness concept called Asaya, and a new group vice president of guest experience and wellness, Niamh O’Connell.
Formerly director of spa operations and development for Hyatt, O’Connell is a veteran of the spa industry who has also worked in operations for ESPA. It’s under her direction that Rosewood has developed Asaya – a new spa concept for the brand that will make its debut at the upcoming Rosewood Phuket when it opens later this year, and at the Rosewood Hong Kong in 2018.
Asaya is rooted in a belief of self-acceptance and self-discovery, fusing complementary therapies, lifestyle and nutrition coaching with educational wellness programming, fitness activities and specialised healing. Spa treatments will be delivered using authentic ingredients, while “thoughtful” design will include social spaces, as well as areas dedicated to relaxation, reflection and fitness.
“Consciously and unconsciously, wellness is becoming more significant in our day-to-day lives – in the ways we work, eat, sleep and socialise,” says O’Connell. “Asaya is designed to assist guests in recognising areas of their lives they’d like to change and then providing the tools and support they need to make these changes – whether through complementary therapies, fitness activities, or authentic healing treatments. Ultimately this process enables people to adopt an enhanced lifestyle and have a more complete sense of self-acceptance.”
In keeping with Rosewood’s ‘A Sense of Place’ guiding concept, treatments will be strongly rooted in the local culture, featuring recipes from native experts as well as indigenous and natural ingredients. “We want to offer treatments that speak to the location in a very authentic and impactful way,” says O’Connell.
Guests may extend their experience with a stay in an overnight Asaya Suite, with separate sleeping, living and therapy areas.
The Asaya concept will include a wide variety of both indoor and outdoor fitness endeavours, complemented by a partnership with Technogym. It also marks the first time Rosewood has introduced global skincare partnerships, with Maison Caulières and EviDenS de Beautè both on offer.
Rosewood’s existing spa concept, Sense Spa, which focuses on offering reviving indigenous remedies in a luxury setting, will continue to operate. O’Connell says the introduction of Asaya is not the end for Sense and that Rosewood will offer both options going forward. “Sense Spa is a very well-established and valued concept that will remain in operation at many of Rosewood’s properties,” says O’Connell.
Each location will be considered individually to determine whether a Sense Spa or Asaya wellness concept is more suitable, she explains, but any new renovations will incorporate Asaya’s design attributes, as well as the all-important social spaces.
“We’re finding that people are looking to connect and socialise through wellness, a trend that’s becoming known as ‘intelligent socialising,’” says O’Connell. As a result, she says a number of social spaces have been incorporated into Asaya’s design. The reception area will include retail and “lifestyle ateliers” designed for small group wellness seminars, and private Signature Suites and Villas will offer a chance for groups to lounge and explore the concept in a more relaxed way, with dedicated treatment areas and hydrotherapy zones.
“We expect that the residential spaces offered within Asaya will be very popular among brides-to-be and their wedding parties, mother-daughter groups, and friends and families travelling together, but should they not be occupied by a group, the suites and villas will offer individuals an opportunity to experience Asaya in complete privacy,” explains O’Connell.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Interview: Jeremy McCarthy
Mandarin Oriental’s group director
of spa and wellness discusses mental
wellness, spas and technology
Promotional feature: Beautyworld Middle East
Set to take place May 14-16, 2017 in Dubai, Beautyworld Middle East is billed as “three days to rediscover wellness and shake up the industry.”
Promotional feature: ESPA
ESPA has been a leader in the field of therapeutic skincare and luxury spa design and management for 25 years. Founder Susan Harmsworth explains how the company’s recent brand evolution will make ESPA even more relevant to the future of wellness
Promotional feature: Riceforce
Rice Force is set to make further inroads into the spa market in 2017 with the
launch of its new aromatic oils and treatment protocol
Promotional feature: Oakworks
Oakworks’ new Masters’ Collection range, which will consist of over 15 models by the end of 2017, has been designed to offer spa operators the ultimate in modern styling, with solutions and functionality that address each spa’s practical needs
Gran Hotel Taoro in northern Tenerife, Spain, has completed the final phase of its three-year
renovation with the debut of its Sandára Wellness Centre.
Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa, the spa business with more than 650 locations across
the US and Canada, has appointed franchise expert Carrie Walsh as CEO as the company plans
to expand.
Synergy – The Retreat Show, the global trade show for retreats, has launched a global research
initiative that will provide insights into the retreat sector from both consumer and industry
perspectives.
The Wellness Tourism Association (WTA) has published a non-regulatory global industry
framework designed to ensure the retreat market offers responsible experiences.
A new survey of UK and international spa practitioners shows that stress, burnout and
wellbeing concerns have caused one in three respondents to consider leaving the industry.
The UK's four Chief Medical Officers have published a refreshed edition of Physical activity
guidelines: UK Chief Medical Officers' report, updating the evidence that underpins the nation's
physical activity recommendations and placing greater emphasis on strength, balance, reducing
sedentary behaviour and, for the first time, supporting people taking weight loss medications.
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.
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...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Art of Cryo Art of Cryo is the premium wellness and recovery brand of L&R Kältetechnik, a German family-owned en [more...]
