The therapist’s touch soothes and restores, supported by luxurious towels / photo: bC Softwear
“Touchless therapies may be surging in popularity, but human touch still plays an irreplaceable part in the spa experience,” says Barbara Cooke, founder of leading spa textiles supplier, BC SoftWear.
She continues: “These new touchless experiences are a great way for spas to protect their therapists’ wellbeing. Therapist burnout is increasing and spas worldwide are struggling with ongoing recruitment issues. Touchless technologies enable spas to more easily provide add-on treatments, manage guest flow and free up staff availability.
“However, I feel strongly that people primarily visit a spa because they want the wellness benefits associated with direct human contact. The power of human touch cannot be underestimated; people will always crave it. Spas are one of the few places where people can safely experience the countless benefits of a skilled therapist’s hands.”
Cooke speaks with more than 23 years experience in the spa and wellness industries, with the company she founded – BC SoftWear – a supplier of luxury textiles to leading spas worldwide, including Mandarin Oriental, Corinthia Hotels, Raffles and One and Only.
Her view on what makes a spa experience truly memorable for guests? She continues:
“At BC SoftWear, we believe the first touchpoint for a guest in a spa sets the tone for their visit; often that’s with a towel or bathrobe.
“It’s so important for that touchpoint to feel soft and deeply luxurious, as it prepares the guest for relaxing into the treatment to come, where their therapist’s touch will sooth and restore them.
“Touchless therapies certainly now have a place, but hands-on treatments will never go out of fashion; and at BC SoftWear it’s our mission to make every one of those touchpoints as memorable and luxurious as possible.”
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Sponsored: Lemi - Good sensations
Lemi’s Venice Head Spa combines the beauty of Italian design with fine-tuned technology to provide the ultimate top-to-toe treatment station for spas
Sponsored: G.M. COLLIN – Smooth operator
The new toner from G.M. Collin represents a ‘gold standard’ in leave-on liquid exfoliation for smooth and radiant results, without the irritation of a scrub
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TechnoAlpin’s magical Snowroom installation at the Alpenrose resort brings the Austrian landscape and feel-good nature factor to its wellbeing experience
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Sponsored: Gharieni Group – Tech-powered recovery
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Sponsored: BC Softwear – Human touch
While touchless therapies are a positive addition to spas, nothing can replace the healing power of human touch, says Barbara Cooke
Sponsored: Yon-ka – A potent blend
Yon-Ka’s new Serum Omega is a potent blend of Omega 3, 6 and 9 to target
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In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to
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The therapist’s touch soothes and restores, supported by luxurious towels / photo: bC Softwear
“Touchless therapies may be surging in popularity, but human touch still plays an irreplaceable part in the spa experience,” says Barbara Cooke, founder of leading spa textiles supplier, BC SoftWear.
She continues: “These new touchless experiences are a great way for spas to protect their therapists’ wellbeing. Therapist burnout is increasing and spas worldwide are struggling with ongoing recruitment issues. Touchless technologies enable spas to more easily provide add-on treatments, manage guest flow and free up staff availability.
“However, I feel strongly that people primarily visit a spa because they want the wellness benefits associated with direct human contact. The power of human touch cannot be underestimated; people will always crave it. Spas are one of the few places where people can safely experience the countless benefits of a skilled therapist’s hands.”
Cooke speaks with more than 23 years experience in the spa and wellness industries, with the company she founded – BC SoftWear – a supplier of luxury textiles to leading spas worldwide, including Mandarin Oriental, Corinthia Hotels, Raffles and One and Only.
Her view on what makes a spa experience truly memorable for guests? She continues:
“At BC SoftWear, we believe the first touchpoint for a guest in a spa sets the tone for their visit; often that’s with a towel or bathrobe.
“It’s so important for that touchpoint to feel soft and deeply luxurious, as it prepares the guest for relaxing into the treatment to come, where their therapist’s touch will sooth and restore them.
“Touchless therapies certainly now have a place, but hands-on treatments will never go out of fashion; and at BC SoftWear it’s our mission to make every one of those touchpoints as memorable and luxurious as possible.”
Spa people: Tim Fu
Leading a wellness architecture project in Slovenia that’s one of the first in the world to use AI in all stages of design
Spa people: Kayley Thomas
Lush is famous for its bath bombs and retail empire, but the co-founder of its day spa concept reveals why its 19 global spa facilities are so essential
Spa people: Colin Mcilheney
We find out more about Colin Mcilheney, the man who created the ISPA US Spa Industry Study and has been analysing the sector’s performance ever since
News report: Map of luxury
New research by WATG shows emerging wealth hubs in India, the Gulf, Southeast Asia and Africa are reshaping luxury travel demand
Interview: Chris Norton
The CEO of Equinox Hotels tells Katie Barnes how the uber-cool brand is scaling its bold fusion of fitness, spa and luxury
Ask an expert...: Recovery
From cryo to compression to contrast bathing, Julie Cramer investigates why and how spas and resorts are integrating recovery packages
Research: Behind the boom
What are the hidden messages in the latest US study by ISPA? Colin Mcilheney digs beneath the surface
Research: Bigger picture
Rising salaries and shifting consumer expectations – two new surveys by the UKSA and GSG reveal the trends impacting UK spa operators
Sponsored: Lemi - Good sensations
Lemi’s Venice Head Spa combines the beauty of Italian design with fine-tuned technology to provide the ultimate top-to-toe treatment station for spas
Sponsored: G.M. COLLIN – Smooth operator
The new toner from G.M. Collin represents a ‘gold standard’ in leave-on liquid exfoliation for smooth and radiant results, without the irritation of a scrub
Sponsored: TechnoAlpin – Snow for all seasons
TechnoAlpin’s magical Snowroom installation at the Alpenrose resort brings the Austrian landscape and feel-good nature factor to its wellbeing experience
First person: Costa Blanca cure
Jane Kitchen visits Spain to compare and contrast two world-class medi-wellness clinics: well-established SHA and ambitious newcomer ZEM
Sponsored: Gharieni Group – Tech-powered recovery
The new brand in the Gharieni Group portfolio – Metawell – is delivering what today’s wellness clients are seeking most – deep recovery and mind-body renewal
Sponsored: BC Softwear – Human touch
While touchless therapies are a positive addition to spas, nothing can replace the healing power of human touch, says Barbara Cooke
Sponsored: Yon-ka – A potent blend
Yon-Ka’s new Serum Omega is a potent blend of Omega 3, 6 and 9 to target
dry, stressed-out skin and deliver a calm and nourishing client experience
Menu engineering: At your service
Self-playing gongs in Sweden, surfing therapy in Morocco and Ananda launches holistic diabetes management programme in India
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...]
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...]
