Working globally with architects and
interior designers allows Myrtha
Wellness to embrace the latest trends
in the international hospitality sector,
as director Stefano Cattaneo explains
Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa in Rotorua, New Zealand / photo: Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa
When it comes to wellness product development, Myrtha Pools has been a world-leading innovator in pool design and technology for the past six decades.
Its revolutionary use of stainless-steel vessels in the design of all types of facilities – from competition pools to waterparks – has given the company a foundation in design that has enabled it to launch an international wellness division.
With a global operation in more than 70 countries, Myrtha Wellness has a unique understanding of bathing cultures through its partnerships with international architects, designers and engineers that has led to the creation of innovative, cross-cultural spa solutions.
This global knowledge, coupled with its engineering expertise, has inspired a stunning line of water-inspired wellness facilities – including saunas, steamrooms, Kneipp pools, salt rooms and salt walls, tepidariums, ice fountains and experience showers, vitality and experience pools, frigidariums and heated loungers – all of which benefit from exceptional ‘made in Italy’ design.
Expert partners According to director Stefano Cattaneo the company has gained a wealth of knowledge in its role as a supplier to the last six Olympics and supplier for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics and World Championships around the globe, as well as from working on major international hospitality projects with its partners.
This expertise extends to materials science, patented technologies, millimetric precision engineering and high-end manufacturing.
Its reputation for sustainable product design has also been elevated through the excellence of its partnership working. “Our unique use of modular, laminated stainless steel in the design of thermal bathing facilities offers exceptional 15-year warranties for the wet thermal structures and cabins,” explains Cattaneo.
“In addition, our products are designed, engineered and manufactured using environmentally-sustainable processes and comply with up to six of the nine LEED certification categories, which means we use the most environmentally progressive products for our wet areas, cold plunge pools and relaxation pools,” he says.
Tracking trends Keeping track of the trends that drive innovation in the spa sector is important to Myrtha and Cattaneo says an increased recognition of the healing and therapeutic effects of thermal bathing are helping transform the design and flow of these experiences in new spa and wellness builds.
Water can be a key component in contrast bathing, which Cattaneo says is gaining popularity across the world, due to the increase in research studies showing its healing and health-giving benefits. “Repetitive vasoconstriction and vasodilation gained through contrast therapy flushes toxins from the body accelerating soft tissue recovery, while also reducing inflammation and stimulating the immune system,” he explains.
“Although these benefits have been understood for thousands of years by indigenous people around the world, it’s only recently that scientific research has allowed a more thorough understanding of them,” he says.
“The spa and wellness industry is ideally placed to deliver thermal bathing facilities to enable people to enjoy and benefit from intuitive aquatic journeys,” says Cattaneo. “This can be achieved through the design and composition of a facility’s mix of experiences, such as sauna and steam cabins, snowrooms, experience showers, hot vitality pools and cold plunge pools, hammams, ice fountains, tepidariums, frigidariums and other related ‘hot and cold’ water concepts”.
“Thermal bathing can deliver economic benefit for operators, due to reductions in labour costs and increases in customer flow,” explains Cattaneo, adding that thermal bathing circuits also attract people from local communities into hotel, spa and wellness facilities.
Regarding design approaches that support this emerging trend, Cattaneo says wellness areas can benefit from layouts focused on zoning and flow. “Myrtha Wellness favours the elimination of narrow corridors and claustrophobic thermal cabins to create convivial social circulation or piazza spaces and cabins with expansive glazing facades,” he says.
“The design and positioning of the spa in areas of the building where it’s possible to integrating the indoors and outdoors and involve nature and the external landscape results in improvements to the user wellness journey,” he explains.
Global expertise The company’s industry know-how and trend-tracking expertise has resulted in it being engaged to create many high-profile wellness facilities across the world, many of which reflect a unique market or geographical location.
Cattaneo is particularly proud of the company’s installations in the recently-opened Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa in Rotorua, New Zealand.
This 4,453sq m spa and wellness centre is grounded in Te ao Maori culture, which emphasises the relationship between nature and people. This includes the design of the building and the two main spa areas: Te Āhuru Mōwai (The Sanctuary) and Wai Whakaora (Restorative Journey), which is made up of hot and cold experiences designed to maximise therapeutic benefit. The journey includes a herb pool and a mud experience and a frigidarium.
Myrtha Wellness and its industry partners are also involved in a project which is due to open at the Mandarin Oriental in Los Angeles, and the first three luxury hotels of the new Saudi Tourism Development under Red Sea Global.
This is in addition to projects due to open soon in the Middle East with a number of leading hotel operators.
In Europe, Myrtha has finished a project in the Accor MGallery Collection’s Domaine Reine Margot in Paris, while major upcoming projects in Italy include a Baccarat in Florence and a Marriott Edition in Lake Como.
A Myrtha luxury wellness area is also in the planning stages at a Four Seasons resort in the Bahamas.
When asked the secret to Myrtha’s success, Cattaneo says: “Our principles of design, innovation, technology and customer service have been widely recognised for years and are now in force at Myrtha Wellness, shaping projects and creating unique experiences for customers.”
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Working globally with architects and
interior designers allows Myrtha
Wellness to embrace the latest trends
in the international hospitality sector,
as director Stefano Cattaneo explains
Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa in Rotorua, New Zealand / photo: Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa
When it comes to wellness product development, Myrtha Pools has been a world-leading innovator in pool design and technology for the past six decades.
Its revolutionary use of stainless-steel vessels in the design of all types of facilities – from competition pools to waterparks – has given the company a foundation in design that has enabled it to launch an international wellness division.
With a global operation in more than 70 countries, Myrtha Wellness has a unique understanding of bathing cultures through its partnerships with international architects, designers and engineers that has led to the creation of innovative, cross-cultural spa solutions.
This global knowledge, coupled with its engineering expertise, has inspired a stunning line of water-inspired wellness facilities – including saunas, steamrooms, Kneipp pools, salt rooms and salt walls, tepidariums, ice fountains and experience showers, vitality and experience pools, frigidariums and heated loungers – all of which benefit from exceptional ‘made in Italy’ design.
Expert partners According to director Stefano Cattaneo the company has gained a wealth of knowledge in its role as a supplier to the last six Olympics and supplier for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics and World Championships around the globe, as well as from working on major international hospitality projects with its partners.
This expertise extends to materials science, patented technologies, millimetric precision engineering and high-end manufacturing.
Its reputation for sustainable product design has also been elevated through the excellence of its partnership working. “Our unique use of modular, laminated stainless steel in the design of thermal bathing facilities offers exceptional 15-year warranties for the wet thermal structures and cabins,” explains Cattaneo.
“In addition, our products are designed, engineered and manufactured using environmentally-sustainable processes and comply with up to six of the nine LEED certification categories, which means we use the most environmentally progressive products for our wet areas, cold plunge pools and relaxation pools,” he says.
Tracking trends Keeping track of the trends that drive innovation in the spa sector is important to Myrtha and Cattaneo says an increased recognition of the healing and therapeutic effects of thermal bathing are helping transform the design and flow of these experiences in new spa and wellness builds.
Water can be a key component in contrast bathing, which Cattaneo says is gaining popularity across the world, due to the increase in research studies showing its healing and health-giving benefits. “Repetitive vasoconstriction and vasodilation gained through contrast therapy flushes toxins from the body accelerating soft tissue recovery, while also reducing inflammation and stimulating the immune system,” he explains.
“Although these benefits have been understood for thousands of years by indigenous people around the world, it’s only recently that scientific research has allowed a more thorough understanding of them,” he says.
“The spa and wellness industry is ideally placed to deliver thermal bathing facilities to enable people to enjoy and benefit from intuitive aquatic journeys,” says Cattaneo. “This can be achieved through the design and composition of a facility’s mix of experiences, such as sauna and steam cabins, snowrooms, experience showers, hot vitality pools and cold plunge pools, hammams, ice fountains, tepidariums, frigidariums and other related ‘hot and cold’ water concepts”.
“Thermal bathing can deliver economic benefit for operators, due to reductions in labour costs and increases in customer flow,” explains Cattaneo, adding that thermal bathing circuits also attract people from local communities into hotel, spa and wellness facilities.
Regarding design approaches that support this emerging trend, Cattaneo says wellness areas can benefit from layouts focused on zoning and flow. “Myrtha Wellness favours the elimination of narrow corridors and claustrophobic thermal cabins to create convivial social circulation or piazza spaces and cabins with expansive glazing facades,” he says.
“The design and positioning of the spa in areas of the building where it’s possible to integrating the indoors and outdoors and involve nature and the external landscape results in improvements to the user wellness journey,” he explains.
Global expertise The company’s industry know-how and trend-tracking expertise has resulted in it being engaged to create many high-profile wellness facilities across the world, many of which reflect a unique market or geographical location.
Cattaneo is particularly proud of the company’s installations in the recently-opened Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa in Rotorua, New Zealand.
This 4,453sq m spa and wellness centre is grounded in Te ao Maori culture, which emphasises the relationship between nature and people. This includes the design of the building and the two main spa areas: Te Āhuru Mōwai (The Sanctuary) and Wai Whakaora (Restorative Journey), which is made up of hot and cold experiences designed to maximise therapeutic benefit. The journey includes a herb pool and a mud experience and a frigidarium.
Myrtha Wellness and its industry partners are also involved in a project which is due to open at the Mandarin Oriental in Los Angeles, and the first three luxury hotels of the new Saudi Tourism Development under Red Sea Global.
This is in addition to projects due to open soon in the Middle East with a number of leading hotel operators.
In Europe, Myrtha has finished a project in the Accor MGallery Collection’s Domaine Reine Margot in Paris, while major upcoming projects in Italy include a Baccarat in Florence and a Marriott Edition in Lake Como.
A Myrtha luxury wellness area is also in the planning stages at a Four Seasons resort in the Bahamas.
When asked the secret to Myrtha’s success, Cattaneo says: “Our principles of design, innovation, technology and customer service have been widely recognised for years and are now in force at Myrtha Wellness, shaping projects and creating unique experiences for customers.”
Sponsored: Highest French distinction for RKF's CEO
After receiving the highest civilian award for services to the French nation, Riadh Bouaziz, CEO of RKF Luxury Linen, reflects on his company’s many achievements and considers what lies ahead
Association focus: Thermal Heritage
Jane Kitchen finds out how two key associations – the European Historic Thermal Towns Association and the Great Spa Towns of Europe – are protecting and promoting the unique cultural relevances of Europe’s spa towns
Interview: Paul Simons
As he retires from the Great Spa Towns of Europe, the industry leader reflects on his long and esteemed career
Sponsored: New ways with water
Working globally with architects and interior designers allows Myrtha Wellness to embrace the latest trends in the international hospitality sector, as director Stefano Cattaneo explains
Sponsored: Cutting edge
Ara Patterson from Equinox Hotels talks about a partnership with
Gharieni that’s delivering ROI and innovative treatments for guests
Interview: Niamh O'Connell
What does Jumeirah’s first vice president of wellbeing have planned for the Middle East-based hospitality group?
Sponsored: Lasse Eriksen on contrast therapy
Contrast therapy is gaining attention for its healing effects. We ask aufguss and sauna expert Lasse Eriksen to share his views on the perfect experience
Nature spas: Tree of life
Lisa Starr discovers two retreats in Austria and Italy which base their wellbeing concepts on forests
Sponsored: Spirit of Excellence
Rupert Schmid and Pierre-Louis Delapalme, owners of Biologique Recherche, discuss the global rollout of its ‘Ambassade’ flagship spas
Sponsored: Outstanding performance
Bicester Hotel & Spa is working with Matrix Fitness to enable wellness guests to train like athletes with a unique offering
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.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, has opened a 2,800sq m spa called The Sanctuary,
with the design and concept inspired by the Native American people that populated Florida’s
Southwest coast – the Calusa.
Swire Hotels’ luxury hospitality brand Upper House has revealed it will roll out its two-day
House of Healing retreats at its three hotels in Hong Kong, Chengdu and Shanghai.
LVMH-owned beauty house Guerlain will launch up to five spas with partners a year as part of
its plan to expand globally, according to the brand’s international spa and wellness director,
Diane Davody.
A new global study by Kevin Kelly and Peter Yesawich, called WELLSurvey 2.0, has revealed
more than half of consumers in the UK, US and Germany would not choose numerous high-
profile wellness resort brands for a future trip.
Luxury hospitality and wellness pioneer Jeremy McCarthy has launched Leisure Alchemy, a
digital platform that will provide professionals with strategic guidance on how to build
transformational leisure experiences that drive profit.
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