Snow rooms are creating a ‘wow’ factor for customers,
while reducing operating costs in the delivery of hot and cold
experiences, says TechnoAlpin partner, Derek Barton from Barr & Wray
Cold bathing offers numerous health benefits / photo: technoalpin
Hot and cold bathing is known to strengthen the Central Nervous System, so the value to people of using these types of facilities can’t be understated,” explains Derek Barton, MD at Barr & Wray. “Alternatively, if the guest just wants to use the wellness experience to get away from it all, then that’s good too.”
While Barr & Wray offers a variety of hot experiences, Barton says large-scale cold water experiences can be more of a challenge to deliver, due to the cost of cooling large volumes of water. “Wet areas typically have air temperatures of between 29-31 degrees,” he explains, “so chilled pools cost a lot to run and to keep cool. Additionally, cold water experiences can be expensive when it comes to water usage and we find some are just not sustainable”.
Snow room solutions If operators want to optimise their spa and wellness installations in terms of operating costs, but still want to deliver hot and cold experiences, Barton suggests they consider snow and ice rooms. “They’re a good fit,” he says. “They deliver the wow factor while also being constructed and operated to ensure sanitary conditions. They also accommodate multiple users, when compared to cold plunge pools and showers, which generally only accommodate one person at a time.”
When it comes to snow room trends, Barton – who partners with specialist TechnoAlpin to deliver these experiences – says larger wet areas are becoming more popular in the Asian and Middle East markets. “Whether this is to do with the pandemic and the need for more personal space, or simply that consumers are developing a preference for larger bathing areas remains to be seen,” he says. “In this context, snow and ice rooms can be the jewel in the crown, offering a unique experience for many regular spa users who have become a little jaded from seeing the same facilities time and time again.”
New installations Barr & Wray has recently installed a snow room with TechnoAlpin in the spa at Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre Dubai and is also working with them on a design project in Qatar, which will also incorporate snow.
So can a snowroom installation help the bottom line? Barton says although extra budget is required for the installation, it’s not possible to underestimate the power of the ‘wow’ factor when it comes to the impact of these playful cold experiences: “In addition to providing guests with a curative treatment, a snow room can be incorporated into a spa or wellness offering to simply put the property on the map,” he explains. “It could be the reason why guests make the journey to your spa rather than visiting another property.”
TechnoAlpin’s indoor snow concepts offer experiences for hotels and wellness areas, as well as indoor ski and retail venues, with solutions ranging from 10sq m snow cabins to snow-covered ski areas of 50,000sq m.
The company’s SnowRoom can be manufactured in a range of sizes from 5 to 20sq m. Real snow provides an innovative, dry cool-down, as well as snow experiences 365 days a year that stimulate the senses in a wintery environment.
Room design options include Rock, Forest or the Cubic option, which was designed by renowned architects, Snøhetta. The rooms are cooled to between -5°C and -10°C and fresh snow ‘falls’ every night.
The EcoSnow2.0 multifunctional unit is the central controller for snow production, while cold air is also blown into the room via the snow nozzle to maintain the temperature, with no additional cooling required.
When it comes to the layout of the spa, the unit can be installed up to 50m from the SnowRoom to give more flexibility in the installation.
A seven-inch touch display ensures easy control and monitoring of all of the EcoSnow 2.0’s operating functions. A timed program allows for the automatic control of the production of snow and also the defrosting times.
For ease of operation, TechnoAlpin can access the device and update settings remotely for maintenance purposes.
Derek Barton - Barr & Wray
"Hot and cold bathing is known to strengthen the Central Nervous System, so the value to people of using these types of facilities can’t be understated,” – Derek Barton, MD at Barr & Wray
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2021 issue 3
Editor's letter: All about the people
With global staff shortages threatening to stall economic recovery, it’s time to reboot our commitment to driving improvements in pay and working conditions across the spa and wellness industry
Spa people: Dr Mark Hyman
Dr Mark Hyman MD believes functional medicine has the power to be life-changing in the health and wellbeing of patients.
New opening: Six Senses Shaharut
Six Senses has opened the doors to its new 60-key retreat in Israel’s southern Negev Desert, complete with a 1,900sq m, two-level spa and wellness sanctuary
New opening: QC NY
A 74,000sq ft Italian day spa has opened on New York’s Governors Island after a US$50m investment and seven years of planning, building and restoration.
Interview: Kenneth Ryan
We talk to the global head of spa at Marriott International about navigating the global lockdown, re-imagining the company's brand portfolio and what it will take to succeed post-COVID-19
Sponsored: Time out
Answering a growing demand
for non-invasive, anti-ageing skin
care, Comfort Zone is relaunching
its Sublime Skin line with a new
filler-like natural formula that
reverses cellular degeneration
Research: Total impact
Latest ISPA report considers the economic fallout of the pandemic and the spa industry's road to recovery
Sponsored: Gharieni Group
CEO Sammy Gharieni talks about his relentless drive
to deliver innovative products to underpin operators’ success
Analysis: Role model
What business models are showing the most potential in the wellness industry? Lyndsay Madden Nadeau shares her insights
Interview: Lorenzo Giannuzzi
The hospitality veteran dreamed of reinventing an historic Italian palazzo as a world-class medical spa. Lisa Starr went to find out more
Sponsored: TechnoAlpin
Snow rooms are creating a ‘wow’ factor for customers,
while reducing operating costs in the delivery of hot and cold
experiences
Interview: Gloria Caulfield
The executive director of Lake Nona wellness community talks about tapping into the latest tech to create healthy living environments
Software: Revenue management
How software suppliers have been supporting spas to get savvy with yield management since the pandemic began
Promotion: Iyashi Dôme
Iyashi Dôme’s touchless infrared tech is the perfect investment for the post-lockdown world, says Florent Cornelis
In today’s premium spa environment, every detail shapes the guest experience – right down to
the softness of towels and the freshness of linens. [more...]
Snow rooms are creating a ‘wow’ factor for customers,
while reducing operating costs in the delivery of hot and cold
experiences, says TechnoAlpin partner, Derek Barton from Barr & Wray
Cold bathing offers numerous health benefits / photo: technoalpin
Hot and cold bathing is known to strengthen the Central Nervous System, so the value to people of using these types of facilities can’t be understated,” explains Derek Barton, MD at Barr & Wray. “Alternatively, if the guest just wants to use the wellness experience to get away from it all, then that’s good too.”
While Barr & Wray offers a variety of hot experiences, Barton says large-scale cold water experiences can be more of a challenge to deliver, due to the cost of cooling large volumes of water. “Wet areas typically have air temperatures of between 29-31 degrees,” he explains, “so chilled pools cost a lot to run and to keep cool. Additionally, cold water experiences can be expensive when it comes to water usage and we find some are just not sustainable”.
Snow room solutions If operators want to optimise their spa and wellness installations in terms of operating costs, but still want to deliver hot and cold experiences, Barton suggests they consider snow and ice rooms. “They’re a good fit,” he says. “They deliver the wow factor while also being constructed and operated to ensure sanitary conditions. They also accommodate multiple users, when compared to cold plunge pools and showers, which generally only accommodate one person at a time.”
When it comes to snow room trends, Barton – who partners with specialist TechnoAlpin to deliver these experiences – says larger wet areas are becoming more popular in the Asian and Middle East markets. “Whether this is to do with the pandemic and the need for more personal space, or simply that consumers are developing a preference for larger bathing areas remains to be seen,” he says. “In this context, snow and ice rooms can be the jewel in the crown, offering a unique experience for many regular spa users who have become a little jaded from seeing the same facilities time and time again.”
New installations Barr & Wray has recently installed a snow room with TechnoAlpin in the spa at Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre Dubai and is also working with them on a design project in Qatar, which will also incorporate snow.
So can a snowroom installation help the bottom line? Barton says although extra budget is required for the installation, it’s not possible to underestimate the power of the ‘wow’ factor when it comes to the impact of these playful cold experiences: “In addition to providing guests with a curative treatment, a snow room can be incorporated into a spa or wellness offering to simply put the property on the map,” he explains. “It could be the reason why guests make the journey to your spa rather than visiting another property.”
TechnoAlpin’s indoor snow concepts offer experiences for hotels and wellness areas, as well as indoor ski and retail venues, with solutions ranging from 10sq m snow cabins to snow-covered ski areas of 50,000sq m.
The company’s SnowRoom can be manufactured in a range of sizes from 5 to 20sq m. Real snow provides an innovative, dry cool-down, as well as snow experiences 365 days a year that stimulate the senses in a wintery environment.
Room design options include Rock, Forest or the Cubic option, which was designed by renowned architects, Snøhetta. The rooms are cooled to between -5°C and -10°C and fresh snow ‘falls’ every night.
The EcoSnow2.0 multifunctional unit is the central controller for snow production, while cold air is also blown into the room via the snow nozzle to maintain the temperature, with no additional cooling required.
When it comes to the layout of the spa, the unit can be installed up to 50m from the SnowRoom to give more flexibility in the installation.
A seven-inch touch display ensures easy control and monitoring of all of the EcoSnow 2.0’s operating functions. A timed program allows for the automatic control of the production of snow and also the defrosting times.
For ease of operation, TechnoAlpin can access the device and update settings remotely for maintenance purposes.
Derek Barton - Barr & Wray
"Hot and cold bathing is known to strengthen the Central Nervous System, so the value to people of using these types of facilities can’t be understated,” – Derek Barton, MD at Barr & Wray
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2021 issue 3
Editor's letter: All about the people
With global staff shortages threatening to stall economic recovery, it’s time to reboot our commitment to driving improvements in pay and working conditions across the spa and wellness industry
Spa people: Dr Mark Hyman
Dr Mark Hyman MD believes functional medicine has the power to be life-changing in the health and wellbeing of patients.
New opening: Six Senses Shaharut
Six Senses has opened the doors to its new 60-key retreat in Israel’s southern Negev Desert, complete with a 1,900sq m, two-level spa and wellness sanctuary
New opening: QC NY
A 74,000sq ft Italian day spa has opened on New York’s Governors Island after a US$50m investment and seven years of planning, building and restoration.
Interview: Kenneth Ryan
We talk to the global head of spa at Marriott International about navigating the global lockdown, re-imagining the company's brand portfolio and what it will take to succeed post-COVID-19
Sponsored: Time out
Answering a growing demand
for non-invasive, anti-ageing skin
care, Comfort Zone is relaunching
its Sublime Skin line with a new
filler-like natural formula that
reverses cellular degeneration
Research: Total impact
Latest ISPA report considers the economic fallout of the pandemic and the spa industry's road to recovery
Sponsored: Gharieni Group
CEO Sammy Gharieni talks about his relentless drive
to deliver innovative products to underpin operators’ success
Analysis: Role model
What business models are showing the most potential in the wellness industry? Lyndsay Madden Nadeau shares her insights
Interview: Lorenzo Giannuzzi
The hospitality veteran dreamed of reinventing an historic Italian palazzo as a world-class medical spa. Lisa Starr went to find out more
Sponsored: TechnoAlpin
Snow rooms are creating a ‘wow’ factor for customers,
while reducing operating costs in the delivery of hot and cold
experiences
Interview: Gloria Caulfield
The executive director of Lake Nona wellness community talks about tapping into the latest tech to create healthy living environments
Software: Revenue management
How software suppliers have been supporting spas to get savvy with yield management since the pandemic began
Promotion: Iyashi Dôme
Iyashi Dôme’s touchless infrared tech is the perfect investment for the post-lockdown world, says Florent Cornelis
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.
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.
In today’s premium spa environment, every detail shapes the guest experience – right down to
the softness of towels and the freshness of linens. [more...]
