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NEWS
Accor to introduce avant-garde wellness sanctuary at first SO/ resort in Spain
POSTED 25 Jun 2021 . BY Megan Whitby
Wellbeing and fitness will be core to SO/Sotogrande's philosophy Credit: SO/ Sotogrande Resort & Spa

Credit: Accor
SO/ requires a wellness experience that matches the persona and lifestyle of our youthfully-minded and worldly guests
– Emlyn Brown
Accor’s vibrant lifestyle brand SO/ Hotels & Resorts, together with Sotogrande SA, developer and creator of the namesake destination, will unveil the first SO/ property in Spain in July 2021.

Nestled on the Mediterranean coast between Marbella and Gibraltar, SO/ Sotogrande Resort & Spa will have a razor-sharp focus on wellbeing, sport and recovery.

The 151-room hotel will be home to a 2,500sq m wellness offering with an eight treatment room SO/Spa and SO/Fitness space.

Built on the four key pillars of sleep, food, sport and spa, the SO/ Wellness concept will aim to restore energy, strength and beauty, with healing treatments, social fitness, and on-trend innovations underpinned by science.

Guests will have access to rejuvenating treatments by QMS medicosmetics and Espa, a physio recovery zone, cryotherapy chambers and flotation facilities, alongside a spa boutique, relaxation spaces and hydrotherapy pools.

To complete the offering, the SO/Spa will be fitted with a dynamic thermal zone including a Finnish sauna, hammam, laconium, tepidarium and ice fountain,

A state-of-the-art SO/Fit members gym, designed by FitnessDesignGroup, will include yoga and meditation studios, a dynamic functional fitness area, a spinning studio and lap pool.

The hotel will open after an extensive renovation and repositioning programme of the historical Almenara Hotel.

SO/ Sotogrande will also feature 7,000sq m of extensive landscaped gardens with ocean views and enjoy close proximity to a host of golf courses and polo fields.

Moreover, an expanded equine infrastructure, including three polo clubs, is a celebration of the Andalucían equestrian culture, while the Mediterranean shore provides the perfect setting for watersports.

Guests will also be offered access to nine dining spaces, and nearly 1,000sq m of conference and meeting space.

Emlyn Brown, Accor’s global VP of wellbeing told Spa Business that: “At SO/ Sotogrande, our first resort location, we’re introducing an avant-garde wellness sanctuary.

“Wellness is intrinsic to lifestyle hospitality and as a lifestyle brand, SO/ requires a wellness experience that matches the persona and lifestyle of our youthfully-minded and worldly guests.

“The location, with its year-round temperate climate, pristine beaches and exceptional outdoor activities, makes SO/ Sotogrande an ideal destination for a holistic wellness experience.

The SO/ portfolio already includes SO/ Paseo del Prado Havana, SO/ Auckland, SO/ Berlin Das Stue, SO/Vienna and SO/ St. Petersburg.

With an ambitious plan to expand its global presence in the coming years, Accor has plans to expand SO/ into Kuala Lumpur, Koh Samui, Dubai, Paris, Melbourne and Los Cabos.

Brown added: “SO/ Sotogrande will certainly set the tone for our future ambitions for wellness activities across the brand, while strengthening our wellness approach with innovative and social activities that capture the culture and vibe of the locale."
Credit: SO/ Sotogrande Resort & Spa
Credit: SO/ Sotogrande Resort & Spa
Credit: SO/ Sotogrande Resort & Spa
Credit: SO/ Sotogrande Resort & Spa
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©Cybertrek 2026
Uniting the world of spa & wellness
Get Spa Business and Spa Business insider digital magazines FREE
Sign up here ▸
News   Products   Magazine   Subscribe
NEWS
Accor to introduce avant-garde wellness sanctuary at first SO/ resort in Spain
POSTED 25 Jun 2021 . BY Megan Whitby
Wellbeing and fitness will be core to SO/Sotogrande's philosophy Credit: SO/ Sotogrande Resort & Spa
Credit: Accor
SO/ requires a wellness experience that matches the persona and lifestyle of our youthfully-minded and worldly guests
– Emlyn Brown
Accor’s vibrant lifestyle brand SO/ Hotels & Resorts, together with Sotogrande SA, developer and creator of the namesake destination, will unveil the first SO/ property in Spain in July 2021.

Nestled on the Mediterranean coast between Marbella and Gibraltar, SO/ Sotogrande Resort & Spa will have a razor-sharp focus on wellbeing, sport and recovery.

The 151-room hotel will be home to a 2,500sq m wellness offering with an eight treatment room SO/Spa and SO/Fitness space.

Built on the four key pillars of sleep, food, sport and spa, the SO/ Wellness concept will aim to restore energy, strength and beauty, with healing treatments, social fitness, and on-trend innovations underpinned by science.

Guests will have access to rejuvenating treatments by QMS medicosmetics and Espa, a physio recovery zone, cryotherapy chambers and flotation facilities, alongside a spa boutique, relaxation spaces and hydrotherapy pools.

To complete the offering, the SO/Spa will be fitted with a dynamic thermal zone including a Finnish sauna, hammam, laconium, tepidarium and ice fountain,

A state-of-the-art SO/Fit members gym, designed by FitnessDesignGroup, will include yoga and meditation studios, a dynamic functional fitness area, a spinning studio and lap pool.

The hotel will open after an extensive renovation and repositioning programme of the historical Almenara Hotel.

SO/ Sotogrande will also feature 7,000sq m of extensive landscaped gardens with ocean views and enjoy close proximity to a host of golf courses and polo fields.

Moreover, an expanded equine infrastructure, including three polo clubs, is a celebration of the Andalucían equestrian culture, while the Mediterranean shore provides the perfect setting for watersports.

Guests will also be offered access to nine dining spaces, and nearly 1,000sq m of conference and meeting space.

Emlyn Brown, Accor’s global VP of wellbeing told Spa Business that: “At SO/ Sotogrande, our first resort location, we’re introducing an avant-garde wellness sanctuary.

“Wellness is intrinsic to lifestyle hospitality and as a lifestyle brand, SO/ requires a wellness experience that matches the persona and lifestyle of our youthfully-minded and worldly guests.

“The location, with its year-round temperate climate, pristine beaches and exceptional outdoor activities, makes SO/ Sotogrande an ideal destination for a holistic wellness experience.

The SO/ portfolio already includes SO/ Paseo del Prado Havana, SO/ Auckland, SO/ Berlin Das Stue, SO/Vienna and SO/ St. Petersburg.

With an ambitious plan to expand its global presence in the coming years, Accor has plans to expand SO/ into Kuala Lumpur, Koh Samui, Dubai, Paris, Melbourne and Los Cabos.

Brown added: “SO/ Sotogrande will certainly set the tone for our future ambitions for wellness activities across the brand, while strengthening our wellness approach with innovative and social activities that capture the culture and vibe of the locale."
Credit: SO/ Sotogrande Resort & Spa
Credit: SO/ Sotogrande Resort & Spa
Credit: SO/ Sotogrande Resort & Spa
Credit: SO/ Sotogrande Resort & Spa
RELATED STORIES
FEATURE: Interview: Emlyn Brown


Accor’s global vice-president of wellbeing talks to Katie Barnes about business strategies following COVID
Fairmont Windsor Park will open in Q2 with two-floor luxury spa retreat directed by Lisa Barden


In Q2 2021, Fairmont will open its third luxury UK property with a comprehensive spa and wellbeing haven, inspired by total-body rejuvenation.
Raffles expands into Russia with Moscow property complete with traditional banya


Accor and Kievskaya Ploshchad Group of Companies have announced the upcoming opening of a luxury Raffles-branded hotel in the very heart of Moscow, with views of the iconic Kremlin.
Accor in exclusive negotiations with Ennismore over US$1bn merger


Hospitality groups, Accor and Ennismore are entering into exclusive negotiations to form a new lifestyle operator in the hospitality sector, named Ennismore, as part of a US$1bn merger.
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HCM Invest opens applications for pitching slots
The inaugural HCM Invest event has opened applications for pitching slots ahead of its launch in London on 21 October 2026.
Synergy – The Retreat Show invites consumer and industry perspectives on retreats for research
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.
Turkey is crowned the best massage nation at world championship
Turkey came first at this year’s World Championship in Massage between 3-5 July in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The Wellness Tourism Association publishes industry framework for ethical and responsible retreats
The Wellness Tourism Association (WTA) has published a non-regulatory global industry framework designed to ensure the retreat market offers responsible experiences.
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Embrace the chill: TechnoAlpin's Snowsky revolutionises post-fitness recovery with falling snow
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...]

HPO Tech brings design-led hyperbaric systems to the spa floor
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+ More featured suppliers  
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+ More profiles  
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+ More catalogues  

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+ More directory  
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23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
10-12 Sep 2026

ASEAN Patio Pool Spa Expo 2026

MITEC Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia, Malaysia
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ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
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PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
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