The Spa at JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort and Spa has re-opened following a US$25 million (€23.0 million, £19.8 million) transformation.

The 453-key resort’s spa has retained its 32,000sq ft footprint but the design has been reimagined to incorporate elements that reflect the beauty of the surrounding Sonoran Desert, while adhering to the resort’s brand new Arivéa philosophy.

This concept offers guests a holistic approach to wellness that blends personalised rituals with timeless traditions, respect for the preciousness of the location’s water and the significance of stillness in the desert.

Architects DesignOne-Studio and EDG have used natural materials to blur the line between indoors and out. Textures include French limestone, custom stone mosaics, travertine and linen-like textiles. Natural cacti and greenery bring the outdoors indoors.

The project was first announced last year. In a recent edition of Spa Business, Suzanne Holbrook, global leader of spa, fitness and wellness operations for Marriott International, announced underutilised spaces at Marriott properties will be reimagined to provide more wellness facilities. This JW Marriott spa renovation is just the first of many expected wellness revamps.

Facilities

Bradford Wellness has designed the 20-treatment room spa’s new immersive indoor wellness circuit featuring a Himalayan salt sauna, aromatherapy steam cavern, experiential cold therapies, limestone infrared loungers and a sunlit solarium with an 18-person vitality pool.

Relaxation areas include The Sanctuary, for quiet contemplation and the Stillness Lounge – which features Mind-Sync Harmonic Wellness Loungers by Living Earth Crafts, weighted blankets, eye masks and noise-cancelling headphones.

The spa’s Wellness Waters experience will launch this month, offering a trio of outdoor hydrotherapy experiences. The main pool is called The Flow, while The Still is a salt pool and the cold plunge is called The Chill.

There is also a secluded private pool suite, called The Villa, which has a double treatment room, heated vitality pool and lounge patio for couples or intimate groups up to 10 people.

A Nail Lounge for manicure and pedicure services and a boutique complete the mix.

The new Wellness Studio has a schedule of programmes for sound baths, guided meditation, yoga, breathwork and other specialities. 

Guests can also access the resort’s 24-hour fitness centre, which has been redesigned to house Technogym equipment, Peloton bikes, strength training zones and areas for personal training. 

Treatments and programming

The treatments are organised into four Pathways to Wellbeing, tailored to guests’ specific goals – such as grounding, calming, revitalising or reawakening the senses. Each pathway also includes a corresponding wellness activity, ranging from guided hikes and breathwork to soundbaths and restorative movement.

• Detox – the pathway that includes purifying rituals such as the Juniper Sage Grounding Massage and Adobe Clay Detox, each using indigenous botanicals.
• Soothe – this pathway is focused on nervous-system recovery and rest, with the Sonoran Rose Facial for positive energy and the Lipid Body Renewal oil cleansing therapy. Breathwork and stillness meditation are complementary activities to this pathway.
• Harmonise – Balance in the body is encouraged during this pathway, with a Return to Balance Massage that focuses on the head and feet, as well as an energy blockage therapy called Bindi Body Balancing. Complementary activations include matcha, green tea elixirs, sound baths or yoga.
• Restore – Designed to refresh and invigorating guests, the Cellular Renewal Facial is said to awaken the skin’s vitality, and the Body Radiance Treatment is an exfoliation ritual to promote cell repair. Guests can also take part in gentle stretching and guided meditation.

Ora Café

The spa’s new Ora Café offers an all-day menu developed by a licensed nutritionist. The meal options are organised based on the four Pathways to Wellness, blending indulgence with lighter wellness-inspired foods. 

Signature dishes include shashouka and spiced tomato stew, a kefir yogurt acai smoothie bowl and beverages including an adaptogenic mushroom latte.