A five-star nature hotel and spa set in the mountains of South Tyrol, in Italy, has reopened with a new outdoor-focused wellness offering to help guests relax in nature, following lockdown.

Hotel Quelle’s new Wellness Garden concept has transformed the hotel’s 5,000sq m gardens into an outdoor spa with a new private outdoor massage area.

With the hotel’s name derived from the German word for ‘source’, the vision for the garden is inspired by water and has been designed with multiple water features. In addition to the Biological Bathing Pond and outdoor Kneipp and barefoot walking path, Hotel Quelle has added a new illuminated waterfall in the mountain stream, creating a new quiet oasis for relaxation.

Following the advent of COVID, the industry is seeing a growing desire for outdoor spa offerings from consumers, most likely due to the lower transmission rates associated with being outdoors compared to indoors.

“The new Wellness Garden was originally conceived to celebrate our 70th anniversary this year, but following the pandemic it has arrived at an even better time because it’s more important than ever for our guests to spend time in nature, to heal and to breathe,” said Manuel Steinmair, GM and owner of Hotel Quelle, speaking to Spa Business.

“We’ve also introduced the new outdoor massage area and added even more outdoor fitness classes, such as circuits and functional training to our activity schedule.

“This is not only in response to the scientific advice around transmission rates of the virus but also because we think these offerings will help offer peace of mind to our guests. We want our guests to feel safe and to really relax.”

The Italian resort is home to a 5000sq m wellness centre, including a dedicated spa for adults and a separate family spa, with a total of 13 treatment rooms.

The spa features 10 sauna and steam rooms – including the Snow Sauna ice lounge that’s designed to relieve sore muscles and tension – as well as a warming salt-water grotto and Technogym-equipped fitness facility.

Hotel Quelle’s spa offers a comprehensive range of natural and holistic therapies, as well as a wide choice of beauty treatments using both international and product houses including Team Dr. Joseph Vitalis, !QMS, Maria Galland, Egyptos, Piroché and Tyrolean Stone Oil.

The hotel has taken measures to create heightened sanitation standards and partnered with medical spa specialists, Brixsana, to develop a new hygiene policy when welcoming back guests. It has also implemented a dedicated taskforce to ensure safety compliance is being met and ensured all employees have been trained in the new hygiene measures.