p30-31 ttg_lux_feature_spa Wint09 27/11/09 18:08 Page 30
RISING
People have
been visiting health spas for hundreds of
years, but the massive growth in spas at
luxury hotels and resorts in the past
decade has led to tremendous global choice
– and competition. The emergence of big
brands such as ESPA and Elemis, and the
SPAS
growth of groups such as Banyan Tree and
Six Senses – which make the spa experience
an intrinsic part of their offer – have made
“spa” one of travel’s most uttered words.
But in a move away from what can seem
like a homogeneous approach, spas rooted
in their locale, using locally-sourced
ingredients and treatments, and therapies
based on traditional methods, have also
been on the ascent.
If there has been one consistently growing part of As Anne Biging, founder of Healing
the luxury travel sector in the past few years, it’s
Hotels of the World, says: “The spa
industry has actually benefited from the
spas, with a mind-boggling array of glossy retreats
recession, as more people search for
wellbeing, substance and sustainability.”
offering a huge range of treatments. But have they
This could be anything from a bathing
ritual using water from the sacred Ganges at
been a victim of the recession and where can you
the Taj Nadesar Palace in Varanassi, to the
find the world’s best? April Hutchinson reports
Sara Qata treatment at Las Casitas del Colca
in Peru, including a traditional method of
applying ground purple corn and honey
(from the hotel’s own hives) to the body
and being wrapped in an Alpaca blanket.
Europe has always been the stronghold
for traditional spas, Asia the heartland of
zen-like retreats and America the pioneer
for destination spas such as Canyon Ranch,
plus hundreds of day spas for high-flyers
and image-conscious ladies-who-lunch.
The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino’s Canyon
Ranch SpaClub has become the largest spa
in the world, with 90 treatment rooms.
But destinations such as Jordan are
emerging as spa centres, too. For latecomers
to modern commercial spas, such as South
America and Africa, the route to success
will be to develop smaller spas
30
routed in local traditions.
feature spa
winter 09 ttgluxury.com
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