The first Kempinski-managed property in Azerbaijan opened in Baku this December and another is planned for 2015
At the top-end, hotel standards were compa- rable to those in western destinations. Tese included long-established, locally-owned boutique hotels such as Hotel Meridian and the Diplomat. While early international chain arrivals included Hyatt followed by Radis- son in the 1990s. In the past five years, however, there’s been
an investment surge and 2011 was no excep- tion. Te 159-bedroom Park Hyatt invested us$330,000 (€254,000, £211,450) on refur- bishing its spa that forms part of the hotel’s three-storey Club Oasis complex. The Armaiti Spa, still in its pre-opening phase, covers 310sq m (3,337sq ſt) and features three treatment rooms. Hotel manager Kostas Batalas, is clearly inspired by the spa’s devel- opment, recognising its “power to capture new markets and retain existing business”. December saw the opening of the 3,500sq
m (37,674sq ſt) European-style spa at Kempin- ski Hotel Badamar Baku. Te new Badamar complex is one of the largest developments in the Caucasus region and boasts an enter- tainment and retail centre and seasonal aqua park, as well as the 280-bedroom Kempinski hotel. Te spa features 20 treatment rooms – six of which are doubles – and a beauty centre. Te product house is Elemental Herbology. A lap pool, steamroom, sauna, hammam and fitness studio complete the offering. Recognising the city’s potential, Kempin-
ski has also signed a management agreement for a second site in Baku – the 221-bedroom Crescent Hotel: a glass, arch-shaped building that resembles a crescent moon. Te hotel,
SPA BUSINESS 1 2012 ©Cybertrek 2012
Hilton also arrived in Baku in 2011 featuring its first eforea spa in the region
designed by Korean firm Heerim Architects, will form part of the Caspian Plus develop- ment, which includes a further four buildings – three residential and one for office use. Due for completion in 2015, Te Caspian
Plus will sit on the opposite peninsula to the equally impressive Full Moon Bay develop- ment (also by Heerim), which will feature the 35-storey Hotel Full Moon – built in a disc shape to look like the moon – as well as two separate residential apartment blocks. Other new arrivals in 2011 included the
309-bedroom Hilton Baku with a 1,500sq m (16,146sq ſt) eforea spa (see sb11/3 p28); and the 207-bedroom Sheraton Baku Airport hotel with a Gazelli Spa & Wellness facility. Tis year is set to be equally as busy. Te 175-bedroom Four Seasons Hotel Baku,
due to open in early 2012, is the setting for the 950sq m (10,226sq ſt) Jaleh Spa which occupies a roof-top location and provides panoramic views of the city and sea. Spa manager, Shawna Morneau, stresses
the importance of the local market: “sixty-five per cent of our business will come from local and VIP guests taking advantage of our exclu- sive membership programme together with our unique VIP suite and private balcony.” Designed by UK-based Reardon Smith
architects and Spa Developments Consultancy, the spa has nine treatments rooms, plus the VIP suite. Tere are also male and female areas, with a hammam, a steamroom and whirlpools by Barr + Wray, a fitness centre and a pool that’s set in a two-storey atrium. Products will supplied by Sodashi and Kerstin Florian.
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