Health and Wellness Trends for a New Generation of Luxury Hotel Spas
Post-pandemic, there has been a growing cognizance of the benefits of mental health and self-care.
Consumer attitudes and spending on personal wellness products and services are growing exponentially.
This has resulted in increased demand for luxurious spa facilities at hotels and resorts; and the hospitality industry is responding.
According to McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, the global wellness market is estimated to be more than $1.5 trillion, with an annual growth rate of 5 to 10 percent. Consequently, spas are continually developing new programs, products, and environments to meet the needs of guests seeking total body health and wellness.
To provide those offerings, hotel owners and operators are turning to architectural, construction and interior design professionals to create opulent settings with world-class amenities. These new and inviting spas offer the latest treatments and services amid spectacular architectural designs. They incorporate thoughtfully curated building materials, finishes and interiors that seamlessly incorporate the natural environment to promote wellness and evoke a sense of indulgence. Every detail of the experience is examined, including materials, finishes, color palettes, lighting and acoustics.
Designs being brought to the table elevate this dedicated space from the traditional massage rooms and a hair and nail salon to an all-encompassing experiential destination of its own.
According to Pinar Harris, Vice President and Principal of SB Architects the most apparent emerging trend is that spas are getting larger. “We’ve seen a huge change in consumer priorities when it comes to travel. More guests are looking for an experience and wellness. We anticipate that this upsurge of people prioritizing their health and well-being will only get stronger. Hotels are becoming relied upon to provide havens for relaxation and health. As such, new hotels are dedicating more square footage to spas to provide these services.”
In the last few years, some of Florida’s most pristine west coast beaches are experiencing a renaissance. Redevelopment is transforming these Gulf Coast gems into prime tourist destinations, with several new luxury hotels and spas.
Treatment rooms at the JW Marriott Clearwater incorporate wood elements to integrate the natural environment and support relaxation.
Seamless Integration of Nature
One of the most noticeable trends in luxury resort spa design is the extent to which a locale’s natural environment is considered and seamlessly integrated, giving guests the ability to connect with nature.
Off the coast of Sarasota in Florida, Moss Construction is currently building the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort and Residences for Unicorp National Developments, Inc. The 1.1 million square-foot project consists of five buildings and is scheduled to open next summer. The spa sanctuary was designed alongside the larger 166-room resort and 69 private luxury condominiums to create a cohesive design narrative for the 17-acre destination.
The overarching vision for the 22,000-square-foot St. Regis Longboat Key Spa was to create a statement spa that seamlessly blends elegant and sophisticated design with a modern approach to wellness. Here, nature is placed strategically front and center through outdoor facilities with natural light and fresh airflow.
Wow Factors
Today guests are also looking for a “Wow Factor” that distinguishes one property from another. Anything a hotel can do to provide a novelty factor will be memorable and bring guests back.
At St. Regis, natural elements such as water, fire and ice play a crucial role in delivering the novelty that guest seek. Constructing these special elements requires careful technical planning and meticulous coordination with a variety of specialists. The hotel features a spectacular salt-water lagoon with live fish and sea life, which reinforces the tropical sense of place and brings guest even closer to nature.
The lounge area in the spa features a fireplace that invites people and connects them to the outdoors with an unobstructed beach view through the flames. The Vitality Room at the spa incorporates a large Vitality hot tub with hydro-massage jets, a cold plunge pool, sauna, steam room, a waterfall feature and showers. The Vitality Room offers guests a unique snow shower that produces snowflakes on demand to help blood circulation return to normal after a hot sauna. This rejuvenating experience required its own ventilation system and overhead cavity to enclose the space in its own conditioned environment. From a wellness standpoint, the snow shower emulates the rest of the spa environment by connecting guests directly with nature in an innovative, modern way.
The intimate fireplace overlooking the mesmerizing infinity pool at the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort and Residences connects guests to the natural environment and offers unobstructed views of the Gulf.
Lighting, Color Palettes and Acoustics
Previously, spas have been typically dark with low light, but the St. Regis Longboat Key spa takes advantage of the location at every point. Each treatment room is strategically located to connect guests to a specific part of the property and its natural surroundings.
Calming colors that echo the environment remain an enduring mark of luxury spa design. Warm neutral brown and gray tones provide a soothing and grounding atmosphere. Warmer wood tones and green and blue accent colors often offset these natural pallettes. At the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach’s Pallavi Luxury Spa, the lighting in the corridors is blue to tie in with the ocean-side environment and provide a tranquil, almost enchanted experience.
Acoustics are also a design and construction component that must be examined carefully. To address this, specific materials and systems can be implemented to minimize sound from traveling which can enhance the experience for guests. Sound Transmission Class (STC) rated walls and doors can be used to make noises more muffled; Sound attenuators can also be installed in the HVAC duct work that services the saunas and steam rooms to minimize the sound of mechanical equipment that may carry through ductwork.
The use of natural materials, such as wood, at the JW Marriott in Clearwater promotes sustainability and environmentally conscious construction.
Sustainability and the Use of Natural Materials
It’s been almost 30 years since the introduction of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, which the U.S. Green Building Council established. And although LEED standards are not required in private hotels, as in public facilities, the trend for adopting these practices has grown exponentially. As a result, sustainable design and construction are standard among spa projects today, and nearly all the products used meet sustainability standards.
Post-pandemic supply chain disruptions and the availability of materials also play a role in the thoughtful curation of construction materials. These new challenges require designers and builders to combine their knowledge and experience.
“From a construction materials perspective, the spa areas need to look rich and beautiful but wear like iron,” said Gina Goodin of CRTKL Interior Design in Miami, who has worked on the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach and the JW Marriott Clearwater Beach. “We’re working with general contractors to ensure that we have eco-friendly stone and wood options as well as water conservation fixtures and built-in energy efficiencies to implement these modern spa designs.”
Of course, climate and environment play a significant role in selecting materials, particularly those that can resist moisture damage in a beachside spa environment. For example, in some high humidity prone areas at the spa at St. Regis Longboat Key, Moss installed aluminum ceiling panels instead of wood because of its durability and beautiful modern aesthetic appeal.
This growing trend exemplifies the spa industry’s commitment to creating spaces that harmonize with nature and the ability of architects, designers and builders to meet those needs.
St. Regis Longboat Key Resort and Residences integrates natural materials including stone and wood to create a harmonious environment and foster serenity.
Variety of Wellness-Oriented Spaces
Spas are evolving and devoting square footage for new and different uses. “People aren’t comfortable using new hair stylists when they go on vacation,” said Goodin. Therefore, that square footage now is being dedicated to comprehensive health and wellness services.
Spas are incorporating distinct spaces for yoga, meditation, and fitness activities, recognizing the importance of holistic well-being. These spaces are thoughtfully designed to promote tranquility and mindfulness, including salt, herbal, and cold rooms for the added healing experience after exercise.
In addition, resorts are creating immersive hydrotherapy areas, complete with thermal pools, water circuits, and therapeutic water features, to enhance the relaxation and rejuvenation aspects of the spa experience. Integrating wellness-oriented spaces within luxury resort spas reinforces that these destinations are not just about temporary indulgence but also about long-term health and vitality.
Goodin explains how the JW Marriott Clearwater Beach has tied the fitness rooms with the spa to provide a more focused health and wellness experience. “At that property, you must enter the fitness room through the spa areas. They also added a beautiful Express Massage station, intended for people in the fitness center to stop in and get a quick chair massage before or after working out. It’s definitely a more integrated experience.”
With flexible space options, spas create a mix of open communal spaces and intimate private settings to provide equal opportunities for meaningful connections with like-minded people and for enjoying serenity and solitude.
The intimate setting in the massage rooms at the JW Marriott Clearwater features a natural color palette with blue accents and expansive windows, allowing for natural light.
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort spa offers various treatment rooms planned not only to meet peak demand but to appeal to all types of guests. The Signature Iridium Suite connects to the outdoors, overlooking the ocean and creating a space of celebration for events, retreats and wedding parties. On the other hand, the couples Longboat Suite has access to secluded, tropical outdoor seating and a private pool.
With a myriad of options to distinguish their unique properties, hotel owners and spa operators are working with architects, interior designers and construction managers to meet the ever-changing needs of sophisticated guests seeking unforgettable experiences.
With a greater emphasis on health and wellness, today’s modern spas fully integrate the natural environment with the spa’s luxurious and opulent interior: creative and unexpected “Wow” features, adopting sustainable practices, creating multi-sensory environments, and incorporating wellness-oriented spaces for various uses set the bar higher for the industry.
Expertly selected building materials, lighting, technology, color, and acoustic treatments, these spas offer guests a perfect blend of indulgence, relaxation, and holistic well-being experiences. As industry offerings continue to evolve, the beautiful luxury resort spas that provide these services will undoubtedly do the same.
Main Photo: The architectural, construction and interior design elements of the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort and Residences Spa create a relaxing atmosphere for rest and rejuvenation.