Hotel establishments in beach areas have opted for wellness to differentiate themselves and attract more demanding tourists who, rather than the traditional option of sun and fun, prefer a combination of summer traditions with relaxation, health, and well-being.
If we consider the need to make the most of free time, to disconnect, and to free ourselves from the stress of everyday life, we will understand, as the tourism industry, especially those located in beach areas, has done, the need to promote this offer of health, relaxation, and well-being. The current trend is to make the most of the holidays to get our bodies in shape, and to return from vacation destinations feeling physically and mentally relaxed, allowing us to face the new work period.
Freixanet Wellness's wellness projects adapt to different sizes (from 60 m2 to 5,000 m2, without limitations). To achieve that desired relaxation, they are always created with a complete adaptation to existing architectural elements, attempting to play with them to define spaces that are both suitable for their purpose and visually provide a sense of relaxation. For example, large windows and spectacular views are taken advantage of, enhancing natural light and the tranquility provided by the sea, to accommodate certain amenities such as saunas or whirlpools. A clear example of this use of unique spaces is the symbiosis achieved in the spa of the Hotel Castell dels Hams (Mallorca), where all the light from the Mediterranean environment becomes part of the wellness equipment, enveloping the relaxation space enjoyed by the user, and which has won some of the most prestigious international architectural design awards, such as the jury prize at the A+ Architizer Awards in New York and the European Hotel Design Awards in London in 2013, or the 41st Annual Interior Design Competition this year in Chicago.
Obviously, the budget allocated to the construction and equipment of the center must be carefully considered, not so much by the quantity and type of equipment, but rather by the quality of the finishes, design, and accessories. This requires the collaborative work of a team of architects, designers, planners, and installers. Through collaborative efforts, as is the case at Freixanet Wellness, they can maximize the space, creating relaxing and attractive areas for users. In any case, the profitability of a wellness area must be emphasized, and it should be noted that having the appropriate facilities is an added value for any hotel, leading to an increase in the number of guests, boosting quality tourism in the area, and generating more profits.
The wellness area of the recently opened Hotel Avenida Sofía in Sitges, one of the most important tourist resorts on the Mediterranean coast, is a clear example of the quality of the finishes in the VIP rooms for special treatments, and of the relaxing effects achieved in the spectacular indoor spa, with a carefully studied interplay of lights and effects that, thanks to advanced projection techniques, transport the user to the depths of the sea.
The construction or improvement of wellness areas is seen by investors, technical experts, and even design professionals as a new market segment. Tour operators are echoing this growth and consider health tourism an alternative to traditional tourism, one with growing demand and considerable prestige.
According to a recent study conducted among Spain's leading tour operators through the Spanish association for this sector, more than 80% of respondents believe that the existence of wellness areas already represents almost 30% of their clients' preferences when choosing a destination. This is undoubtedly one of the main reasons why wellness will be increasingly present in the main beach tourist destinations.
The type of user is another aspect to consider, as spa guests will spend most of their time enjoying wellness and specific treatments, while if we're talking about a city hotel guest staying for business, the time they dedicate to wellness will be essential to maintaining their health habits. For this same reason, beach hotel guests who have vacation time will frequently use the wellness area, if the hotel has one, to achieve the desired relaxation.
What has become clear in recent years is that a beach hotel vacation offering that caters to a public that demands quality, while also standing out from the growing and increasingly aggressive competition by offering exclusivity, cannot be achieved without a broad and professional wellness offering. A clear example of this philosophy is the new area that Freixanet Wellness has designed and built for the exclusive Healthouse Las Dunas, a 5-star luxury hotel that, in addition to an ideal beach vacation, offers comprehensive health programs with spaces dedicated to hydrotherapy and personalized therapeutic treatments, complementing one of the most modern and spectacular wellness areas on the Costa del Sol. This area features a Vitality Pool, lap pools, saunas, a caldarium, a steam bath, and exclusive equipment such as a snow cabin and a salt cabin, which, due to its health-promoting effects, has become one of the most sought-after facilities this season.
