Jumeirah Group Hotels take wellness one step ahead, driven by ultimate innovation and research (Exclusive Interview) – CPP-LUXURY

CPP-LUXURY.COM has recently interviewed Julanda Marais, Regional Director Spa, Jumeirah Group, a highly experienced executive with over 8 years in Spa and Wellness executive roles including with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts. 

How has the SPA / wellness experience changed? Are people seeking less organic products to ensure deep cleaning

High tech, low touch treatments are on the rise, since there are varying degrees of comfort regarding touch treatments, therefore innovative Spa technology and equipment  is gaining momentum.

That being said, we are also experiencing guests that seek the holistic, organic experience especially since wholesome self care is also at the forefront. It’s really a combination of both since it allows us to appeal to a wider audience.

We have also taken the initiative to start introducing a top to toe experience with all of our massages, whereby we include a hydrogel formulated mask by 111SKIN which infuses the skin with radiance boosting ingredients for a glowing complexion, so we not only treat the body, but also the face. 111SKIN is a London brand that is the culmination of surgical knowledge, innovative ingredients and medically inspired delivery methods.

Have you identified new opportunities generated by the pandemic? – treatments for sleep disorders etc. 

Amongst others, sleep enhancing rituals are appealing more than ever to guests. Without sufficient quality sleep, our immune systems become weaker and we are more susceptible to illness. We are also much more aware of how we feel physically and emotionally. There’s so much we can do to achieve peak health. Taking care of ourselves that includes therapeutic spa experiences, whether it’s in-Spa or maintaining wellbeing experiences at home, is no longer optional.

We feature at one our Spa’s a ‘Total Sleep Ritual’ by Aromatherapy Associates which leaves you in a state of total relaxation and wellbeing. The power of aromatherapy is a hot topic since it’s working on improving our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Sodashi  is a brand also used in some of our Spa’s and also offers a number of wellbeing experiences that nurtures the mind, body, spirit and emotions. The Crystalus body massage by Sodashi is also a sensory experience which includes the placing of Chakra crystals to rebalance the energy of the body.

When do you expect Spas to be fully operational? 

Within our UAE properties, we have decided to re-open with a staggered approach, therefore not all Spa’s reopened right away. In some locations, we recreated a Spa experience in Hotel Villas and Suites so our hotel guests can feel safe and enjoy an experience that is very similar or equal to what they would have in the Spa. We are still experiencing government restrictions on re-opening of Spa facilities such as sauna’s, steam rooms, jacuzzi’s and other common areas, therefore the Hotel Villas and Suites work well. At this stage, we are expecting all of our Spa’s here to re-open by Q4 2020.

Is the fitness / gym experience altered? Which are the challenges 

 The Fitness journey is not impacted as much as long as we keep thinking in a creative manner and relook the spaces we have and how to adapt accordingly. Smarter scheduling of classes and utilization of spaces should ensure no reduction in capacity.

Which are nowadays the most common treatments booked? 

We notice that many guests have been craving human touch, so therapeutic massages remain to be very popular. In addition, we are also noticing an uprise in treatments such as sound meditation, since emotional health has become such an important factor this year due to the anxiety, stress, uncertainty we are all experiencing, and with meditation practice integrating mind, body and spirit all contributing to mental awareness, it is certainly also much more commonly booked these days.

To what extend guests are willing to have a treatment outdoor? – on a specifically created spaced or maybe on the terrace of their suite?

In the right location, guests love outdoor treatments. We perform outdoor massages on the beaches in private cabanas here in Dubai. It also contributes to the sense of local flair. Spending time outdoors in nature, is therapy and certainly also contributes to improving our mental and physical health. If spaces are created specifically for this, it’s a great addition to the Spa experience. We have a lot of demand for outdoor treatments from October to May here in the UAE since the weather is optimal for that.

Julanda Marais, Regional Director Spas, Jumeirah Group

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