Discover the modern wellness sanctuary offering the height of luxury and meaningful wellbeing

A modern wellness sanctuary

The embodiment of modern day wellness, every aspect of the retreat has been carefully considered, from the architecturally-driven design of the space and its interplay with the natural beauty outside, to the mind, body, and soul approach that spans holistic healing, organic skincare, and results-driven therapies.

Speaking to Melinda Dunbebin, General Spa Manager at Aria Spa, you get a real sense of the level of personal investment the team have put into the spa experience. She says:

"We pride ourselves on being a five-star, luxury establishment where health and wellbeing are an integral part of what we offer. The predominant focus is being cutting edge, being innovative, and making sure all the facilities are the latest and most beneficial available, from red light saunas and cold plunges, to the hyperbaric chambers we are hoping to install this year. Our owners are focused and dedicated to making sure we never stop progressing, bringing in new concepts so that what we offer, really supports people on their health journey."

A personalised approach to wellbeing

Modern wellbeing is very much about personalisation, and Aria Spa is committed to ensuring each individual feels like a valued guest, whose experiences are based around what they want and need at that time.

Melinda says: "We want Aria Spa to be a sanctuary for people to come to. We want people to truly feel taken care of and able to relax, so our customer service is paramount. We strive to set the standard for the spa industry when it comes to meaningful wellness."

Instead of simply arriving and using the facilities or having a treatment, their time in the spa is treated as a journey. Each guest is greeted by a senior member of the team at reception, they are given welcome refreshments like a mixed berry smoothie and fruit, and they place their lunch order so everything is taken care of.

Consultation forms are sent to guests in advance of their visit, and double checked when they arrive to make sure they have covered everything. Guests are given a tour of the facilities, taken to the changing rooms with a towel, robes, and sliders, as well as a towel for their hair. All products are also provided. There's even a swimwear dryer service, so wet costumes are taken when you go into your treatment and brought back afterwards, warm and dry so you're not sitting around in wet swimwear.

During every treatment guests are given a signature foot ritual, and a sorbet afterwards along with herbal teas when you go into the Hibernation Room to relax.

Top-to-toe therapy

Treatments at the spa are beautifully considered to meet individual needs whilst also delivering a luxurious experience. Therapists use the GAIA product line, handmade in Britain using traditional production methods and known for being natural, using plant actives and essential oils, as well as Medik8 for results-driven facials.

Furthermore, with Melinda and her assistant manager, Rachel, both being qualified therapists and trainers, the spa also offers its own bespoke treatments and rituals. They do the majority of their training in-house, with hero therapies including lymphatic drainage massage, which offers a wealth of health benefits.

Melinda says: "We are really committed to bringing the health aspect into what we offer. We want to bring that into our facilities and treatments to make people aware that there are lots of holistic options to support the body and help people in their wellbeing goals and journeys."

Looking after spa therapists so they can look after spa guests

Central to getting the wellness experience right for spa guests is taking care of therapists themselves.

Melinda says: "Our therapists receive ongoing training to make sure our treatments are outstanding and we are a very close team that values one another's friendship. I think one of the key parts of that is making sure the therapists themselves are invested in the long-term wellbeing of clients, and in turn we are invested in our therapists.

It's easy to take it for granted that therapists can just keep going all the time, they need looking after as well. We do a lot of team building with our therapists to look after them, we enjoy yoga, movie nights, going for meals together and that way we support our clients and protect our therapists. They're experienced experts and deserve a treat too.

I also want our team to feel like they have the time to understand their clients and deliver the best treatments. I think the best therapies come from building a connection with clients. So, we make sure they are not rushed with treatment time and that there's extra time built in to turnover the rooms and prepare for the next spa guest."

Aria Spa is an exemplary showcase of what's possible when it comes to modern wellness. They offer exquisite experiences in the tangible realms of treatments and facilities, but crucially they also show that the knowledge and careful consideration of people who are at the forefront of the spa world are essential for taking spa wellbeing to the next level.