Wellness rethought

Six extraordinary hideaways that surprise body and soul
Photo provided
Photo provided
Alexandra Gorsche © Conny Leitgeb Photography
29. May 2025 | 
Alexandra Gorsche
29. May 2025
|
Alexandra Gorsche

From inhalation bars to moon phase treatments and wine ceremonies: These six innovative wellness concepts show how far modern relaxation can go today – and what the industry should learn from them.

Wellness as an experience: six hideaways redefine relaxation

Whether on the Adriatic coast, in North America or in the tropical rainforest - wellness has long been more than just a classic massage with scented oil. Six extraordinary hotels, curated by Genusspunkt, show what holistic relaxation can look like today: bold, sensual and surprisingly profound. Those who switch off here will be recharged - with concepts that appeal to body, mind and curiosity at the same time.

1. Lošinj Hotels & Villas, Croatia - Inhalation bar on the island of scents

The island of Lošinj is known for its healing microclimate - and makes this an integral part of its spa offer. At Lošinj Hotels & Villas, the inhalation bar is not just for breathing in, but for conscious regeneration. Natural essential oils from pine, lavender and immortelle fill the air, while special breathing rituals strengthen the immune system.

2. One&Only Cape Town - energy from the moon

The luxury resort One&Only Cape Town at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor combines ancient wisdom with modern science. The spa works with moon phase rituals and individual biohacks. Guests experience detox programmes tailored to the cycle of the body and the moon - a fusion of nature, astrology and personalized care.

3. GoldenEye, Jamaica - regeneration in the jungle

In this iconic retreat on the Caribbean Sea, once the retreat of Ian Fleming, the FieldSpa is located directly on the water - embedded in tropical vegetation. The treatments at GoldenEye are inspired by Jamaican herbal medicine and are carried out in harmony with the elements - sometimes outdoors, sometimes on floating platforms.

4. Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, USA - High-tech meets body awareness

Carillon Miami combines state-of-the-art medical diagnostics with one of the largest spa offerings in North America. AI-based analyses, muscle response tests and personalized programs turn the classic spa visit into a data-based, individually tailored experience. Wellness 4.0 - with visible results.

5. Aman New York - urban spa of superlatives

In the middle of Manhattan, Aman has created a refuge that promises deep relaxation on 2,300 square meters. In addition to the 20-metre pool and a spa menu that combines Western and Far Eastern healing methods, the atmosphere is particularly impressive: subdued, reduced, almost sacred - a retreat at the highest level.

6. The Ranch at Hudson Valley, USA - The power of slowing down

New from 2025: The Ranch, known for its retreats in Malibu, is expanding to New York. The historic property in Hudson Valley is all about detox, exercise and mindfulness. Strict cell phone-free zones, a planned daily structure and plant-based cuisine ensure real transformation - physically and mentally.

Our conclusion for the future:

The future of wellness lies in differentiation. What used to be a "spa" is now becoming an experience with depth - individual, curated and deliberately different. For the industry, this means that guests are not just looking for relaxation, but meaning. Those who score points here stand out. The hotels presented here show how to reinvent wellness - with concepts that surprise and inspire.

A la table, s'il vous plaît! A la table, s'il vous plaît! A la table, s'il vous plaît! A la table, s'il vous plaît!
Copyright for the featured images used:
Photo provided

Book tip: Lasagna, Moussaka, and Co. – Happiness in Layers

Ilse Fischer's “Lasagna, Moussaka, and Co.” is a culinary journey through Europe in casserole form

Casseroles are underestimated. They are often considered cozy, filling, a little old-fashioned—but they are actually culinary narrative forms. This is exactly where Ilse Fischer comes in. Lasagne, Moussaka und Co.: Das Glück in Schichten (Lasagna, Moussaka and Co.: Happiness in Layers) is not just another “lasagna book,” but a collection of cultural identities, layered in dough, vegetables, sauces, and memories.

What sets this book apart from classic recipe collections is its focus on the principle of layering. Fischer shows that whether it’s Italian vincigrassi, Greek pastitsio, Alsatian baeckeoffe, or Savoyard tartiflette, ingredients are layered, interwoven, and combined in the oven to create something greater than the sum of its parts throughout Europe. It’s about more than technique. It’s about origin, climate, availability, and food culture.

INFO:
Lasagne, Moussaka and Co. – Happiness in Layers
Author: Ilse Fischer
Illustrations: Gudy Steinmill-Hommel
Publisher: Christian Verlag GmbH
Publication date: November 2025
Length: 256 pages
Binding: Hardcover
Language: German
ISBN: 978-3-9895101-6-6

How price acceptance actually arises

Why guests are happy to pay the price for menus, rooms, and non-alcoholic alternatives when quality and character match

Price has long been more than just the result of a calculation. It is a signal. For attitude, for standards, for credibility. Guests read prices as a silent message about what a business stands for and how consistently it lives up to its promise of quality. Today, guests no longer pay for the cheapest option, but for the most harmonious one. For an offer where price, product, and atmosphere form a coherent whole.

Highballs, Deep Cuts & Vienna's New Underground

How Salon Paradise at The Hoxton is reinventing the night—and why Vienna's most exciting cultural space is emerging beneath it.

Vienna has many bars. But only a few places that truly create their own world. Salon Paradise is exactly that: not a nightclub, but a state of mind. A dimly lit basement bar where conversations become deeper, drinks taste clearer, and music doesn’t accompany, but leads. After the summer break, Vienna’s most iconic underground bar returns to The Hoxton, Vienna on November 22—with a new tempo, a new sound, and a sharpened attitude. The rebellious soul remains, but it now beats with greater focus.

quick & dirty
Wellness rethought, photo provided
Wellness rethought

From inhalation bars to moon phase treatments and wine ceremonies: These six innovative wellness concepts show how far modern relaxation can go today – and what the industry should learn from them.