The ultimate wellness experience - from concept to realisation

It hits the mark: thinking out of the box and offering an experience

Keeping your body and mind healthy, we spend a lot of time and money on it these days. How can you still distinguish yourself as a wellness centre or hotel in this area? What new options are on the market for this? HOTELVAK spoke to Demi Welvaarts, wellness and interior designer at VSB Wellness.

"For more than 25 years, VSB Wellness has been designing solutions for private individuals, hotels and large wellness centres," explains Welvaarts. "We can offer clients everything to make their wishes possible, including, for example, the design and realisation of the interior. It often happens that a client only has information about the available space. Then we think along from start to finish, drawing and designing until the total concept is realised. Using 3D visuals and mood boards, we can create a good picture of the atmosphere. We find it important that the materials used in public areas are of high quality. By this we mean that the guest and hotel owner can enjoy them for as long as possible."

Safe and pleasant 

How do you design a safe and pleasant swimming pool or wellness centre? "Start with the basics. As a general rule, you can say: choose materials that are sturdy enough. Especially when choosing the floor, it is important that the material has a high non-slip value." And for a steam room in your sauna complex? "Then it is very important that it can be cleaned properly and that good air treatment is possible. This ensures that it is safe and pleasant to be in the room."

A swimming pool or wellness facility offers a lot of added value for guests. "You can capitalise on this by turning the wellness area into an experience. Think of a lounge, relaxation area and playing with lighting and materials. A nice, safe and cosy environment is then created in which the guest can relax to the fullest."

Trendsetter

"We are often asked what the trends are at the moment. VSB Wellness sees itself as a trendsetter and wants to create a unique concept for each project instead of blindly following the trends. Every client is unique and so is every project."

Asked for an example of a project the VSB Wellness team is proud of, Welvaarts talks about The White Oak in Kampenhout (Belgium). "That's a recent big project of ours. Everything a guest sees inside, such as the interior work, showers, pools, saunas and steam rooms, was designed and realised by us. We created 3D visuals for this and that is how it was eventually executed. It was the client's wish to add surprising elements as well as unity to the project. This is reflected, for instance, in the 'Aquamoon shower', a beautifully decorated round shower that gives a unique experience. Greenery and lighting have also been used extensively. The materials chosen contribute to a chic look, which in turn also gives tranquillity. So you see high-quality and natural materials throughout the wellness experience."

Energy saving

With high energy costs in mind, the wellness and hotel world cannot help but be concerned with how to offer a wellness experience in an energy-saving way. "Air conditioning is super important. This is of course an expensive expense, but really the basis of everything. Not only for hygiene, but also to actually save energy. An indoor pool, for example, will otherwise evaporate too much water. Many wellness centres and hotels already have sauna heaters that do not need to run at full power all day. VSB Wellness uses high-quality materials that are naturally energy-efficient. We work with suppliers who anticipate changes such as high energy costs and switching to natural resources."

Offering experience

Welvaarts mentions some out-of-the-box ideas to create a wellness experience. "You can put a sauna with a salt wall in it. Or instead of the cold tipping bucket, put up a nice built-in 'crushed ice' machine. Shredded ice comes out of this. Guests can stand on the ice or grab it from the bucket and thereby cool the body. This arouses curiosity because many people are not familiar with this yet. Or opt for an 'experience shower'. These are large shower plates built into the ceiling. You can then play with different jet types as well as light and aromatherapy. For example, you have a rain jet or misting, which creates a rainforest feel. The showers can run on a programme, alternating different jet types with different water temperatures. This provides a relaxing but also refreshing experience for body and mind."

The 'horizontal shower' is also a special experience, according to the designer. The guest can lie down on a heated platform, effectively showering while lying down. Here too, a programme can be played, varying the heat of the water and its position on the body. "Those who want to stand out are best off investing in good materials and offering an experience to the guest, in a cosy and welcoming environment," he says.

What rules around construction and management should a hotel entrepreneur consider when setting up a wellness facility?

• It is important to comply with building regulations and local government rules. Make sure building permits are arranged before construction begins. These can vary by location and size.

• Wellness facilities must comply with strict safety and hygiene regulations. This includes regular cleaning and disinfection, proper ventilation and temperature control, and sufficient space for guests to move around safely.

• It is important to ensure accessibility for all guests, including people with disabilities. This means, for example, adequate space and facilities for wheelchairs and other mobility devices, and amenities such as adapted showers and changing rooms.

• Staff managing the wellness facility should be trained in safety and hygiene regulations and have the appropriate certifications. 

As a hotel manager, this allows you to ensure that the wellness facility is safe and comfortable for all guests.