A landmark hotel opening for the capital, the Raffles London at the OWO has revealed details of its destination spa and health club, which will be run by Guerlain and Pillar Wellbeing. It will also have two dedicated wellness suites for overnight stays. Jenny Southan reports
Opening this summer, the Guerlain Spa at the Raffles London at the OWO will be the first of its kind in the UK, offering a holistic combination of advanced beauty, restorative wellness and active training. At the same time, highly bespoke training, nutrition and recovery programmes will be developed by innovative new fitness brand Pillar Wellbeing.
The state-of-the-art Guerlain spa will cover four floors (three of them subterranean) of Raffles London at the OWO hotel. Features will include a cutting-edge gym and movement studio, a 20m-metre swimming pool surrounded, a vitality pool, and steam rooms and saunas.
There will also be nine treatment suites, including three spacious VIP Spa Suites and a private hair and beauty salon. Guests will also be able to avail of personalised Guerlain make-up and perfumery services or express treatments at L’Atelier Guerlain, with direct access from the street.
Guerlain has designed a selection of of exclusive spa treatments for Raffles London at the OWO, “capturing the essence of England with all its energy and contrasts”, says a press release.
Examples include the “Royal Glow Tech Facial” – a results-driven facial combining the power of microdermabrasion and the healing action of photo-biomodulation light therapy with Guerlain’s exceptional facial massaging techniques. Additionally, “Coastal Escape” is a sensorial escape to reset your mind and find inner peace, whilst the “Spirit of London” treatment targets tensions related to travel, environmental stressors, and a busy lifestyle to bring harmony to the body, mind and spirit.
A gym run by Pillar Wellbeing
Going way beyond installing a regular hotel gym, Raffles clearly recognises that “health in the new wealth” through its partnership with Pillar Wellbeing by Harry Jameson, which is described as a “future-facing personal fitness facility for optimum performance”. (If you have seen what Silicon Valley tech moguls such as Mark Zuckerberg and Bryan Johnson are doing to get strong and appear younger, then you will understand the cultural shift driving this investment.)
Founded by elite performance coach Harry Jameson, and helmed by a team that blends a variety of complementary experiences with drive and intention, Pillar is a service provider targeting sophisticated, health-curious individuals who wish to optimise today and future-proof tomorrow.
Through the three core “pillars” of Movement, Nourishment and Recovery, dedicated and personalised programmes delivered by expert trainers will focus on strength and stress relief.
In addition, practitioners will offer a comprehensive range of recovery experiences, and a tailored nutritional offering created by Pillar chef Joey O’Hare will be available from the ground floor Pillar Kitchen.
Members will benefit from some of the brightest talents in the industry; personal trainers have been recruited for their expertise, professionalism and degree-level sports science education or pro sporting background.
A roster of outstanding physiotherapy practitioners will also join Pillar Wellbeing, many of whom have a background in professional sports such as Premier League football. Recovery sessions will be delivered in either the spa suites or the gym floor recovery zone, depending on the treatment, and can even be delivered in rooms or residences.
Priced at £6,250 per annum, Pillar Wellbeing membership will allow the member access to all the spa and wellness facilities. All members will also benefit from unlimited group exercise classes, access to the hotel’s concierge team and the Pillar Wellbeing app, six guest passes, discounts on Guerlain Spa treatments, Guerlain skincare products, food and beverage at Raffles London at The OWO and valet parking.
As a joining gift, members are provided with two personal coaching sessions, a 90-minute Guerlain Spa treatment, a personal wellbeing assessment, and a wearable activity tracker. Founding members will also be treated to a complimentary one-night stay at Raffles London for two with breakfast.
Pillar Wellbeing will also offer a limited number of Platinum Memberships. Priced at £25,000 per annum, this elite membership grants members unlimited personal coaching sessions with Pillar, 24 hour package of Guerlain Spa treatments, a personal locker and free gym kit laundering.
The Platinum founding members will also be offered a free one-night stay for two with breakfast in one of the spacious suites at Raffles London. The joining fee for both types of memberships is £2,000 and applications can be made by emailing [email protected].
The spa will be open to guests at Raffles London at the OWO, residents of The OWO Residences by Raffles, Pillar Wellbeing members and day guests.
Lifestyle suites for personalised fitness
In addition to the spa and wellness centre, there are also two Lifestyle suites that “allow for a comfortable and discrete, high-technology wellness experience”.
The living areas of the suites have also been designed by Goddard Littlefair and provide for an intimate, private workout area. There will be a fitness mirror and ample space for yoga or private training sessions with Pillar, and in-room equipment such as yoga blocks, mats and a TRX suspension trainer. There is also space for a Peloton in the room upon request.
Recovery from training sessions or a long flight can be aided by in-room Normatec recovery boots, and guests can choose from a menu of Guerlain treatments to be delivered in-room on a luxury mobile treatment bed.
Raffles says that Lifestyle suite guests can also “optimise their health through a perfect night’s sleep”. The bedrooms are dark and silent, with weighted blankets available. There will be a fragrance-activated technology in each room, timed to release calming aromas at night and energising scents in the morning. The mini bar will be nutritionally balanced and nourishing dishes from the Pillar Kitchen will be available via room service.
Not only that but a specialised butler service will be available to Lifestyle suite guests 24/7. They will be able to offer a range of services such as different types of baths, meditations and even tea ceremonies.
Emlyn Brown, global vice-president of wellbeing at Accor, says: “Our guests at Raffles Hotels and Resorts are among the most well-travelled and discerning travellers in the world. They are increasingly motivated by the possibilities of maintaining and improving their health and wellbeing as part of their travels.
“Our signature spa and wellbeing centres aim to create environments that nurture wellbeing holistically, through harmonious design, nutrition for pleasure, serene rituals and the world’s best wellness experiences.
“These key pillars informed the creation of the Raffles London Spa, from the tranquil design by Goddard Littlefair, to the luxurious treatments from heritage brand Guerlain, the innovative fitness and recovery expertise at Pillar Wellbeing, and our pioneering new Lifestyle Suites. We are proud to be bringing a truly 360-degree wellbeing experience to the capital.”