SHA Mexico to debut in January 2024 with genome-inspired design by Sordo Madaleno
– Alejandro Bataller
Spanish wellness brand SHA Wellness will open its Latin American flagship in January in Costa Mujeres, a secluded beach destination just north of Cancun.
Joining SHA’s Alicante flagship, SHA Mexico’s opening will mark the first phase of SHA’s global expansion plans with an additional Abu Dhabi forest destination set to debut in 2025.
The two upcoming properties are part of AB Wellness, one of three divisions which fall under the newly-launched holding group AB Living – a global development firm founded by Alfredo Bataller Parietti in 2022. The two other divisions are AB Properties, focused on residential real estate and AB Hospitality, which aims to develop hotel projects with leading global brands
“We feel we’ve reached our maximum potential at SHA Spain, so we’re making our offer more accessible to a global market,” said SHA vice president Alejandro Bataller in an exclusive interview with Spa Business.
“Between the relics of ancient wisdom and the advancements of modern medicine, Mexico is a natural paradise that is ideal for our offering.
“We’ve explored multiple potential international locations, assessing climate, environment and access to clinical resources. However, an in-depth analysis showed Mexico and the UAE were best suited to the needs of the business.
“Demand for our services in these regions is also strong.”
Design
With seven hectares of native nature and 500m of white sandy beach, SHA Mexico will be a paradisiacal location for guests to achieve their health goals.
“There’ll be 100 treatment rooms and 100 oceanfront suites and 35 wellness residences which we’ve encountered a high demand for – all were sold very quickly to several different international buyers,” Bataller said.
“Its architecture, which replicates the structure of a DNA strand, is being led by Mexican studio Sordo Madaleno with an organic and contemporary design ethos that will use renewable and locally sourced materials.”
Interior designer, Alejandro Escudero, was also involved in realising the space which will blend the indoors with the outdoors with an organic, sustainable and contemporary feel and feature tropical gardens curated by Maat Handasa.
The property will stay true to the brand’s principles of sustainability, employing natural construction materials and renewable energy sources to minimise environmental impact.
The concept SHA Mexico’s guests will choose between four personalised health programmes (which will mimic those at SHA’s Alicante flagship and range from four to 21 days).
They will be led by renowned specialists in four areas: Rebalance & Reenergize, Detox & Optimal Weight, Well-Ageing & Prevention and Leader’s Performance.
Each programme will be curated to meet the guest’s needs through nine disciplines: healthy nutrition, preventive and well-ageing, holistic medicine, cognitive stimulation, advanced preventive diagnostics, wellbeing and inner balance, physical performance and healthy living academy.
Wellness offering
SHA Mexico’s wellness clinic will be home to medical consultation rooms offering either ocean or mangrove vistas, mind and body rooms, a spa, a fitness studio, yoga and meditation sanctuaries and a hydrotherapy circuit.
An Athletics Club will offer fitness programmes guided by a team of specialists, in addition to outdoor and indoor training areas, four movement studios, high-tech fitness equipment, guided walking meditation routes and tennis and paddle courts.
Other amenities will include an infinity pool, beach club, a games room and a movie theatre, as well as art exhibitions, a library, meeting rooms and a chef’s studio that will play host to Healthy Living workshops.
DiningThe culinary offering will follow SHA’s nutrition philosophy which is based on a healthy, energetic, seasonal, mainly alkaline and balanced diet, inspired by ancient principles and adapted to modern life.
The property will open with a signature restaurant, SHAmadi, followed by a second dining option, Earthy, which will launch in March 2024.
SHA Emirates
Opening in 2025, SHA Emirates will be located in the new AlJurf coastal development halfway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai (just over 30 minutes from each city).
The 12.5-hectare site will be set amidst hundreds of thousands of planted trees that form a verdant forest in the middle of the desert, so guests will always be immersed in nature.
“It’s not what many would think of when they consider a wellness clinic in the Emirates, but that’s exactly what we wanted to achieve,” explained Bataller.
“It’s being created by local developer IMKAN, with an investment of AED600 million (US$163.4 million, €146.8 million, £124.5 million), and will include 110 treatment rooms, 120 suites and a large real estate component with 150 residences.
“Our dream is to create the world’s sixth Blue Zone – places which are recognised as having the highest concentration of centenarians. We envisage a tranquil wellness island, surrounded by nature, that will be an escape from busy city life. It will be a real first for the region and attract travellers from around the world.”
For more details about the upcoming Mexico and Emirates projects, check out Spa Business' exclusive interview with SHA.
SHA Wellness Alejandro Bataller SHA Mexico SHA Emirates
SHA Wellness launches sexual health clinic at Alicante flagship
SHA Wellness founder launches global real estate development firm, AB Living Group
Sordo Madaleno and Alejandro Escudero create Sha Wellness Clinic and residences in Mexico
Every continent will have a SHA Wellness Clinic by 2030
FEATURE: Interview – Alejandro Bataller
BIG unveils Eve Music Hall as Croatia venue nears completion
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
Wellness care hospital opens in Vilnius with innovative spa and hospitality concept
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’ planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism investment.
For years, the corridor has been associated primarily with science, technology, housing and university-led economic growth. However, the clustering of large-scale visitor attraction projects along the
All-inclusive eco-wellness development Auko to open near Vietnam’s Son Doong caves
Shedd Aquarium upgrades its visitor experience with new Immersion Theater
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional revenue opportunities.
The attraction has transformed the aquarium’s Phelps Auditorium into a multi-sensory venue combining panoramic projection, environmental effects and interactive technology.
A new pre-show area allows visitors to engage with augmented reality marine animals before entering the
Mandarin Oriental announces standalone Mansions-branded residences for Abu Dhabi
MCR is planning a luxury hotel for London's BT Tower
Joy as a radical act: Yinka Ilori launches solo exhibition celebrating the rebellious power of spreading happiness
Work gets underway on Madrid's €800 million leisure complex
Work is underway in Madrid on one of Europe’s most significant multi-functional complexes, combining sport, entertainment, culture and education.
The €800 million initiative to regenerate the former Olympic Aquatic Centre in the north-east of the city, next to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium, is being led by Barsento – a joint venture between Live Nation Entertainment, Oak View Group and Atlético de Madrid. The project will
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Four Seasons’ Naples Beach Club opens 2,800sq m Sanctuary spa inspired by indigenous Calusa people
Orient Express Corinthian to host Ocean Rebirth wellness retreat in collaboration with Guerlain
Famed London nightclub, Tramp, launches Tramp Health
First look: Miraval opens on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia
Hainan Science Museum by Ma Yansong, opens in China
A new science museum has opened to the public in Haikou after attracting more than 350,000 visitors during a four-month soft opening period.
Designed by Ma Yansong and his practice MAD Architects, the Hainan Science Museum is located on the edge of Wuyuan River National Wetland Park and has already recorded peak attendance of more than 5,800 visitors in a single day.
Commissioned by
Zannier Île De Bendor launches with design by Hardel Le Bihan Architectes
Sæl Spa readies for launch in London: “a modern British sanctuary”
Immersive art bathhouse Submersive announces debut location in Austin
Construction begins on regenerative wellness destination The Shenandoah Nature Resort
Royal Caribbean reveals record-breaking cruise ship
V&A East opens in London
David Geffen galleries open at LACMA
New venue The Lands by Capella includes a longevity centre to complement sister hotel Capella Sydney
World of Frozen launches at Disneyland Paris
Pical Resort by Valamar reveals first Croatian spa under the ESPA brand
Mandarin Oriental creates end-to-end Egyptian journey with two new hotels and first-ever luxury river cruise
Designers Mendil + Meyer launch new division called Lām Concepts for strategic wellness projects
Wilderness Bisate in Rwanda reveals brand’s second Sanctuary spa
4a Architekten shares details of wellness extension at Salinarium Bad Dürkheim Thermal Spa
Designed to restore neglected land and renew the identity of Iraq’s capital city, Baghdad Sustainable Forests promises a new way of living surrounded by nature. Gensler’s Ian Mulcahay tells us why he thinks the project could become a model for the repair and enhancement of urban centres
