Spa Opportunities can exclusively reveal plans for an ambitious US$3m (€2.22, £1.84m) wellness retreat in the foothills of India’s Himalayan mountains, combining ancient Ayurvedic methods and integrative medicine with modern healthcare to tackle chronic disorders such as heart disease. Under the working title ‘Total Health Centre’, the project is the brainchild of Dr Robert Schneider, a leading physician and researcher into the science behind Ayurvedic methods and author of Total

The Trump Hotel Collection has announced the opening of its first property in South America with the Trump Hotel Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Located in the Jardim Oceanico district of the city and overlooking the beach, the 171-bedroom Trump Rio will be the only luxury hotel in the vicinity when it opens in 2016. Brazilian developer LSH Barra SA is building the R$200m (£50.8m, US$83m, €61.4m) project with the

Leisure Management magazine editor Liz Terry has described government proposals for building two garden cities in the south of England as a “once in a lifetime opportunity” for the leisure and wellness industries. Her editorial in the magazine’s Q1 edition, called for a move away from traditional garden city models - used for Letchworth and Welwyn - towards a wellness city concept, built on the latest sustainable design principles, with

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced plans to continue its push into the Southeast Asia market by opening a 62-storey luxury hotel and spa in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) development in 2017. Fairmont’s parent company, FRHI Hotels & Resorts (FRHI), has signed a deal with CITITOWER SDN BHD (a joint venture between Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company and KLCC Holdings Sdn Bhd) to launch its first property

Plans to construct a hotel and spa complex on a former naval battery outpost in Plymouth, UK, have been resurrected by Rotolok Holdings. The £10m ($16.4, €12m) scheme designed by LHC Architecture - featuring a 3,322sq.m (10,899ft) luxury hotel boasting 43 rooms and a spa overlooking Plymouth waterfront - was originally thrown out by local councillors last year, amid concerns over Drake Island’s wildlife and a Grade II-listed building. The

Velaa Private Island has opened in the Maldives, with a Spa My Blend By Clarins. Located north from Malé, in the Noonu Atoll, the island is the vision of owner Jiri Smejc. The Czech billionaire wanted a Maldivian resort that met his standards for what a luxurious private resort should be and intends to “bring new meaning to private moments” in the Maldives. The resort, designed by architect Petr Kolar,

Ritz-Carlton is set to continue its expansion into china and throughout the Asia Pacific region with the opening of a new hotel in the former Chinese capital of Nanjing in 2015. Featuring 297 bedrooms and 32 suites, the agreement with Nanjing New Universe Real Estate Development will see the Ritz-Carlton, Nanjing open in the central business district of Xiejiekou. Included in the hotel development will be a luxury spa by

Golden Globe award-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio has purchased a multi-million dollar unit in Greenwich Village, New York, US, boasting more than 50 wellness and health features. The property, designed wellness property developers Delos Living, is housed inside a converted factory originally built in 1987 and is described as ‘the world’s first WELL-Certified residences.” While hotels and spas have increasingly marketed wellness environments to guests, Delos is pushing the idea into

Ritz-Carlton has opened it first hotel in Bangalore, India complete with a fitness club and an ESPA spa. The property, located on Residency Road in the heart of Bangalore, has 277-bedrooms and combines intricate Jaali design native to the land with natural foliage, fresh water and the elemental characteristics of fire and stone to evoke India’s vibrant landscape. 26 global design firms worked on the property, with the principal architects

A new indoor swimming pool, spa and sports centre will open on 5 July 2014 after 26 months of construction work in the resort town of St Moritz, Switzerland. The Ovaverva is themed around the three states of water - gas, solid and liquid – with amenities including a wellness area, pools, a fitness centre, a cross country ski and outdoor sport centre and a restaurant. The 1,620sq m (17,437sq

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has launched a new luxury hotel and spa in Holborn, London – marking the groups’ entry into Europe. Following an extensive renovation to transform the 1914 Edwardian Belle Epoque building, the original architectural features have been restored including the Grade II-listed street frontage and dome, and the grand Pavonazzo marble staircase. Rosewood London features 262 guestrooms and 44 suites, public areas are filled with artwork and

After a soft opening earlier this Summer, the Hotel Ambassador in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, will be welcoming guests to its newly renovated rooms and spa. Constructed in 1969, the new Crans Ambassador has re-opened after a renovation which was started at the end of 2009 by architect Pierre Gervais, who supervised the building’ entire renovation process and architectural design of the spa’s interior. The SPA 360? covers an area of 1,300

Mirbeau will be adding its second location with the opening of its new Inn & Spa at Pinehills, New England, US in 2014. The Mirbeau Inn & Spa will feature a distinctive design and décor, recreating the look of a French country estate. The 50-bedroom destination retreat has been designed by Boston-based firm Arrowstreet, with interior designs by Mirbeau Companies co-owner Linda Dower and Desson Design’s Westley Spruill. The hotel’s

Two new luxury hotels by Four Seasons are set to open next year in Dubai and Bahrain. The Bahrain hotel will be Four Seasons' first venture in the kingdom and will be part of the $2.5bn (£1.56bn, €1.87bn) Bahrain Bay waterfront community - a rapidly developing area on the north coast of Manama. Included will be 263 bedrooms, a spa, conference centre and ballroom, business centre and restaurants. The spa

The Shangdong area of Qingdao will soon be home to its first Westin Hotel, when it opens at the end of 2013. The Westin Qingdao will be one of the tallest buildings in the central business district of the city, overlooking the Olympic Sailing Centre. The new hotel will feature 321 bedrooms, a Heavenly Spa by Westin and a WestinWORKOUT fitness centre, in addition to 2,000sq m (21,500 sq ft)

The lavish JW Marriott Resort & Spa on the island of Sacca Sessola in Italy, which is set to open end of 2014, has announced details of its wellness offerings. The resort is situated 15 minutes by speedboat from Piazza San Marco in Venice. The Sacca Sessola is a 40-acre man-made island, is one of 118 islands in the Venetian lagoon. Spa consultant and management company GOCO, is developing a

YTL Hotels, part of Malaysian conglomerate YTL Corporation Berhad, has announced a new hotel and spa project in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath, UK. The Gainsborough Bath Spa, the company's first Classic Hotel in the UK, will open early in 2014. The hotel will have direct access to Bath's natural thermal waters. The 99-room property is located on Beau Street and made up of three historical buildings, each

Velaa Private Island, a new luxury resort in the Maldives, will open in Q4 of 2013, with a Spa My Blend by Clarins. Privately owned and managed by Czech entrepreneurs Radka and Jiri Smejc, the Petr Kolar-designed resort is made up of 43 private villas and five four-bedroom residences, which focus on local materials and contemporary flourishes. Each private retreat offers a generous outdoor space and private pool. The spa

Amanresorts is to open a beachside resort and Aman Spa on the shores of Vietnam’s East Sea next month. Amano’i will be situated on a white-sand beach overlooking Vinh Hy Bay on the coast of Nui Chua National Park. The resort includes 31 pavilions and five Aman Villas, which fuse contemporary elegance with traditional Vietnamese architectural styles. Accompanying the resort is a full-service Aman Spa, as well as an elaborate

A new Fairmont Hotel has been opened inside Azerbaijan's tallest building complex. Fairmont Baku, Flame Towers, is also the luxury brand's first development in the emerging destination of Azerbaijan. The incredible building, designed by HOK, cost $350m (£226.1m, €263.2m) and is completely covered with LED screens that display the movement of a fire visible from the farthest points of Baku. The hotel, located in one of the building's three towers,

Chinese billionaire Tony Fung’s A$4.2bn (US$3.75bn, £2.4bn) mega leisure development in Cairns, Australia has moved to the next stage, having been declared a ‘co-ordinated project’ – the first step in the Australian government’s planning approval process. The Aquis Resort at the Great Barrier Reef project would include nine luxury hotels, a 25,000-seater sports stadium, a casino and high-end retail space. The resort would offer 3,750 hotel rooms, 1,180 apartments and

Parts of the New York City skyline will be transformed over the next 30 years by the Hudson Yards development, a 26-acre, US$32.9bn (£21.5bn, €24.8bn) scheme, which has been in the planning stages since 2001. The overall development is being driven by the Hudson Yards Development Corporation, with New York City-based property firm Related Companies selected to work on the redevelopment. The centrepiece for the project is a mixed-use real

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is accelerating its presence in Africa with the signing of a new management agreement for a luxury retreat in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company signed the long-term agreement with the owners of what was previously The Westcliff hotel in Johannesburg. The retreat, set on a cliffside garden estate in the northern suburbs, was closed on 30 June this year to undergo renovations and new construction.

A new luxury spa, influenced by its historic country house surroundings, is to open its doors in Newmarket, UK next month. Situated adjacent to the Bedford Lodge Hotel, The Spa at Bedford Lodge is housed in a Victorian-era property which once formed part of the estate of the sixth Duke of Bedford. Designed by Trevillion Interiors, the spa is themed around the fragrance of traditional English lavender and every aspect

Global destination design firm, WATG, has relocated its CEO to London in order to be closer to the company's expansion plans in the Middle East and Africa. Following an announcement from the company's board to extend his leadership term for another five years, Mike Seyle will move to London which is one of WATG's fastest growing operations. Commenting on the move, Seyle said the company had ambitious growth plans for

A luxury, multi-million dollar underwater resort will be built off the tropical island of Kuredhivaru in the Maldives, instead of Dubai as originally planned. Backed by Swiss investors, the US$50m (€38m, £32m) project is the brainchild of Polish company Deep Ocean Technology. The Water Discus Hotel, which has the go-ahead from the National Ministry of Tourism, will feature 21 rooms in the heart of coral reefs. It will comprise two

The AYANA Resort and Spa Bali is preparing for the opening of sister hotel RIMBA Jimbaran Bali, offering another guest experience within the cliff-top property. Under the same management of Capella Hotel Group, RIMBA Jimbaran Bali will open in September 2013 with 297 rooms and suites to expand on AYANA’s 368 rooms and villas. The eight hectare (20 acre) resort is located within AYANA’s 77-hectare (190 acre) grounds overlooking Jimbaran