Gold COMPANY PROFILE

bbspa_Group

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Background
In an increasingly competitive landscape where clients expectations continue to rise, the task of crafting a successful wellness and spa project has become progressively more intricate and complex.

With the following principles as our foundation, we have dedicated 30 years to cultivating an international network of professionals who excel in evaluating, conceptualising, creating, designing, planning and managing wellness and spa projects worldwide.

Main products and services
bbspa distinguishes itself through its distinctive approach to assisting clients in achieving success and sustainability in their businesses. We offer personalised support to revamp every service according to the specific needs and goals of each project. With our core services, we ensure customised assistance at every phase of the spa project.

We think: we rethink or design the essential features of a successful spa from inception, creating an innovative and market led spa concept which is both sustainable and a profitable business model.

We setup: we develop a spa concept to be fully functional, manageable, and sustainable through analysis of space, function along with technological and management requirements.

We design: we support the client’s design team, engineers and suppliers, in an effort to define and develop executive projects, and in every stage of construction through to quality control at completion.

We manage: we help investors and managers define and implement a management model with measurable results and KPI’s.

Our aim is to create not just a spa, but a space that represents the values and identity of our clients. We pay attention to art and design, local culture, current styles and trends, and incorporate these aspects into our projects to enhance their unique identity, without neglecting the profitability of our clients' investment.

Where in the world?
bbspa is internationally active directly and through its branches: bbspa_Italy, bbspa_France, bbspa_Asia and most recently, bbspa_UK. In order to be more accessible for our clients, we plan to open additional locations, where we currently have projects in the pipeline, in the coming year.

With more than 43 projects in 10 countries and more than 65.000 sqm of spa area developed, our activity is carried out in Italy, as well as in France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Switzerland.

Plans for the next 12 months
While offering a 360-degree consulting service, we are committed to researching solutions and technologies to meet the demands of both the end customer and, above all, the wellness providers (facilities, therapists, spa managers) to facilitate and improve services. A few examples include: SPACUBES, AQUAMOTUS.

Our goal is to grow into a more global enterprise, focusing on project development across Europe and all overseas markets where our expertise holds value. To achieve this, we’re committed to further investing in and broadening our R&D endeavors ensuring the delivery of even more cutting-edge technologies to our clientele.
Key personnel
The three key partners and strength behind bbspa are:
Régis Boudon-Doris, founder
Ghislain Waeyaert, partner and head of international development
Kirsty MacCormick partner and head of international operations.
Key customers
We are proud to collaborate with corporate groups such as:

• Accor,
• Terme Italia,
• Star hotels Italia,
• Biologique Recherche,
• Pandox Sweden,
• Costes hotel Paris,
• Boutique group,
• Hilton, and
• Hesco Saudi.

We work on many innovative projects with the most recent being the construction of the first large spa (4000 m2) in a football stadium.
updates & press releases
24 May 2024
bbspa_Group's Gabriella Francia talks balancing tradition and tech in spas
For Gabriella Francia, co-founder of bbspa_Group and training manager, the powerful touch of a massage is the stand-out element that makes a spa experience truly unique.

In Francia’s opinion, massage goes beyond mere manual manipulation – it's an empathetic and intuitive experience that only a highly skilled industry expert can provide.

However, technology is advancing rapidly and the spa industry is witnessing the dawn of modern new devices that look to complement or replace the power of touch. For example, at the latest CES event in Las Vegas, French startup Capsix Robotics unveiled the Capsix Robotics.iYu, a robotic arm designed to perform professional massages.

Despite ongoing advancements, Francia is convinced that no machine can yet replicate or replace the intricacy of human touch and empathy of a professional masseur. But, she recognises that the technology can be used to complement and elevate spa treatments.

For instance, Aquamotus by Aquaform offers a Vichy-style shower massage with 16 types of rainfall massages, while the Zerobody bed by Starpool lets users floating in zero gravity for total body and mind regeneration.

“The goal is to amplify the value of the investment, ensuring a unique and memorable experience for every spa guest,” she said.
17 Apr 2024
Private Spas vs Spa Suites
Private Spas and Spa Suites have surged in popularity, meeting the rising demand for luxury, privacy and security in relaxation.

These exclusive spaces, found in hotels and wellness centres, offer sophisticated experiences tailored to a diverse range of customers.

Spa Suites – luxurious hotel rooms with integrated wellness areas – epitomise exclusivity and convenience. Ranging from 30 to 100sq m, they feature amenities such as saunas and Jacuzzis, providing an all-encompassing wellness experience within the confines of the room.

Included in the suites’ cost is access to spa facilities, while additional services like massages are available for an extra fee.

Ideal for romantic getaways, Spa Suites offer couples a secluded retreat for occasions like honeymoons or intimate celebrations.

In contrast, Private Spas offer a personalised spa experience within a dedicated space, often reserved for couples or small groups. These intimate settings cater to individuals seeking signature treatments and exclusive comfort.

Typically, Private Spas feature various zones, including welcome areas, treatment rooms, sauna, hammam, swimming pools and relaxation lounges. Guests follow a curated circuit starting with purifying treatments before indulging in hot and humid experiences, massages, and relaxation.

Private Spas are perfect for group celebrations such as anniversaries or corporate events. Additionally, there's a growing trend for designing Private Spas within private residences, offering homeowners a secluded retreat for relaxation or social gatherings.

In both commercial and residential settings, expert design and planning are crucial for optimising space and creating unique wellness experiences.

From luxurious Spa Suites in hotels to personalised Private Spas at home, these exclusive sanctuaries cater to the discerning needs of modern individuals and groups.
18 Mar 2024
Boutique Spa: wellness and luxury for a "WOW" effect
In the wellness sector, a trend that certainly needs to be monitored closely is the increased interest in 'jewel spas', small, high-end venues that we have learnt to call Boutique Spas.

More and more people are looking for unforgettable experiences when they travel. People are no longer simply looking for a place to relax, but a place that offers a dream experience and leaves beautiful memories.

A Boutique Spa is an 'exceptional' place in terms of its location, concept, design, and the treatment protocol it offers. It is a place devoted to offering a totally customised and 'tailor-made' experience, just like a haute couture boutique that takes all the clients' expectations and makes them a reality.

The term 'boutique' indicates something small, intimate, exclusive, so Boutique Spas are not large, usually ranging from 250 to 750 square metres. The atmosphere must be intimate and comfortable, services must be highly customised, to meet the needs and habits of customers, even anticipating them before they manifest themselves. Signature treatments and high-end cosmetics are a must!

Bbspa_Group has a pluriannual expertise in thinking, designing and managing luxury spas, as the new LA SPA Helvetia & Bristol: a wellness retreat, located in the centre of Florence where the ancient Roman baths once stood. Everything has been designed to create a private environment, away from the chaos, in which you can immerse yourself to rediscover well-being and relaxation.

To design the best boutique spa there are some rules to follow. We asked Regis Boudon Doris, the CEO of bbspa – read what he said here.
14 Mar 2024
Unlocking wellness: bbspa_Group's UK expansion led by Kirsty MacCormick
bbspa_Group has unveiled an exciting addition to its portfolio in the UK, led by industry figure Kirsty MacCormick as co-founder and CEO.

With more than thirty years of experience, bbspa stands as a beacon of innovation in wellness. Guided by spa experts Gabriella Francia and Régis Boudon-Doris, the group seamlessly merges Italian finesse with French sophistication, leveraging their extensive backgrounds in spa management and development.

Following the successful establishment of bbspa_France alongside Ghislain Waeyaert in 2021 and the launch of bbspa_Asia with Rita Bonucchi in 2022, bbspa now extends its footprint with bbspa_UK, marking a strategic expansion into new territories.

These strategic manoeuvres reflect bbspa's global ambitions, aiming to offer clients comprehensive spa and wellness solutions across diverse regions.

The new venture offers a holistic approach, encompassing all vital aspects of spa project development with a rational and analytical methodology.

At the core of bbspa’s approach are four key services: We Think, We Set-Up, We Design, and We Manage.

Exceptional leadership

MacCormick is a distinguished figure in the UK and international spa scene, boasting more than three decades of experience in delivering top-notch spa and consultancy services to the hospitality and resort industry.

"Teaming up with Ghislain and Régis to launch bbspa_UK feels like a natural evolution from operating as a solo consultancy firm,” she shared, “we've cultivated a relationship spanning over two decades, each bringing a distinct skill set that complements the others."
31 Aug 2023
Designing a successful spa with bbspa_Group
For 30 years, bbspa_Group has provided market-leading professional design and consultancy services to the spa industry.

Régis Boudon Doris, founder and CEO of bbspa_Group, explained: "We guide the client every step of the way during the realisation of their spa. Throughout the process, we always prioritise the guest's wellbeing combined with the investment's profitability.”

bbspa_Group understands that creating a successful spa is a demanding challenge, and not only from a financial perspective.

The consultancy describes designing a spa as setting up a business which sells something that isn’t tangible but is nevertheless measurable from an economic point of view and in terms of customer satisfaction.

On every project it works on, bbspa_Group brings creativity and a deep knowledge of the wellness world; utilises its strong grasp of the required managerial and management commitment; and always works towards creating a unique project.

According to the organisation, one of the most crucial ingredients to a successful spa is creating a well-structured and up-to-date menu of services and concept during the design phase.

So, what are the most important components of bringing a spa to life? bbspa_Group shares its top tips.

bbspa_Group’s five steps to success

1. Thoroughly analyse the target audience it intends to address and the customer segment it wants to 'conquer'.
2. Conduct in-depth research about competitors.
3. Explore and get to grips with the local area surrounding the new spa.
4. Establish the type of investment it intends to make.
5. Define clear and achievable objectives and timelines.
20 Jun 2023
bbspa_France channels La Dolce Vita to realise Biologique Recherche’s new Rome outpost
Inside a historical palace once owned by the Colonna family – one of the oldest and most famous Roman patrician families – premium skincare and spa company Biologique Recherche has opened the doors to a new location in Rome, Italy.

Named Ambassade Roma, the 250sq m facility is located just a few steps from iconic Italian landmarks such as the Pantheon and Piazza di Spagna.

The opulent two-floor facility includes a reception area and retail area, a waiting room and a product testing room, as well as six treatment cabins – four for individuals and two for couples – and a communal area for the spa team.

The new destination was born out of a collaboration between Biologique Recherche and bbspa_France, the French branch of leading international spa consultancy bbspa_Group.

A glamorous, refined, intimate and rich historical environment, Ambassade Roma is dedicated to serving a clientele of connoisseurs and wellness enthusiasts, both Roman and international. The facility has been realised within a historical building formerly home to a famous lingerie shop during the 1950s that boasted a VIP clientele, including famous actresses linked to Cinecittà – an iconic Italian film studio – as well as famous women from all over the world passing through Rome.

bbspa_France’s challenge was to transform the shop into a wellness centre, a feat made possible thanks to a collaboration with architect Joanne De Lepinay who sensitively refreshed the retro environment into a facility suitable for the modern consumer.

bbspa_Group’s We Design team also worked with Italian craftsmen to remodel the existing furnishings to adapt them to the needs of Biologique Recherche’s technologies and protocols, taking historical materials and embellishing them with Corian and alabaster.

“Biologique Recherche is creating its own network of embassies worldwide to
guarantee customers an experience that matches its brand,” says Régis Boudon-Doris, CEO and founder of bbspa_Group.

He also revealed that Biologique Recherche and bbspa_Group will further their relationship with the opening of two more Ambassades in 2023 and 2024.
bbspa_Group: news from CLADglobal.com
24 May 2024
For Gabriella Francia, co-founder of bbspa_Group and training manager, the powerful touch of a massage is the stand-out element that makes a spa experience truly unique.
14 Mar 2024
bbspa_Group has unveiled an exciting addition to its portfolio in the UK, led by industry figure Kirsty MacCormick as co-founder and CEO.
31 Aug 2023
For 30 years, bbspa_Group has provided market-leading professional design and consultancy services to the spa industry.
20 Jun 2023
Inside a historical palace once owned by the Colonna family – one of the oldest and most famous Roman patrician families – premium skincare and spa company Biologique Recherche has opened the doors to a new location in Rome, Italy.
23 Mar 2023
International spa and wellness consultancy bbspa_Group has been appointed by Italian football club Cagliari Calcio to create an urban destination spa inside the club’s upcoming new stadium.
28 Nov 2022
bbspa_Group is a leading international spa consultancy based in Italy, renowned for its unique character and organic design approach. Its goal is to optimise spa operations without neglecting attention to detail and personal interpretation of each project
bbspa_Group
Address: Via Guido Guarini Matteucci 1/e, 47121 Forlì FC, Italy
Régis Boudon-Doris, co-founder and CEO
Key personnel
The three key partners and strength behind bbspa are:
Régis Boudon-Doris, founder
Ghislain Waeyaert, partner and head of international development
Kirsty MacCormick partner and head of international operations.
Key customers
We are proud to collaborate with corporate groups such as:

• Accor,
• Terme Italia,
• Star hotels Italia,
• Biologique Recherche,
• Pandox Sweden,
• Costes hotel Paris,
• Boutique group,
• Hilton, and
• Hesco Saudi.

We work on many innovative projects with the most recent being the construction of the first large spa (4000 m2) in a football stadium.