The Leisure Media Company Ltd
The Leisure Media Company Ltd
The Leisure Media Company Ltd

Portuguese brewer acquires two thermal spas, carries out contrasting renovations

by Helen Andrews | 01 Apr 2014

Portuguese company Unicer, best-known for its beer brewing operations, has announced the addition of two northern Portugal spas to its property portfolio.

The company is best-known for its flagship beer Super Bock, but also has assets through its Pedras Salgadas mineral water brand, as well as recently expanding into tourism ventures. The tie-up continues the trend of convergence between the spa and mineral water markets.

Linked by the natural thermal springs on which they stand (and where Unicer sources its mineral water), Pedras Salgadas Spa and Nature Park plus the Vidago Palace spa have both been redeveloped by Unicer and designed by the modernist architect Álvaro Siza Vieira.

“The team has worked tirelessly to perfect the hotel’s spa offering; providing a cutting-edge menu that makes the most of the therapeutic effects of Vidago’s famous mineral waters and uses the latest beauty and wellbeing innovations. We are thrilled to receive this international recognition,” explains Spa Manager Vera Gonçalves.

Set within 20 hectares of parkland, the Pedras spa – set to open at Easter – offers 12 eco-houses, two treehouses and one main house, which all blend into the surrounding vegetation.

The estate’s naturally forming springs, rich in minerals, provide the water for the thermal spa. The spa includes a humid area for treatments incorporating the water, and a dry area for beauty and wellness treatments.

A heated indoor pool, sauna, hammam, whirlpool, Vichy shower and two relaxation rooms can be found alongside 14 treatment rooms – including five for hydrotherapy and two double rooms.

The second spa is at the Vidago Palace, a 70-bedroom hotel that originally opened in 2010.

The 2,500sq m (26,909sq ft) spa houses both indoor and outdoor pools, a vitality pool, Turkish bath, sauna, various relaxation rooms and a meditation area.

Amid 250-acres of pine and cedar woodland in northern Portugal, the Palace’s 20 treatment rooms now provide guests with products by Vichy and Aromatherapy Associates plus jet blitz and hydromassage treatments.

Unicer will own and manage both facilities, appointing their own operating staff in both spas.

Portuguese company Unicer, best-known for its beer brewing operations, has announced the addition of two northern Portugal spas to its property portfolio. The company is best-known for its flagship beer Super Bock, but also has assets through its Pedras Salgadas mineral water brand, as well as recently expanding into tourism ventures. The tie-up continues the trend of convergence between the spa and mineral water markets. Linked by the natural thermal
SAB,PRO,ARC,DES,CLD,SWC
The Vidago Palace hotel has 20 treatment rooms, a Turkish bath and a meditation area / Vidago Palace
More news
News stories: 1 - 30 of 7782     
 
 
 
News stories: 1 - 30 of 7782     
 
 
 
featured supplier
Featured Supplier: CSI Design Expo Americas 2024 announces new Attractions & Entertainment Technology Zone
Cruise Ship Interiors (CSI) invites cruise lines, shipyards, design studios, outfitters, and suppliers to take part in CSI Design Expo Americas in Miami, Florida, the region’s only event dedicated to cruise ship interior design.
company profile
Company profile: The Wellness
Based in Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore, The Wellness are the next generation of wellness consultants providing spa, fitness, hydro engineering and leisure related concepts for the global Wellness markets.
Try cladmag for free!
Sign up with CLAD to receive our regular ezine, instant news alerts, free digital subscriptions to CLADweek, CLADmag and CLADbook and to request a free sample of the next issue of CLADmag.
sign up
features
Zaha Hadid designed the One Thousand Museum
ENZO ENEA
"Sociology and functionality are the two most important aspects when we design – how an individual lives and interacts"

On saving trees, working with Zaha Hadid and changing the face of Miami

Multiple vaults could be linked together to form flexible spaces; The pilot project is based in Rwanda; The project builds on Foster + Partners’ experience designing airports
The Norman Foster Foundation promotes ‘interdisciplinary thinking and research’
"The Droneport project is about doing more with less"

The Norman Foster Foundation presents the Droneport

Manuelle Gautrand
"The cities where you have good cultural buildings and facilities – it’s a way for people to mix, to share the city in a much deeper way"

The French architect and winner of the 2017 European Prize for Architecture tells us why she is determined to surprise

Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
To advertise in our catalogue gallery: call +44(0)1462 431385
features
Zumthor has said he was inspired by the “drudgery of the miner’s lives” when designing the Allmannajuvet zinc mine museum
Peter Zumthor studied in Basel, Switzerland and New York. He launched his practice in Haldenstein in 1979
"I like to take my time"

The Pritzker Prize-winner on those LACMA renderings

The city will feature a huge range of cultural, sporting, retail and leisure facilities
Andreas Klok Pedersen
"I say no more than yes. You need both sides – people presenting ideas and people not afraid to say if the idea isn’t good."

Discovering new talent and saying no

features
Schumacher joined Zaha Hadid Architects in 1988 after studing architecture in Stuttgart and London
"Zaha was a star… very courageous, very driven in terms of wanting to excel"

The director of Zaha Hadid Architects on how ZHA plans to keep innovating with passion

The Ryan Fieldhouse and Water Athletics Center, Evanston
"Most clients are very focused on how buildings are used and experienced as the primary design driver"

The MD of Schmidt Hammer Lassen and the CEO of PerkinsWill tell us why their merger will help create smarter buildings driven by human behaviour

Bronze, wood and marble have been used throughout
"Our palette was pared down to basics"

The Vietnamese village being created using historic methods

cladkit product news
Siminetti unveils iridescent decorative panelling range inspired by plants
The Clematis design
Megan Whitby
The Botanicals is Siminetti’s newest Mother of Pearl decorative panelling collection, inspired by the distinctive patterns found in botany and ...
Eden project uses drones to spell out climate change warning
Magali Robathan
Almost 300 drones were used to signal an environmental message above the Eden Project’s biomes, during the UN Climate Change ...
Codelocks develops new glass door smart lock
The new lock model allows facilities and building managers to create and manage access via an app or online portal
Megan Whitby
Codelocks has launched its first glass door smart lock to bring intelligent access control to modern spa, leisure, fitness and ...
cladkit product news
Alberto Apostoli designs tech-forward Wellness Therapy furniture collection for Varaschin
The furniture collection draws on absolute geometries, pure lines, neutral colours and strong references to nature
Megan Whitby
Furniture manufacturer Varaschin has unveiled the new Wellness Therapy range, designed by Italian spa and wellness architect and designer Alberto ...
Alberto Apostoli and Newform collaborate to launch the A.Zeta showerhead
The showerhead offers two modes; rainfall or waterfall
Megan Whitby
Italian architect Alberto Apostoli has renewed his partnership with Newform – an Italian wellness company – and designed A.Zeta. A.Zeta ...
Mather & Co and ITV unite to create Coronation Street Experience
Mather & Co has transformed the visitor centre into the ultimate haven for ardent Coronation Street viewers
Magali Robathan
Experience designers, Mather & Co, have orchestrated a remarkable collaboration with ITV to unveil the new Coronation Street Experience, a ...
cladkit product news
Jaffe Holden helps bring Academy Museum of Motion Pictures alive
Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics for the Academy Museum
Magali Robathan
Acoustical consulting firm Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics and audio/video design services for the recently opened Academy Museum of Motion ...
Koto Design introduces wood-fired hot tub
Koto is known for crafting modular, energy-neutral cabins and homes
Katie Barnes
A striking wood-fired hot tub has been unveiled by Koto, an architecture and design studio which has a passion for ...
Eco Resort Network conference to convene in Mauritius this May
The event will be hosted in the Mauritius in 2024
Megan Whitby
Hospitality industry event Eco Resort Network is set to take place at the Ravenala Attitude Hotel, Turtle Bay, Mauritius, from ...
x
Sign up with CLAD for regular news updates
The Leisure Media Company Ltd
The Leisure Media Company Ltd