Construction work on the second phase of the Universal Resort Beijing is set to begin by 2025. The expansion of the resort, which first opened in September 2021, will form part of the Chinese government's wider action plan to invest in Beijing's tourism infrastructure and to develop the city into a global destination. The second phase will add around 2.2sq km to the total park area at Universal Beijing and

Center Parcs is conducting a multi-million-pound spa remodel at its Elveden Forest holiday village in Norfolk, UK. Reimagined in line with Center Parcs’ Forest Spa concept, the spa will reopen on 29 September with 25 experiences. The new facilities will be spread across six zones and be inspired by some of the world's most extraordinary natural environments. Center Parcs says the redesign “reflects our woodland surroundings through the use of

Verona-based spa and wellness design firm Studio Apostoli has been appointed to support the creation of a wellness-centric eco-resort 40km from the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar. Developed by Devjikh Tsog Khugjil, Tavan Jargal Resort is currently in the preliminary design and business planning stages. The vision for the 13-hectare development is to create a high-end wellness oasis tucked away in a protected national park that showcases Mongolian culture and the

Soho House is set to unveil seven new locations across the UK, North America and Latin America during 2023 and 2024. Founded by entrepreneur Nick Jones, the international private members club’s first destination opened in London’s Soho neighbourhood in 1995. It is now worth over US$2.8bn (£2.2bn, €2.6bn), according to Bloomberg. Soho House has grown into a successful global brand with 41 Houses in 17 countries, with locations ranging from

An AV experience project, which turned the Sydney Opera House's famous 'sails' into huge video screens, has won the Experience Design category in Fast Company's 2023 Innovation by Design Awards. Created by Australia-based Art Processors, the From the Sails: Light Years project included an original film artwork projected onto the Sydney Opera House's western sails to mark the iconic landmark's 50th-year celebrations. The 17-minute film charts the building's history and

The UK’s oldest outdoor public pool in the city of Bath will reopen to the public on 10 September following a £9m (US$10.7m, €10.1m) restoration project. Located on Hampton Row, Cleveland Pools was designed by John Pinch the Elder, designer of Babbington House in Somerset and Bishopstrow House, as well as parts of the City of Bath, and opened in 1815. It remained a popular open-air bathing spot for more

Work is underway to realise a new Rixos resort in Dubai following a partnership between UAE-based real estate developer Nakheel and Excelsior Real Estate. Set back in a secluded cove with direct access to a 700-metre beach, Rixos Dubai Islands, Hotel & Residences will be home to a range of beachfront accommodation and residences as well as a signature Rixos spa and fitness centre, infinity pools and communal residential lounges.

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts will unveil a brand new Asaya wellness spa in 2024 at a lakeside castle in the Austrian countryside. The spa will open at the luxury hotel and spa operator’s upcoming hotel Rosewood Schloss Fuschl, complete with eight treatment rooms, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and a fitness centre. Asaya is Rosewood’s signature wellness concept focused on the intersections between physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. The Asaya

1 Hotels, the eco-luxury brand and brainchild of Starwood Capital founder Barry Sternlicht, has opened its debut European property in the heart of the UK capital with design by GA Group. 1 Hotel Mayfair has been designed to set a new benchmark for lower-impact luxury in London and adhere to 1 Hotels’ sustainability-minded philosophy that “those that travel the world should also care about it”. The London location is gearing

A new immersive, interactive art experience – described as a place where 'anything is possible' – has opened in Philadelphia. Called Otherworld, the attraction occupies a 40,000sq ft space in a building located in north Philadelphia that previously housed a discount retail outlet, Formal Mills. Designed and built by Otherworld, the experience features 55 unique rooms that guests can explore, with a number of storylines interlinking and connecting them to

Luxury hotel operator Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group (MOHG) has announced the opening of its first Greek property and spa, Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino. Described as a sustainably-driven destination, the new beachfront resort in Messenia has been developed in collaboration with Temes – the property owner and a developer known for its commitment to sustainability. The design team behind the 99-key resort was Tombazis & Associates Architects and K-Studio. Their brief

Third Space has signed a deal to open a club at The Whiteley, the iconic West London landmark which is undergoing a £1bn transformation into a mixed-use development. The luxury fitness operator will take 34,000sq ft of space across three floors within The Whiteley, directly accessed via Porchester Gardens in Bayswater. Third Space currently operates 10 clubs across London and is rolling out its high-end brand following investment from KSL

GymNation, which was acquired by JD Gyms in 2022, has opened its latest health club in Dubai, bringing the number of sites in its UAE portfolio to 11. GymNation Downtown Dubai features more than 500 pieces of Matrix and Eleiko equipment across a 40,000sq ft space. There are also three group exercise studios, featuring programming from Les Mills and a dedicated combat zone and classes. GymNation has ambitious expansion plans,

A world-scale, integrated resort is being planned for Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s capital city. Feature unique water attractions, a themed hotel, immersive dining, and live entertainment, the development will be located close to urban regeneration district, New Tashkent City and is being designed with both local and international audiences in mind. US-based design firm Legacy Entertainment has been appointed to design and build the resort's waterpark, which will anchor the project. No

Plans have been tabled for a US$2bn theme park and entertainment destination development in north-east Oklahoma, US. The development would be built in phases, starting with a large-scale caravan/RV park with cabins scheduled to open phase one in spring 2025. The main development called American Heartland Theme Park and Resort, would then follow in 2026. Spreading across 1,000 acres, the resort would be located close to Route 66, the famous

Nike has made the leap into the group fitness market with the launch of Nike Studios. The offering – in partnership with FitLab – is being billed as “a new generation of group fitness for every body and every goal.” Classes will be led by Nike trainers. The first physical locations will be in West Hollywood, LA, and upmarket Newport Beach in Southern California, near the headquarters of FitLab. Nike Studios

Destination wellness brand Canyon Ranch has expanded its partnership with VICI Properties, an experiential-focused real estate investment trust, to expand its offering across North America and beyond. In 2023, The Canyon Ranch brand encompasses three destination wellness resorts in Tucson, Lenox (Massachusetts) and Woodside (California) respectively, as well as a day spa and fitness centre in Las Vegas, Nevada. Thanks to the recent deal, VICI has provided Canyon Ranch with

Los Angeles-based Hume Projects has announced the forthcoming launch of Hume, an urban wellness club and members community designed to simplify and inspire the practice of consistent self-care. Slated to open in early 2024, Hume is expected to bring together premium health and lifestyle facilities to create a members club concept for those searching for a more balanced routine. Located in the heart of Venice Beach, the wellness club will

Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind regenerative tourism destinations Amaala and The Red Sea, has partnered with fitness-focused hospitality brand and management company Equinox Hotels. The organisation is an offshoot of premium fitness group Equinox which operates more than 100 upscale health clubs in urban markets in the US, Canada and the UK. Equinox Hotels is looking to develop a global network of hotels, with plans for 33 properties

The Eden Project has revealed new visuals for its planned Dundee project in the city’s East Docks, with architecture by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. The images show plans for an attraction which has been inspired by the Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee – a group formed in the 16th century to bring professions from bakers to tailors into a single organisation with more bargaining power. Eden Project Dundee will be themed

Austrian eco-resort Puradies in Leogang, Austria, has been upgraded with a brand new spa inspired by the four natural elements and designed to integrate smoothly into the natural landscape. Italian architecture and interior design firm Network of Architecture (Noa*) was appointed to realise the new 1,500sq m Heaven Spa in October 2022. With 76 rooms and 14 chalets, the family-run hotel is laid out as a village and is dedicated

Meow Wolf has opened its fourth permanent exhibition in Grapevine, North Texas. Called The Real Unreal, the immersive art attraction is being described as a "psychedelic playground for adults and kids alike". Located at the Grapevine Mills mall, the attraction was created by Meow Wolf's in-house team of artists in partnership with 38 Texas-based artists. After entering what seems like a normal house, guests are transported into a ‘realm of

Calilo, a luxury boutique resort on the Greek island of Ios, has a new spa and fitness centre. The hotel has a philosophy based on sustainability, art and intentional design. Inspired by the naturally calming energy of water, the spa includes six new treatment rooms that feature waterfalls and treatment beds suspended above pools of water to deliver a calming experience for guests. The ceilings are partially perforated to allow

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group (MOHG) is set to open its third London hotel and spa in the British capital in 2028, with design by PLP Architecture. Situated on London's South Bank with dramatic views over St Paul’s Cathedral, Mandarin Oriental Bankside, London will be part of the larger Bankside Yards development, which is planned to be the UK's first operationally fossil fuel-free major mixed-use development. The overall property is being

Following a public consultation, Therme Manchester, the UK’s first city-based wellbeing resort, has submitted a refined new design for approval to Trafford Council. The concept for the project has transitioned, from primarily a single building with zones and an undulating roofline, to a flowing pavilion-style concept and will contain wellness, health and fitness, a waterpark and attractions as well as arts installations and a hydroponic farm. This new design features

As part of the World Congress of Architecture in Copenhagen, Buro Happold will be hosting the one-hour walk and talk event through the city centre of Copenhagen to explore the challenges and solutions for active mobility planning. Buro Happold’s global lead for active mobility, Sidsel Birk Hjuler, will be hosting the side event on why it is so important to create more liveable places by making active mobility an integral

International themed attraction and experience designer Katapult and animation studio Aardman have launched a new themed attraction concept featuring Aardman’s much-loved characters. The World of Aardman is a hands-on visitor attraction concept, featuring an interactive studio experience, a themed cafe, experiential retail, and photo opportunities with guests’ favourite characters. Designed to suit pre-existing retail mall units and indoor destinations, the attraction can also be used to showcase exclusive seasonal events