The resort focuses on the four pillars of mind, skin, microbiome and energy / photo: Joali Being
A new nature-immersive wellbeing retreat is being built on the Maldivian island of Bodufushi. Scheduled to open in late 2021, Joali Being has been conceptualised and designed by Spa Strategy’s Claire Way while uplifting programmes have been created by Gerry Bodeker.
The Joali brand is the brainchild of owner and entrepreneur Esin Güral Argat, from Turkish-based Gürallar Group and complements the conglomerate’s mid-range Ali Bey Hotels & Resorts.
Joali Being will be a sister site to Joali Maldives which opened in 2019 with a signature ESPA Life spa.
The upcoming 68-villa destination is billed to be the brand’s biggest commitment to wellbeing yet – the spa itself features 39 treatment rooms – and has been designed to go beyond the scope of other tropical wellbeing retreats.
Transformational spaces Way has been working on the project for more than three years. She says the beating heart of Joali Being will be the expansive Areka spa. Aside from the 39 treatment rooms, with equipment by Lemi, there will be a large hydrotherapy hall, including a sensory deprivation room, Russian banya, water therapies, halotherapy suite and a hammam. Guests will also have access to a Sound Therapy Hall and Discovery Sound Path (designed by the Svar Academy, India), fitness offerings and an over-water meditation deck.
Areka will be complemented by Aktar, Joali Being’s dedicated herbology centre. Here, guests will be able to address wellbeing concerns with a resident herbalist who specialises in preparing natural remedies using plants, spices and essential oils.
Way describes Joali Being as a stunning location that’s a complete break from everyday life and which is both remote yet accessible. In her opinion, the property will be one-of-a-kind, because the retreat will be the island’s only destination.
“There are no distractions, only transformational spaces spread across the island, where everything you do enhances your health,” she says, “the entire location is dedicated to enhancing wellbeing.”
Sense of weightlessness The retreat’s philosophy is underpinned by four wellbeing pillars – mind, skin, microbiome and energy – and the project has been conceived with a sense of purpose and synergy, so all elements work together to help guests leave feeling healthier and happier, even if they decide not to deeply engage in wellbeing services.
Programmes will last between five days and three weeks and consist of a range of scientific therapies, diagnostic services, educational sessions and specialised therapeutic and complementary healing treatments.
All begin with an intelligent movement analysis and an integrative health assessment.
Going weightless A concept of weightlessness has been developed with the help of Bodeker – researcher, industry figure and chair of the GWI’s Mental Wellness Initiative.
“We created programmes that would enable guests to experience transcendence and lightness, a sense of having lifted out of the weight of everyday cares and entered into new experiences of clarity and joy that could be carried home with support from the Joali wellbeing specialists,” he says.
“The pathways to these experiences include a unique world of programmes and experiences designed to ease away fatigue and tensions.”
Educational elements Susanne Fisch will be spa and wellness manager, supported by industry consultant and founder of Spa and Wellness Collective, Melany Martinez Thomas, who is Joali’s director of wellbeing for both the company’s properties.
With a curated library and a calendar of interactive workshops, guests will also be able to discover the benefits of herbal teas and learn to make natural body creams, face masks and massage oils. In addition, a boutique will offer a handpicked selection of dried herbs, oils and natural cosmetics for purchase.
Guests will have access to a Learning Centre and a schedule of educational workshops and experiential classes with wellbeing experts and culinary maestros.
To round out the offering and cater to the microbiome pillar, Joali Being will offer fresh earth-to-table cuisine at a range of dining concepts where all menus have been curated by the retreat’s on-site nutritionists.
“Joali Being will be a perfect destination for everyone,” Way adds, “because everything they do comes from a place of positive wellbeing”.
Nature-immersive Way says the design is inspired by the island setting and integrates nature throughout. During construction wild forest has been untouched and architects Cuneyt Bukulmez and interior design studio Autoban are realising the destination with biophilic principles to achieve harmony with nature.
Conservation and sustainability will play a major part in the retreat’s operation, with plans for a turtle sanctuary, a reef restoration project, greywater recycling system and food waste composter, among others.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2021 issue 3
Editor's letter: All about the people
With global staff shortages threatening to stall economic recovery, it’s time to reboot our commitment to driving improvements in pay and working conditions across the spa and wellness industry
Spa people: Dr Mark Hyman
Dr Mark Hyman MD believes functional medicine has the power to be life-changing in the health and wellbeing of patients.
New opening: Six Senses Shaharut
Six Senses has opened the doors to its new 60-key retreat in Israel’s southern Negev Desert, complete with a 1,900sq m, two-level spa and wellness sanctuary
New opening: QC NY
A 74,000sq ft Italian day spa has opened on New York’s Governors Island after a US$50m investment and seven years of planning, building and restoration.
Interview: Kenneth Ryan
We talk to the global head of spa at Marriott International about navigating the global lockdown, re-imagining the company's brand portfolio and what it will take to succeed post-COVID-19
Sponsored: Time out
Answering a growing demand
for non-invasive, anti-ageing skin
care, Comfort Zone is relaunching
its Sublime Skin line with a new
filler-like natural formula that
reverses cellular degeneration
Research: Total impact
Latest ISPA report considers the economic fallout of the pandemic and the spa industry's road to recovery
Sponsored: Gharieni Group
CEO Sammy Gharieni talks about his relentless drive
to deliver innovative products to underpin operators’ success
Analysis: Role model
What business models are showing the most potential in the wellness industry? Lyndsay Madden Nadeau shares her insights
Interview: Lorenzo Giannuzzi
The hospitality veteran dreamed of reinventing an historic Italian palazzo as a world-class medical spa. Lisa Starr went to find out more
Sponsored: TechnoAlpin
Snow rooms are creating a ‘wow’ factor for customers,
while reducing operating costs in the delivery of hot and cold
experiences
Interview: Gloria Caulfield
The executive director of Lake Nona wellness community talks about tapping into the latest tech to create healthy living environments
Software: Revenue management
How software suppliers have been supporting spas to get savvy with yield management since the pandemic began
Promotion: Iyashi Dôme
Iyashi Dôme’s touchless infrared tech is the perfect investment for the post-lockdown world, says Florent Cornelis
The resort focuses on the four pillars of mind, skin, microbiome and energy / photo: Joali Being
A new nature-immersive wellbeing retreat is being built on the Maldivian island of Bodufushi. Scheduled to open in late 2021, Joali Being has been conceptualised and designed by Spa Strategy’s Claire Way while uplifting programmes have been created by Gerry Bodeker.
The Joali brand is the brainchild of owner and entrepreneur Esin Güral Argat, from Turkish-based Gürallar Group and complements the conglomerate’s mid-range Ali Bey Hotels & Resorts.
Joali Being will be a sister site to Joali Maldives which opened in 2019 with a signature ESPA Life spa.
The upcoming 68-villa destination is billed to be the brand’s biggest commitment to wellbeing yet – the spa itself features 39 treatment rooms – and has been designed to go beyond the scope of other tropical wellbeing retreats.
Transformational spaces Way has been working on the project for more than three years. She says the beating heart of Joali Being will be the expansive Areka spa. Aside from the 39 treatment rooms, with equipment by Lemi, there will be a large hydrotherapy hall, including a sensory deprivation room, Russian banya, water therapies, halotherapy suite and a hammam. Guests will also have access to a Sound Therapy Hall and Discovery Sound Path (designed by the Svar Academy, India), fitness offerings and an over-water meditation deck.
Areka will be complemented by Aktar, Joali Being’s dedicated herbology centre. Here, guests will be able to address wellbeing concerns with a resident herbalist who specialises in preparing natural remedies using plants, spices and essential oils.
Way describes Joali Being as a stunning location that’s a complete break from everyday life and which is both remote yet accessible. In her opinion, the property will be one-of-a-kind, because the retreat will be the island’s only destination.
“There are no distractions, only transformational spaces spread across the island, where everything you do enhances your health,” she says, “the entire location is dedicated to enhancing wellbeing.”
Sense of weightlessness The retreat’s philosophy is underpinned by four wellbeing pillars – mind, skin, microbiome and energy – and the project has been conceived with a sense of purpose and synergy, so all elements work together to help guests leave feeling healthier and happier, even if they decide not to deeply engage in wellbeing services.
Programmes will last between five days and three weeks and consist of a range of scientific therapies, diagnostic services, educational sessions and specialised therapeutic and complementary healing treatments.
All begin with an intelligent movement analysis and an integrative health assessment.
Going weightless A concept of weightlessness has been developed with the help of Bodeker – researcher, industry figure and chair of the GWI’s Mental Wellness Initiative.
“We created programmes that would enable guests to experience transcendence and lightness, a sense of having lifted out of the weight of everyday cares and entered into new experiences of clarity and joy that could be carried home with support from the Joali wellbeing specialists,” he says.
“The pathways to these experiences include a unique world of programmes and experiences designed to ease away fatigue and tensions.”
Educational elements Susanne Fisch will be spa and wellness manager, supported by industry consultant and founder of Spa and Wellness Collective, Melany Martinez Thomas, who is Joali’s director of wellbeing for both the company’s properties.
With a curated library and a calendar of interactive workshops, guests will also be able to discover the benefits of herbal teas and learn to make natural body creams, face masks and massage oils. In addition, a boutique will offer a handpicked selection of dried herbs, oils and natural cosmetics for purchase.
Guests will have access to a Learning Centre and a schedule of educational workshops and experiential classes with wellbeing experts and culinary maestros.
To round out the offering and cater to the microbiome pillar, Joali Being will offer fresh earth-to-table cuisine at a range of dining concepts where all menus have been curated by the retreat’s on-site nutritionists.
“Joali Being will be a perfect destination for everyone,” Way adds, “because everything they do comes from a place of positive wellbeing”.
Nature-immersive Way says the design is inspired by the island setting and integrates nature throughout. During construction wild forest has been untouched and architects Cuneyt Bukulmez and interior design studio Autoban are realising the destination with biophilic principles to achieve harmony with nature.
Conservation and sustainability will play a major part in the retreat’s operation, with plans for a turtle sanctuary, a reef restoration project, greywater recycling system and food waste composter, among others.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2021 issue 3
Editor's letter: All about the people
With global staff shortages threatening to stall economic recovery, it’s time to reboot our commitment to driving improvements in pay and working conditions across the spa and wellness industry
Spa people: Dr Mark Hyman
Dr Mark Hyman MD believes functional medicine has the power to be life-changing in the health and wellbeing of patients.
New opening: Six Senses Shaharut
Six Senses has opened the doors to its new 60-key retreat in Israel’s southern Negev Desert, complete with a 1,900sq m, two-level spa and wellness sanctuary
New opening: QC NY
A 74,000sq ft Italian day spa has opened on New York’s Governors Island after a US$50m investment and seven years of planning, building and restoration.
Interview: Kenneth Ryan
We talk to the global head of spa at Marriott International about navigating the global lockdown, re-imagining the company's brand portfolio and what it will take to succeed post-COVID-19
Sponsored: Time out
Answering a growing demand
for non-invasive, anti-ageing skin
care, Comfort Zone is relaunching
its Sublime Skin line with a new
filler-like natural formula that
reverses cellular degeneration
Research: Total impact
Latest ISPA report considers the economic fallout of the pandemic and the spa industry's road to recovery
Sponsored: Gharieni Group
CEO Sammy Gharieni talks about his relentless drive
to deliver innovative products to underpin operators’ success
Analysis: Role model
What business models are showing the most potential in the wellness industry? Lyndsay Madden Nadeau shares her insights
Interview: Lorenzo Giannuzzi
The hospitality veteran dreamed of reinventing an historic Italian palazzo as a world-class medical spa. Lisa Starr went to find out more
Sponsored: TechnoAlpin
Snow rooms are creating a ‘wow’ factor for customers,
while reducing operating costs in the delivery of hot and cold
experiences
Interview: Gloria Caulfield
The executive director of Lake Nona wellness community talks about tapping into the latest tech to create healthy living environments
Software: Revenue management
How software suppliers have been supporting spas to get savvy with yield management since the pandemic began
Promotion: Iyashi Dôme
Iyashi Dôme’s touchless infrared tech is the perfect investment for the post-lockdown world, says Florent Cornelis
London Museum will open four new food and drink destinations when it launches its new home
at Smithfield on 28 November, making hospitality a central part of the visitor experience at one
of the capital's biggest cultural openings of the year.
OMA has completed a major transformation of New York's New Museum, creating a larger
cultural campus that combines expanded exhibition spaces with learning, performance,
hospitality and public programming.
A US$50 million (£44.2 million, €51.2 million) transformation of Chicago's historic McCormick
Mansion has created a new destination that combines live magic, immersive theatre, dining and
private membership under one roof.
The Montana Historical Society has officially celebrated the opening of its new Montana
Heritage
Center, a US$107 million (£79 million, €92 million) destination that combines immersive
storytelling with cutting-edge audiovisual technology to bring the sta
San Antonio Zoo has reported a US$283 million economic impact for 2025, following a decade-
long transformation programme that has seen almost US$200 million invested into the Texas
attraction.
Plans for the AU$180 million redevelopment of Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville, Australia, are
progressing, with the project set to transform the attraction into a global centre for reef
education and conservation.
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Disney has reaffirmed its commitment to investing US$30 billion in its US parks and cruise
business by 2033, using new America250 celebrations to underline the role its attractions play
in supporting jobs, tourism and economic growth.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
