The flagship site in Spain welcomes 6,000 guests a year and is at full capacity
Spanish destination spa Sha Wellness Clinic has cited ambitions to have a facility in every major world region in the next 10 years, following its recent announcement of expansion into Mexico and the UAE.
Based in picturesque mountains near Alicante, the resort has 93 suites, 11 private residences and 6,000sq m of spa and wellness facilities which were opened 11 years ago by the Bataller family. It's known for the Sha Method, a holistic approach that provides a mix of cutting-edge preventive, genetic and anti-ageing medicine – from telomere testing to male hormone therapy – alongside natural therapies and macrobiotics. Vice president Alejandro Bataller tells Spa Business: “We feel we’ve reached our maximum potential at Sha Spain, so we wanted to make our offering more accessible to a global market.”
Sha explored multiple potential international locations, assessing climate, environment and access to clinical resources. In-depth analysis showed Mexico and the UAE were best-suited to the needs of the business and these locations are now on track to open by 2021 and 2023, respectively, with Sha developing and managing both properties.
Sha Mexico will be based in the north of the Riviera Maya in Cancun and include 100 suites and a number of private residences. Meanwhile, Sha Emirates will be located in the new AlJurf coastal development in Abu Dhabi and include 120 suites and close to 300 residences. It's being created in partnership with local place-maker IMKAN with an investment of AED600m (US$163.4m, €146.8m, £124.5m).
“Over the years we’ve received countless proposals to open in different countries and have always been very cautious in that we’ll only expand when we consider we can maintain the concept and standards of excellence that characterise us. We feel this moment has arrived.”
The offering at Sha Mexico and Sha Emirates will remain the same in terms of the traditional Sha Method and types of health programmes. However, the brand anticipates each site will attract guests with specific needs.
Sha foresees that guests staying at the Mexico clinic will seek a retreat-focused approach, with anti-stress or holistic treatments and therapies and that Sha Emirates guests are likely to focus on revitalising medical treatments, such as ozone therapy, and also non-invasive aesthetic medical treatments.
“Our aim is to always offer the most outstanding therapies, but it’s important we tailor our offering to each market and its individual needs,” says Bataller.
Sha’s flagship clinic in Spain welcomes approximately 6,000 guests a year and remains at full capacity. When the company launched in late 2008, only 30 per cent of guests were men, but today it accommodates nearly equal numbers of male and female guests.
Bataller says: “A typical Sha guest is someone who seeks to spend their free-time evolving, learning from themselves and constantly striving to improve their health.
“Recently we’ve seen an increase in solo travellers – those who chase a transformative rather than a pampering experience. In fact, the majority of guests who come to the clinic, come alone.”
In 2018, Sha celebrated its 10 year anniversary and Bataller upholds that the offering remains a unique concept that’s capable of transforming people’s lives.
He says: “Sha is a life-changing experience. It’s a place where you come to reset yourself while acquiring the knowledge and the tools to take hold of your health and enjoy optimal health and wellbeing at any stage of your life.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2020 issue 1
Editor's letter: Time to shine
As spas reach peak revenues, now’s the time for our industry to act as a catalyst in working out how we measure the impact of an experience and the ‘return on wellness’ says Spa Business' editor Katie Barnes
Promotional feature: TechnoAlpin
If you want to deliver a hot and cold experience as part of your wellness programme, adding a snowroom will introduce a delightful and more gentle form of cold therapy, as Sara Brenninger explains
Trends: Spa Foresight™
Climate emergency, gen alpha and brain optimisation are among Spa Business’ latest trend predictions
Promotional feature: The Wellness
Investing in children’s facilities gives a spa and wellness offering a competitive edge, as well as helping the next generation achieve their potential, explains Mohammed Ibrahim, CEO of industry design and consultancy practice, The Wellness
Promotional feature: RKF Luxury Linen
As a symbol of luxury, innovation and quality in the world of spa and hospitality, much of RKF Luxury Linen’s success comes from its highly client-centric design process, says CEO Riadh Bouaziz
Design: Heat of the moment
From giant golden eggs and converted ski lifts to rustic, hand-crafted huts, we showcase the latest in heat experience design and innovations
The flagship site in Spain welcomes 6,000 guests a year and is at full capacity
Spanish destination spa Sha Wellness Clinic has cited ambitions to have a facility in every major world region in the next 10 years, following its recent announcement of expansion into Mexico and the UAE.
Based in picturesque mountains near Alicante, the resort has 93 suites, 11 private residences and 6,000sq m of spa and wellness facilities which were opened 11 years ago by the Bataller family. It's known for the Sha Method, a holistic approach that provides a mix of cutting-edge preventive, genetic and anti-ageing medicine – from telomere testing to male hormone therapy – alongside natural therapies and macrobiotics. Vice president Alejandro Bataller tells Spa Business: “We feel we’ve reached our maximum potential at Sha Spain, so we wanted to make our offering more accessible to a global market.”
Sha explored multiple potential international locations, assessing climate, environment and access to clinical resources. In-depth analysis showed Mexico and the UAE were best-suited to the needs of the business and these locations are now on track to open by 2021 and 2023, respectively, with Sha developing and managing both properties.
Sha Mexico will be based in the north of the Riviera Maya in Cancun and include 100 suites and a number of private residences. Meanwhile, Sha Emirates will be located in the new AlJurf coastal development in Abu Dhabi and include 120 suites and close to 300 residences. It's being created in partnership with local place-maker IMKAN with an investment of AED600m (US$163.4m, €146.8m, £124.5m).
“Over the years we’ve received countless proposals to open in different countries and have always been very cautious in that we’ll only expand when we consider we can maintain the concept and standards of excellence that characterise us. We feel this moment has arrived.”
The offering at Sha Mexico and Sha Emirates will remain the same in terms of the traditional Sha Method and types of health programmes. However, the brand anticipates each site will attract guests with specific needs.
Sha foresees that guests staying at the Mexico clinic will seek a retreat-focused approach, with anti-stress or holistic treatments and therapies and that Sha Emirates guests are likely to focus on revitalising medical treatments, such as ozone therapy, and also non-invasive aesthetic medical treatments.
“Our aim is to always offer the most outstanding therapies, but it’s important we tailor our offering to each market and its individual needs,” says Bataller.
Sha’s flagship clinic in Spain welcomes approximately 6,000 guests a year and remains at full capacity. When the company launched in late 2008, only 30 per cent of guests were men, but today it accommodates nearly equal numbers of male and female guests.
Bataller says: “A typical Sha guest is someone who seeks to spend their free-time evolving, learning from themselves and constantly striving to improve their health.
“Recently we’ve seen an increase in solo travellers – those who chase a transformative rather than a pampering experience. In fact, the majority of guests who come to the clinic, come alone.”
In 2018, Sha celebrated its 10 year anniversary and Bataller upholds that the offering remains a unique concept that’s capable of transforming people’s lives.
He says: “Sha is a life-changing experience. It’s a place where you come to reset yourself while acquiring the knowledge and the tools to take hold of your health and enjoy optimal health and wellbeing at any stage of your life.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2020 issue 1
Editor's letter: Time to shine
As spas reach peak revenues, now’s the time for our industry to act as a catalyst in working out how we measure the impact of an experience and the ‘return on wellness’ says Spa Business' editor Katie Barnes
Promotional feature: TechnoAlpin
If you want to deliver a hot and cold experience as part of your wellness programme, adding a snowroom will introduce a delightful and more gentle form of cold therapy, as Sara Brenninger explains
Trends: Spa Foresight™
Climate emergency, gen alpha and brain optimisation are among Spa Business’ latest trend predictions
Promotional feature: The Wellness
Investing in children’s facilities gives a spa and wellness offering a competitive edge, as well as helping the next generation achieve their potential, explains Mohammed Ibrahim, CEO of industry design and consultancy practice, The Wellness
Promotional feature: RKF Luxury Linen
As a symbol of luxury, innovation and quality in the world of spa and hospitality, much of RKF Luxury Linen’s success comes from its highly client-centric design process, says CEO Riadh Bouaziz
Design: Heat of the moment
From giant golden eggs and converted ski lifts to rustic, hand-crafted huts, we showcase the latest in heat experience design and innovations
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.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
