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
Real snow is a magnet,” says Sara Brenninger, product manager at snow specialist, TechnoAlpin. “Our beautiful and dramatic snowrooms are typically used in combination with a sauna to create ‘contrast therapy’ which stimulates the body with extreme temperatures, going from up to +90°C in the Finnish sauna, down to -10°C in the snowroom.
“Operators who install snowrooms benefit from a new and attractive treatment. Moreover, the snowroom not only makes guests feel great, it also looks amazing,” she explains.
“Hydrotherapy has been practiced over the centuries, enabling people to benefit from the effects of hot and cold, but being immersed in cold water after a sauna can be uncomfortable and for some it cannot be practiced due to the risk of thermal shock,” says Brenninger.
“Nevertheless, the cool-down phase is essential to achieve the benefits of hot and cold contrast therapy, so we set out to create a way to deliver the cold element that’s more pleasurable – the result is the TechnoAlpin snowroom.
“The most revolutionary aspect of the snowroom is the delivery of ‘dry cold’,” she says, “even if the temperature drops 100°C, from +90°C to -10°C, there’s no temperature shock but simply a gradual cooling down.
“Deep breaths refresh the lungs and over a few minutes the body cools down step by step and from head to toe,” she says.
“The TechnoAlpin snowroom delivers a very healthy, comfortable cold,” says Brenninger, “although people who desire a more intense effect can grab some snow and massage it to the skin to intensify the effect.”
With cold treatments gaining in popularity, how does the TechnoAlpin snowroom compare with other options, such as cryotherapy, where the body is exposed to extreme temperatures of -110°C and less?
“Cryotherapy offers a rather medical approach, with specific therapeutic goals and should always be supervised,” says Brenninger, “whereas the TechnoAlpin snowroom is a spa application, used to deliver an immediate feeling of wellbeing and relaxation.
“In addition to the health benefits it creates a playful experience with snow for guests,” she continues.
Health benefits Being exposed alternately to heat and cold helps to train blood vessels and the cardiovascular system, as blood vessels dilate with heat and contract with cold. The repetition of hot and cold cycles also has a similar effect as physical exercise in boosting metabolism.
Cold strengthens the immune system and reduces inflammation and pain meaning aching muscles and joints can be cooled with snow to relieve pain.
“As sporty people know, the body recovers much more quickly from intense exercise when exposed to cold,” says Brenninger, “so 10 minutes in the snowroom and a short and vigorous rubbing with snow will help this process by decreasing lactate levels in the body.
“When it comes to operations, snowrooms are easy to manage,” explains Brenninger. “Snowrooms come in a choice of attractive interior designs and are easy and cost-effective to maintain. There are no issues with hygiene, due to the low temperatures, and the system runs an automatic programme to create snow and defrost, making them easy to use.”
Why TechnoAlpin? “We’ve been the industry leader in the snowmaking business for 30 years,” explains Brenninger, “and even after all these years, we’re still constantly improving our technology to stay at the leading edge.
“We’re operating in more than 50 countries and offer worldwide service, which is crucial for our customers.
“We’ve installed more than 100 snowrooms to date, which proves the concept is working and customers trust in our quality and service. We offer a 360° solution, from planning from installation to after-sales service.
“Snowrooms are the most appealing cold treatment a spa can offer, boosting the sauna experience to its maximum.”
Markus Fuchs
"We decided to install two snowrooms, because we want to offer our guests something special.
With this attraction we’re able to differentiate from other facilities. We now have snow throughout the whole year!" - Markus Fuchs, general manager, Fitnesspark National, Lucerne, Switzerland
Erika and Bruno Moser
"We wish to delight our customers with extraordinary experiences. The snowroom is something special and fits perfectly into our spa" - Erika and Bruno Moser, owners, Hotel Weinegg, Italy
George Fares
"One of our highlights in the resort is the state-of-the-art, iconic snowroom which gives our guests a valuable and memorable experience – a feeling like a dream coming true. Guests enjoy the beautiful snow crystals. The design is very classy and entering into the snowroom feels like being in a magical world that’s kaleidoscopic and picturesque, which surely boosted our business" - George Fares, director of engineering, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, UAE
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
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
Real snow is a magnet,” says Sara Brenninger, product manager at snow specialist, TechnoAlpin. “Our beautiful and dramatic snowrooms are typically used in combination with a sauna to create ‘contrast therapy’ which stimulates the body with extreme temperatures, going from up to +90°C in the Finnish sauna, down to -10°C in the snowroom.
“Operators who install snowrooms benefit from a new and attractive treatment. Moreover, the snowroom not only makes guests feel great, it also looks amazing,” she explains.
“Hydrotherapy has been practiced over the centuries, enabling people to benefit from the effects of hot and cold, but being immersed in cold water after a sauna can be uncomfortable and for some it cannot be practiced due to the risk of thermal shock,” says Brenninger.
“Nevertheless, the cool-down phase is essential to achieve the benefits of hot and cold contrast therapy, so we set out to create a way to deliver the cold element that’s more pleasurable – the result is the TechnoAlpin snowroom.
“The most revolutionary aspect of the snowroom is the delivery of ‘dry cold’,” she says, “even if the temperature drops 100°C, from +90°C to -10°C, there’s no temperature shock but simply a gradual cooling down.
“Deep breaths refresh the lungs and over a few minutes the body cools down step by step and from head to toe,” she says.
“The TechnoAlpin snowroom delivers a very healthy, comfortable cold,” says Brenninger, “although people who desire a more intense effect can grab some snow and massage it to the skin to intensify the effect.”
With cold treatments gaining in popularity, how does the TechnoAlpin snowroom compare with other options, such as cryotherapy, where the body is exposed to extreme temperatures of -110°C and less?
“Cryotherapy offers a rather medical approach, with specific therapeutic goals and should always be supervised,” says Brenninger, “whereas the TechnoAlpin snowroom is a spa application, used to deliver an immediate feeling of wellbeing and relaxation.
“In addition to the health benefits it creates a playful experience with snow for guests,” she continues.
Health benefits Being exposed alternately to heat and cold helps to train blood vessels and the cardiovascular system, as blood vessels dilate with heat and contract with cold. The repetition of hot and cold cycles also has a similar effect as physical exercise in boosting metabolism.
Cold strengthens the immune system and reduces inflammation and pain meaning aching muscles and joints can be cooled with snow to relieve pain.
“As sporty people know, the body recovers much more quickly from intense exercise when exposed to cold,” says Brenninger, “so 10 minutes in the snowroom and a short and vigorous rubbing with snow will help this process by decreasing lactate levels in the body.
“When it comes to operations, snowrooms are easy to manage,” explains Brenninger. “Snowrooms come in a choice of attractive interior designs and are easy and cost-effective to maintain. There are no issues with hygiene, due to the low temperatures, and the system runs an automatic programme to create snow and defrost, making them easy to use.”
Why TechnoAlpin? “We’ve been the industry leader in the snowmaking business for 30 years,” explains Brenninger, “and even after all these years, we’re still constantly improving our technology to stay at the leading edge.
“We’re operating in more than 50 countries and offer worldwide service, which is crucial for our customers.
“We’ve installed more than 100 snowrooms to date, which proves the concept is working and customers trust in our quality and service. We offer a 360° solution, from planning from installation to after-sales service.
“Snowrooms are the most appealing cold treatment a spa can offer, boosting the sauna experience to its maximum.”
Markus Fuchs
"We decided to install two snowrooms, because we want to offer our guests something special.
With this attraction we’re able to differentiate from other facilities. We now have snow throughout the whole year!" - Markus Fuchs, general manager, Fitnesspark National, Lucerne, Switzerland
Erika and Bruno Moser
"We wish to delight our customers with extraordinary experiences. The snowroom is something special and fits perfectly into our spa" - Erika and Bruno Moser, owners, Hotel Weinegg, Italy
George Fares
"One of our highlights in the resort is the state-of-the-art, iconic snowroom which gives our guests a valuable and memorable experience – a feeling like a dream coming true. Guests enjoy the beautiful snow crystals. The design is very classy and entering into the snowroom feels like being in a magical world that’s kaleidoscopic and picturesque, which surely boosted our business" - George Fares, director of engineering, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, UAE
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.
