Natirar is set in 400 acres of rolling parkland in New Jersey, an hour from New York City
The new Miraval at Natirar in New Jersey will be built in and around an existing operation owned and run by founders Bob and Kim Wojtowicz. Miraval replaced previous shareholder, Virgin’s Richard Branson, as a partner in the project. The new site will open in March 2015.
The stunning house, set in 400 acres, was the former home of the King of Morocco and already boasts a high-end farm to table restaurant – Ninety Acres – a cooking school and club which runs on a membership basis.
The wooded site has a 60-mile unobstructed view over New Jersey into Pennsylvania: “All you see is rolling hills and trees. No one can build anything in that view,” says Miraval CEO, Michael Tompkins. “The property is set on a hill and from the other side you can see Manhattan. You’re so close to New York, you just don’t know it.”
The site couldn’t be better located, being an hour by car from the city, 25 minutes from Newark International airport and near two train stations which go to Penn Station.
Under the scheme, the existing mansion house will be converted, and a second building constructed, says Tompkins: “The new-build will have the same architecture and use the same brick as the original. The plan is to have 66 keys, while an underground tunnel will be built to the new spa.”
Rockwell Group’s design for the spa building is a dramatic, grass-roofed, minimalist glass building with a waterfall cascading from the roof. Set among the trees, it looks set to be a real show stopper.
Natirar’s fitness centre will be expanded by 6,000sq ft (557sq m) and its stables will be used for Miraval’s famous Equine Experience.
In addition to hiking and biking trails, there’s also a lake on the property. “We’re aiming to organise paddle board yoga,” says Tompkins. “We’ll do snow shoeing in the winter and will be open year round.”
Miraval at Natirar plans to work with Clarins and continue its relationship with the brand: “We plan to roll out future spas with Clarins,” says Tompkins, “but we also aim to make them true to the locales, so at Natirar – which has a 13 acre farm to table garden – we’ll develop treatments based on the Clarins products which contain plant extracts from flora which is native to the area. Clarins head botanist, Jean-Pierre Nicolas, will be involved with scoping out the options.”
The existing operation at Natirar already has strong engagement with a high-end clientele. Combining this with its close proximity to New York City means the new Miraval could not be better placed to succeed.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2013 issue 4
Interview: Helene Goetzelmann
L'Occitane's international spa director tells Rhianon Howells how the consumer retail company has become a spa operator with 60 facilities
Ask an expert: Profit & Loss
Hotel spas need to fight capital expenditure allocation said an investor panel at this year's Global Spa & Wellness Summit
Research: All rise
There's been an increase in the five top key performance indicators in the US spa industry shows the 2013 ISPA study
Company Profile Promotion: ESPA promotion
As ESPA's 20th
anniversary year draws
to a close, founder and
CEO Sue Harmsworth
explains how and why the
company is still evolving
Safari Spa: Animal instinct
Safari spas are the staple for Amani, one of South Africa's largest spa chains. Lisa Starr talks to MD Ronleigh Gordon
Trends: Brief encounters
We take a look at some of the most innovative spa pop-ups, a growing trend across the leisure sector
Interview: Paul Smyth
Something & Son designer shares his insights on creating pop-up spa facilities. Magali Robathan reports
Summit review: Upping the ante
Katie Barnes reveals the takeaway messages from the 2013 Global Spa & Wellness Summit in New Delhi, India, attended by 375 industry leaders
Research: Local news
Domestic travellers dominate the global wellness tourism market which has an economic impact of US$1.3 trillion. SRI's Ophelia Yeung reports
Research: Thai up
Prantik Bordoloi analyses a 2013 Thai spa industry study based on both spa consumer and spa operator opinions
Software news: Tech talk
The latest developments and news from spa software suppliers from around the world
Natirar is set in 400 acres of rolling parkland in New Jersey, an hour from New York City
The new Miraval at Natirar in New Jersey will be built in and around an existing operation owned and run by founders Bob and Kim Wojtowicz. Miraval replaced previous shareholder, Virgin’s Richard Branson, as a partner in the project. The new site will open in March 2015.
The stunning house, set in 400 acres, was the former home of the King of Morocco and already boasts a high-end farm to table restaurant – Ninety Acres – a cooking school and club which runs on a membership basis.
The wooded site has a 60-mile unobstructed view over New Jersey into Pennsylvania: “All you see is rolling hills and trees. No one can build anything in that view,” says Miraval CEO, Michael Tompkins. “The property is set on a hill and from the other side you can see Manhattan. You’re so close to New York, you just don’t know it.”
The site couldn’t be better located, being an hour by car from the city, 25 minutes from Newark International airport and near two train stations which go to Penn Station.
Under the scheme, the existing mansion house will be converted, and a second building constructed, says Tompkins: “The new-build will have the same architecture and use the same brick as the original. The plan is to have 66 keys, while an underground tunnel will be built to the new spa.”
Rockwell Group’s design for the spa building is a dramatic, grass-roofed, minimalist glass building with a waterfall cascading from the roof. Set among the trees, it looks set to be a real show stopper.
Natirar’s fitness centre will be expanded by 6,000sq ft (557sq m) and its stables will be used for Miraval’s famous Equine Experience.
In addition to hiking and biking trails, there’s also a lake on the property. “We’re aiming to organise paddle board yoga,” says Tompkins. “We’ll do snow shoeing in the winter and will be open year round.”
Miraval at Natirar plans to work with Clarins and continue its relationship with the brand: “We plan to roll out future spas with Clarins,” says Tompkins, “but we also aim to make them true to the locales, so at Natirar – which has a 13 acre farm to table garden – we’ll develop treatments based on the Clarins products which contain plant extracts from flora which is native to the area. Clarins head botanist, Jean-Pierre Nicolas, will be involved with scoping out the options.”
The existing operation at Natirar already has strong engagement with a high-end clientele. Combining this with its close proximity to New York City means the new Miraval could not be better placed to succeed.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2013 issue 4
Interview: Helene Goetzelmann
L'Occitane's international spa director tells Rhianon Howells how the consumer retail company has become a spa operator with 60 facilities
Ask an expert: Profit & Loss
Hotel spas need to fight capital expenditure allocation said an investor panel at this year's Global Spa & Wellness Summit
Research: All rise
There's been an increase in the five top key performance indicators in the US spa industry shows the 2013 ISPA study
Company Profile Promotion: ESPA promotion
As ESPA's 20th
anniversary year draws
to a close, founder and
CEO Sue Harmsworth
explains how and why the
company is still evolving
Safari Spa: Animal instinct
Safari spas are the staple for Amani, one of South Africa's largest spa chains. Lisa Starr talks to MD Ronleigh Gordon
Trends: Brief encounters
We take a look at some of the most innovative spa pop-ups, a growing trend across the leisure sector
Interview: Paul Smyth
Something & Son designer shares his insights on creating pop-up spa facilities. Magali Robathan reports
Summit review: Upping the ante
Katie Barnes reveals the takeaway messages from the 2013 Global Spa & Wellness Summit in New Delhi, India, attended by 375 industry leaders
Research: Local news
Domestic travellers dominate the global wellness tourism market which has an economic impact of US$1.3 trillion. SRI's Ophelia Yeung reports
Research: Thai up
Prantik Bordoloi analyses a 2013 Thai spa industry study based on both spa consumer and spa operator opinions
Software news: Tech talk
The latest developments and news from spa software suppliers from around the world
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.
