DESIGN
The hotel ’ s outdoor terrace
The “ golden bridge ” across the courtyard to the main building
5-star hotel . The Dutch Lennaerts ’ background includes Fusion Maia Danang , an all-villa spa resort in Vietnam .
“ My interest has always been to help an investor create something that is for the next five to 10 years ,” he says . Most current visions of luxury offer luxury materials and “ optimized standards of operation ” but little personal connection .
“ What happens to me if I ’ m talking about luxury is finding myself ,” he says , which he defines as mindful leisure . At most hotels , that might be cultivated with a relaxing spa treatment or a healthy , energizing meal , but it quickly dissipates when guests are asked to pull out a credit card . “ If I go to a wellness area and I can take any treatment , I can get any consultation , I can have just
STAYING WELL
Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary has a couple of things going for it , says Amy McDonald , owner and CEO of Under a Tree Health and Wellness Consulting . Besides the allure of the destination , “ you get to really have that intimacy with your guests that you just don ’ t get with something larger .”
The challenge , she says , is finding a balance between guest value and owner profit . “ That really is , to me , why so many companies haven ’ t wanted to go below that 50- , 60- room count , because there ’ s just more you can do . There ’ s just less risk .”
She draws a comparison to 16-room Sedona , Arizona , resort Mii amo . “ Part of how they have made it work is because they ’ re next to a 200-room hotel , so when they need to , they get people to come over for some of their programs and for spa services .” A standalone hotel faces challenges , but wellness trends are moving in Lennaerts ’ direction .
Any advice for a company or investor considering this approach ?
“ How far ( the location is ) from an airport still makes a difference ,” she says . “ I think it ’ s too much of a risk if you ’ re too far away from major population .”
34 hotelsmag . com December 2018