From Ritual to Retreat: Designing the New Wellness
Wellness in hospitality is evolving. No longer defined by indulgence or aesthetic alone, it is now a more immersive, emotional journey; one that invites stillness, sensory reconnection, and a deeper sense of place. At BLINK, our approach to wellness is rooted in context, craft, and cultural sensitivity.
“My focus has always been on the concept of wellbeing rather than wellness… It encompasses a more holistic perspective, looking at how design influences the people who interact with it.” –
For BLINK, hospitality is about creating environments that soothe both body and soul in a fast-paced world. By embracing emerging technologies and drawing on time-honoured rituals, we continue to elevate the wellness experience; working alongside expert spa consultants to craft thoughtful, transformative spaces around the world.
From Spa to Sanctuary: Rethinking Wellness Design
BLINK has long understood the importance of standalone spa design, and equally, the portrayal of wellness as an overarching, human need in hospitality. Since our beginnings, we’ve viewed resort design as an opportunity to enhance wellbeing at every touchpoint, treating it not as a luxury, but as an essential part of the guest experience.
As hospitality naturally evolves toward health and holistic living, BLINK is well positioned to lead this transformation. With wellness experiences now central to luxury travel, there is a growing need for spaces that move beyond aesthetics, spaces that deliver emotional resonance, sensory depth, and a meaningful sense of connection.
Wellness, for us, is an extension of placemaking. It requires a refined layering of spatial qualities: light, sound, scent, material, movement; and a deep respect for the cultures and climates we’re designing within. Every project becomes a study in sensitivity: cultural, environmental, and personal.
“We are delving more and more into specialised spa design… where transcendent experiences can occur.” – Clint Nagata
Case Study: Banyan Tree Spa Dubai
The transformation of Caesars Palace Dubai into the first Banyan Tree property in the UAE marked a significant shift in guest experience – from spectacle to serenity. The spa became the heart of that shift.
Guided by a concept we called desert stillness, the design draws from the region’s ecology: forms echo sand dunes, the palette reflects the Arabian oryx, and vertical gestures reference the Ghaf tree, a symbol of endurance in the Emirates. The materiality is grounded in tactility and sustainability: banana leaf wallcoverings, handcrafted finishes, and pathways designed for barefoot passage.
At its core lies the Rainforest, Banyan Tree’s signature hydrothermal wellness journey. Reinterpreted for Dubai, it offers gender-separated zones, soft transitions between temperature and texture, and a multisensory path toward physical and emotional quiet.
“Every material, form and detail serves a purpose, and the end result is a seamless, immersive experience that lingers in memory long after a guest departs.” – Clint Nagata
This project also integrates Banyan Group’s 8 Pillars of Wellbeing: connection, growth, groundedness, nourishment, rest, movement, practice, and mindfulness; ensuring that every spatial decision supports a broader philosophy of holistic balance.
Case Study: Guerlain Spa at One&Only Le Saint Géran
In Mauritius, BLINK took a different approach, one guided by duality and lush contrast. The Guerlain Spa at One&Only Le Saint Géran brings together French refinement and the tropical soul of the island.
Wellness emerges through the interplay of rich materials and atmospheric softness. Inspired by the surrounding landscape of volcanic rock, turquoise lagoons, and tropical flora, the design brings together a tactile palette that balances shimmer, warmth, and texture. Cross-ventilated interiors open onto garden pathways, where open-air zones and a tranquil spa pool framed by timber cabanas invite an unhurried connection to nature.
Here, the spa embraces its environment. Through a daylight design concept, dappled light filters into treatment rooms and open-air garden experiences bring nature into the wellness ritual. Treatment spaces blend seamlessly with retail and product experience via the Guerlain boutique, creating a continuous journey of indulgence and intention.
“The Guerlain Spa is a living embodiment of dual harmony, where two seemingly distinct worlds unite to create an unparalleled experience.” – Hospitality Design
Where Dubai offered stillness and clarity, Mauritius offered flow and softness. Both express the same BLINK philosophy, interpreted uniquely through place.
The Future of Wellbeing by BLINK
BLINK’s footprint in the wellness space continues to expand, built on a legacy of forward-thinking design. Nearly a decade ago, we created two Spa Houses for AMAN at Amanoi, introduced alongside Aman Wellness in 2016 as the first of their kind for the brand. Since then, we’ve gone on to design wellness experiences for leading names including W Hotels, LXR Hotels & Resorts, Banyan Tree Group, and Six Senses.
For Regent, we master planned and designed the now-iconic Regent Phu Quoc; a resort that redefines wellness as an integrated, resort-wide philosophy rather than a standalone facility. Opened three years ago, it has since been honoured across three categories in this year’s Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia Luxury Awards, placing in the top five for Best Beach and Island Resort, Best Pool, and Best Hotel Spa in Vietnam.
BLINK continue to revolutionise the spa and wellness arena, from the Banyan Tree Spa in Dubai to our upcoming wellness projects in Europe, including Six Senses Loire Valley and a second French project, we’re continuing to explore what wellness means across cultures and climates.
Our focus is on crafting mood and experience, not just aesthetics. We have long championed the idea that wellness should extend beyond the spa and into the entire guest journey. While the industry now embraces wellness as a defining element of hospitality, it has always been central to our approach, embedded in how we shape space.
“Wellness has become a key differentiator… it addresses physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, offering transformative experiences that traditional hospitality often overlooks.” – Clint Nagata
In every location, we begin with a question: How do we want the guest to feel here? The answers shape the spaces we create. Always rooted, responsive, and designed to speak quietly yet meaningfully to the guest within.