Mandarin Oriental, Milan and the new urban havens for daily well-being

Regenerating body and mind, getting rid of the stress of everyday life and find oneself once more: all of this in a unique context not far from home. This is the promise of the urban retreat, a wellness experience that is more and more widespread in exclusive hotels, designed to offer a regenerating break amidst the city frenzy. The idea of an exclusive holiday a few minutes from home has become more and more attractive. You only need to choose the ideal solution to make your escape unforgettable: a hotel equipped with every possible comfort, a spa, a pool, treatments and rituals that allow you to pursue your wellness goals. There are also those who travel for reasons other than well-being and wish to find time for wellness during their stay. As a matter of fact, more and more guests look for a complete and immersive experience that goes beyond a mere training at the gym, through the integration of relaxation circuits, regenerating treatments and bespoke services for personal psycho-physical wellbeing.

To find out more about all of this, we visited the Mandarin Oriental, Milan, at walking distance from Milan Cathedral, where different kinds of style and design merge with award-winning cuisine and absolute comfort. A wellness oasis in the heart of the city, where you get to take care of yourself with a spa, regenerating treatments and exclusive services dedicated to relaxation and psycho-physical balance. We have talked about this with Giorgia Teodori, Spa Manager of the facility.

What differences do you see in guests’ current expectations and needs as opposed to the past?

There surely is greater demand of highly customised treatments, combined with greater awareness on the use and benefits of wet areas, especially sauna and steam bath.

In your opinion, what led to the growth in the demand of exclusive services in hotels?

The growing attention to health and well-being. Guests come to us in the morning for a spa treatment. They relax in the wet areas and in our wonderful pool, then end the day with an aperitif, lunch, dinner at Mandarin Garden, or a Michelin-starred experience at our restaurant Seta by Antonio Guida.

What are the key services that you offer and that attract a different kind of clients to the hotel regular guests?

Our signature treatments. They can be found only at Mandarin Oriental and include holistic experiences for the release of physical tension and stress, as well as activities improving motility thanks to the special techniques used by our therapists. In line with the present trends, what we offer is a regenerating treatment for head, eyes, neck, shoulders, hands and feet that eases the tensions caused by the frequent use of digital devices. Many actions are skilfully combined in one treatment to fight the effects of sedentary lifestyle and increase motility; for instance, relaxation of the trigger points, deep muscle massage, muscle stretching. Our offer also includes experiences where our professionals create bespoke treatments to perfectly meet the individual needs of each one of our guests.

How does your facility meet the needs of local residents and casual travellers, as well as those of your guests?

We offer a wide range of services and proposals designed to meet the needs of every guest, be they hotel clients, local people or travellers. Our offer of face and body treatments, wellness circuits completed with cosmetic brands of excellence, known in Italy and abroad, is an invite to take care of yourself. Our facilities ‒ including a Spa Suite, a scenic indoor pool and a cutting-edge fitness centre ‒ further increase the value of our guests’ journey into wellness.

Do you offer memberships or subscription soutions that give access to your spaces and services?

What exclusive advantages do you offer to those who choose to participate? Yes, we have three different kinds of Membership ‒ Blissful, Serenity and Energising ‒ valid for six months to a year. The yearly subscription is the most complete and includes access to all spa areas (steam bath, sauna, swimming pool and gym) and a selection of bespoke treatments. The six-month subscription grants access to the spa areas, with the exception of the pool. All our memberships feature discounts at our f&b outlets and at our hair salon.

What are the distinctive aspects of your facility or of your approach that you deem particularly attractive for those who are in search of an unconventional experience that isn’t necessarily connected to the stay?

The oriental heritage is without a doubt our distinctive trait. The oriental hospitality is tangible upon entering the sauna, in the approach, gestures, welcome drinks and oshibori. The atmosphere evokes the East, also thanks to the spa design based on feng shui and the five elements of traditional Chinese medicine (metal, water, fire, wood and earth).

How did you adapt the spaces of the facility to make external visitors’ access smoother?

By monitoring guests’ access so as to allow everyone to enjoy the spa areas in full privacy and relaxation. As an external guest, you need to book a spa treatment of at least 80 minutes in order to access out wet areas, so as to stagger the entrances and give everyone the chance to enjoy the experience fully.

Is there an exclusive experience or service that you reserve to your members or to picked clients? How do these contribute to building a sense of belonging and trust?

Yes, we offer the Fans of M.O. ‒ that is, those who subscribe for free to the Group appreciation programs ‒ spa-related benefits to complete their wellness experience. The Fans of M.O. members can choose between De-stress Muscle Gel, to relax muscles and offer an immediate sensation of relief; Patch Défatiguants for eye contour, ideal to reduce dark circles, eye bags or thin wrinkles; and Hydra & Plump Mask, a precious mask containing sapphire serum to smooth out and hydrate all skin types. This kind of attention certainly contributes to creating a sense of belonging: all the Fans of M.O. will find extra pampering for them in any hotel of the Group worldwide.

How will these trends change the industry of hospitality over the next few years?

Guests will surely be more and more demanding and prepared. For this reason, spa equipment will have to be innovative, in order to meet ever more specific requirements and needs.