Spa hotels rise in popularity as holidaymakers demand greater ‘wellness’ from their breaks
- 15.2 million days of work were lost in 2013 due to mental health problems, up from 13.3 million days in 2011 (‘Sickness Absence in the Labour Market’, Office for National Statistics)
- People demanding greater ‘wellness’ from their holidays, with 82%, wanting a holiday that offers a spa or massage, 73% an eco-property, 82% require nature experiences
- The Baymen Lodge and Spa offers excellent investment opportunities in boutique eco resort with spa in rainforest surrounds
With working hours ever-increasing and work-life balance issues seemingly growing more and more intense, modern technology has made us a 24/7 contactable generation – using our smart phones to monitor emails on the move, check ourselves in via Facebook, and keep on track with the very latest breaking news on Twitter at the mere touch of an app.
Yet being part of the ‘have it all’ generation comes at a cost. Although technology was originally developed to save us time, it now takes up our time, and this all-consuming lifestyle is beginning to have an effect on our health. The Office for National Statistics revealed in their ‘Sickness Absence in the Labour Market’ report that 15.2 million days of work were lost in 2013 due to mental health problems such as stress, depression and anxiety, up from 13.3 million days in 2011.
Not only affecting people’s mental health in a detrimental way, stress also lowers the body’s ability to fight infection and disease, with a recent study detailing the worrying damage it can cause the heart, which taken alongside the more commonly known effects of digestive and respiratory problems, stress has a wide-ranging negative impact on a person.
For many the solution is to take a holiday, escape from everyday pressures for a week or two, yet the Spafinder Wellness 365’s ‘2014 Trends Forecast’ has shown that 85% of people surveyed returned from their break less rejuvenated than before they left. The answer is to choose the right kind of holiday, one that will allow a true escape and has relaxation at its core.
Wolf Worster, MD of Wolf Wörster Associates, Inc, a global property consultancy marketing The Baymen Resort & Spa in Belize’s Cayo region, explains what makes a resort a truly relaxing,
“For me I would say it is the little touches that make a resort totally tranquil – a beautifully designed spa with the very best fittings, the location of the relaxation areas that allow for idyllic views, comfortable sofas in which to flop after a warm day in the sun, the pure waters of an infinity or plunge pool – all adding to the serenity of the surrounds. At The Baymen, all of these aspects are included, and more, offering the ultimate in relaxation for individual owners and those staying as guests.”
The Spafinder Wellness 365 report also confirmed, in response to returning unrefreshed from their holidays, that people were now demanding greater ‘wellness’ from their breaks. 82%, for example, now claim they want a holiday that offers a spa or massage, 73% require an eco-property, and 82% look for nature experiences. All aspects that contribute to the overall relaxation of a resort, The Baymen in Belize ticks all these boxes.
Situated in the lush jungle foliage of a private rainforest location, the eco hotel has been designed to reveal its beauty gradually, encouraging guests to feel immediately tranquil and enthralled by the resort as they are welcomed with a signature cocktail and refreshing chilled towels infused with local organic oil.
From a nature perspective, the majority of the lodge sits among the rainforest canopy, seemingly floating off the ground so guests can truly feel part of the ecosystem, aiding relaxation and a sense of remoteness and of being away from it all, even though the resort is conveniently located 30 minutes away from the town of San Ignacio, which is a short flight from Belize City.
With a breathtaking infinity pool of non- chlorinated pure water that appears to float like a tablet of water suspended in air, providing the chance to watch nature pass by, the pool is located next to the palapa spa, a serene place where guests can be pampered whilst listening to the sound of water gently cascading from the infinity pool into a natural spring. In addition to this, a tranquil series of natural Maya spring plunge pools gently flow down to a stunning natural waterfall, providing a unique experience of natural relaxation unequalled at any other Belizean resort.
Individual residences can be purchased at The Baymen, providing 30 days personal usage a year at either The Baymen or its sister property, The Belize Ocean Club (www.belizeoceanclub.com), along with healthy rental returns throughout the year as the property is run as a boutique hotel. Each residence encompasses the notion of old world colonial charm, with four-poster beds, stunning bathrooms with indoor and outdoor shower areas, and a large outside deck, all utilising natural materials of the highest specification, with prices ranging from $230,000 USD to $460,000 USD.
For more information about The Baymen Lodge and Spa, visit www.thebaymen.com or contact Wolf Wörster Associates, Inc on free-phone 0808 169 6526 or info@thebaymen.com