SPA: Inside the MidEast's first Thalassa Sea & Spa

The first Thalassa Sea & Spa from Accor is now open in the Middle East at Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq, finally introducing thalassotherapy to the GCC market

In the spa world, consumers are increasingly looking for treatments which produce real results, rather than a feel-good glow. From slimming to anti-ageing, firming to rejuvenating, treatments need to have an impact on the client’s overall wellbeing.

But, at the same time, spa savvy consumers are shying away from invasive therapies — technology has its place but for many, the use of organic or natural ingredients is more important.

One spa therapy that relies upon natural products but promises all-round improvements in physical and mental health is thalassotherapy — a range of treatments that harness the qualities of sea water and sea plants to treat a variety of skin and muscular complaints, as well as relax, soothe and regenerate.

Thalassotherapy originated in France in the 1950s, when a Tour de France cyclist discovered the benefits of warm sea water for his circulation, joints and muscles and set up the first “thalassa hotel” for medical reasons, over the years evolving the spa and hospitality aspects as customer demands increased.

Fast forward to the 21st century and add the global network of French hotel giant Accor, which acquired the Thalassa brand name and now operates a range of Thalassa Sea & Spa products alongside its Sofitel hotel brand.

The first Thalassa Sea & Spa is up and running in the Middle East, at Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq, the resort that opened days after the initial unrest in Bahrain on Feb 14 last year.

It is the first thalassotherapy facility in the GCC and hotel general manager Bert Plas is keen to begin educating the region on its powerful health benefits and spa treatments.

“The thalassa treatments are based on seawater,” says Plas. “Thalassa needs to be located by the sea, we pump fresh seawater from the sea, we filter this, we heat this up to about 32°C and then we give treatments with that.

“Sea water has been proven to have the same content of minerals that your body needs,” explains Plas. “If you heat up the sea water, it will open the pores of your skin, the skin will absorb the minerals — that’s the reason seaweed is so good for you; it absorbs the minerals of the sea and it’s concentrated.”

However, he acknowledges that it will take time to educate the market, with the hotel’s main guest base coming from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, unfamiliar with thalassotherapy, often misconceived as some brash spa operator shooting jets of water at an unsuspecting spa-goer.

“We are the first Thalassa in the Middle East so the concept is not known in the Middle East so this is a slow process. First you have to create awareness," says Plas

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Thalassa facility
The 2000m² Thalassa Sea & Spa complex at Sofitel Bahrain features 14 treatment rooms — six for dry treatments and eight for wet treatments — which are used for seawater hydrotherapy, massages and wellness programmes. There is a seawater hydrotherapy pool, a freshwater pool, saunas, steam rooms, hairdresser for men and beauty salon for women, as well as a recreation and yoga studio.

For the treatments, Accor has its own brand of products — Aquascience and skinceuticals — concocted from 100% natural ingredients, combining the benefits of marine spring water with the recognised virtues of seaweed and oligo-elements.

Typically, guests will have access to a range of professionals, including a resident physician, masseur-phyisotherapist, hydrotherapist, beautician, sports monitor and dietician, with the latter being of particular importance in Bahrain.

“We are starting packages now —Slim Fit has a diet menu, a doctor, a chef, exercises, etc,” says Plas.

Staff have largely been recruited from France, Morocco and Tunisia — countries with a tradition of thalassotherapy — while therapists come from Thailand, India and Bali.

Ultimately, while offering guests of the Sofitel a lasting, memorable wellness experience, Thalassa Sea & Spa is well placed to capitalise on Bahrain’s position as an “escape” for both local and expatriate residents of neighbouring GCC countries.

With many packages recommended for a week, it is likely to increase length of stay and the resort focus of the property.

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Thalassa treatments

Whirlpool Bath
Whirlpool bath of the whole body performed using multiple jets in a bath-tub. Sea plants and essential oils with relaxing or circulatory properties may also be added. Some tubs are fitted with a chromo therapy system (alternating colours) which accentuates the relaxing effects according to the properties of each colour. Ideal to replenish the body, loosen the muscles and relax.

Affusion Shower
In a lying position, your body receives a fine shower of sea-water combined with a gentle sweeping action. This treatment promotes physical and mental relaxation because it works on the skin’s nerve ends and replenishes through the absorption of trace elements. It is ideal for soothing action in cases of nervousness, overwork or extreme fatigue.

Jet Shower
The hydro-therapist massages each part of the body with a jet of seawater. Depending on the effects you are looking for, the temperature of the water and the power and tempo of the jet will vary. It is created to tone, sculpt, improve the blood flow and relax.

Underwater Shower
In a bathtub filled with seawater, the hydrotherapist massages the whole body with a jet, dwelling on each area. This is a sculpture massage that relaxes, shapes and drains. It is ideal for stiff musclesand joints and cellulite.

Sea-Plant Wrap
After the application of a warm sea-plant cream, you are wrapped and covered in a blanket, like in a cocoon, to facilitate perspiration and the absorption of mineral salts and trace elements. Laminarian sea-plant is a fabulous way to replenish the organism and to relieve pain and aching joints.

Hydro jet
Lying on a water mattress, the body is massaged by powerful moving jets which move up from the feet to the head. It relax the muscles deep-down, to get rid of stress and combat fatigue.

Underwater Jet
This in-pool therapy combines simple movements with massages in front of a jet. This helps to work each muscle deep-down and provides instant overall relaxation. Ideal to drain, shape the figure and help recover greater mobility of joints and muscles.

Affusion Sculpture Massage
A multi-sensorial experience: a relaxing manual massage with a balm of essential oils under a fine shower of tiny drops of sea-water that reproduce the effects of sea spray. Ideal to release tight muscles and soften the skin.

Pressure therapy
Inflatable boots help drain the system by very light compressions from the feet to the thighs. The Cool Thinning Gel for Legs adds fresh coolness and boosts this treatment’s effectiveness.