There is a selection of soft blankets and throws for guests to choose from to use in the relaxation room. There is a selection of soft blankets and throws for guests to choose from to use in the relaxation room.

The man responsible for the opening the first So SPA at Sofitel London St James — hotel GM and acting spa manager Denis Dupart — explains its French, food-inspired concept.

SM: Sofitel previously offered the Le Spa brand. Why has it developed a new concept, So SPA?
Denis Dupart: So SPA is linked to the repositioning of the Sofitel brand in the luxury segment. Sofitel hotels will have either a Le Spa or a So SPA, depending on the market opportunity and our brand strategy.

Current Le Spa facilities featured in Sofitels will progressively turn into So SPA upon feasibility and market studies to ensure that the standards and philosophy are respected.

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Le Spa invites one to [enjoy] ultimate attention and pampering. So SPA goes beyond pampering; the guests want more — more conviviality, intimacy, authenticity, service and understanding of his/her well being experience.

So SPA Sofitel Saint James offers the utmost personalised experience with private hammam sessions, a deep relaxation room and an exclusive butler service.

SM: What were the reasons for choosing Carita and Cinq Mondes as the So SPA product lines?
DD: Products were selected according to the philosophy of the So SPA brand, which focuses on rejuvenating world traditions and French cosmetology.

In this respect, Carita and Cinq Mondes appeared as excellent options and opportunities according to the concept and the UK market. This is the first spa to offer Cinq Mondes in the UK.

The Cinq Mondes spa philosophy mixes French refinement with inspiration from the world’s best health and beauty traditions. This combines with Carita, the prestigious Parisian skincare brand.

Carita’s unique approach with the exclusive Pro-Lift technology offers unrivalled anti-ageing expertise. They were the two natural partners for So SPA at the Sofitel London St James.

SM: How was the So SPA treatment menu developed?
DD: So SPA builds a link between the spa and the hotel using a vocabulary taken from gastronomy.

Indeed, our treatment card is designed like a gastronomic menu with starters, main, deserts, seasonal suggestions and expresses the spa ‘à la française’.

So SPA also links with the hotel rooms with treatment beds inspired from the Sofitel MyBed Concept.

SM: The So Spa butler service created by Sofitel is quite unique; can you explain how it works?
DD: At Sofitel London St James, the spa butler offers a strong personalisation of your spa experience.

The spa butler welcomes visitors as they arrive, supervises the initial consultation and suggests made-to-measure service by way of a multitude of small details.

For instance, [the butler supervises] the choice of music composed especially for So SPA, according to the mood of the guest and depending on the preferred therapy: Ethnic, Nature or Classic atmosphere.

The spa butler also suggests a selection of teas to enjoy after the therapy and a choice of pillows to pursue the spa experience in the Deep Relax Room.

After therapy, the English-style tea ceremony at So SPA enables guests to choose their favorite tea from a selection containing the most appropriate virtues: an anti-fatigue blend or a nourishing infusion.

To prolong the ceremony at home, guests are invited to choose the bath infusion they prefer from the five on offer.

The Spa Butler assures constant excellence of service standards. For example, he /she completely supervises the Look Good Breakfast offer.

This is for business travellers with no time to spare, whose suits are pressed and shoes polished while they work hard at So FIT gym and then recover with a steam-bath session.

SM: Why was it decided to open the first So SPA in London?
DD: Sofitel London St James is our concept pilot for So SPA. The hotel embodies the classic British elegance with a subtle touch of French flair.

It was also strategic for Sofitel to have a high-end spa offer in the London market. It will be marketed as a day spa.

SM: The St James spa is stunning; what are the highlights in your opinion?
DD:It was a very challenging project due to a three-floor layout and it turned out to be a fantastic opportunity to set up the So SPA concept. The socialising patio is a key area offering natural light and space.

SM: What are the plans for the roll out of So SPA?
DD:Future locations for So SPA at present include Morocco, Brazil, Argentina and the US.

SM: Not all Sofitels have the space for a full-service luxury spa like the one at London St James. Is there an alternative to the So SPA concept for smaller hotels?
DD: Sofitel offers an alternative for hotels that have no spa. If the space and market are not sufficient, the well-being area will be branded So FIT offering more than just a fitness room.

We created So FIT, an elaborated fitness concept offering a Heat and Wet experience, an Energy space and A Relax Space, possibly integrating treatment rooms with a targeted offer (Aroma massage, hot stone,
Californian, Swedish plus a ‘local’ treatment).

Sofitel London St James offers both the So SPA and SoFIT concepts.