The first wellness retreat by Vana Retreats set to open 4 January 2014

 

Former Necker Island and North Island (Wilderness Safaris) General Manager (GM) Martijn Brouwer is the GM at Vana, Malsi Estate.

 

Vana, Malsi Estate is the first property by visionary new wellness concept and brand Vana Retreats, and will open in January 2014. Located inDehradun, Northern India, the Estate is nestled within 21 acres of mango and litchi orchards, surrounded by Sal forest and enjoys views of the lower Himalayan foothills. Vana guests can expect comprehensive and authentic wellness experiences, including ayurveda and yoga in their purest form. In addition, holistic oriental therapies, spa therapies, aqua and fitness, meditation and an emphasis on the right cuisine, will allow for a well-crafted and customised wellness programme for each guest.

 

Martijn joined Vana Retreats in March 2012 as part of the core pre-launch team, working with owner and founder, Veer Singh, to ensure that the profound wellness offering is complemented with the very best of hospitality. Wellness and service are two of the seven key "threads" that will weave through each Vana property, alongside ecology, design, contemporary luxury, nature and the team itself - and Martijn has been appointed to ensure that all elements of the day-to-day running of Vana, Malsi Estate remain in keeping with this philosophy.

 

Martijn's most recent experience includes six years as GM of Necker Island and 3 years at North Island by Wilderness Safaris in the Seychelles. He has worked in hospitality for almost 20 years.

 

Martijn says of the appointment, "It has been a great experience working with Vana Retreats in the pre-launch stage of Malsi Estate and we are literally counting down the days until the opening in January. Seeing it take shape over the past 18 months I know it is going to be one of the most exciting global openings of 2014 - there is nothing that combines such a comprehensive holistic getaway in a perfect, beautiful location quite like this."

 

This week, Vana is hosting a number of industry leaders at a pre-summit retreat for leading spa and wellness convention, the Global Spa and Wellness Summit. The Titanium Sponsor for the event, this partnership not only acts as testament to the strength of the group's wellness offering, it also provides a great opportunity for Martijn and his team to  perfect operations ahead of its public opening in January next year.

 

Rates at Vana, Malsi Estate will start at £300 per person per night (minimum stay of three nights) in a standard room based on two sharing, and £450 for a single occupancy, including airport transfers, an arrival consultation, a departure consultation, one signature treatment per person per day, all meals and access to all wellness areas and wellness activities. For further enquiries, please visit www.vanaretreats.com or call +91 11 4060 0000.

A recommended stay at Vana, Malsi Estate is seven nights, costing from £2,000 per person.

 

To find out more about Vana Retreats or arrange a visit once open, please contact alison.wood@flagshipconsulting.co.uk or ellie.swift@flagshipconsulting.co.uk on 020 7886 8440.

 

ENDS

 

 

 

About Vana, Malsi Estate

Nestled within 21 acres of mango and lychee orchards, Vana, Malsi Estate has 69 rooms, 17 suites and 4 villas, and is surrounded by Sal forest with views across the lower Himalayan foothills.

 

Vana's offering will include Ayurveda in its purest form, with treatments and consults being offered in a spacious Ayurveda Centre and its cuisine in a dedicated restaurant.  A separate Wellness Centre will offer treatments from Tibetan and Chinese traditional medicine, as well as consultations which address different needs. The Spa will have an extensive treatment menu and the Ritual Spa will offer longer treatments and customised wellness sessions. Yoga will be given significant importance at Vana, Malsi Estate and practiced in a form that goes back to the very roots of the science.

 

The Retreat will have more than fifty treatment and consultation rooms. There will be four yoga studios and pavilions, an indoor and outdoor pool, wet areas, watsu and a state-of-the-art gymnasium. Ahead of arrival, guests will be given a consultation to determine how best to arrive at their individual objectives. Depending on the objective, recommendations for each person will be made and measured once again prior to departure.

Cuisine

Combining a prolific cuisine offering with deep knowledge of holistic wellbeing, Vana, Malsi Estate will place emphasis on tailoring the right cuisine to each guest, addressing the wellness needs of each individual.

 

The retreat will have three restaurants as part of its cuisine offering, each with unique concepts that reflect its wellness and Ayurvedic principles. The first restaurant will seek inspiration from international cuisine, with an emphasis on local and certified organic foods, a culmination of work with local farmers. The second restaurant will serve healthy, Indian cuisine, overlaid by authentic Ayurvedic principles, with a sister restaurant serving those on the strict Panchakarma diet.

 

 

Design and Sustainability

Vana takes its name from the surrounding forest. With nature at its core, genuine respect is reflected in everyday practices at the retreat and all design has been crafted to blend into the natural surroundings and offer contemporary space.

 

Designed by the acclaimed Spanish design studio, Esteva i Esteva Arquitectura, all guest rooms, suites and villas have been created to give a sense of harmony and connectedness with nature; giving personal space that is beautiful, exceptionally comfortable and private. In contrast, most of the shared spaces have been crafted to bring people together and evoke positivity and inspiration. Several different mediums of art have been brought in by Indian artist Siraj Saxena, and all uniforms have been designed by contemporary designers, Cortana and Abraham & Thakore.

 

Vana Retreats is sensitive to sound ecological practices and is not only aiming to achieve an ambitious LEED rating for its first property at Malsi Estate, but to run an operation that manages its energy and waste carefully. Vana, Malsi Estate, would be one of the few properties globally to use certified organic bed and bath linen. The creation of its own bottling plant will help save up to 100,000 plastic bottles a year; and its commitment to the environment is further demonstrated by a focus on food that is as local, seasonal and organic as possible.

 

Additional Public Spaces

As an extension of the core wellness offering, Vana, Malsi Estate will have a gathering space that can accommodate up to 50 guests for lectures, workshops and sessions during special retreats. The three inspiring meeting spaces can host small groups that may be seeking inspiration in a contemplative and relaxing environment, or to encourage the core team by enhancing their wellbeing. The juice bar and library lounge allow guests to meet and socialise, while vegetable gardens and orchards throughout the estate provide guests spaces to meditate and be by themselves.

 

Veer Singh, owner and founder of Vana Retreats, says: "At Vana Retreats, we are driven by our Vision: 'Our lives will be an expression of our core belief to be of service and enhance wellbeing'. Our first retreat at Malsi Estate will bring together one of the most comprehensive wellness offering in the world, and Ayurveda and Yoga in their purest form. A strong emphasis on nature, design and ecology will mould the experience at the retreat, and a team that has been carefully handpicked will deliver it.

 

"We hope to make Vana synonymous with Wellness in the future, and have a presence in unique locations and contexts in different parts of the world, each exploring a different facet of wellness and wellbeing."