Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa: Sparkling times

“The owners are passionate about the luxury hotel industry and wines, so obviously Champagne is the best destination for this,” says general manager Vincent Parinaud. “We are in the middle of the vineyards and every single guest area allows enjoyment of the view.”

Having gained a reputation for offering personalised service and unique experiences, Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa was recently named as the best hotel in France in the Condé Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards 2019. Less than an hour from the capital, it has proved popular with Parisians, but also attracts a large proportion of its guests from the UK, USA and the Benelux countries.

Spa at its heart

The spa is set over two floors of the building and, in an effort to connect the inside with the exterior surroundings, is flooded with natural daylight. At every opportunity, the interiors, designed by Sybille de Margerie, are warm and welcoming; lined with natural wood, the spa benefits from a unique honey-coloured glow that carries on from the reception and throughout the corridors and studios.

Designed to captivate the senses, the spa benefits from nine treatment rooms; state-of-the-art fitness  facilities; a wood-lined yoga studio; a eucalyptus-infused sauna; manicure and pedicure stations; and a mosaic-tiled hammam.

Completing the experience are two temperature-controlled, chaise longue-lined swimming pools. The indoor pool and hot tub are positioned in a cathedral-like space with floor-to-ceiling windows that open up on the vineyards to create a sense of space and light that is rare in many spas. The outdoor terrace and infinity pool, meanwhile, are perfect for sunbathing, swimming and enjoying the incredible views.

Led by experience

Spa director Anna Pierzak joined the team to foster the concept and focus on staff development. “This project is very interesting,” she explains. “We have a unique possibility as it’s the first destination spa in France that is not in the mountains or at the seaside. I met the owners and decided to leave Paris and start a new life here to develop the philosophy of this project.”

Staff training has focused on personalisation, including how to listen and observe in order to pre-empt, meet and exceed customer expectations. Pierzak bases herself at reception and greets each guest personally to ensure the customer connection is natural and attentive.

The spa, which has a team of six full-time therapists and three freelancers, often sees huge demand for treatments from 5pm onwards, after guests have been exploring the wine region or enjoying the countryside. The solution for Pierzak is to provide a selection of offers and a range of options for visitors, such as balneotherapy in a private room using oils and a glass of Champagne.

A Bubble of your own

Personalisation is a central tenet of the spa concept, and this is effected through service provision, the guest journey and the treatment offering from Biologique Recherche. The iconic French brand’s individualised approach to skincare has been a key draw for the spa. “The Biologique Recherche products are fantastic,” says Pierzak. “Thanks to this brand, we perform a lot of facials – up to 10 bookings per day, which, of course, makes retail revenue higher.”

The treatment menu, which facilitates a bespoke journey at every stage, also offers KOS Paris experiences for the body, including a series of scrubs, wraps and massage, plus a personalised cure. The brand’s elegant face and bodycare products are crafted from natural and organic ingredients and  its treatments and products are found in luxury spas around the world including Miraggio Thermal Spa Resort, Greece and Four Seasons Seattle and Peninsula Beverly Hills, USA.

Guests are also offered the chance to add on a choice of ‘Bubbles’ – specific add-ons that evoke the spa concept and location – to their main treatment choice.

“The Bubbles concept is very Champagne,” says Pierzak. “As a guest you may have one-and-a-half hours free, so you know you want one hour of massage, but you can add on half an hour more. It’s a little bubble of happiness, a beautiful add on. Perhaps you would like a massage for the feet and head, a scrub and treatment for the hands and feet, or even a nail polish. We can even add on a half-hour facial as a discovery experience. This is true personalisation.”

Wellness in motion

The spa currently offers yoga and Pilates as well as personal training, Nordic walking, cycling and other outdoor activities depending on the weather. A running club for staff members has also been launched to encourage them to care for their own health and wellness.

“Guests come to a hotel to enjoy a stay and an experience,” says Parinaud. “They don’t just come for a night’s sleep. That’s why the spa is so important. You have to have one. When people come to our hotel, they are coming to experience a completely different environment, to relax and enjoy the stay. And for this, the spa is truly an asset.”