Como to debut new spa in France in 2026

Como Hotels and Resorts will expand its spa presence in Europe next year with the opening of Como Le Beauvallon on the French Riviera.

The property opened this year to guests but will present its full relaunch in 2026.

Few details have been released about what guests can expect, but it will introduce the brand’s signature Como Shambhala concept.

In an exclusive interview with European Spa, Lisa Manser, global director of wellness operations at Como Hotels and Resorts, explained how the group’s Como Shambhala wellness concept addresses individual needs for each guest.

Manser leads the brand strategy for Como Shambhala and oversees the Visiting Practitioner programme. “We’ll be opening Como Le Beauvallon as a Como Shambhala [spa] in a phased approach from next year,” she told European Spa.

Le Beauvallon, which first opened in 1914, is an impressive belle époque palace, with ten acres of terraces and gardens overlooking the Bay of Saint-Tropez.

Behind Como Shambhala

Leading the brand strategy for Como Shambhala, Manser also played a key role in launching the Wellness Paths at Como Shambhala Estate in Bali. These are immersive, multi-day programmes designed to address challenges like digital fatigue, gut health and low energy through diagnostics, nutrition, movement and healing therapies.

The Como Shambhala concept emphasises personalised wellness journeys, integrating nutrition, movement, and bespoke practices.

The brand was created by the group’s founder, Christina Ong to address the need for wellness in hotels, focusing on sleep, nutrition and mind-body connection.

Key offerings include nutrition, movement, and Ayurvedic and Chinese practices. The brand also focuses on recovery and enhancement, using technologies like hyperbaric chambers and infrared saunas.

“Wellness is a journey. You don’t wake up one day and you go, right, I am well. You may feel well that day, but then it’s all about the journey,” said Manser.

“By eating well, by moving well, by thinking well and with you becoming well inside, you are able to give the people around you better commitment, better service, better everything – because you’re feeling well.”

The Como wellness journey

Como Shambhala offers wellness paths tailored to individual needs, with options ranging from three to five nights.

Guests undergo detailed consultations with Ayurvedic or Chinese doctors to determine the best wellness path for them. The brand offers bespoke services, adjusting plans based on individual needs and limitations.

“The focus is on progress, not perfection, and we aim to help guests make lasting changes to their wellness habits,” said Manser.

Como Shambhala is carefully expanding its portfolio with a focus on maintaining authenticity. The plan is to gradually introduce wellness programming across several properties, tailoring offerings to specific guest markets and local contexts.

“We have wellness packages in all of the properties, and that you can do in one day, or you can do it in three days if you want to break it up,” Manser explained.

Quality over quantity

Rather than rapidly expanding, the group is prioritising quality over quantity, bringing in wellness paths and technologies like hyperbaric chambers and infrared saunas strategically.

Manser noted that each property is different as, for example, introducing infrared therapy to the property in Tuscany wouldn’t suit the experience.

The key principle is to maintain the brand’s core philosophy of personalised wellness journeys, ensuring that each property reflects the brand’s commitment to individual wellbeing and holistic health.

In 2024 Como Hotels and Resorts employed 232 practitioners (therapists, fitness, yoga, and Pilates specialists and offered 59, 874 treatments/classes. In the year to date, end July 2025, the team has conducted 30,565 treatments/classes.