World-renowned Espa opens at The Leela Palace Chennai

The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, India’s leading luxury hotel group, has added another world class product to its offerings with the opening of ESPA at The Leela Palace Chennai. The 16,000 square feet spa combines the best in wellness from the world-renowned ESPA with innovative design and celebrated art, making it a one-of-a-kind urban sanctuary.

The spa in Chennai is among the first in the country to elevate the concept of Thermal Suites based on the ancient spa wisdom of Senus Per Aquam or healing through water. The expansive Suites, separate for men and women, feature deep, dynamic vitality pools with lounge beds and body jets, shimmering glass mosaic steam rooms, state-of-the art circular oak-wood saunas, stimulating rain showers and luxurious relaxation areas. The hydrotherapies are recommended to prepare for a spa journey and bring the body to perfect synergy and equilibrium.

Speaking on the occasion, Madhu Nair, Director, Design and Operations, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts said: “The opening of ESPA at The Leela Palace Chennai carries forward the intrinsic Leela spa experience that exudes luxury, the best in wellness, and an unsurpassed sense of style and space. With this opening, we have also expanded our partnership with ESPA to the fifth city in India and we are excited about introducing our guests to a world-class experience in Chennai.”

Ensconced within the award-winning The Leela Palace Chennai and set against the azure blue seas of the Bay of Bengal and lush manicured gardens, the 12-room ESPA, designed by Jeffrey Wilkes of DesignWilkes and Madhu Nair of The Leela, is an urban oasis of tranquility where one can find the inner self in the heart of a bustling city. The spa is modern and fresh, a meandering sanctuary with secret retreats, dedicated to the beauty of the mind and body.

Complete with highly skilled ESPA therapists, each experience has been carefully crafted with the world’s most luxurious products. Personalised well-being therapies are offered with a comprehensive treatment menu that fuses the latest scientific research in European wellness with ancient Eastern therapies. ESPA therapists provide top-to-toe treatments for radiance, vitality and purification with spa products from ESPA of the UK. These products are world-renowned for their botanical extracts and marine activities.

Susan Harmsworth MBE, CEO and Founder, ESPA said, “We are bringing 30 years of spa heritage, knowledge and a repertoire of treatments that blend East and West with harmony – all delivered with the best technology, treatments and therapists. With the opening of ESPA at The Leela Palace Chennai, our partnership with The Leela Group gets stronger.”

All spa treatment rooms are designed with an exquisite taste of luxury and come with plush beds, private lifestyle showers, and a curated music menu for personal selection. The Private Spa Suite is a highlight of the spa which includes a living area with a glass sliding door that opens up to its own terrace overlooking lush gardens, intertwining luxury and nature effortlessly. Guests can easily spend the day discovering their own secret retreats - sleep pods, relaxation areas, and tea lounges – all designed with plush fabrics in neutral shades and sumptuous textures; a state-of-the-art fitness studio with the latest Technogym equipment and a stunning swimming pool, invite guests to continue their ultimate spa experience.

The spa’s grand design and bespoke furnishings blend in harmoniously with the hand-picked collectible art pieces by celebrated artists - Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi, Alex Davies, and Chameli Ramachandran – adorning the walls. Different interpretations of Lotus motifs and gleaming linen drapes complement a sophisticated palette of Turkish marble, natural Travertine stone, crystal glass, upholstered walls, and dark walnut timbers.

Tricia Bannister, Group Spa Manager, said: “Keeping in mind both our members and day spa goers as well as international clientele, we designed a complete menu of services focusing on bringing visible results naturally. Signature treatments include the Balinese massage with warm aromatherapy oils and hot volcanic stones for relaxation, the Abhyanga massage with individually selected essential oils to balance mind and body, the Royal Leela Facial which uses a special marma-points massage and warm herb-filled poultices to tone and firm the skin, and the Rose Princess Facial which uses cooling rose quartz crystals to improve the microcirculation and leave skin smooth and beautiful.”

In addition to a comprehensive menu of results driven body treatments, facials and massages, a selection of treatments have been created especially for men, such as the Purifying Facial and a 60-minute Deep Muscle Massage - which includes a powerful combination of stretches and therapeutic massages. Personal trainers and private yoga sessions are also readily available.

ESPA at The Leela Palace Chennai is open to both hotel guests and day spa goers from 7 am to 10 pm daily. Treatments can be scheduled between 8 am - 9 pm. Spa, fitness studio and swimming pool memberships, day spa packages, and wedding packages are also available. For reservations or more information, please call +91 44 30958190/8191 or email spa.chennai@theleela.com

The spa in Chennai is helmed by Anuj Singh, Spa Manager, who has 10 years of diverse experience in the hospitality, spa and wellness industry in both India and the United Kingdom.

SPA FACILITIES

• Thermal Suite (2, separate for male and female)
• Private Spa Suite (Relaxation area, private treatment room, steam showers)
• Treatment rooms (11 rooms)
• Relaxation rooms (separate for male and female)
• Circular bench oak-wood sauna (2)
• Iridescent antique gold and claret glass mosaic steam (2)
• Fitness Studio with Technogym equipment
• Swimming pool

Please click here to download high resolution photographs of ESPA: ESPA at The Leela Palace Chennai

About ESPA

Recognised as global leaders in spa, ESPA successfully combines the design and management of prestigious spas across five continents with the creation of pioneering, natural products that are rich in heritage, texture and aroma. ESPA - an authority in its field – is proud to partner with luxury hoteliers, property companies and owners around the globe to create some of the world’s finest spas and equally proud to be a British company who manufacture their products in the UK. ESPA products are as unique as they are effective; they are tested each and every day by a highly trained and extremely professional global network of therapists based in 55 countries. ESPA’s award-winning, results driven products are loved by women and men alike, who benefit from their visible results for both face and body. It is this combination of expertise and rich spa heritage that creates a unique brand that has won over 125 coveted awards in the last three years.

About The Leela Palace Chennai

The Leela Palace Chennai, the city’s first and only sea-facing five star hotel, seamlessly combines the architectural opulence of the Chettinad dynasty with one of the largest guest rooms in the city. Designed by the internationally-acclaimed architects Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates, Inc, Atlanta USA, the 11-story, 326-room hotel is conveniently located close to the central business district and local attractions. The luxury property offers panoramic views of the Bay of Bengal and a wide array of dining experiences – the signature Indian restaurant Jamavar, authentic Chinese at China XO, world cuisines at the all-day dining at SPECTRA, sophisticated selections of wines and liquors from across the world at Library Blu, and a delightful cake shop. It also houses the world-renowned ESPA from the UK, spanning over 16,000 square feet, an acclaimed hair salon, Warren Tricomi from New York, a stunning outdoor infinity swimming pool, and a state-of-the-art fitness centre. A LEED Platinum certified hotel, The Leela Palace Chennai, an epitome of luxury and grandeur, offers palatial comfort with the traditional warmth of Indian hospitality.

For more information, please visit our website at www.theleela.com. To view or download high resolution images, please visit our image gallery at http://images.theleela.com