Frances Marcellin
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Fitness industry, wellness, family travel, travel, cruise (particularly cruise technology), trail running, passenger experience, business, transport, property, design, French tech and start ups.
Mum of 4 amazing kiddos. Also freelance journo (bylines @telegraph @EveningStandard, etc) & illustrator.🚴♀️🏊🏼♀️🏃♀️
Articles by Frances Marcellin
Are airports becoming luxury shopping destinations?
Airports are no longer simply gateways; in many cases they’re evolving into retail hubs that offer travellers an expanding selection of designer stores and luxury experiences. Luxury in this context no longer refers solely to premium products; it increasingly encompasses the quality of the retail experience itself – from personalised services to immersive brand environments.
Schiphol’s flight path to a circular future
Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is on a quest to achieve emission-free operations by 2030. With passengers rising by 9% in 2024 at Royal Schiphol Group (RSG) airports – 36.1 million compared with 33 million at HY 2023 – it is leveraging the boost in business to accelerate its evolution.
Full steam ahead: Asia’s cruise market sets a new course
The increase in Asian cruise operations and the growth of the cruise market in Asia have been reshaping the region’s tourism sector since China reopened its borders in 2023. According to China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA), Q3 2024 saw 160 million people entering and leaving the country, an increase of 30% YoY, including 78 million mainland residents; 64 million Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents; and 16.4 million foreigners – the latter increasing by 50% YoY.
Clearing a safer path: AI-powered iceberg detection
As the cruise industry sails past pre-pandemic levels – reaching 31.7 million passengers in 2023, surpassing 2019 by 7% – the expedition cruise sector is full steam ahead. According to the Expedition Cruise Network, 71% of members say that business increased throughout 2023 and over half report the average booking to be around £8,000 per person. Valued at $2.39bn in 2023, it is expected to increase at a CAGR of 17% reaching $4.5bn by 2031.
Ocean Medallion: out with the old and in with the new
Carnival Cruise Ship Accessories: Princess Medallion When I stepped on board Crown Princess in September 2019, it was 13 years since Princess Cruises had launched her into the fleet. I’d just arrived in the renowned Italian piazza-style atrium – thinking over whether to have a clip or a necklace to carry my Ocean Medallion – when I realised that it was the first time I had been on a smart ship that wasn’t a brand-new vessel.
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Perth & Kinross Council has approved a £30 million (US$38 million, €34.8 million) masterplan to update Murrayshall Country Estate in Perthshire, Scotland The historic four-star hotel is set to be updated with an eight-treatment-room destination spa as well as a selection of fitness facilities A new outdoor pursuits area, glamping units and lodges also form part of the plans Detailed planning is due to take place imminently Rural Scottish retreat Murrayshall Country Estate has received the...
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
Universal Destinations and Experiences is assessing a site in Bedford, UK for a resort This would be the company’s sixth attraction and the first in Europe A 480-acre former industrial site has been purchased Talks are already underway with local and national stakeholders Universal Studios is assessing the feasibility of opening its first European resort in the UK, following the purchase of a former brickworks in Bedfordshire.
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Therme Group's first Asia Pacific wellness resort will open in Incheon, South Korea The year-round wellbeing destination is set to take two to three years to construct, subject to final plans and permissions Therme expects the resort will cost more than US$200m (£166.9m, €193.6m) to realise Therme is also developing new projects in the US, Scotland, the UK and Canada Global wellbeing organisation Therme Group has announced the location of its first Asia Pacific project.
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Rural gyms offer the next frontier for sector growth PureGym working on model which can deliver with 1,500 members Fit+ has had success with a staffless gym in a town with a population of 12,000, signing up 1,000 members GLL is collaborating with community groups to create blended models With between 18 and 30 per cent of the populations of developed countries living in rural locations, this market will be the next frontier for expansion in the fitness industry, according to insight published...
Jesse's House will offer innovative wellness workspace meets workout model
Little House Group is gearing up to open a new location in West London in spring 2024 All-day concept, Jesse House will enable people to combine working, working out and high-end childcare, all under the same roof The company behind the developments is backed by investor Icipio Group.
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
One of the biggest gyms in Tokyo will open in March at the new Janu hotel Janu is a new brand from hotelier Aman.
Bhutanese King unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
King Wangchuck of Bhutan has unveiled plans for a moonshot urban project in Southern Bhutan The masterplan draws on Bhutan's culture and spiritual heritage, as well as the country's Gross National Happiness* index The Gelephu Special Administration Region will be located on the India-Bhutan border and have legal independence and executive autonomy The project has been designed by architecture firms Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and Arup and Singaporean planning city consultancy Cistri The...
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Third Space Wimbledon has opened, as the KSL-owned business launches a new phase of growth in residential areas Three more sites are set to open in 2024, with a further location already signed for 2025 The club has a total wellness offering, including nutrition, luxury spa with pool, contrast therapy, treatments and recovery Third Space Wimbledon was designed by Tonik Associates KSL-owned Third Space has unveiled its latest club in Wimbledon, south-west London.
Aman sister brand Janu launching in Tokyo in 2024 with design by Denniston's Jean-Michel Gathy
Janu, sibling brand to luxury hotel and spa operator Aman, will make its debut in Tokyo next March Janu Tokyo’s unveiling will be the first in a 12-strong global pipeline of projects across city, country and coastal destinations The destination is connected to the new Azabudai Hills – a mixed-use urban district managed by Japan’s leading developer Mori Building and designed by Heatherwick Studios The only hotel within the development, Janu Tokyo is located in the Residence A Tower designed by...
The Peninsula London unveils Peter Marino-designed spa inspired by London’s famous parks
The spa was designed by US architect and interior designer Peter Marino – a creative who has also worked with Cheval Blanc, Dior, Chanel and Louis Vuitton / The Peninsula London Connection is a core component of Peninsula’s wellness philosophy – Louise Molloy London has gained a substantial new urban spa in Belgravia following The Peninsula London’s grand unveiling of its subterranean Spa & Wellness Centre.
First glimpses revealed of Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair's subterranean spa retreat
Mandarin Oriental will open its second London outpost in Mayfair in early January 2024 Complete with 50 guestrooms and 77 private residences, the hotel will be home to a luxury underground spa retreat with interiors by Curiosity Curiosity has also realised interiors in the hotel's public spaces inspired by nature and a strong sense of place Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair will be located on Hanover Square – Mayfair’s oldest square – and is being realised by architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.
Timbaland, music producer to the stars, joins forces with Myndstream to co-create music that improves health and wellbeing
Timbaland and Myndstream announced a collaboration at the 2023 Global Wellness Summit in Miami The partners will release an album of wellness music in 2024 to help improve the health and wellbeing of listeners Content will be available on all major streaming platforms, as well as through Myndstream’s commercial hospitality partnerships Timbaland is famous for producing artists such as Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, Madonna, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake and Drake and Björk Timbaland, Platinum Grammy...
Back in time – visitors experience 1960s healthcare in Black Country Museum's new living history centre
Black Country Living Museum in Dudley, UK, has opened a life-sized replica of a former healthcare centre for infants The new Lea Road Infant Welfare Centre is housed in its own building The major new attraction offers visitors an opportunity to discover how new and expectant mothers in the early 1960s were looked after The opening of the museum this year was scheduled to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the UK's National Health Service Black Country Living Museum in Dudley, UK, has...
Kerzner's new 'fitness hotel', Siro One Zabeel, opens for reservations
The first ever Siro hotel is now accepting reservations Siro is the new fitness, sport and wellness brand created by Kerzner International It is being marketed as the "ultimate fitness and recovery hotel" The first property is set to open in Dubai in January 2024 The first ever Siro hotel, marketed as the "ultimate fitness and recovery hotel", is now accepting reservations.
Sports Illustrated Resorts to expand across US with active lifestyle at their core
Travel + Leisure Co has acquired the rights to the vacation ownership business of Sports Hospitality Ventures The plan is to create a tailored, sports-centric environment, with immersive experiences, entertainment and cuisine, including fitness and wellness amenities Tuscaloosa, home to the University of Alabama, has been chosen as the first location for Sports Illustrated’s line of college town resorts with plans to open in late 2025 The new resorts are anticipated to be developed using an...
Morgan’s Wonderland reveals plans for largest expansion in its history
Morgan’s Wonderland has revealed plans to add attractions worth US$6 million in 2024 The major additions will include a 4D cinema and a zipline The expansion is the largest since the park opened in 2010 Morgan’s Wonderland is designed to be accessible free by all special needs individuals and to be enjoyed by everyone Morgan’s Wonderland – a Texas-based theme park which caters specifically to people with disabilities – has revealed plans to add attractions worth US$6 million in 2024.
Conscious wellbeing inspires Knightsbridge’s newest urban retreat, The Hvn
The Hvn will opens its doors on 17 October to provide a tailored, evidence-based approach that empowers people to feel, look and live healthier The new London facility is backed by a trio of businesswomen with more than 70 years of combined experience Programming will include traditional Indian, Japanese and Chinese medicines as well as functional medicine and medical aesthetics, acupuncture, vitamin infusions bodywork, and therapies to support gut health and hormonal wellbeing The Hvn will...
First look at Virgin Active's all-new luxury Wimbledon club with wellness offering
Virgin Active has opened the doors to its latest club in the affluent London suburb of Wimbledon The opening follows a comprehensive redevelopment and refurbishment of the site Facilities now include a 20m pool, 375sq m gym floor, exercise studios and a spa The redeveloped Wimbledon club is part of a wider investment of £15 million in the Virgin Active club portfolio Virgin Active has opened the doors to its Wimbledon club following a comprehensive redevelopment and refurbishment of the site.
Hacienda Xcanatun’s new Angsana Spa brings the outdoors in with nature-centric design
Hacienda Xcanatun in Mérida, Mexico has been updated with a brand spa and wellness pavillion The spa menu offers a range of treatments drawing on traditional Asian and Mexican healing therapies The spa has been designed to showcase the hotel's lush natural surroundings Facilities include an outdoor yoga deck, an olympic-sized pool with Balinese beds, outdoor showers, a poolside snack bar and a fitness centre Banyan Tree Group has refreshed its luxury hotel in Mérida, Mexico, with a new...
Jon Williams and Tom Edwards launch nature-inspired Forest House
Jon Williams, CEO of The Marlow Club, and Tom Edwards, founder of The Fitness Experts, have launched a new adults-only retreat in Watford The other co-founders of this high-end health club are Steve Lewis, chairman, Bharat Hindocha, CFO, Raj Rattan and Rob Marsh The company set up to create the project is RFT Wellbeing Group, trading as Forest House Health Clubs Offering is designed around three pillars: time, energy and space – classes are held over a range of durations from 20 to 80 minutes...
Private women's wellness club Kintsugi Space launching in Abu Dhabi this November
The first Kintsugi Space wellness club will launch on Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi in November. Industry figure Patrizia Bortolin has been instrumental in developing the concept. Kintusgi will launch an online membership and product line in 2024. Additional Kintsugi Spaces will open around the globe.
Jon Williams and Tom Edwards to launch nature-inspired Forest House in Watford
Fitness entrepreneurs Jon Williams, CEO, and Tom Edwards, COO, have co-founded a new high-end club in central Watford, Forest House Health and Wellness, with a group of health and fitness specialists. Along with Williams and Edwards, the co-founding members are: Steve Lewis, chairman, Bharat Hindocha, CFO, Raj Rattan and Rob Marsh. The first club will be opening its doors to the public in June 2023 which will be the sixth club they have opened together.
Industry news and jobs in sport, health & fitness, spa & beauty, attractions & museums, commercial leisure and hospitality
Alliance Leisure has been awarded funding of £13m to develop a new sports hub at Parsloes Park in Barking. The leisure development specialist was appointed through the UK Leisure Framework (UKLF) to design and build the facility. Once operational, it will be run by charitable trust Leisure United.
Alliance Leisure awarded £13m to develop new sports facility in Barking
Alliance Leisure has been awarded funding of £13m to develop a new sports hub at Parsloes Park in Barking. The leisure development specialist was appointed through the UK Leisure Framework (UKLF) to design and build the facility. Once operational, it will be run by charitable trust Leisure United.
SHA Mexico to debut in January 2024 with genome-inspired design by Sordo Madaleno
SHA Wellness will launch its first international outpost in Costa Mujeres, Mexico, next January The opening will be the first step in SHA's global expansion plans and be followed by an Abu Dhabi location in 2025 Similar to the SHA's Alicante flagship, SHA Mexico’s guests will choose between four personalised health programmes Nestled between the ocean and mangrove forests, the resort will be home to 100 treatment rooms, 100 oceanfront suites and 35 wellness residences An in-depth analysis...
Abbott Eyes CGM Market Beyond Diabetes Care
As consumer CGMs take off, diabetes tech leaders are moving in. The latest: Med tech giant Abbott Laboratories announced sales of $10B for Q2 2023, making almost $20B for the first half of the year, despite COVID testing sales slowing. Most notably, its diabetes care segment brought in sales of $1.4B, a 19.4% year-on-year growth. Robert B.
Movement Health: Confronting the Global MSK Crisis
Moving more may be a key to greater health, but for millions, moving well is another issue. The Painful Truth Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions touch 1.7B people worldwide. An umbrella term for up to 200 conditions that affect the joints and bones, some 619M globally suffer from the most prevalent affliction: lower back pain. With that number expected to reach 843M by 2050, poor MSK health will continue to place an unsustainable burden on healthcare.
Anytime Fitness, Club Pilates Enter France
Two US fitness giants are launching global franchises in France. The latest: Boutique fitness franchisor Xponential Fitness signed with TCMP Fitness to open 75 Club Pilates sites over ten years, while Self Esteem Brands’ budget gym Anytime Fitness will debut in six areas: Paris, Île-de-France, Auvergne, Rhône-Alpes, Provence-Alpes and the Côte d’Azur. Both brands aim to ride the wave of l’Hexagone’s post-pandemic gym interest amidst the strong recovery of Europe’s fitness industry.
The ultimate guide to camping in France this summer (and why it’s better than Britain)
From holiday parks on the Côte d’Azur to wild camping in the Alps, France’s camping scene weaves a tapestry of culture, community, cuisine and history with stunning, diverse landscapes. The French love to camp and many spend their weekends at campsites less than 30 miles from home for the conviviality and local exploration. Out of 8,311 campsites with almost 900,000 pitches, two-thirds of France’s 22 million campers are French and only five per cent are visitors from Britain.
Swan Hellenic christens SH Diana: CEO shares “nightmare”
After SH Diana’s naming ceremony in Amsterdam, expedition cruise operator Swan Hellenic’s CEO Andrea Zito appears jubilant and relieved in equal measures. “We’ve been through a nightmare,” he tells me, candidly, before he headed back to Monte Carlo to deal with an unexpected work issue; unable, after all, to join the inaugural sailing of the SH Diana’s Norway Explored itinerary to Tromsø.
Wave of change: MSC Euribia signals a new era of sustainable ships
The MSC Euribia’s maiden voyage was not like any other: it was a net-zero sustainability showcase, fuelled by 400 tonnes of bio-liquified nature gas (LNG), to demonstrate to the cruise industry that it could be done. The four-day cruise took place after the delivery ceremony at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard, in Saint-Nazaire, France, on 31 May and the christening on 8 June, in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Luxury living in Spain
22.05.23 The market for high-end properties skyrockets – By Fran Marcellin Ibiza, Mallorca, Costa del Sol and Costa Brava are more in demand than ever – who is buying and which area would you choose? When travel started getting back to normal last year, Home Hunts saw interest in luxury Spanish property soar, especially in the Balearics, Costa Brava and the Costa del Sol.
Disney Wish cruises towards net-zero through fuel efficiency and emission control
The Walt Disney Company, of which Disney Cruise Line is a subsidiary, is aiming to achieve net zero by 2030. To support this goal, the 341-metre Disney Wish, the fleet’s newest and fifth ship, has been equipped with technologies and systems that improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions and cut energy consumption. Barry Compagnoni, Disney Cruise Line’s VP for safety, security, and environmental policy and compliance, speaks to Ship Technology to explain more.
Run your heart out in Austria’s Paznaun Valley
With free, family-friendly mountain parks and infinite trails, summer in Austria’s Paznaun Valley offers a dream hiking and trail running race destination. For runners or hikers looking for a scenic race in Europe, or simply a family-friendly holiday with boundless, breath-taking trails, Austria’s Paznaun Valley delivers for all fitness levels and ages. Frances Marcellin shares her and her young family’s experience in the runner’s paradise.
ACPV Architects Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel creates new Bulgari Tokyo
Luxury hospitality brand Bulgari Hotels & Resorts has made its Japanese debut with a new urban hotel and spa in Tokyo's Yaesu district of Chūō. Like all other Bulgari hotels and resorts, Bulgari Hotel Tokyo's interior design was entrusted to the Italian architecture and interior design practice ACPV Architects Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel.
De Matos Ryan and AOC Architecture prepare to open Young V&A London
A museum dedicated to children will open its doors in London, UK, on 1 July 2023 The new £13m Young V&A follows museum is set to become the UK's leading cultural destination for children, families, and young people It has been designed by De Matos Ryan and AOC Architecture The opening follows a three-year redeveloprevamp of the iconic Grade II*-listed V&A Museum of Childhood in London's Bethnal Green A museum dedicated to children will open its doors in London, UK, on 1 July 2023.
Woods Bagot completes $120m refurb of Continental Sorrento with subterranean bathhouse and spa
Global architectural firm Woods Bagot has completed its comprehensive renewal of the Continental Sorrento in Victoria, Australia, with a luxury underground spa and bathing retreat. The hotel – known locally as the “Conti” – opened in 1875 and is based in Sorrento; a popular holiday destination thanks to its sheltered coastal access and the region’s naturally occurring geothermal mineral springs.
Elegant Dior spa inspired by nature opens at Hôtel Du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes
Dior has launched a brand new wellness retreat at the iconic Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, France. A part of The Oetker Collection, Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc has been a legend in the French Riviera for more than 150 years and has long been a refuge for stars and key figures worldwide.
Bjarke Ingels among finalists chosen in design competition for National Museum of the United States Navy
Five prominent architectural practices have revealed their designs for the planned new National Museum of the United States Navy Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), Gehry Partners, DLR Group, Perkins&Will, and Quinn Evans were the finalists in a design competition The quintet was chosen from 37 teams that submitted entries to the design competition, launched in December 2022 The planned museum campus will consist of approximately 270,000sq ft and include about 100,000sq ft of net gallery space Five...
Manchester City submits £300m Populous-designed plans to redevelop Etihad Stadium and add 400-bedroom hotel
Manchester City has submitted plans to expand the capacity of Etihad Stadium to 60,000 Designed by architects Populous, the project would expand the existing North Stand The proposals also include several connected "all-weather facilities", fully integrated into the stadium These include a large fan zone and a 400-bedroom hotel English Premier league club, Manchester City, has submitted a planning application seeking to expand the capacity at its Etihad Stadium from 53,400 to 60,000.
New Dior spa carriage opens aboard Belmond’s luxury Royal Scotsman train
Royal Scotsman, A Belmond Train, Scotland has announced a long-term partnership with Dior Beauty to create a new Dior spa carriage. In homage to Christian Dior’s love for Scotland – where he famously hosted an acclaimed fashion show in 1955 – the new Dior Spa Royal Scotsman features two lacquered treatment rooms, restyled with Dior’s iconic burgundy toile de Jouy motif.
Bjarke Ingels creates meandering eco distillery attraction for Blue Run Kentucky
Blue Run Spirits has released the first images of its planned distillery and visitor attraction in Georgetown, Kentucky The company has appointed Bjarke Ingels Group’s (BIG) as the lead architect for the US$51m project BIG's plans for the new headquarters include a 35,000sq ft distillery and a 20,000sq ft rickhouse Blue Run, a company specialising in bourbon and rhye whiskies, launched in October 2020 Blue Run Spirits has released the first images of its planned distillery and visitor...
P.volve targets 250 studios by 2025
Functional fitness company P.volve has opened its first franchise studio in San Diego, which adds to the network of its existing owned clubs in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. The startup was launched five years ago by co-founders Julie Cartwright and Rachel Katzman. The omni-channel brand is aiming to build on this momentum and strong digital consumer base with an aggressive franchise strategy and has plans to open 250 studios by 2025, including in Canada and the UK.
Pillar Wellbeing gears up to launch wellness club ecosystem leveraging underutilised hotel health clubs
Pillar Wellbeing, which provides a customised and standalone fitness and wellbeing services to the hospitality sector, will be launching at Accor’s Fairmont and Raffles Hotels in Doha’s Katara Towers in Q2 2023, and at Raffles London, at the Old War Office, Q3 2023. Raffles London will be Pillar Wellbeing’s flagship, where the team intends to grow a 250-strong membership base.
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