Wellness
Why London's wellness elite are checking in to stay healthy
“The days of going to a spa for a massage or a pedicure have gone"
In the world of luxury travel, the lines between a destination and a lifestyle have blurred. A hotel is no longer just a place to sleep, but a tool for a high-performance life. This new philosophy is nowhere more visible than at The Emory, where the London hotel's private members’ spa Surrenne is reshaping what it means to be well in the city.
The 18,000-sq ft subterranean spa, spread across four floors, has proved itself as so transformative that health-conscious Londoners are checking into The Emory with the sole purpose of using its exclusive facilities.
Michaela Hurst, the Wellness Director at Surrenne, shares with Little Emperors a prime example of this, revealing: "We have a guest who lives in Notting Hill who stays at the hotel several nights a month simply to take her 7:30am Tracy Anderson class."
For her and countless other locals and regulars, Surrenne isn't a one-off indulgence, but a crucial pillar of their everyday life and a reason to check into the luxury hotel.
The human touch in a high-tech world
It’s not only the fitness offering that’s enticing Londoners to swap their homes for a stay at a luxury hotel. In an age of automated wellness, Surrenne's core philosophy is a powerful antidote: human touch. Despite the club's advanced technology, which ranges from AI-generated soundscapes to underwater speakers, its heart is the team.
From the concierge who works in close collaboration with the spa team, to the therapists who use paintbrushes to apply massage balms during consultations, this human-led approach ensures every detail is designed to create a genuinely bespoke experience. It’s this holistic approach that Michaela believes makes Surrenne different from other high-end spas that can often feel too clinical or intimidating.
"It's about building a relationship and community among our hotel guests and members," Michaela says. "We know how much creatine they want. We know what protein they want in their smoothie. We know what time they want their workout. It's that holistic touch that really makes Surrenne quite unique."
The club actively integrates its membership base into its community, with one member - a sound and gong bath specialist - even hosting an event with other members to share her craft. This nurturing approach extends to every detail. Michaela reveals to us that when one recent member gave birth to her baby girl, the Surrenne team sent her a baby gift and pre-booked a postnatal massage for her return.
Longevity on demand is the new anti-ageing
Surrenne has successfully brought longevity science out of the clinic and into the hotel. Michaela explains that, here, longevity is achieved by using data-driven details, which "enhance the member and guest experience." The club’s key selling point is its comprehensive, data-driven approach to health. Upon joining, members are encouraged to have their bloods taken by a doctor, who then crafts a bespoke programme. They also meet with the fitness director, Simon, for a series of assessments including a VO2 Max test, which measures cardiovascular health and is an indicator of longevity.
She explains how this data, once reserved for elite athletes, is now vital for everyone. "They want to know what their body fat percentage is... they want to work towards not only a longer life but a better life as well."
The obsession with proactive health extends to Surrenne's state-of-the-art equipment. For many guests, the journey begins and ends with the hotel spa’s hyperbaric chamber, a pressurised pod that accelerates tissue healing and reduces inflammation.
Michaela shares an anecdote about a guest who broke his leg playing rugby and was told he might never walk again. Thanks to a combination of physio and hyperbaric sessions, he regained his ability to walk. "Hands down, it saved my leg," he told the spa team, and now he is so dedicated to the therapy that he books his hotel stays based on the availability of a hyperbaric chamber. It’s a testament to the club's life-changing capabilities.
What's next for the world of wellness?
Looking ahead, Surrenne is focused on the next frontier of wellness: cognitive health. The team is currently piloting a new brain stimulation therapy called Exomind that uses electromagnetic pulses to train the brain, helping with focus, clarity and even treating anxiety and depression. Michaela says, "I don't feel like wellness has really been tapped into from cognitive behavioral therapy." The club's strategy is to "dripfeed" these new, cutting-edge therapies to members through education, so they're never too "big and scary."
She adds: "The days of going to a spa for a massage or a pedicure have gone. People are looking for that element of longevity."
Book your stay at The Emory with Little Emperors to enjoy exclusive benefits, such as complimentary breakfast, butler service and a non-alcoholic minibar.