01 Mar 2021
Kempinski buys Resense Spa as shareholders exit
BY Liz Terry
Kempinski Hotels has completed the acquisition of Resense Spa SA as part of the expansion of its wellness and wellbeing strategy.
Resense, which was originally founded as a joint venture between Kempinski and spa consultancy Raison d’Etre in 2009, will continue to operate independently, with Kempinski using Resense's infrastructure and expertise to more deeply integrate wellbeing into its hotels.
“Wellness and wellbeing will be key drivers of the recovery for the hotel industry and this acquisition represents the right move for us to respond to the increasing trend for wellness services during hotel stays," said Bernold Schroeder, CEO of Kempinski. "We'll continue to ensure the performance of our spas for our owners while delivering the high-quality standards and services our customers have come to expect.
"The transaction will enable us to execute our next phase of growth and add strategic and operational value to the Kempinski business," he said.
Schroeder indicated that the existing shareholders will be leaving the business, saying: “I'd like to thank and express my gratitude to the exiting shareholders, Kasha Shillington and Rosamond Freeman-Attwood. Their dedication, authentic approach and true sense of luxury have contributed greatly to what Resense is today, and the company’s success to date would not have been possible without their pioneering vision and contribution.”
Shillington, chair and CEO of Resense, said: “It is with a great sense of accomplishment that I'm leaving Resense. We evolved the company into a leading wellness expert, creating innovative and unique experiences for our guests and outstanding performance for our owners."
"I'm very proud of our longstanding, extraordinary team and wish them and Kempinski every success in this next strategic step of the journey."
Resense provides a range of services, from concept and development to recruitment, pre-opening, ongoing management, online training and software development.
Over the past 11 years, it has built a portfolio of 100 luxury and high-end spas, including The Ishtar Spa by Resense in Jordan and the recently opened Sindhorn Wellness by Resense in Bangkok, as well as creating spas and spa brands for other hotel operators and independent hotels.
In the last six years, Shillington says Resense increased the average profitability of spas within the Kempinksi portfolio by 30 per cent, winning 45 independent industry awards in the process.
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