WALDORF ASTORIA SPA, SCOTLAND

REPORT BY SARAH CAMILLERI

Affectionately known as ‘the Caley’, Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian is an icon of Scotland’s majestic capital. A former railway station, this imposing Victorian building, managed by Hilton Worldwide, offers unrivalled views of Edinburgh Castle in the historic heart of the city. Providing 241 guest rooms and suites, it is the perfect home for the countless international travellers who stay there.

This summer the Caley celebrated the successful relaunch of its Waldorf Astoria Spa, a boutique urban spa set across two floors, which offers a full-service treatment menu as well as fitness and wet spa facilities. Refreshingly, the whole management team has been immersed in new ways to help the spa team deliver memorable stays and extend the holistic offer to allow future in-room wellbeing experiences. The result is a completely reimagined approach to wellness that has been installed under the careful stewardship of spa manager Claire Doering and her team, with support from general manager Dale MacPhee and the Caley’s director of rooms Dean McVey.

Evolving a new identity Recently honoured as General Manager of the Year 2022 by The Caterer, Dale MacPhee joined Hilton 32 years ago, taking the helm of the Caley nine years ago. The Canadian is passionate about creating memorable experiences that make a real connection with guests, and she believes spa is the ideal way to achieve this. “We knew it was time to reimagine our spa offer to make it new and exciting,” says MacPhee. “We also knew we needed more flexibility. Also, it was important that our name took prominence in the spa – this is a Waldorf Astoria Spa first and foremost.”

Key to the evolution of the spa’s new identity was the selection of brand partners who could elevate the treatment offering and create a unique point of difference when it comes to caring for guests.

“Our goal was to create the right diversity in our treatment offer, and we knew this would require more than one product partner,” says MacPhee. “We wanted to partner with the very best and 111Skin and Ground Wellbeing are extremely complementary brands. Both have been created by visionary founders in the spa world and they allow us to make the right emotional connection with our guests.”

The vision to present “the ultimate city spa experience” was tasked to spa manager Claire Doering and her team. Proud of her holistic therapy roots and supreme standards of service, Doering has worked at the Waldorf Astoria Spa for six years.

“It’s been a real journey to refresh the spa offer and develop a wellbeing experience that would appeal to all our guests,” she says. “We went through a lengthy consultation process to select the right brand partners, as we knew that they would be key to our success now and in future.

“For me, it was important that we could work easily together with our chosen partners. As a holistic therapist, it was also vital that our new treatments could really connect and deliver an element of care – we are all here to help people make changes. This wish lies at the heart of everything we do, so our spa training and preparation has been intense and the whole team has been involved.”

In the hotel’s bid to bring a premium ‘in-clinic’ spa experience to Edinburgh, Doering says that surgically inspired skincare brand 111Skin “ticked all the boxes when it comes to results”.

“They really do provide facials that offer phenomenal results,” she explains. “Our treatments are designed by the brand’s founder, Harley Street specialist Dr Yannis Alexandrides, to deliver clinical expertise as well as scientific formulations that really align with the offer we wished to provide.”

The spa’s revitalised treatment menu now offers six of the brand’s specialist facials, as well as three bespoke body treatments, all designed to meet guests’ specific demands.

“Incorporating 111Skin has also allowed us to drive our local market and we are now attracting a growing and loyal clientele who are looking for clinical skincare and real results,” Doering adds.

The Caley’s new wellness star is Irish wellness brand Ground Wellbeing, which brings an impressive range of Celtic-inspired holistic rituals to the menu, in addition to an accessible and attractive retail line that allows guests to take the spa experience home with them.

“With 70% of our business devoted to delivering wellness treatments and massage, we needed a brand that could drive this demand further,” says Doering. “We chose Ground Wellbeing as it brings ritual, relief, and retreat to our city centre spa experience.”

Six specially developed Grounding Rituals have been created by the brand’s founder Peigin Crowley, who worked closely with Doering and her team to incorporate plant-based products, breathwork and intuitive massage techniques. Most notably, the extraordinary signature ritual known as Tar Liom, which means “come with me” in Celtic, delivers a remarkable level of holistic immersion and connection for clients.

“When we first started to talk to Peigin, it was like talking to another therapist – she was such a great match for us. She is humble, warm, intuitive, and so knowledgeable about our challenges and goals. She knew exactly how we wanted to treat people and our wish to bring healing to the experience. She also understood that we wanted to be able to deliver accessible wellness while maintaining a high degree of luxury,” says Doering.

The power of these two very different brands gives Doering and her 14-strong spa team scope to satisfy a wide range of customers, as well as plenty of new opportunities to meet the local market.

“It was important that we chose two brands that would work well together and bring us synergy and support. In fact, we have group calls all the time and the brands work with us and each other to ensure we are well supported,” she says.

“Accessible wellness is so important now and Ground Wellbeing provides this as its aftercare products and kits are so well priced and so easy to integrate into the treatment. The take-home treatments allow the healing journey to continue. Our guests really love them.”

Completing the offer, the spa’s bijoux gleaming mani-pedi studio offers the best in hand and footcare rituals from Margaret Dabbs. “She is phenomenal and her treatments allow us to care and make connection with guests straight away,” says Doering. “Margaret is very holistic and has been with us for over 10 years now. We use Jessica polishes, too.”

The Caley’s spa relaunch has been a total team effort to meet growing demand for self-care, wellness and cutting-edge aesthetics.

“Wellness demand is sure to grow, especially in Scotland as we have so much to offer in terms of nature and natural beauty,” says Doering. “Here in the city, we are very much a boutique high-end clinic in terms of our offering, performing first-class treatments that deliver release and respite.”

Mindful of the guest mix, the spa team works daily with Waldorf Astoria leisure members, hotel and day spa guests. “For our spa guests I ask my team to imagine they are picking them up from the moment they walk in and floating them through the experience. It’s important that everything is as relaxed as possible, so they don’t have to think about anything – it all needs to flow.

“Our leisure guests know us and enjoy a conversation whereas our hotel guests have extremely high expectations of Waldorf Astoria services. It’s about being in tune to deliver luxury experiences and give to the best of our ability. We want people to enjoy every moment here and leave feeling better.”

Doering says she is keen to continue developing the Waldorf Spa’s expertise and reach. “Delivering Waldorf Astoria’s service levels is something the spa team is always aspiring to achieve. I am also looking to introduce a time concept later this year to empower our therapists so they can customise treatments. The luxury touches and journey will be there always, but our therapists will be able to really decide what a client needs and deliver this with confidence.

“As well as our GM, our director of rooms, Dean McVey, is also a great support to us. It’s so refreshing to work with a management team that wants to experience all the treatments and work with us to grow the business. They totally understand our targets and challenges. Together we are looking at many ways we can develop in-room wellness services and our leisure services.”

Waldorf Astoria Spa | www.thecaledonian.waldorfastori.com/spa

General manager: Dale MacPhee Spa manager: Claire Doering Spa team: 14 Spa size: 120 sqm Treatment rooms: Five including a dual treatment room and mani-pedi lounge Product houses: 111SKIN, Ground Wellbeing, Margaret Dabbs, Jessica Pool and thermal suppliers: DaleSauna, Whirlpool, Aqua Leisure Fitness: Technogym and Precor Specialist equipment: Gharieni treatment beds; Gamma and Bross pedicure thrones