ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea is the name of a new health and longevity centre to be installed in Alicante, Spain, on 7 January 2025.
The concept is underpinned by a philosophy rooted in the principles of Mediterranean longevity and will comprise a 95-room luxury hotel, a medical and wellness clinic, a 4,000 m2 spa, a fitness area and farm-to-table culinary concepts.
Set on a site overlooking the sea surrounded by centuries-old greenery, the health centre is said to be poised to become a premier health destination dedicated to longevity, holistic wellness and high-end medical wellness.
The destination will compete with the globally established SHA Wellness destination, located a 25-minute drive away.
The new operation is headed by CEO Franck De Weerdt, a hotel industry veteran and former director of corporate hotels at SHA Wellness' flagship in Alicante.
Spa and fitness
A marble-clad spa with 40 treatment rooms, called ZEMness, will be located at the heart of the retreat and will offer a wide range of wellness services.
Designed as a Mediterranean wellness oasis, the spa will be crafted from natural materials and enhanced by subtle lighting and soothing ambient music for an immersive yet tranquil experience.
Guests will be able to relax in three different saunas (biosauna, infrared and Finnish), a hammam, a steam room, an ice room, a snow room and a Rasul mud chamber. Other highlights will include a Himalayan salt cabin, sensory and seasonal showers, a whirlpool and various hot water, plunge and Watsu pools.
The spa will offer a variety of traditional treatments (massages, facials, mud therapies and body treatments) along with modern wellness technology, including mind-body solutions from Metawell, owned by the Gharieni Group, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy facilities. Meanwhile, a beauty salon and barber shop will provide hairdressing and manicure services.
ZEMness has chosen to work with two Italian-based spa and wellness equipment suppliers, Lemi Group and Nilo, to equip the treatment rooms in both its spa area and medical wellness clinic.
The spa will be complemented by the ZEM fitness centre, which offers comprehensive facilities including TRX, functional and cardiovascular training, a Pilates studio, sports rehabilitation, personal training and post-surgical recovery. Yoga and mindfulness classes will complete the holistic fitness offering.
Medical welfare
ZEM's medical wellness clinic will offer more than 400 treatments, powered by advanced medical technology and led by specialists from various fields, including cardiology, dermo-aesthetics, nutrition, dentistry, regenerative medicine, pain management and more.
The clinic will operate with a holistic health approach combining personalised medical programmes and preventive medicine with tailor-made treatments.
Guests can choose from six wellness retreats, divided into two categories: Longevity, promoting a longer and healthier life, and Balance and Vitality, focusing on weight management, detoxification and stress management.
Retreats on offer will include Pro-Aging, Immune Revitalisation, Rejuvenation/Aesthetics, Weight Management, Detox and Weight Management and Detoxification.
Each programme may be complemented by "Boosts", six mini-protocols that focus on a variety of health issues, such as sexual well-being, sleep and hair loss.
Healthy nutrition
In line with the Mediterranean longevity philosophy, nutrition will be a cornerstone of ZEM's wellness approach.
Guests will enjoy personalised meal plans based on the Mediterranean diet, using fresh ingredients from the destination's organic farm, Finca Althaya. The farm, which produces more than 60 varieties of fruits, vegetables and herbs, will supply ZEM's restaurant, which offers a menu focused on locally sourced organic food.
In addition to wellness, ZEM will also offer private living areas, a cinema, a cooking school and three heated swimming pools. Guests will also be able to participate in workshops, activities and group classes to enhance their personal growth and expand their knowledge of wellness.
