"You have to respect the heritage," says Christian Boyens, Belmond's vice president, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the historical essence while upgrading the hotel.
The $2 billion overhaul included 375 new hotel rooms that balance modern luxury with Art Deco heritage, an ultra-luxurious Empire Suite, new restaurants, and a fully restored ballroom and famous clock. The only thing missing was a spa - until now. Earlier this month, the hotel unveiled the Guerlain Wellness Spa, a 22,000-square-foot destination that's not only the property's new centerpiece, but the largest Guerlain spa in the world. It's also a statement about where high-end wellness is headed in New York City.
Its striking entrance-a footbridge suspended above the Ayung River Valley that ends with a rice bowl-shaped rooftop looking out to tiered rice paddies and gardens-is an architectural masterpiece. The resort has recently emerged with a number of updates: last year, the spa underwent a significant renovation, led by a trio of international firms from Australia, Japan, and Indonesia, that transformed it into a 53,496-square-foot wellness sanctuary.