Nestled in the heart of Victoria’s picturesque Yarra Valley lies Balgownie Estate, featuring a 30-hectare vineyard, accommodation, restaurant, cellar door and soon-to-be home to the latest endota spa – adding to endota’s existing network of over 100 spa locations. With a full rebuild of Balgownie’s dining experience complete, attention turned to the pre-existing on-site spa and how the space could grow alongside the rest of the estate’s developments.
Enter endota, Australia’s leading spa brand, whose connection to environment and wellbeing struck a chord with Balgownie’s Managing Director Lawrence Tang, who approached endota with the proposed partnership. ‘’’Holistic Hospitality’ is an idea Balgownie have been thinking about for quite a while; we want to extend our offerings and provide our guests with a unique ‘Wellness Retreat’ experience. The alignment with our values and strategy makes endota the perfect partner,’ says Tang. As much of the endota network is Franchise owned and operated, this allows both new and existing spas like Balgownie to convert to the established endota brand.
For endota Yarra Valley at Balgownie, this provides access to endota’s famous and much-loved array of treatments and products, as well as ongoing support from endota’s dedicated team, enabling a seamless transfer from the existing spa on-site to endota. Just an hour’s drive from Melbourne, the secluded estate is a fitting location for a brand name that evokes a sense of rejuvenation, care and relaxation, allowing resort-goers the chance to unwind and immerse themselves into the full endota experience without having to step foot off the property. Coupling this with Balgownie’s focus on wellness means the opportunities to elevate the spa’s offering are endless.
With endota’s own wellbeing platform, endota Retreat, acting as a driving force to branch beyond the traditional spa offerings you can expect at other spa locations, endota Yarra Valley ensures diversification. Implementing full wellbeing packages, combining the resort’s other relaxation offerings with the spa, and dedicating space to focus on meditative and breathing practices, directly aligned to Balgownie’s aspirations for increased wellbeing offerings on site. With no element left forgotten, the unique design of endota Yarra Valley cohesively ties together both brands’ styles. The estate’s palette and design style were taken into consideration so that the spa seamlessly fits into Balgownie, while retaining the look and feel of the endota brand.
“We were mindful from the outset of the values of Balgownie and the design philosophy of the wonderful new cellar door and restaurant,” says endota Head of Development, Jonathan Nelson, “we worked with our retail designers, Sandbox, to create a presentation that was both instinctively endota and also aligned with the hotel.”
Step into the expansive space and you’ll be welcomed with endota’s retail offerings, relaxing lounge and private treatment rooms, with updated finishes and visuals tailored to the spa that act as the unique link between both brands.
Words: Sarah Rogers, endota’s Marketing Coordinator and Community Manager
