Tracy Lee of TLEE Spas on Sustainability
Founder of the award-winning spa development firm shares her approach to eco-friendly spa design.
Tracey Lee, founder of TLEE Spas
Like many businesses, the spa and wellness industry is slowly shifting its focus to sustainability. While luxury spas and sustainability don’t not always go hand-in-hand, companies like TLEE Spas have been incorporating eco-friendly practices since the beginning. Led by eco-warrior Tracy Lee who sees sustainability as a responsibility rather than a trend, TLEE Spas has been the appointed spa design and consulting firm for global hospitality brands such as The Edition and The Ritz-Carlton. We spoke with Lee about her global spa projects and how spas are adapting to create sustainable wellness experiences.
What inspired you to incorporate local ingredients and wisdoms in spa and programme design?
It’s important to weave elements of the local culture and context into the overall spa and wellness offering to create an authentic guest experience that is steeped in the essence of place.
For example, the town of Calistoga is famous for its mineral water and traditional mud baths. When drilling into the concept for Solage Spa, we wanted to create a signature treatment experience that would resonate with the Auberge Resorts guest while staying true to its historical roots. We created an interactive bathhouse circuit, where the guest starts by selecting their personal mud blend then apply it themselves or have their partner do it. After ‘baking’ on a heated table they soak in mineral water and then transition to a zero-gravity chair with imbedded sound therapy for a power nap. Thus the ‘Mud Slide’ was born.
What makes a spa sustainable?
Sustainability embodies numerous connotations and considerations, encompassing environmental, social and financial components.
From an environmental perspective the built environment should harness the powerful effects of nature, through natural light, fresh airflow and seamless integration with the outdoors.
In terms of the social element, spas should foster a sense of connection and community, showcasing local healing arts traditions and talent through partnerships with local suppliers and resources.
Financially, we feel a responsibility to owners and operators to create environments and experiences that stand the test of time and deliver positive ROI over the long term, along with a positive work culture and fair compensation that honours the value and contribution of all staff members.
How does nature play a role in your design?
Whenever possible, we position nature front and centre to the spa facility and guest experience. Humans are hard wired to flourish in natural environments. Countless studies corroborate this fact, I’m sure we have all experienced this phenomenon first-hand.
Connecting people to nature is both good for the guest and good for the business: it is a simple yet highly effective way to get people out of their head, into their bodies and grounding them into the moment—it’s what the spa experience is all about.
What does wellness mean to you?
I take a broad view of wellness, that places emotional well-being on equal footing with more traditional notions of wellness such as exercise and nutrition. To me wellness is a positive and proactive pursuit that brings balance and best health, enabling each of us to be the best we can be.
In your opinion, how has the spa industry evolved compared to when you first started TLEE Spas?
The spa is no longer just a standalone amenity, it needs to be weaved into the entire ethos and experience of the property. The perception of wellness has also shifted, engaging a broader and more diverse audience in the process. Wellness has become a global movement, and wellness in hospitality has evolved to include not only the physical spaces of spa/fitness/recreation or food & beverage offerings, it has also extended into other dimensions such as sleep, mindfulness and resiliency.
Check out Tracey's work at tleespas.com
