New Chateau Spa and Organic Wellness Resort opens in Berjaya Hills

Berjaya Hotels and Resorts have a new feather to add to its cap. If you drive up to Berjaya Hills in Bukit Tinggi, Pahang, you will come across the new and majestic The Chateau Spa and Organic Wellness Resort, which is the world’s first organic spa and wellness resort.

The view atop Berjaya Hills is a pleasant one but it is the opening of The Chateau that has garnered much buzz from those seeking respite and overall physical and mental wellness amidst a lush tropical rainforest.

The Chateau was inspired by the 18th century ‘Haut Koenigsbourg’ castle in Alsace, France and underwent major refurbishment from April 2010 to October 2011 and now shares Berjaya Hills with the French village-themed resort Colmar Tropicale.

Relaxed: The Chateau Spa Suite with jacuzzi room.

The Chateau was also recently presented with four major awards from the prestigious Seven Stars and Stripes, the global authority on award-winning establishments. “Nowadays, people who really plan their holidays are the Europeans. We had a soft opening in October but we also want to take it easy for now because we need to make sure we are on the right platform. The owners are very excited about this project — to be the world’s first organic spa and wellness resort.

“As such, they put in a lot of effort because The Chateau is unique, unlike other regular resorts,” said The Chateau general manager Teh Ming Wah at a luncheon hosted for members of the media recently.

Suffice to say, the owbers are pleased to have won such prestigious awards from the Seven Stars and Stripes. “We hope this endorsement will place The Chateau on the global hospitality platform as a premier destination spa and wellness resort. The awards, of course, give us credibility for having good hospitality standards.

“The upper high-end guests will not be disappointed. My vision for The Chateau is for it to become a Malaysian brand which can hold its own globally. We want our guests to see The Chateau as an escape and a retreat from their busy and hectic lives. We offer bespoke spa programmes which cater to beauty, fitness, wellness and weight loss,” Teh said.

The resort boasts of 200 elegant rooms and suites, each one tastefully appointed and environmentally-friendly with 100% organic bed and bath linen as well as room amenities that include exclusive Voya organic bath products from Ireland.

Impressive: The Chateau was designed after an 18th century French castle.

She added that not only was The Chateau the world’s first organic spa and wellness resort, but it also lifted the heights of the wellness industry in Malaysia. “Malaysia is not known as a spa/wellness country. People tend to gravitate to Thailand or Bali for that. But now I think we can change that,” she said.

The Chateau sits majestically on Berjaya Hills and is located on 34,000 sq meters of unspoilt land 3,000 feet above sea level. The service at The Chateau is impeccable, as one would expect. “It is important that our staff share the same vision, which is that the guest is the main priority and they don’t leave the resort unhappy. At the moment, The Chateau is the magnet of Berjaya Hills, after Colmar Tropicale and Berjaya Golf and Country Club.”

Unlike other resorts, The Chateau is not looking for high occupancy rates. “We want to present The Chateau as a very exclusive resort. From the look of things, we are looking great. We hope to achieve a target of 80 to 100 spa guests per day. The next six months will be crucial to see our overall success,” said Teh.

The check-in process at The Chateau is like no other resort, because there is no check-in counter. Each guest will be personally looked after by a resort representative who will escort them to their rooms. Guests checking in to Spa Suites (there are 26) will check in at the plush VIP Lounge.

La Santé — the organic wellness spa — is the jewel in The Chateau’s crown. A sanctuary of healing and wellness, La Santé is the first European concept spa in Asia. Combining the best of European spa expertise with renowned Asian hospitality, well-trained spa personnel deliver tailor-made and individualised therapies and programmes which include stress relief, weight loss, beauty and body pampering as well as pre and post natal care and men-only programmes.

Dive in: The Chateau’s salt water pool.

We were taken on a tour of the spa and later treated to a much-needed massage. Unique features of La Santé include a herbal-infused sauna chamber, salt grotto and a Aquaveda heated bed, imported from Germany. A Salt pool and Aroma Hydro pool add to the holistic experience.

“We offer 13 different spa packages and there are also separate entrances for male and female guests. At La Santé, there are seven treatment rooms comprising six single rooms and one couple’s room. The therapy beds can be adjusted to the height of the therapist for maximum comfort and the exclusive ladies area also has an Aroma Hydro Pool,” said spa director Alice Yap.

The Detox Sauna is infused with herbs for added benefit and also has a spinning bucket, which automatically pours water into the stones. The men’s only section has sporadic mosaic decor touches to add a masculine touch.

The Chateau’s restaurants and lounges include L’assiette — a French fine dining restaurant which serves organic and non-organic cuisine, La Vie — an all-day dining restaurant offering an international selection, Belle Vue — a charming tea room which serves organic tea, coffee and gourmet delights, LeRouge — a chic lobby bar lounge which has a wide selection of organic and non-organic alcoholic beverages, and the Salon Cigar Lounge — which serves a selection of cigars, organic and non-organic wines, spirits and cocktails. For more information, visit www.thechateau.com.my

-thestar online.