Raison d’Etre celebrates its 20th birthday
By Sophie Nutt | 15 January 2019 | Movers & Shakers, News
Global spa consultancy, Raison d’Etre, is celebrating its 20th birthday since opening its first spa in 1999.
Raison d’Etre has spent the last 20 years becoming a global leader in spa design, wellness business and spa education, which includes creating some of the most iconic spa brands including Aman Spas, Shiva for Taj Hotels, Kempinski Spa and LivNordic, as well as it’s spa training academy, Spa Business Education.
Founded in London, 1988, by Alexander Arnewid and Rosamund Freeman-Attwod, Raison d’Etre opened it’s first spa, Soneva Fushi, which later rebranded to become a Sex Senses Spa. Anna Bjurstam joined the company in 2000, before Alexander tragically died in 2001. Anna and Rosamund acquired the contract to manage all Amen resort spas, launching the first in 2001 in Thailand.
“The journey we have been on as Raison d’Etre has been thrilling: we have spent 20 years designing, educating and advising, making great connections and forming our own brands along the way,” – Anna Bjurstam, managing partner at Raison d’Etre Spas.
In 2010, Raison d’Etre formed its own spa brand: LivNordic Spa & Wellness, which can, today, be found on Viking Ocean Cruise ships. In 2011, Raison d’Etre formed Spa Business Education: the online provider that trains students into spa managers in a matter of months. Using Raison d’Etre’s network of experts, the Spa Business Education’s Spa Management Program promises to give students a high level of knowledge and operational education.
“The journey we have been on as Raison d’Etre has been thrilling: we have spent 20 years designing, educating and advising, making great connections and forming our own brands along the way,” says Anna Bjurstam. “We have led the spa industry in new, exciting ways and responded to changing demands for spa guests and businesses alike. The continue to change year on year, so we cannot wait to see what the next two decades bring!”
