THE WELLNESS ERA

THE WELLNESS ERA

if understanding Japanese culture, we will definitely know the definition called ikigai – reason for people’s getting up every morning. Accordingly, happy life is one with a pursuing purpose and ikigai helps you to change your awareness, selfness and strongly believe in the future. Especially for high-class consumers who have satisfied their basic needs shown in Maslow pyramid, it is time to clearly show high-hierarchy needs to achieve physical and spiritual wellness, in which interest in organic products, sustainable environment and spiritual experience towards changes in awareness have become a dominant trend in the market. This trend is clearly reflected in food and beverage, and tourism sector especially luxurious tourism with the rise of wellness tourism. Let’s look at the skyrocket growth of wellness tourism market from USD 494 million in 2013 to USD 639 billion in 2017 according to Global Wellness Economy Monitor 2018 report by Global Wellness Institute, which clearly demonstrates this statement.

Over the past few years, ‘from farm to table’ has become a key concept to hotels, resorts and restaurants. This trend is ever growing in the community as a message towards health protection. Organic farming, community support, seasonal eating and sustainable environment are the most apparent benefits of this trend explosion. However, while several resorts just subsidizes nearby farms and farmer’s markets, a number of spa have taken a lead to plant their own fruit trees, herbs and vegetables or raise livestock to ensure that every aspects of the meal is fresh, specialty and healthy. “From farm to table” is becoming the most ever-expected trend in years to come, supported by the world’s famous chefs such as Jamie Oliver.

Let’s point out five of the world’s most luxurious resorts adopting from farm to table, bringing hands-on experience of healthy food and life values.

Blackberry Farm outstands in Tennessee of Southern USA with antique red houses and historical farms

1. Blackberry Farm,
Tennessee, USA

Tennessee is a perfect blend of the wild beauty and charming of Southern USA with antique red houses, historical farms and curved roads to magnificent waterfalls like in fairytales. Amidst spectacular scenery of Great Smoky mountain is Blackberry Farm resort with 68 rooms located on a total area of 4,200 acre.

With farm to table recipes carefully prepared and wine cellar with more than 170,000 bottles, Blackberry Farm brings guests a perfect culinary experience when enjoying privilege of nature amid peaceful atmosphere with green hills and spectacular Blue Ridge Mountain. Recipes are made by a culinary expert team with a chef, a farming engineer, a baker, a cheese maker, a food preservation expert and sommelier. Dishes are really fresh and savory with nature’s flavor featured by signature dishes such as Springer (served with Carolina Gold Rice, forest mushroom and green veggies harvested in the garden) and Northern Carolina salmon (served with caramel potatoes, fresh bean and smoked meat).

Between meals, guests could experience fishing at streams to catch rainbow trout, brown salmons and local Southern Appalachia salmon. Guests also experience long-distance jogging to discover path along picturesque mountainsides.

Belle Mont Resort operates with a focus on sustainability via their own organic products

2. Belle Mont Farm,
St. Kitts, Caribbean Sea

Located on an abundant farming land with total area of 400 acre in Northern side of the spectacular Liamuiga Mountain, Belle Mont resort is not only an ideal destination but also a place with interesting culinary experience for those who desire to explore Mother Nature’s values. The resort operates with a focus on sustainability via their own organic products without pesticide and chemical substance, and strict testing of meat and fish supplies. This committment is apparently shown in the menu at the kitchen, Milk Bar and the farm.

Designed by the world’s famous architect named Bill Bensley, 84 villas of the resort are luxurious space infused with traditional culture of Caribe with pure white and bright blue bedsheet and shower and traditional stilt houses with outlook on spectacular scenery of Caribe and majestic forest. Apart from farms, guests could visit the Valley of Giants and the UNESCO world’s heritage at Brimstone Hill, or relax with cocktail made from natural ingredients at infinity swiming pool at the resort.

Located at the center of beautiful Cape Winelands of South Africa, Babylonstoren is not only a hotel with historical mark of old days when the Dutch colonized in South Africa in 1652. The 178-acre land is located at the center of a 17th-century farm with overview of spectacular Du Toitskloof Mountain and Franschhoek with green garden of more than 300 plant breeds.

Elegant white walls and graceful soil-colored porch bring warmth to resort comprising 6 one-bedroom suites, 3 one-bedroom villas and 4 one-bedroom villas. Especially, Babylonstoren also has Farmhouse-styled villas and exclusive villa for owner of the resort built since 1777 to serve guests upon demand. Other facilities include swimming pools, spa in bamboo forest, treatment garden and wine tasting room.

Elegant white walls and graceful soil-colored porch bring warmth to resort comprising 6 one-bedroom suites, 3 one-bedroom villas and 4 one-bedroom villas. Especially, Babylonstoren also has Farmhouse-styled villas and exclusive villa for owner of the resort built since 1777 to serve guests upon demand. Other facilities include swimming pools, spa in bamboo forest, treatment garden and wine tasting room.

The resort possesses Soho Farmhouse farm with more than 500 fruit and veggies.

4. Soho Farmhouse, England

Blended by the rusticity and luxury, Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire is an ideal resort space for those who desire to take time to live in nature. Apart from 40 cozy standard four-bedroom villas, resort also has a 7-bedroom house in form of a farming villa, ideal for family with many members. Each room is decorated with neutral color to create a comfortable and elegant space.

The resort possesses Soho Farmhouse farm with more than 500 fruits and veggies. Among culinary options ranging from traditional England dishes to Japanese barbecue, Main Barn features with attractive breakfast, lunch and dinner and afternoon tea. Guests would find it difficult to ignore farmer’s shop of the resort as it houses in a world of fresh fruits and veggies, wine, local cheese and wellness treatment packages. Apart from raising cattle, gardening and shopping activities, guests could play tennis, ride horse, swim in the infinity pool or watch movie at the 60-seat theatre.

5. Banyan Tree Residences
Lang Co, Vietnam

Perhaps, with regard to Banyan Tree Residences Lang Co, we all immediately envisage a dream resort paradise with novel architecture style with compatible facilities. However, one of the core factors contributing to the brand is the philosophy of sustainability with model from farm to table.

Beside the Lang Co Bay, a branch of Truong Son Mountain, beneath Hai Van pass and leading to spectacular East sea, the resort Banyan Tree Residences Lang Co is featured with architecture of Banyan Tree Group. All the villas are arranged on the mountainside at a height of 45-85m above the sea level with open style to get the comprehensive overview the spectacular scenery of the sea.

With an organic garden, livestock farm with chicken and duck raised there, the farm ensures the stable supply of the luxurious resort as the whole.