Turning a boutique hotel into a spa-led destination

The Opportunity

The Salt House Harbour Hotel, Ipswich has built a strong reputation as a boutique, food-led destination. However, over time, this alone wasn’t enough to maintain previous occupancy levels in an increasingly competitive hospitality market.
Working closely with owner Robert Gough and the team, we identified a clear opportunity: introduce a spa and wellness facility to create a stronger reason to visit and increase length of stay.

Our feasibility insight showed that, done properly, a hotel spa could:

• Increase occupancy by 15–20%
• Attract a new leisure and day-spa audience
• Encourage guests to spend more time and money onsite

Our Solution

We were brought in to rethink how eight bedrooms could be transformed into a fully immersive luxury spa and wellness facility, maximising the building and its harbour-front setting.

Working to a £1M-£1.25M budget and a 3-year ROI target, we delivered the project from concept through to completion, balancing guest experience and commercial performance.

The spa includes:

• A clear, well-planned spa guest journey with lounge and changing areas
• Three treatment rooms and a dedicated relaxation space
• A wet spa with Himalayan sauna, aroma steam room, ice fountain, sensory showers, foot spa and a signature wallow pool
• An outdoor spa element connecting the experience to the waterfront

We also supported spa operational setup, including ISHGA treatment partnership, booking management via Trybe, recruitment, and launch planning.

The Result

• Delivered in 16 weeks, on time and on budget
• Repositioned the hotel as a spa and wellness destination in Ipswich
• Created a new spa revenue stream with broader market appeal
• Strong early feedback from both hotel guests and day visitors

The Impact

This project demonstrates how a strategic spa development can enhance the guest experience while driving measurable ROI, increased occupancy and revpar within a boutique hotel setting.