House Of Health
What factors have contributed to the growth of the wellness tourism market?
The growth of the wellness tourism market is connected to the extended stressful times that we all have faced in the last few years and a newfound appreciation of nature and holistic healing to rejuvenate. For the luxury traveller, despite their growing incomes and material possessions, there is an appreciation of the fact that health is wealth. The expansion of wellness-focused luxury resorts makes it convenient to access holistic healing combined with a holiday without travelling far from home. Sri Lanka is the ideal location for Indian travellers seeking authentic wellness and refined indulgence in an island setting.
What makes Kayaam House different from others in the wellness space?
Kayaam House is a traditional Sri Lankan mansion with just nine rooms and suites. Our in-depth ayurvedic wellness offering is ideal for guests who wish to combine stylish design and comfort with tailored healing practices on Sri Lanka’s trendy south coast. There is a dearth of luxury wellness resorts in Sri Lanka and Kayaam House is located on a pristine secluded beach, which is an added bonus.We also offer a wide range of curated activities and experiences that help one calm and rejuvenate such as, sunrise kayaks through mangrove-lined Rekawa Lagoon, snorkelling for parrot fish, sea turtle spotting and surfing nearby Blue Beach - home to some of the most sought-after waves on the south coast. Being a boutique hotel, Kayaam House is ideal for a group of friends or a large family to book the entire property for a rejuvenating wellness break.
An innovation/service that you are particularly proud of at the Kayaam house?
Kayaam House’s DNA is the Resplendent Ceylon culture that embodies anticipatory service and gastronomy. We cater to those who seek luxury and indulgence whilst focused on authentic wellness. Kayaam appeals to both wellness enthusiasts and guests embarking on such experiences for the first time, and who might feel daunted by bootcamp style ayurvedic properties.
Which traditional healing techniques does the spa offer? What makes it different from all the others?
We blend elements of Sri Lankan native healing “hela wedakama” with ayurveda to offer guests a la carte treatments or a series of set programmes with different goals. Kayaam refrains from offering a boot type camp environment! Guests can opt to partake in a series of carefully designed, bespoke programmes ranging in length from 3 to 14 days. All retreats begin with an in-depth consultation with Kayaam’s experienced ayurveda practitioner. Employing extensive knowledge and practical experience, bespoke itineraries are filled with restorative yoga practices, personalised ayurvedic therapies and nourishing menus aligned to each individual’s dosha, with guidance throughout. All the programmes are based on the principles of Ayurveda – an ancient tradition which has been prominent in Sri Lanka’s medical and holistic wellbeing practices for centuries.
How does the cuisine complement the wellness aspect of the experience?
The chef team have curated personalised menus which complement each individual’s ayurvedic constitution, incorporating traditional Sri Lankan ingredients like turmeric and cinnamon renowned for their deeply medicinal properties. Furthermore, Resplendent Ceylon’s Relais & Chateaux pedigree guides our chefs to deliver nutritious, delicious meals.Grounding, warm ingredients like ginger or hearty grains are incorporated into the vata diet to calm their energy, while those with a pitta constitution will savour dishes featuring cooling herbs, spices to calm and balance their inner heat. If one aligns with kapha, then the priority is to boost the metabolism with warm, cooked meals that are particularly easy to digest. Pungent and bitter flavours also have a stimulating effect on digestion and help reduce kapha.
What are some of the challenges you have encountered since the launch? Is there anything you would do differently?
Our biggest challenge was the negative media coverage of the economic crisis in Sri Lanka. Although stability returned as far back as August 2022, the lack of a consumer communications campaign accurately sharing the ground situation meant Indian travellers were nervous about visiting the country. Gradually with time, tourism numbers have grown substantially, and we are back on our usual trajectory. 2024 is expected to be a great year for tourism in Sri Lanka. In terms of doing things differently, changing how the country markets tourism is the number one priority for the industry!
