It goes without saying that hotels have different policies when it comes to monetizing their facilities, including pool and spa setups. Some hotels offer all guests access on a complimentary basis, while others might charge for individuals to use these amenities. However, I must admit that one fairly new hotel has a policy that I’ve never seen before.
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Marriott’s Koenigshof Munich has a “private spa” facility
Koenigshof Munich is a new Marriott Luxury Collection property, which looks very nice, especially since Munich doesn’t have many luxury points hotels. When you go to the hotel’s website, you’ll see mention of a “private spa.” The hotel doesn’t have a full service spa with treatments that’s open to all guests, but rather just an indoor spa-like pool concept. Here’s how the hotel describes this:
The Koenigshof offers the ultimate luxury with its Private SPA. This exclusive area, featuring a pool, sauna, and experience shower can be booked exclusively with the Front Office team. A breathtaking relaxation experience awaits – including unforgettable panoramic views over the rooftops of Munich. The integrated SPA lounge can be used individually for spa treatments and invites for complete relaxation with state-of-the-art Smart TV and dining option. *Please note that it is not a public pool, only available upon request, subject to availability and a fee applies.
Indeed, the pictures of the private spa look nice, as it’s located on the top floor of the hotel.
So, what kind of a fee applies to use this facility? Well, both YHBU and Head for Points have published reviews of this property in the past couple of days, though with different conclusions. But the detail I found most interesting was the price to use the spa — it can be privatized in blocks of three hours, for €520.
I’m not sure what to make of this concept?
To the hotel’s credit, it’s pretty transparent about the spa area being “private,” and an additional fee applying, though the website doesn’t state the amount, and does also use pictures of the pool for marketing (though with a clear caption indicating that it’s a “private spa”).
When I first saw the fee, my reaction was of course that this is completely ridiculous. I have to imagine that this rubs a lot of guests the wrong way. They may have seen a picture of the pool and then stop by the front desk to ask how much a spa pass would cost. I mean, some hotels do charge to use the spa, and you figure that maybe the cost is €20, or something.
So even though this is a high-end hotel, I suspect that most guests who inquire about the cost are shocked, and that the whole setup leaves a bad taste in their mouth.
I suppose the counterargument is that being able to privatize a spa facility with a cool view is a unique opportunity you couldn’t get at many other hotels. I suppose if you’re traveling as a group of friends and want to have a little party, this is a unique amenity, and it also allows you to break typical spa rules when it comes to being quiet, etc., since the space is privatized. But how much demand is there for that, really?
I can’t help but be curious if this “private spa” concept was the plan all along, or if the hotel’s plan evolved over time? Like, the spa takes up some prime real estate of the hotel (the top floor with a great view), and I can’t imagine this gets much use. Even if one party reserves this per day (which I imagine is on the high side), I feel like more revenue could be generated with this space in other ways.
Bottom line
Marriott’s new Koenigshof Munich takes an unusual approach with its indoor pool and sauna. Rather than opening it up to all guests, the hotel instead lets guests privatize it, at the eye-watering cost of €520 per three hours. I have to imagine that this gets very little interest and rubs many guests the wrong way. But conversely, I guess the facility is too small to open up to all guests without restrictions, and perhaps it’s a unique feature for some guests.
What do you make of this unusual “private spa” setup?
According to the STARS website page for this property ...
COMPLIMENTARY PRIVATE SPA EXCLUSIVELY FOR STARS BOOKINGS
Complimentary access to the Private Spa upon availability (pre-booking necassary). The Private Spa offers an exclusive luxury experience, featuring a sauna and swimming pool with stunning views of the city.
Frankly, I'd much prefer that city hotels go in this direction. Yes, 520 euro for 3 hours is crazy expensive, but also 100% avoidable if you have no desire to use the pool or sauna. Unlike the mandatory, junk "destination fees" that give you "free" pool towels and use of the gym, whether you want to use them or not. But hey, I get free local faxes out of the deal, so there is that.
I suspect the target public is from the middle east. Because they would otherwise not go to a public spa in Germany. Therefore we have such private concept popping up in quite a few german cities.
Or it is for normal Europeans who are tired of public hotel pools and saunas with loud-mouthed, discourteous, half-drunk people who desperately want to show their importance in so many unpleasant ways... I have experienced all sorts of bored businessmen, "I am Titanium member" folks, drunk couples, loud groups...
As someone had already noted, this is no different from hotels that have pool cabanas for rent. Anyone who thinks otherwise is either inexperienced or begrudged that champagne isn't served in main cabin.
Hotel: “We don’t have room for a full-sized spa, so let’s build a small private one instead. It’s better than nothing.”
Are they changing out the water in between guests? Bc shits gonna happen in that pool….
Maybe not shit because it's a "private" pool, but perhaps other bodily fluids...
I just got back from the Raffles Doha https://www.raffles.com/doha/about/. Each of their spa rooms has either a jacuzzi and sauna, or a private pool https://www.raffles.com/doha/spa/. The suites are included in the price of the treatments, many of which are a lot less expensive than $500USD. Marriott’s reputation for exploitation keeps getting more and more pronounced.
Beautiful hotel. I was just at the Accoustic Music Penthouse a few months ago.
"To a hammer, everything looks like a nail", hotelier's version.
The owner sees problems and seeks a solution. Problem: pools and their surroundings cost money. Solution!
Let's see how this works out for them. I hope we can revisit this in 2 years, when the hotel has failed to get their price for the pool's use, it's fallen into disuse, lacked mainenance. Or, they've given up on their silly idea and offered realistic optional pool-included...
"To a hammer, everything looks like a nail", hotelier's version.
The owner sees problems and seeks a solution. Problem: pools and their surroundings cost money. Solution!
Let's see how this works out for them. I hope we can revisit this in 2 years, when the hotel has failed to get their price for the pool's use, it's fallen into disuse, lacked mainenance. Or, they've given up on their silly idea and offered realistic optional pool-included pricing, or some other scheme.
Given beach hotels charge $500-$1,000 USD to rent out poolside cabanas for a few hours, a 520 euro charge to rent out this entire space privately seems reasonable. However there should be some other way to gain access to the space, maybe through a reservation system.
@ Anthony -- I thought about that as well, and you're absolutely right that many luxury beach resorts can charge shocking amounts for tiny cabanas. However, I also think it's a very different crowd (with a different willingness to pay) at what's ostensibly a business hotel in a German city, vs. a beach resort in Hawaii.
This is not so uncommon, at least not in Europe. When staying in a hotel that offers this, sometimes with my wife we like to book three hours of pampering, just for ourselves. Not always easy to get the booking at a desired time, it's more popular than one may think.
It is not "just a pool", it is a whole spa and sauna experience.
In Japan private onsen isn't cheap either.
Good point about Japan. these guys should have called in an Onsen