Sri Lanka’s Grand Dame Unveils New Luxury L’Occitane Spa

More than 153 years after first opening its doors, one of the oldest hotels east of the Suez, The Galle Face Hotel, is cutting the ribbon on a new L’Occitane spa paying tribute to the property’s glamorous association with Hollywood over the decades.

Adorned in a romantic palette of soft textures, alpine and iced teal hues, the L’Occitane spa’s clean and crisp interior is accented by natural, dark ash-stained wooden floorboards, doors and window frames, recessed Oriental-style rugs, silk screens and exquisite upholstered furniture.

The Galle Face Hotel’s general manager Deni A. Dukic said the spa would stay true to L’Occitane’s traditions, including its essential oils, natural ingredients and traditional massage techniques, yet be distinct in character, inspired by the grandeur of the hotel’s historical association with some of Hollywood’s most recognizable icons.

“This is a spa that strives to transport you to an early Hollywood era, a gentler, more luxurious time when glamour reigned and time moved slower,” said Dukic. “We want to ensure that the services offered at the spa are equal to the standards guests from around the world have come to expect of The Galle Face Hotel.”

Spanning a palatial 1,115 square metres, The Galle Face’s ‘Spa L’Occitane En Provence’ will feature eight therapy rooms, including couples and Ayurveda rooms, as well as a nail spa, lavish indoor and outdoor relaxation areas, gym, steam rooms, dry saunas and Jacuzzis.

Situated adjacent to The Galle Face’s relaxed Pool Bar and Terrace overlooking the Indian Ocean, the spa’s lush outdoor area, replete with daybeds and tropical plants including fuchsia of rich pink bougainvillea designed to attract pockets of butterflies, will serve up a spa menu ranging from healthy snacks to specially created cocktails.

L’Occitane Spa will offer an ample choice of massages, facials and other treatments based on natural ingredients such as lavender from Provence in the south of France and shea butter from Burkina Faso in west Africa. First opening in 2001 in Brazil and Vietnam, L’Occitane spas are committed to socially responsible best practices, limiting water and energy use where possible as well as carefully selecting natural materials.

Both as a backdrop and as a place of respite post-filming, The Galle Face Hotel has hosted several stars over the last century and a half. Laurence Olivier, David Lean, Gregory Peck, Carol Reed, Peter Finch, William Holden and Alec Guinness are amongst those who have stayed at the iconic landmark over the years.

Bo Derek checked in the shooting of Tarzan, the Ape Man in the ‘80s. In the same decade Harrison Ford was a guest when Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doomwas filmed on the island.  Steven Spielberg, Roger Moore, Carrie Fisher, Jean Simmons and Scarlett Johansson also figure on a guest list that reads like a who’s who of Hollywood royalty.

Due to open mid-2017, the spa’s emergence follows a 30-month restoration completed in late 2015 that brought the hotel’s rooms and suites, restaurants and bars, and lobby and ballrooms of the North Wing back to their original grandeur.

For further information about the spa, please visit http://www.gallefacehotel.com/spa.php or contact +(94) 11 254 1010.