Placemakr, a tech-enabled flex-use hospitality and multifamily operator today announced the launch of its third location in Nashville, TN, Placemakr Wedgewood-Houston. This latest property is located in the vibrant and rapidly expanding Wedgewood-Houston area. Placemakr will bring its signature blend of apartment living and hospitality services, like housekeeping and a 24/7 onsite customer support team, to guests and residents at the property. The property will open for booking on March 14th.
The newest property to join the Placemakr portfolio, formerly a Bento Living building, is located at 321 Hart Street in Nashville. It offers 89 furnished apartment-style units for nightly hotel, short-term rental, and long-term furnished housing stays. Guests of this property will have access to an outdoor rooftop terrace with views of Downtown Nashville, a fitness center, meeting spaces, an onsite bodega, a coffee bar, an on-site Pacific-Rim-inspired restaurant, and walkability to Wedgewood-Houston's top attractions.
Known for its lively art scene and monthly "art crawls," Wedgewood-Houston, or WeHo, is a buzzing sector of Nashville just blocks from Downtown. Guests of the new Placemakr property can enjoy many restaurants and bars within walking distance including: E+ROSE Wellness Cafe, Crest Coffee House, Jackalope Brewing Company, The Ranch, Diskin Cider Bar, Earnest Bar & Hideaway, Dozen Bakery and IL Forno. The area also includes Nashville SC's GEODIS Park and flea markets, ensuring that there is convenience and entertainment for every type of guest.
This announcement comes on the heels of another Placemakr property launch in Downtown Columbia Maryland. The company looks forward to continuing to expand its partnerships and footprint this year.
Cheval Blanc Seychelles is opening December 2024, as the sixth location of this luxury hotel group. Cheval Blanc is fully owned by LVMH, with five existing locations, in Paris, the Maldives, St-Barts, St-Tropez, and Courchevel. The property is operated by LVMH Hospitality Management.
Photo credits: Cheval Blanc Seychelles
Located on the southwest coast of Mahé Island at Anse Intendance Beach, the new Cheval Blanc Seychelles has been conceived by architect Jean-Michel Gathy to celebrate Creole traditions and the surrounding lush landscapes. Villas, each featuring a private pool, will offer striking views of the beach, hillside or tropical jungle. Jean-Michel Gathy previously designed Cheval Blanc Randheli in the Maldives.
Cheval Blanc Seychelles will also give pride of place to artists, with pieces made specifically for this location by Prune Nourry and Madagascan artist Joël Andrianomearisoa. The hotel’s location was formerly home to Banyan Tree Seychelles but the destination is being completely redeveloped for the new Cheval Blanc outpost.
Cheval Blanc Seychelles features 52 luxurious villas, 24 of which line the white sand beach, while the remaining 28 blend seamlessly into the green hills behind. Each of these abodes range from 220 sqm to 620 sqm, and each has its own private swimming pool.
Le White will combine cosmopolitan food with classic Seychellois Creole flavors. Vivamento, situated next to the main swimming pool, brings the casual option and provides Italian bites. Similarly Mediterranean is the beach club Sula, while Mizumi provides seemingly the obligatory Japanese option. Finally, French gastronomy will be covered by Le 1947.
Spa Cheval Blanc has been created in collaboration with French luxury cosmetics, perfume, and skincare brand Guerlain. Featuring eight rooms and a series of treatments inspired by the island’s natural wonders. Children will be entertained at the 1,500-square-metre Le Carrousel play space, bolstered by a water park and interactive activities.
Nestled on the Cồn Ba Xã Islet in Hoi An, Namia River Retreat is thoughtfully crafted with genuine cultural journeys and wellness-inclusive therapies inspired by Vietnamese herbology. With 100% private pool villas, locally inspired dining experiences and stunning pools with Thu Bon River views, the resort opens new ways to explore and connect with the lantern-lit ancient town of Hoi An. The wellness lifestyle philosophy is woven throughout the resort, offering accessible options for everyone—whether you're just starting your wellness journey or looking for a deeper immersion.
Photo credits: Namia River Retreat
WELLNESS-INCLUSIVE JOURNEYS
The wellbeing of guests is at the heart of every stay at the Namia River Retreat. All resort guests can enjoy an inclusive 90-minute well-being journey per person, per night consisting of:
Herbal remedy prescription in the apothecary
30-minute herbal hammam using locally sourced herbs
60-minute traditional therapy
CULTURAL WELLBEING
The spa and wellbeing concept has a distinct Vietnamese story and is inspired by Thuốc Nam (Southern Herbology). This traditional practice in Vietnam relies entirely on native ingredients, used in their fresh state or simply dried. These healing folk remedies have been passed down from generation to generation and infused throughout the spa experience.
Start your day with the morning Dưỡng Sinh at the poolside. This is an indigenous breathing and yoga exercise similar to Tai Chi, popularised in Vietnam by the historian Nguyễn Khắc Viện.
The herbal hammam experience is inspired by the Vietnamese herbal steam therapy Xông Hơi
and the herbs used are found in the southern folk steaming remedies. Namia River Retreat has worked closely with a local herbal doctor to develop exclusive hammam herbal prescriptions.
All therapies have been selected and thoughtfully designed to help guests restore balance using an authentic Vietnamese touch. In collaboration with traditional practitioners, healing masters and Vietnamese schools, the resort has curated an inspired menu to showcase the power of these local treatments.
As a highlight, the signature treatment of Namia is the Diện Chẩn, an oriental facial reflexology technique based on the oriental philosophy developed by Professor Bùi Quốc Ch'u, a Vietnamese acupuncturist during the 1980s. Using custom tools, pressure is applied to points to balance yin and yang in the body and activate energy flow and healing support. In addition, other therapies such as Vietnamese massage, cupping, moxi combustion, and acupressure are also available.
“Our hope is to support Vietnamese Southern Herbology and Vietnamese Traditional Medicine to garner the same international recognition and trust in the therapeutic benefits, as with Indian, Chinese, Thai or Balinese therapies,” says Michelle Ford, General Manager at the resort and founder of Lumina Wellbeing, the hotel and spa operator driving the project’s vision.
Photo credits: Namia River Retreat
PRESCRIPTIVE WELLNESS PATHWAYS
The spa and wellness program has been designed to support a deeper level of relaxation to de-stress the body and ease the mind. There are 2 distinct pathways to enjoy under the complimentary wellness-inclusive offer, tailored to your self-assessment or preferred goals during your stay:
Deep Rest Pathway: unwinding the mind and ideal for stress relief, sleep improvement, mood boosting, and mindfulness
Body Balance Pathway: easing body tension including pain relief, reducing inflammation, and improving circulation
“As breakfast is included in your stay to enjoy on your holiday, we believe these 90 minutes of self-care for your body and mind daily are equally essential. Since it’s included, we’ve taken away the guilt factor. This inspires our wellness-inclusive movement that we believe will be a standard expectation in the future”, says Emilie Chanon, Wellness Development Director of Lumina Wellbeing, who has also previously been recognised as Global Spa Leader of the Year in the World Spa & Wellness Awards.
Should guests wish to opt for an all-inclusive wellness retreat, the Ritual for Release retreat prioritises detoxing the body with food, and emotional easing with energy healing, while boosting vital energy with activating yoga and meditation practices, all under the guidance of a personal Vietnamese wellness practitioner.
MINDFUL MOMENTS & RITUALS
Wellbeing rituals are offered throughout the day, beginning with morning movement practices and a variety of yoga and meditation classes. To conclude your day, enjoy in-room rituals like a mugwort and cajeput bath soak.
The resort encourages guests to slow down.The team practices a mindful approach daily, inviting guests to engage in various offerings. Mindful moments include a silent walking meditation inspired by Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh.