French skincare company L’Occitane has opened its first branded spa in Europe, at the Porto Palacio Congress Hotel in Porto, Portugal.

The Porto Palacio Spa by L’Occitane cost 2.7m euros (US$3.8m, £1.8m) to develop and covers 16,145sq ft (1,500sq m).

Spread over three floors, facilities include five treatment rooms, swimming pools, water experiences, relaxation areas, a lounge and a shop selling L’Occitane products.

The spa has strong Mediterranean and Provencal influences, and signature treatments will incorporate grape-based products, as Porto sits at the entrance to the Douro wine valley.

The consultant for the spa was Valerie Jaminet-Reysset and a second L’Occitane spa is due to launch soon in Italy.

The Porto Palacio Congress Hotel is owned by the Sonae Group.

(See Spa Business 08/01 p12. To order, visit www.spabusiness.com)