The Italian Santavenere Hotel has announced the launch of its new Le Terme Spa, a Roman-inspired retreat that is set to open at the end of February 2015 with an unusual access policy. The spa has stipulated that only a single party (couple or family) may use the spa at any given time.

Inspired by the Roman baths at nearby Pompeii, the spa cost €1m (US$1.1m, £0.7m) and occupies the ground level of the hotel. There is 300sq m (3,229sq ft) of indoor spa space and 300sq m (3,229sq ft) of outdoor spa space at the 34-room hotel.

Facilities include five treatment rooms, a shiatsu room, sunroom with gold sand and sun lamps, salt room featuring Himalayan and Sicilian salt, seawater hydromassage pool, sauna, experience showers, a turkish bath and two relaxation rooms – where post-treatment health drinks are served, according to incentivetravel.co.uk.

Staff are all CSEN certified – recognised by the Italian National Olympic Committee – and spa brands in use are La Cremerie, which supplies 100 per cent Italian skincare. An exclusive Santavenere product range has been created by researchers at a farm who specialise in the cultivation of jenny milk, from donkeys, and snail slime.

A personal trainer is available to guide guests in one-on-one sessions, but there is also a tennis court and a five-a-side football court onsite for group activities.

Nutrition is organised by resident biologist and nutritionist Dr Francesco Garritano, who adopts the GIFT approach – said to comprise gradual, varied, flexible toning – which he claims teaches the brain to prefer ‘good’ ingredients. He offers bespoke programmes based on nutritional and DNA tests.