Raffles International, which has opened spas in six of its hotels this year, has announced plans for a further three before the end of the year. The spas will open under the Amrita brand in Los Angeles, Quito in Ecuador and Montreux, Switzerland.

Le Montreux Palace hotel, which Raffles acquired as part of the Swissotel portfolio it purchased earlier this year, will open a new Amrita spa in October. It will also feature a Wellness Centre - a new concept for Amrita which includes a spa with wet and dry area, a full range of treatments and nutritional advice, a fitness centre and a 'soft medical service'.

The medical service will be holistic and not involve any surgical treatments.

Over the next three years, four further Amrita Wellness Centres will be developed and Corporate Director of Amrita Spa Greg Payne says they are in the process of considering which of their 38 hotels will best suit the Wellness model.

Turkey is the next big area that Amrita will focus on. In late 2003, an Amrita Spa featuring traditional Turkish baths will open in Istanbul, while the Marina & Spa resort in Gocek which is a 45 minute flight from Istanbul, will have a Wellness centre.

Payne believes that Turkey is a natural choice for a spa, because it is renowned for its hamams (turkish baths) and healing water, and thinks it is the place to watch for the next wave of spa development.