Last week I shared my contrarian take on wellness hospitality—that the real opportunity lies in accessible, nature-immersed wellness rather than chasing million-dollar medical equipment.
But then I toured one of the country's leading wellness resorts while researching for our next project, Baya.
And despite everything I said last week... this was awesome.
Our goal was to see how the best operators actually do wellness.
Steve Turk, one of my partners in Baya, happens to be friends with the GM Patrick Fernandes and VP of Spa & Wellness Tammy Pahel at Carillon Miami Wellness Resort—one of the leading wellness hotels in the country.
The property focuses on advanced, tech-forward wellness retreats, different from our concept but the perfect place to study a top level operator in the niche.
So Steve, Banks (our development partner), and I headed down to see their property firsthand.
For anyone new to our community, Baya is our tropical landscape resort concept that blends agritourism with luxury hospitality, designed to be South Florida's first nature-immersed wellness getaway.
We want to lean all-in on wellness, more than we've ever done at our Onera properties.
Think spa experiences nestled in lush fruit forests, a fresh farm-to-table cafe sourcing from our 25 acres of tropical trees, white coral grottos for healing, and wellness programming that puts guests directly in contact with nature's restorative power.
It's a big undertaking, and we want to make sure the guest experience far exceeds our vision.
That's why we had to see how the best wellness hotels actually operate…
Carillon completely exceeded my expectations.
Patrick, Tammy, and their head chef Christopher rolled out the red carpet and gave us hours of their time. From a technology and equipment standpoint, I don't think I've been anywhere more advanced.
We experienced their recovery circuit in their 70,000 square foot health and wellness center, and honestly, we left feeling incredible.
The key wasn't just the technology, it was how they made the advanced treatments accessible and enjoyable.
Each treatment took something that sounded extreme and made us feel confident trying it.
We started with full-body cryotherapy at -160 degrees for 3 minutes. This was a first for me and I absolutely loved it!
Next was their Himalayan Salt Chamber for halotherapy. While we relaxed in the salt-infused air, Tammy explained how this supports respiratory health naturally. This one stood out as it wasn't about complex protocols, we just had to breathe and let our bodies do what they do best.
After that we tried the Biocharger which was completely new to me. It creates pulsed electromagnetic fields that mimic the Earth's natural electromagnetic pulse, delivering high-voltage energy via Tesla-coil technology to revitalize cells.
Sounds intimidating, right? But the experience was surprisingly meditative. You just sit there for 15 minutes while it does its work.
Finally, I tried their Wave Hydrotherapy massage bed, and this solved a personal problem I didn't expect…
I'm very ticklish and not the biggest massage person.
But the machine-driven water massage was perfect. When Tammy heard me mention my massage hesitation earlier, she specifically recommended this treatment for me.
That kind of personalization made all the difference.
After all that, we had barely scratched the surface of their offerings—red light therapy, infrared saunas, compression therapy, float tanks, and dozens of other modalities.
But one aspect stood out above everything else…
How staff-light and self-serve the experience was.
This was totally in line with what we want to offer at Baya. Letting guests experience wellness on their own time, at their own pace, with privacy and space for connection.
No hovering therapists. No rigid schedules. Just access to incredible tools and the freedom to use them as you see fit.
The experience didn't end with the wellness center though.
We finished at their Strand restaurant with executive chef Christopher Robertson, and this conversation was just as valuable as the wellness tour.
Christopher told us about his deep relationships with farmers in the Redland area—the exact area where Baya will be located. He's a hands-in-the-dirt kind of chef, getting into the nitty gritty of the best, freshest, most sustainable farming methods in South Florida.
We tasted some of the sweetest peppers I've ever had, incredible deviled eggs topped with fish roe, and a centerpiece of whole raw fruits and vegetables—lion's mane mushrooms, guava, and a rare avocado variety where you can actually eat the skin.
This showed us something crucial: wellness isn't just about the treatments and technology. It's about connecting guests to place through food, farming, and authentic local relationships.
After spending the day immersed in their operation, a few key insights became crystal clear.
1. High-tech wellness can work when it's done right.
The key is making it accessible and self-serve rather than intimidating and clinical. Guests want to experience wellness on their own terms.
2. The staff-light approach is crucial.
Some of the most effective wellness experiences happened without a therapist hovering over us. Privacy and autonomy actually enhanced the restoration.
3. Local sourcing creates authentic connections.
Chef Christopher's relationships with Redlands farmers showed how food can be a bridge between wellness and place—exactly what we want to achieve at Baya.
4. Personalization matters more than protocols.
When Tammy selected the hydrotherapy massage treatment specifically for my preferences, it transformed my entire experience.
Carillon proved that high-tech wellness works beautifully when it's accessible and empowering rather than clinical and intimidating.
It's the perfect example of where advanced technology enhances wellness hospitality instead of overwhelming guests.
At Baya, we're applying these lessons by finding ways to keep wellness experiences staff-light and self-serve while potentially incorporating some of the high-tech treatments we saw at Carillon, all within a nature-immersive setting.
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See you guys next week!
-Ben Wolff
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🎥 Check Out My Podcast with Steve Turk Diving into The Story Behind Baya, Our New Tropical Landscape Resort
🎥 Check Out My Episode on The Bigger Pockets STR Podcast on Redefining Luxury Hotels and Outperforming Traditional Hotel Models
🎥 Check Out My Podcast Episode on the Action Academy about Making Millions Through Direct Bookings
Ben Wolff
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