The all-inclusive and wellness-centric BodyHoliday St. Lucia will soon have a European sister property. SunSwept Resorts, which operates BodyHoliday along with StolenTime Saint Lucia, is developing BodyHoliday Algarve in Portugal, with a scheduled opening in 2029. As it expands, the company is bulking up its bench, announcing the appointment of a new global leadership team with experience and backgrounds from such lodging companies as Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, IHG Hotels & Resorts and Soho House.
The BodyHoliday Algarve, which the company said “will redefine wellness travel,” will be located in Portugal’s Eastern Algarve and 45 minutes from Faro International Airport. The location was discovered by Andrew Barnard, CEO of SunSwept Resorts, during frequent journeys through Portugal. The site occupies the vast nature reserve of The Ria Formosa providing direct beach access.
“From windsurfing and trail running to yoga and nutrition, we’ve always believed that true wellness should feel intuitive—rooted in body awareness rather than routine,” said Barnard. It’s about longevity through personalization, not prescription. Our expansion into Portugal embodies that same philosophy: creating an oasis that invites guests to rediscover joy, reignite passion and restore balance. We’re thrilled to bring our award-winning holistic approach to Portugal’s breathtaking coastline.”
London–based architecture firm Gensler will be the lead architect on the Portugal project. Spanning 26 acres, the resort will feature 175 guest accommodations, five dining concepts, a 40,000-square-foot Wellness Center with more than 40 treatment rooms, a state-of-the-art fitness complex, and multiple pools—among them, a negative-edge dune pool tucked within the coastal landscape. Guests will also have access to a FIFA-standard soccer field, a racquet center with tennis and padel courts, as well as health and fitness programs by BodyHoliday.
The project has serendipitous timing: Global demand for wellness experiences has popped. The Global Wellness Institute said the wellness economy reached a new peak of $6.3 trillion in 2023 and forecasts it to reach $9 trillion by 2028.
“While we’ve always taken pride in the distinctive values and personal touch that come with being a family business, we’re now building a world-class team dedicated to expanding and managing a growing collection of BodyHoliday resorts across multiple destinations,” said Barnard.
The new senior executive team will be tasked with international expansion. They include: COO Indu Brar, who brings more than 30 years of luxury hotel experience, mainly as a GM across various Fairmont Hotels & Resorts properties; CFO Jean-Charles Denis, whose career spans more than a decade with IHG; Project Director Kevin Bundy, who has worked in development of Soho House in Europe.
Non-executive board members include Chairman Jeremy Plummer, who had a long career with CBRE; Alice Avis, who was Chief Executive of The Sanctuary Spa Group; and Mia Kyricos, who brings more than two decades of experience leading and advising wellness-driven brands and hospitality companies.
“This marks a pivotal chapter in BodyHoliday’s story,” said Plummer. “With an exceptional leadership team at the helm, we are honoring a proud legacy while shaping the next generation of transformative wellness destinations.”
