LEADER - MAGGIE DERBLAY, AREA DIRECTOR OF SPA, WELLNESS AND RECREATION, THE BÜRGENSTOCK COLLECTION: "THE LUXURY OF WELLNESS IS NOT A GIMMICK" (Suisse)
For the veteran spa director, it's all about embracing Alpine wellness with passion and purpose.Catégorie : Europe - Suisse - Tendances, avis d'expert - Interviews
Interview de Sonia Taourghi le 25-04-2025
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 Maggie Derblay_Area Director of Spa, Wellness & Recreation for the Bürgenstock Collection
Along with Christelle Gutzwiller and Paula Alonso Maside, two close collaborators, the conversation flows easily as we move through the stunning facility, pausing occasionally to admire the spectacular views or review the various thermal experiences. Derblay speaks with both authority and enthusiasm, the hallmark of someone who has found their true calling. Her approach to wellness is refreshingly holistic, focused not simply on relaxation or aesthetics, but on creating meaningful experiences that guests can incorporate into their lives beyond their stay.
In this sprawling wellness haven, where ancient thermal traditions meet cutting-edge spa innovations, Derblay and her team have orchestrated a symphony of experiences that cater to diverse needs and preferences. From the Instagram-famous infinity pool to the hidden ecological cold plunge, from private spa suites to woodland meditation spaces, thoughtful intentionality is evident in every element, revealing her deep understanding of what true wellness entails.
Journal des Palaces: What makes The Bürgenstock Collection special, and how do you want guests to experience this location?
Maggie Derblay: It's important to start at the beginning. The facility and location are truly special, not just because of what was built, but also how it was engineered to embrace the Alpine and the Lake area. One of the things I try to do with every single guest is help them understand where they are. This place is perfect for reinvesting in your own well-being, taking time for yourself, taking time to reset – as an individual, as a couple, or in a small group as a family, which we're very well equipped for.
Having worked in different properties throughout my career, I was very curious to work with a property older than 100 years – to see the old and the new. Last year, we celebrated 150 years of Bürgenstock. Some of the things they did back then were quite daring. The Hollywood Pool was built in the 1950s and is a listed part of the building, so nothing has been modified. I like to nod to the past – I'm a bit of a nostalgic person.
The infinity pool is the most Instagrammable spot in the resort. What's your perspective on it, and what other unique spots might guests overlook?
Everyone knows about the infinity pool. But when you enter this pool, there's a moment where it grabs you. It's not just about capturing photos; photos never quite capture how you feel deep inside. At different times of the day, you experience different things – it might be snowing or foggy. We maintain it throughout the year. I love that the sun rises on one side and sets on the other, so the pool captures the morning light, and in the afternoon, you see everyone gravitating to the other.
But there's also our least known pool – the Bio Pool. It's cold, totally natural, and the water comes from Lake Lucerne. It's not our most glamorous-looking pool, but it's exceptional in terms of wellness benefits, especially for cold therapy, for immunity, circulation, and mental wellness.
We also have the spa garden temple at the very top, which we use for yoga, meditation, and one-on-one sessions. It is absolutely stunning for a sunset yoga session, with Mount Pilatus just behind.
Tell us about the wellness journeys you've developed. How do you help guests navigate such an extensive facility?
Our spa has 15 different experiences, ranging from night walks to the floating pool, the infinity pool, various saunas, steam rooms, and cold treatments. The first time you visit, you're like a kid wanting to try everything, running around.
We looked at the numbers – around 55,000 guests and members came through this spa last year. That's huge. We'd love to spend individual time with everyone, but that's not entirely possible. If you're staying at the Bürgenstock for less than 48 hours, I always say you're giving us your time, and I want you to leave having captured the unique moments that we feel are important.
Paola developed three specific journeys for different needs: Activate, Regenerate, and Relax. Activate is designed for active people who come in the morning. Regenerate is for those with jet lag, stress, or physical struggles. And Relax is for weekend visitors or people who want to unwind completely in warm temperatures.
Each journey logically guides you through our three different spaces – the pool area, mixed dressing area, and naked area. They're all based on scientific evidence, so they have different effects. Relax is the longest and warmest, so you're really relaxed at the end. Activate is the shortest and involves colder temperatures, so you feel energised.
What innovations are you currently working on at The Bürgenstock Collection?
The three-pillars programme of Activate, Regenerate, and Relax resonates nicely with different needs. They work for someone looking for a soft approach to wellness and someone who wants a deeper approach. We aren't a wellness destination that offers invasive treatments, but we can provide something guests can relate to and apply to their lives.
Paula has also worked on a journey for the private spa suite with a hydrothermal component engraved on wood. We implemented this in February, and this is just the beginning – I think there's much more to be built on.
One of the things we're focusing on is developing as many wellness touchpoints as possible in this facility and resort. We want to capture both the person who books a series of treatments, a personal trainer, and attends yoga classes, as well as those we don't have the opportunity to meet in person. We still want to have tools and touchpoints that would educate and provide something they can take back home and continue, because at the end of the day, wellness is a lifestyle. It's not just a one-off. It's not a gimmick.
Based on your experience, what key evolutions have you observed in the Spa sector?
The need to frequently take time to recharge and recover will continue to gather momentum. This can be achieved through different restorative modalities, and some of my favourites remain hot/cold contrast therapy, stillness, slowing down, prioritising sleep, breath work, stretch & release. Another timeless and essential trend is a more profound reconnection with nature, explicitly getting individuals and groups to move confidently in nature through soft adventures (Land/aquatic-based).
You've mentioned cold therapy as part of your wellness offerings. Is this something you see growing in popularity?
Cold therapy is definitely here to stay. Everyone is talking about mental wellness now – what used to be taboo isn't any more. People are reconnecting with nature in new ways – you see saunas on beachfronts now, and here on the lake, we have a floating sauna where you can go straight from the sauna into the water.
I think there's also a growing sense of community in wellness – social wellness – where people come together and go through particular challenges together. One of the things we've developed quite a bit is the mind and body element – bringing in yoga, sand bathing, meditation, and forest bathing with groups in the nearby forest.
Our offer doesn't limit itself to the physical building – we've stepped out of it as much as possible. While you might take a picture at the infinity pool, exploring the paths from your doorstep is also very special.
How do you approach the balance between wellness and luxury at the spa?
We want to enhance the wellness aspect of the experience. Many people have invested in wellness at home since COVID–19 – they have plunge pools, saunas, and some form of wellness kit. So we asked ourselves what we could implement so people can experience a logical flow that brings genuine benefits.
A key principle is that more is not better. Everything needs to be dosed very carefully. That's often a problem in the wellness industry – as soon as something is identified as beneficial, people tend to overdo it, to the point where there are no longer any benefits, and it becomes counterproductive.
We certainly have guests who are only interested in going to the pool and taking photos there. Of course, we respect that as well. At least there's a choice – it's not like there's nothing available. It's not a case of 'This is the spa, you do you, and we're just here to give you a pool towel.' We can give them information on how to maximise their experience, and if they don't want it, that's fine.
How do you train staff to ensure they can deliver both the technical excellence and the emotional intelligence needed for guest well-being?
We build cross-exposure experiences within our area and allow our team to experience our services as guests. Furthermore, I believe in bringing out the best in people and working to build a culture of genuine care within the team that naturally extends to the guests.
Given the evolving nature of the luxury wellness industry, what core competencies do you consider most valuable for someone looking to become a spa and wellness leader?
A combination of resilience, perseverance, patience & compassion
How do you attract and retain top talent in a remote Alpine location?
We have a few within our team who made the conscious choice to move away from bigger cities, and it is essential to identify this adaptation ability during the recruitment process. Our large operation allows us to leverage existing competencies, support dual functionality within the team, and, in some cases, create new innovative positions that allow us to launch new initiatives such as the “self-guided hydrothermal journeys.”
 Indoor Pool at the Spa of the Bürgenstock Lake Lucerne – The Bürgenstock Collection
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