From basement to bathhouse: Atera opens in Glasgow

On 22 October, Atera Bathhouse & Spa opened beneath Pandox-owned Radisson Blu Glasgow, in an area previously used for a travel agency and fitness centre. 

Located on Oswald Street, close to Glasgow Central Station, Atera has its own street entrance as well as a direct connection to the hotel. The facility is open to both hotel guests and external day spa visitors. 

A new spa and wellness offering 

Inspired by Mediterranean bathing traditions, Atera takes its name from aqua, meaning water, and terra, meaning earth. 

At the centre of the facility is a 12-metre hydrotherapy pool, maintained at approximately 37°C. Other facilities include Finnish and ceremonial saunas, a hammam, steam rooms, cold plunge pools and seven treatment rooms offering massages, facials and body treatments. 

Atera also includes a Technogym-equipped fitness centre, a reformer Pilates studio and facilities for fitness and metabolic assessments. A café serves light meals and refreshments. 

The spa is operated by BBSpa Group, which developed the concept and has entered into a management agreement with Pandox. 

Why Glasgow? 

Pandox acquired the 247-room Radisson Blu Glasgow in 2018. Located next to Glasgow Central Station, the hotel serves both business and leisure travellers. 

Glasgow's growing leisure market, supported by shopping, cultural attractions and major sporting and music events, was an important consideration behind the investment. Before proceeding with the project, Pandox commissioned an external market study which identified demand for a larger destination spa, particularly among local and regional leisure customers. 

The findings supported the decision to develop Atera as a separate wellness offering, complementing the hotel's existing operations while attracting visitors from across the Glasgow region. 

Meeting the growing demand for wellness 

Atera reflects a broader shift in consumer preferences, with health and wellbeing becoming increasingly important in how people spend their time and money. According to McKinsey, 84 percent of consumers consider wellness an important or very important priority. The trend is also evident in travel: Hilton's latest research found that 76 percent of travellers see travel as an opportunity to recharge mentally and physically, while 61 percent are more likely to engage in water-based wellness experiences when travelling. 

By combining spa treatments, hydrotherapy, fitness and personalised health assessments, Atera brings several aspects of this growing interest in wellbeing together. For Pandox, the project also represents an opportunity to develop a new commercial offering within an existing property. 

"With Atera, we have transformed previously unused basement space into a new business that adds value to the property. Importantly, Atera was designed as a destination spa in its own right, not simply as an additional amenity for hotel guests. Our ambition is to attract visitors from across Glasgow and the wider region, creating a new customer base alongside the hotel's existing business", says Aldert Schaaphok, SVP International Operations at Pandox. 

More information about Atera and its facilities is available at atera.spa.