Project of the Week: Goco Retreat Moonstone

Bangkok-headquartered wellness specialist Goco Hospitality is behind the creation of Goco Retreat Moonstone, its first own brand European retreat.

Nature therapy

The site will cater to a diverse community of wellness travellers under the ideas of ‘nature is your therapist’ and ‘simplicity is the ultimate sophistication’.

Set across a 1.5-hectare plot, the 6,743 sq m floor area resort will offer design-led accommodation that is in tune with the natural surroundings; an extensive range of heat and water experiences; a blend of eastern, western and local healing modalities; and a wide selection of outdoor sports and activities.

Coastal cabins

Goco Retreat Moonstone will be developed at coastal locale Geitvågen, which is characterised by a natural lagoon. The facilities will blend seamlessly into the stunning landscape of the region.

The site will consist of a 45 guestroom and three villa high-end retreat focused on traditional healing modalities, and a lifestyle cabin resort. Ranging in size to suit different guests including families, cabins will feature varying facilities, but all will share the natural surroundings and ocean views.

Retreat amenities

Conceptualised, managed and co-owned by Goco Hospitality, the retreat will include a dedicated 1,788 sq m wellness centre that will consist of treatment rooms, fitness studios, mind and body studios and dedicated co-ed and gendered heat and water experiences featuring Vitality pools, a floatation pool, sauna, steam and mineral bathing and contrast therapy.

In addition to wellness, Goco Retreat Moonstone will feature three food and beverage outlets, meeting space, retail area, an organic greenhouse powered by tidal lagoon energy, as well as a kids’ wellness centre, an observatory and a sea access deck for watersports.

Around the resort

The Lounge onsite will be a focal point for retreat and external guests in the development’s first phase, and will contain the arrival and information desk. It will feature a wellness cafe, which will be the primary restaurant within the initial phases of opening, catering to both resort and external guests. Its close proximity to Geitvagen will allow the cafe to extend onto the beach with seasonal food and beverage stands. The Lounge will also consist of multipurpose meeting and event facilities with the ability to host wellness lectures, yoga and movement classes as well as business or team events.

The Temple will serve as a holistic communal centre for retreat guests to gather. It will feature a common living room/library that will be equipped with national and international books, with indoor and outdoor spaces. Indoor and outdoor mind and body studios will be suited for a variety of active and passive movement classes such as yoga, tai chi, qi gong or pilates. The addition of an outdoor sauna cabin will provide guests with the opportunity to recharge and relax following the classes.

The Well will be the centre of wellness at Goco Retreat Moonstone and will contain the primary wellness consultation and treatment areas. In addition, it will feature extended gender-specific and co-ed thermal facilities such as sauna and steam rooms alongside therapeutic pools. This section will also house an all-day dining restaurant as well as a juice bar within the thermal areas.

Investment and schedule

As one of the founding partners and co-investor of the project, Goco Hospitality joined forces with entrepreneur and wellness visionary Wessel Paternotte to create this dedicated wellness retreat, funded partly by Innovation Norway and several private investors.

Following extensive feasibility and market research conducted by Horwath HTL Health & Wellness, the construction of a set of prototype modular cabins started in 2020, conceptualised by Goco Hospitality’s director of design and development, Josephine Leung.

When the development was first announced in 2020, full completion was scheduled for 2023, however the schedule has now slipped to 2025.

Transformative experiences

Ingo Schweder, founder and CEO of Goco Hospitality, said: “As our first Goco retreat in Europe, we are combining our exceptional wellness expertise with Innovation Norway’s vision to create sustainable growth in the area, to create a world-class retreat dedicated to rejuvenation and authentic, transformative wellness experiences.”

Wessel Paternotte commented: “By spending time in nature, in touch with the elements, we reconnect with our essence. The programs and offerings at Moonstone are designed to realign us with the natural rhythms to find harmony and peace.”