The second phase of the boutique spa at the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea, Jordan, is to open later this year.

The first development phase of the spa opened in June 2006 and is located within one of Ishtar’s Royal Villas.

The spa currently has four treatment rooms for either single or double occupancy – all offering views across the Dead Sea – and another room for general beauty sessions, such as massages.

The second phase will add more than 107,640sq ft (10,000sq m), creating one of the largest spas in the Middle East boasting more than of 20 treatment rooms and outdoor therapy lounges.

The spa’s signature treatment will be the Dead Sea Retreat, which lasts more than three hours and includes a floral foot bath, a Dead Sea salt scrub, a mud wrap, a herbal steam session and a massage.

The spa will use traditional beauty essences such as sandalwood, ylang ylang, patchouli, mandarin and lemongrass in its therapies alongside natural ingredients such as Thai coffee beans, volcanic pumice, carrots and cucumbers.

The Kempinski spa is operated by Anantara and is parent company MSpa International’s first Anantara spa in Jordan. (See Spa Business 07/01, p13. To order, visit www.spabusiness.com)