Yasuragi and Norefjell Ski & Spa Win Gold at the World Spa Awards 2024

When the prestigious World Spa Awards announce the winners of 2024, two of Nordic Hotels & Resorts’ properties are taking home the gold: Yasuragi in Sweden and Norefjell Ski & Spa in Norway. This is the seventh time the stunning mountain resort Norefjell Ski & Spa wins in the category “Norway’s Best Resort Spa”—and the fifth time the Japanese baths at Yasuragi win in the category “Sweden’s Best Hotel Spa”. 

The World Spa Awards is one of the most prestigious awards in the global wellness industry. It was established to celebrate the world's leading players in the rapidly growing spa and wellness sector. Each year, awards are presented to almost 150 countries, states, and territories, with the aim of inspiring a continued high standard.

When the 2024 winners are announced, two veteran winners are once again named the pinnacle of spa experiences in their respective countries: the indulgent spa at Norefjell Ski & Spa in Norefjell is named Norway’s Best Resort Spa, and the iconic onsen-inspired Yasuragi in Hasseludden, Stockholm, is named Sweden's Best Hotel Spa.

Yasuragi, A Modern-Day Ryokan

Yasuragi is a modern-day ryokan in the heart of the Stockholm archipelago. It looks to the philosophy of the ryokan—traditional Japanese inns—that have been a part of Japan’s culture for centuries. These inns were found along busy highways, standing like havens for weary travelers who needed to rest. More than that, they also acted as hubs for cultural exchange, where travelers shared stories, news, and customs from distant parts of the country. Hence the word ryokan, ryo meaning “travel”, and kan, meaning “building”.

While Yasuragi takes its inspiration from Japan, it infuses it with its own distinctiveness. The result is a house that is nothing short of a feast for the senses, from floor to ceiling. The design and interior embodies a blend of Japanese and Swedish aesthetics, creating a space where natural materials take center stage. The juxtaposition of raw concrete and pine wood serves as the cornerstone of the hotel’s design, encouraging guests to view the building as a form of art experience. Here, one is meant to take in the stunning architecture the same way you would a piece of tactile art: by looking at it, touching it, interacting with it, and letting it inspire contemplation. 

Eva Ottosson Rask, the General Manager at Yasuragi, believes the win was made possible by a collective team effort.

– For almost 30 years, Yasuragi has been a place where recovery has been central. Exhaling and letting go is part of the meaning of the Japanese word “yasuragi”. Our team is driven by a strong desire to give people the opportunity to do just that: breathe out, let their shoulders drop and let joy take place. I am so proud of the team who work together every day to create this special place. This award shows their great competence and dedication, says Eva.

This is the fifth time Yasuragi receives the award for Sweden's Best Hotel Spa. They have previously won gold in this category in 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023. Yasuragi has long been a popular destination and has recently gained more and more global attention. Earlier this year, Vogue magazine released its global spa guide to the world's 100 best spa facilities, where the hotel was featured as the only destination in the Nordics.

There are a wide array of reasons to visit Yasuragi—like 191 beautiful hotel rooms, five restaurants and bars, and large meeting and conference facilities, just to name a few. It is, however, the Japanese baths that define this destination. Inspired by onsens, Yasuragi boasts a stunning spa and wellness area, consisting of pools, hot and cold indoor and outdoor springs, several types of sauna concepts, inspiring treatments, meditative areas, a dojo for activities like qigong, and much, much more. At the heart of their spa philosophy lies a commitment to nurturing the mind, body, and spirit. They do this by upholding genuine and authentic values and practices, while also incorporating the most updated treatments and the finest craftsmanship.

Norefjell Ski & Spa, a Norwegian Classic

Norefjell Ski & Spa has long been the go-to destination for those looking for an unbeatable experience of Norwegian nature. Sitting 800 meters above sea level, between swaying pine trees and snowy whirlwinds, guests will find a stunning mountain resort that for generations has been a home to some of life’s most important joys: great company, thrilling adventures and breathtaking nature.

When guests aren’t out discovering the mountain by foot, they can recharge their energy in the spa with nature as their backdrop. These modern wellbeing facilities, complete with indoor and outdoor pools, showers, and saunas, are a big reason why Norefjell Ski & Spa has been named Norway's Leading Resort and/or Norway’s Leading Spa Resort at the World Travel Awards no less than twelve times. The gold at the World Spa Awards 2024 marks the seventh time that the resort wins gold in the category Norway’s Best Resort Spa. 

Norefjell Ski & Spa might be set in the heart of the wild, but it is easy to get to. They are located just 1.5 hours by car from Oslo and Gardermoen Airport, and 40 miles from Gothenburg. With 405 rooms and apartments, Norefjell can provide something for every taste, be it the friend group, the big family, or the colleagues.

At this resort, nature is just on their doorstep, with ski in/ski out possibility making it possible to hit the slopes or hiking trails in no time. It is no understatement to say that the resort was founded on the spirit of adventure, as it owes much of its legacy to a pivotal event in sporting history: the 1952 Winter Olympics in Norway. In 1952, all of the Olympic venues were held in Oslo's metropolitan area, except for downhill and giant slalom which were held in Norefjell. With its rugged terrain and abundant snowfall, Norefjell was a perfect choice for the venue to showcase Norway’s rich winter sports tradition to the world.

To this day, the red piste "OL-Løpan" runs through the spruce forest down to the valley station from Norefjell’s intermediate station. Back in 1952, Norwegians questioned whether it would really be possible to ride on such a steep hill. With its steep gradient and curves, it is still one of Norway's best giant slalom slopes. Today, as guests hike on the mountain and ski down the slopes of Norefjell Ski & Spa, they are quite literally walking in the footsteps of Olympic legends.