We asked Luna Maye, Director of Wellness and Spa at W Philadelphia, about her new role, the AWAY Spa, and the healing power of sound.
Luna Maye is the recently appointed Director of Wellness and Spa at W Philadelphia, the luxury hotel in Center City renowned for its focus on wellness, creativity, and meaningful connections. Bringing more than 15 years of experience in hospitality, music, and wellness to her position, she is internationally recognized for her pioneering work in sound therapy and meditation.
Ms. Maye previously collaborated with W Philadelphia, delivering groundbreaking meditative concerts and transformative sound therapy sessions at AWAY Spa, offering enriching experiences for both guests and locals. She steps into her new role at the award-winning AWAY Spa with the aim of redefining wellness for guests by introducing rejuvenating treatments and innovative programs.
We asked Luna Maye about her new role, the AWAY Spa, and the healing power of sound.
Please talk about your career, how you came to be doing what you are today, and how did you first discovered the healing power of sound.
I’ve always had such a deep connection and passion for music, wellness, food, culture, and the way we can build worlds in hospitality to welcome people into connection with themselves and each other.
I believe luxury hospitality environments are about welcoming all to experience what it’s like to be deeply cared for. It’s not about accommodating needs, it’s about the art of anticipating them. This ability to leverage emotional attunement to sense and anticipate the needs and delights of a guest is such an art and science that I am passionate about resourcing teams honing.
I discovered sound therapy as a vehicle for my own healing after a fast-tracked career and as an ambitious young woman, this pace drove me to my upper limit. After pouring all of myself into being of service to others, I became unrecognizable to myself.
I knew I was ready to find new levels of healing, release, and peace, but I couldn’t quiet my mind and listen to the innate wisdom within me until I was introduced to sound meditation. It immediately resonated. I dove heart first into deep study and eventually transitioned my career into something that bridges worlds between all passions in service of our collective birthright to feel safe, connected, and vital.
What does your role entail?
As Director of Wellness and Spa at AWAY Spa W Philadelphia, I oversee all aspects of the spa operations and wellness programming. These initiatives welcome not just our guests, but our teams into spaces of inspiration and well-being.
I most enjoy serving those that are of service to others. I believe true luxury hospitality environments require well-resourced and cared-for associates who can find their own sustainable connection to being of service that doesn’t compromise their own needs as fellow human beings.
As the new Director of Wellness and Spa, what is your vision for elevating the wellness offerings at W Philadelphia?
We are building off of the awareness that to welcome others into an elevated space, we ourselves need to feel well-resourced and cared for. With that sustainable foundation in mind, I am thrilled to co-create with my team at AWAY Spa a boutique, grounded, luxurious approach to both spa services and wellness programming.
We are launching our Comfort Zone Skin Regime 2.0 facial service and retail initiatives this spring and I’ve enjoyed interacting with our Comfort Zone products as they leverage the wisdom and technology behind nature’s essences to support sustainable longevity of skin and well-being.
Additionally, we are unveiling a boutique bathhouse experience, a new luxury amenity available to all spa and hotel guests. Featuring contrast therapy — one of the most effective techniques for nervous system regulation, physical recovery, and deep relaxing. This therapeutic space will further enhance the wellness journey at W Philadelphia.
Our 2025 Wellness Programming offers a rich array of personalized experiences. Each treatment is thoughtfully designed to help guests discover and enhance their individual path to wellness, with customized formulas that align with their unique goals and needs.
How do music and sound add to the wellness experience?
Set and setting are just as important as the experience itself. How we engage the senses and attune the environment creates the container for the most optimal and luxurious experience.
From our state-of-the-art ergonomic treatment tables that feel like you’re floating on a warm cloud, to our spatial audio sound bath listening experiences, and our organic nourishment to fuel the body and ground the spirit, all the senses are delighted and attended to.
But ultimately, sound is the strongest sense tied to memory. It’s also one of our primary brand pillars at W so we focus each environment of the spa and hotel on its own unique playlist that supports that piece of the guest journey.
What are the signature treatments or unique experiences to be introduced at the AWAY Spa to set it apart from competitors?
Technical ability, warm professionalism, and sensorial luxurious attention to detail separate us from our competitors. Our service providers are some of the most experienced in the industry and show up every day with a genuine love for what they do and an ability to welcome our guests into a space where they can feel most comfortable relaxing.
One of our most popular mid-week treatments is our RESET Massage. This is a 50-minute massage service that supports and prioritizes mid-week Zen for the professional who sees the value in pressing pause and resetting before resuming the responsibilities of life with more magnetic and grounded energy.
We also love welcoming groups to celebrate together and designing specialty boutique spa experiences for them. Each spa guest has access to our WET Deck as part of their experience and at W Philadelphia, it’s not just access to a rooftop pool they get, but rather access to our in-house programming that celebrates art, culture, and community. It’s why I have always stayed at a W when traveling, long before becoming a part of the family in this capacity.
What makes a great guest experience in luxury hospitality? What role does creativity play in the guest experience?
Beyond anticipating needs which I touched on earlier, it’s important to recognize that each guest has their own intention for their stay and with that, their own unique needs and expectations.
W Philadelphia represents liberated luxury, and through this grounded approach to luxurious hospitality, we can get to know our guests on a deeper level. By fostering organic connection, we have insights into how to create tailored memories.
We want the talent across our team to feel celebrated and to embrace their individual creative approach to hospitality. The modern guest is deserving of a multi-sensorial approach to service. I’ve found throughout my career in leadership, that the art is not in the who or what, but in the why. A genuine human connection will always be the best approach.
With wellness trends evolving rapidly, how do you plan to keep the W Philadelphia at the forefront of innovation in this space?
One way to lead is to master the foundational basics and continue to elevate the ways, both small and large, in which we hone the wellness experience for the guest. Continually reinventing the wheel isn’t always the answer. I think right now there’s something powerful to be prioritized in returning to a simpler, more authentic, and holistic approach to wellness that centers on nature and the natural essence of who we are.
What is the biggest challenge the spa/hospitality industry is facing?
One of the most significant challenges in the spa and hospitality industry today is finding harmony between client care and operational sustainability, particularly when it comes to managing last-minute changes and missed appointments. We see this especially in how scheduling changes can create ripple effects for both our clients and our providers.
When a client books time with us, they’re sharing not just their resources, but their trust in our care. At the same time, our providers dedicate themselves to preparing personalized experiences for each guest. Finding ways to honor and protect both these commitments – while building lasting relationships – has become increasingly important to the health of our industry.
Through emotional intelligence and thoughtful communication, we’re learning to create environments where both clients and providers feel valued and understood. This delicate balance isn’t just about managing schedules or missed appointments – it’s about nurturing the human connections that make our industry unique. While this insight comes from spa services, it reflects a broader truth about how we can better serve and care for each other in any hospitality setting.
What are you most excited about for W and for the industry as a whole?
I’m excited to see wellness and spa experiences becoming more integrated into daily life rather than being viewed solely as special occasion luxuries. It’s inspiring to witness both professionals and clients recognizing the value of regular self-care, from small daily rituals to more immersive treatments in environments that align with their values.
I’m particularly energized by the possibility of each person discovering their own unique definition of wellness. At W Philadelphia, I look forward to collaborating with our team and community partners to create treatments and experiences that support this personal journey of wellbeing.
Spa Executive is published by Book4Time, the leader in guest management, revenue and mobile solutions for the most exclusive spas, hotels, and resorts around the globe. Now part of Agilysys. Learn more at book4time.com.