Heartfelt journey to create high-end wellness retreat

AN ultra luxe wellness retreat built by two old friends who suffered heart attacks within 12 months of each other is set to open at Wategos in May.

Entrepreneur Chris Bissiotis and emergency doctor George Bilios hope ESTE Wategos will give other people with demanding careers like theirs the opportunity to recharge.

The property, which was designed by Shaun Lockyer Architects and is being built by Gold Coast-based JD Build, comprises two three-level residences separated by a light well with rooftop terraces with views over the ocean and glass-bottomed pools.

Together they will be able to accommodate up to 16 guests, with prices starting at $5000 per night.

The design draws on the blue-green space theory, which recognises that water and greenery can improve mental health and wellbeing.

Guests will have access to a dedicated driver and a concierge who can arrange such things as gourmet meals prepared by a private chef, yoga and pilates classes, surf lessons and massages.

Bissiotis and Bilios met when their children attended the same school in Sydney, and they often ran into each other at the airport when they were going on business trips or family holidays.

When Bissiotis, who is a former director of merchandise company Pacific Optics, told Bilios about the property he saw for sale, he came on board straight away.

“We have both forever been crazy about Wategos — it’s just a magical place,” he said. “It was like giving candy to a baby. He said, ‘let’s do this’.

“We purchased it in 2018 and in 2019 I had a heart attack; then 12 months later George had a heart attack. It was a bit of a shock to both of us, so we thought we have to build a house that incorporates wellness, not only for ourselves but for other people as well.

“We have both had fairly full-on careers. I lived a corporate life and there wasn’t a lot of work-life balance – that language wasn’t around when we were cutting our teeth.

“Corporate people who are working 60-to-80-hour weeks can come and stay here for five days and feel absolutely amazing.”