Daily Brief: Brooklyn Sauna Festival Draws 50,000, KLAFS Eyes U.S. Expansion
Today's top stories: Culture of Bathe-ing festival wraps record run, KLAFS plans U.S. facility, and wellness real estate surges past $439 billion.
Good morning. Here's what's moving in the sauna industry today.
KLAFS Plans U.S. Distribution Center
German sauna manufacturer KLAFS has confirmed plans to open a dedicated distribution and service center in New Jersey, its first permanent U.S. facility. The center will support the company's growing commercial business in North America, which has expanded significantly as luxury hotels and fitness operators invest in premium thermal installations. Target opening: Q1 2027.
California Updates Outdoor Sauna Building Codes
The California Building Standards Commission has approved updated guidelines for residential outdoor sauna installations, streamlining the permitting process and reducing setback requirements in several jurisdictions. The changes, effective September 1, are expected to reduce installation timelines and costs for homeowners. Industry groups have been advocating for these updates for over two years.
Four Seasons Taps Finnish Designer for Thermal Suites
Four Seasons Hotels has engaged Helsinki-based sauna design studio Sauna from Finland to develop thermal bathing concepts for three upcoming properties. The partnership covers design, material specification, and operational consulting. Specific locations have not been disclosed, but industry sources suggest the projects are in Southern Europe and Southeast Asia.
Elise Lindgren
Editor-in-Chief, SaunaNews
Elise Lindgren has covered the global sauna and wellness industry for over fifteen years, first as a business journalist in Stockholm and later as founding editor of SaunaNews. She has reported from trade floors in Helsinki, factory lines in Estonia, and boardrooms across three continents. Under her editorial leadership, SaunaNews has become the go-to source for decision-makers across the sauna supply chain.
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