With more and more people across the world staying glued to their smartphones all day long, one luxury hotel chain is proposing a simple way to disconnect: visit its spas, but leave your iPhone or Samsung at the door. 

Mandarin Oriental’s Digital Detox – which will be rolled out across all its spas worldwide beginning September 5 – is designed to help guests destress from a constantly connected lifestyle.

The programme has been developed with the Mayo Clinic and will include guidelines that can help establish boundaries on the use of technology, it says. 

“Technology has brought us many great advances,” said Jeremy McCarthy, Group Director of Spa and Wellness, “but the expectations for instant communication and the increasing pace of change in the world can have a negative impact on our wellbeing.” 

Guests will be asked to surrender their phones on arrival at the spa and take to “journaling, note card writing, colouring, meditation or simply relaxing and enjoying the silence”. 

There will also be a selection of treatments available, ranging from crystals and eye masks to meditation pillows and calming teas and oils – to encourage mindfulness and digital disconnection, the hotel says.

For those who wishing to go the whole nine yards, an 80-minute Digital Detox Retreat includes an aromatic bath followed by a massage. 

The spas will also offer their annual Silent Night event on December 14 to remind guests about the importance of taking personal time for reflection, introspection and silence.