In a move designed to reshape how boutique hotels, resorts and short-term rentals design and deliver health and wellness experiences for guests, New England-based Soake Pools and prefabricated luxury villa company Tomu have formed a strategic partnership.
The collaboration was born out of shared values and a mutual admiration for each other’s work. Karen Larson, cofounder of Soake Pools, recalled initiating the connection: “We were actively looking for an accessory dwelling unit company that shared our aesthetic and mission. When I came across Tomu, it was clear there was a lot of synergy. I reached out to Chris [Osaka, CEO, Tomu], and we quickly found ourselves aligned in both our vision and excitement.”
Osaka added, “We’re always on the lookout for brands that complement what we do. Tomu provides the walls of a structure, but a complete guest experience is more than a room. Soake Pools’ products offer a meaningful enhancement to that experience, especially for hospitality properties focused on luxury, wellness and outdoor living.”
Both companies specialize in premium, space-conscious designs that emphasize simplicity and sustainability. Soake’s precast plunge pools—built in an NPCA-certified facility in New Hampshire and hand-tiled before delivery—pair naturally with Tomu’s prefabricated villas, which are constructed using commercial-grade materials and shipped nearly complete.
“There’s not just aesthetic synergy,” Larson explained. “On the installation side, both products need the same subcontractors—plumbing, electrical, excavation, exterior finish—so doing both together saves time and money. It’s more efficient and creates less disruption, which is a win for any hospitality project.”
Tomu’s villas come in studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom formats designed specifically for the hospitality industry. Soake Pools offers a range of plunge sizes, cold plunge units and freestanding garden tubs for indoor or outdoor placement. Both can be shipped together via flatbed, reducing freight costs and environmental impact.
The partnership taps into several evolving travel trends, including the rise of wellness tourism, outdoor hospitality and the demand for private, high-end amenities—especially post-pandemic.
“The pandemic changed what people expect from travel,” said Osaka. “Guests want privacy, access to nature and amenities that go beyond a typical hotel room. We’re creating a solution that’s flexible enough to meet those demands in a variety of settings, whether it’s a mountain retreat, coastal inn or a luxury Airbnb.”
Larson added that smaller, personalized spaces are no longer a compromise—they’re becoming a premium feature. “You don’t need a sprawling resort pool anymore,” she said. “A well-placed plunge pool outside a private villa offers just as much, if not more, value in terms of guest satisfaction and return on investment.”
For developers and operators, the collaboration provides not only a unique offering but also a potential economic advantage, according to Larson and Osaka. Boutique properties can command higher nightly rates for rooms that include private pools, and a small plunge pool can increase the resale value of a property by up to 8%.
“There’s clear ROI potential,” said Larson. “Clients tell us all the time they can charge $100 more per night just for having a plunge pool. In the short-term rental market, it can be the deciding factor in a guest’s booking.”
Beyond financials, the partnership emphasizes long-term impact. “There’s an environmental benefit to this model,” said Larson. “Smaller builds mean less land disturbance. If we can help properties offer high-end experiences while preserving more of the natural environment, that’s a win across the board.”
While the partnership is new, both executives are optimistic about where the collaboration is headed. “We’re looking for that flagship project—the property that sets the tone,” said Osaka. “Our hope is that this partnership inspires developers to think creatively about how to expand or enhance their properties.”
Larson echoed the sentiment, envisioning a future where smaller, smarter hospitality developments become the norm. “Four years from now, I’d love to see our products on properties across the country, helping people enjoy nature, elevate wellness and do it all in beautifully designed, space-efficient ways,” she said.
