SPA & WELLNESS TRAVEL NEWS
Here's a snapshot of what's new in the world of SPA AND WELLNESS TRAVEL for 2007. New items are posted on a regular basis.
Send releases for editorial consideration to editor@traveltowellness.com
HERE'S WHAT'S NEW:
Sun Valley Wellness Festival
Hillcrest Valenova Introduces New Weight Rebalancing Program
COMO Shambhala Spa at Kandooma Now Open
Ste. Anne's Country Inn & Spa Introduces Horse-2-Heart Program
Exhale moves into hospitalty industry - partners with Fairmont
LaSource in Grenada re-opens
First indoor/outdoor spa debuts at the Casanova Hotel in Barcelona, Spain
Enchantment Group To Open Mii Amo Destination Spa In Punta Mita, Mexico In 2010
Hyatt Selects San Diego as Destination for First Eco-Friendly Spa
New Chilean Adventure Spa Hotel Emphasizes Local Elements
New Spa at Villa Marco Polo, Victoria, B.C.
New wine country spa in Chile.
Three new spas in St. Maarten.
Kurotel Longevity Center opens in Japan.
Caneel Bay, St. John (U.S.V.I.) launches The Rejse På package.
Kamalame Cay Launches Weekend Spa & Wellness Programs
Westin lauches Superfood-focused menus.
Four Seasons introduces new workout program
Woodlands Spa at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort introduces New Wellness Program.
Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa opens new $7 million Solitude Spa in Jackson Hole, Wyo.
JW Marriot Ihilani Resort & Spa goes Allergy-Friendly
Sofitel and Le Spa open in Queenstown, NewZealand
Four Seasons Opens Fourth Egypt Hotel
Red Door Opens First Destination Lifestyle Spa
New Spa at Sea
Westin New York Launches Walking Program
Mexico City Hotel Launches Spa Meetings
Canada gets its first desert-inspired spa.
Vancouver Tour Company Offers One-Time Spiritual Odyssey to Italy
New Spa Suites at Royal Palm Resort & Spa, Scottsdale
October is National Health & Wellness Month in the Philippines
Fairmont Makes Staying Fit on the Road Easier
Creators of Pure Kauai launch Pure Maui
Fairmont Newport Beach Opens Willow Stream Spa
Emerson Resort Premiers Silk-Road Inspired Spa
West Virginia Greenbriar set to reopen
B.C.'s Sidney Pier Opens May 07.
Westin Hotels & Resorts debuts Unwind.
Puerto Rico Introduces Smoke Free Regulations
Hyatt unveilis a new Hyatt Pure web site
Mountain Lodge Spa, set to open July 1, unveils adventure and wellness packages
Guided Outdoor Adventure Programs in Shenandoah National Park, VA
New Spa Lifestyle Guestrooms for Mandarin Oriental Miami
Green Stamp of Approval for New York State’s Emerson Resort & Spa, New York State
New Elemis spa for Sedona’s Amara Creekside Resort
Shape Up Vacations at REO Rafting Resort in B.C
Hawaii Enacts Smoking Ban
Holistic Holiday at Sea
Life Coach Retreat at Red Mountain Spa
Life Balancing Wellness Program at Sante Spa, Calgary
Sun Valley Wellness Festival
The dates for the 2009 Sun Valley Wellness Festival in Sun Valley, Idaho, will be May 22-25. For more info: Sun Valley Wellness
Hillcrest Valena Introduces New Weight Rebalancing Program
The new weight rebalancing program offered by Hillcrest Valena in Port Hope, Ontario, takes place Sunday September 7th to Thursday September 11th. It was developed with Nutritionist Lilian Presti, B.A, RNCP, RHN and is designed to demonstrate the principles of healthy eating and gentle fitness. Daily instructions include nutrition classes, cooking classes, stress management coaching, yoga, pilates and meditation.
Four signature spa treatments and the use of an infrared sauna are offered to kick start the body’s immune and digestive systems. The four treatments offered are: integrated lymphatic drainage, hydrating foot reflexology, pure aroma massage, and spruce body wrap. To ensure long- term changes, guests are given personalized wellness plans. The cost of the new weight rebalancing program is $3599 per person, based on shared accommodation.
For more info: Hillcrest Valenova
COMO Shambhala Spa at Kandooma Now Open
COMO Shambhala has opened at the new Kandooma 160-villa resort in
the Maldives. The spa menu offers a wide range of Asian-inspired therapies. Signature treatments include COMO Shambhala's most popular massage
using nurturing blended oils. Six single treatment rooms overlook Kandooma's landscaping and two deluxe treatment villas are available for private treatments. The spa offers a state-of-the-art gym, changing rooms with separate male and female steam rooms and a communal hydro pool for jet-powered massages.
For more info: Como Shambhala
Ste. Anne's Introduces Horse-2-Heart Program
On May 15, Ste. Anne's Country Inn and Spa, in collaboration with Valley View Stables, will launch an exciting and original program called "Horse-2-Heart". The program will offer guests the opportunity to work with a horse and a professional coach to explore the animal's energy, boundaries, and intentions. Interacting with large animals like horses and learning to relax around them can greatly enhance one's personal and professional relationships. "If you're unsure around a horse, it will waffle," explains riding coach Esther Johnson. "You have to learn to be more assertive, and for women this can be very empowering."
Guests of Ste. Anne's can participate in a one, two or three day Horse-2-Heart program, each day building on the day before. In Heart-2-Heart, "nurturing a relationship with a large, powerful animal teaches you how to face the fears you may have in your relationships with large, powerful people by working on assertiveness, intuitive skills and trust," says Ste. Anne's Spa owner Jim Corcoran, who has recently taken a keen interest in equine therapy with the acquisition of a five year old Anglo-Arabian Mare named So Fair Tu (Sophie). "This program is all about listening harder to non-verbal signs, and coming to terms with one's fears in a safe environment." The program, which requires no previous experience with horses, can be tailored to suit individual needs. Horse-2-Heart, which offers a truly unique and joyous life experience, makes use of the horse's intuitiveness to bring about relaxation, reflection and inner peace.
For more info: Ste. Anne's
Exhale moves into hospitality industry
Exhale, the highly publicized mind body spa praised for bringing the destination spa experience into urban markets through unique, result-oriented therapies and proprietary mind body classes including Core Fusion® and Core Energy Flow®, has partnering with the Fairmont Miramar Hotel to open exhale at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows Santa Monica on April 1, 2008.
Conceived to fulfill the need for high quality transformational mind body offerings within a spa setting, Exhale is the brainchild of leading spa executive Annbeth Eschbach, who is supported by a team of industry veterans. Backed by Brentwood Associates, Exhale has plans to grow their wellbeing paradigm to 15-20 locations throughout the U.S. and currently operates 9 locations in New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, California and Texas.
LaSource in Grenada Reopens
After three years of extensive renovations, the 100-room LaSource, a luxury spa resort on Pink Gin Beach in Grenada, has re-opened its doors to the world. Surrounded by 40 acres of lush tropical garden, LaSource offers all-inclusive programs including a daily spa treatment.
The Oasis Spa has been completely transformed and features 17 treatment rooms, including three wet rooms - 2 Vichy shower rooms and 1 hydro-tub, in addition to a new salon with cushy manicure and pedicure chairs. For more info: La Source
First indoor/outdoor spa debuts at the Casanova Hotel in Barcelona, Spain
The hip Casanova Hotel with 124 design-conscious rooms has newly added The Stone Spa. The first in Barcelona to feature indoor/outdoor elements, the intimate spa offers five treatment rooms plus a menu inspired by the Earth's healing properties. Gemstones, smooth river stones and indigenous botanicals, culled from wellness traditions around the globe.
A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Casanova is located in the heart of the city, a short walk from Las Ramblas, Paseo de Gracia, major Gaudi architecture and museums. Coming in the summer of '08, a rooftop pool and lounge complete with hammocks. For more info www.casanovabcnhotel.com.
Enchantment Group To Open Mii Amo Destination Spa In Punta Mita, Mexico In 2010
Enchantment Group, a spa and resort development and management company, announced that they will open a 30 guest room destination spa, along with 25 residential condominiums, in Punta Mita, Mexico, 45 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta. Scheduled for a 2010 opening, Mii amo Punta Mita will be the first destination spa in the master-planned resort community that occupies a 1,500-acre natural peninsula on Mexico's Pacific Coast. The project will be the fourth property - and the first outside the United States to be owned and managed by the Enchantment Group.
The destination spa will build upon the traditions - acclaimed in the industry for leadership and overall excellence - established at the company's Mii amo spa in Sedona, Arizona. Mii amo will complement Punta Mita's existing amenities - including a signature Jack Nicklaus golf course, Residents' Beach Club, Four Seasons Resort and private home developments - elevating the luxury experience for homeowners and guests. Punta Mita's unique location provides access to a wide range of experiences - from exploring the ecological preserve of the Marietta Islands and indigenous Huichol culture, to surfing off one of Punta Mita's great break points. For more info: www.enchantmentgroup.com
Hyatt Selects San Diego as Destination for First Eco-Friendly Spa
Surrounded by the natural beauty of Mission Bay in San Diego, California, Blue Marble Spa at the newly transformed Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa & Marina sources as much as possible from other green companies and, when it comes to spreading the word about its eco-friendly practices and spa services, uses only recycled paper, eco-friendly cleaning products, offers its treatment menu in digital format, and provides eco-friendly literature for reading and further education.
The spa includes 11 treatment spaces, a private earth garden, an oversized suite for couples with individual rain showers, a manicure and pedicure lounge and five outdoor spa cabanas.
The spa incorporates a range of conservation principles, including the use of energy efficient light bulbs, floors of sustainable bamboo and low-flow shower heads. The spa also uses organic and natural skincare products, offers organic fruits and food options and uses minimal hot water. For more info: Blue Marble Spa
New Chilean Adventure Spa Hotel Emphasizes Local Elements
The new Tierra Atacama Hotel & Spa in San Pedro de Atacama, sits at the gateway to the Atacama Desert, one of the highest and driest places on earth. with surreal sandscapes, salt valleys, lush river basins, The Uma Spa (
Uma is the Aymara word for water) is designed to induce a calm and relaxing feeling through sensual aromas, colors and textures. Local elements including desert herbs, desert sand, salt from the lithium rich salt flats, volcanic stones and volcanic mud from high in the mountains have been incorporated into the spa treatments Uma includes four treatment cabins and water therapy circuits that have been developed using the different waters of the spa (hot and cold pools, Finnish and Turkish saunas, Jacuzzi, steam rooms). For information: Hotel Tierra Atacama
New Spa at Villa Marco Polo, Victoria, B.C.
In March 2008, the Villa Marco Polo Bed and Breakfast Inn in Victoria, BC will open a spa for the exclusive use of guests. The only Condé Nast Johansens recommended Bed and Breakfast in Victoria, the Villa Marco Polo has always offered spa treatments to guests in the privacy of their rooms, but the new spa will now provide a dedicated, indulgent space for these treatments. Foot reflexology, aromatherapy facials, massage of various types including hot stone massage, manicures and pedicures will be offered.Built in 1923 as a gift to a young bride, the Villa Marco Polo Bed and Breakfast Inn is an Italian Renaissance mansion that continues to be a romantic setting for getaways and celebrations; especially weddings and honeymoons. Guest suites feature double soakers, fireplaces, fine linens, luxurious beds, down pillows, hardwood floors and Persian carpets. Generous gourmet breakfasts featuring locally grown produce are served each morning. For more information visit www.villamarcopolo.com
New Wine Country Spa in Chile
Viña Casa Marin, the San Antonio valley winery that produces what many consider to be the best Sauvignon Blanc in Chile, has opened El Corazón de La Uva Spa del Vino. The spa sits high above the winery and is surrounded by vineyards, and rolling countryside and the location provides visitors with a lovely view of the coastal hills from its outdoor deck. The winery and spa are little more than a 1-hour drive from Santiago. Spa packages include an hour-long massage, facial or body scrub, a light lunch and a glass of Casa Marin's fine wine for $80 to $100. Visits are limited to a maximum of 6 people. For more information, see www.casamarin.cl
Three new spas open in St. Maarten
The new Cliff at Cupecoy Beach is home to the first Christian Dior Health Spa in the Caribbean. Exclusive and by appointment only, The Dior Spa offers specialized body and face treatments using Dior products, balneotherapy with hydrotherapy bath treatments, seaweed and mud body masks and scrub using natural marine products, to detoxify and promote relaxation. Dior-certified therapists are trained in revolutionary treatments that focus on anti-aging. www.diorspa-stmaarten.com
The Hibiscus Spa at the Westin Resort & Spa offers relaxation and pampering at its full-service spa, featuring Hot Stone Massage therapy. This spa is ideal for groups of friends due to its large relaxing area. Guests are encouraged to reflect and rejuvenate on the journey from day to night. The resort boasts the largest freshwater infinity edge pool. www.starwoodhotels.com/westin
The SPA, in the heart of Maho, offers relaxation in a Zen-like spa setting combining high tech with the purity of ancient traditions. Nature and design are integrated on the Transitional Path that guides guests through the wet area to savour the healing properties of water – discover saunas, hammams, ice baths and a pool of volcanic rocks, where a combination of waterfalls, water jets and air jets provide a variety of massage options. www.thespasintmaarten.com
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Kurotel Longevity Center opens in Japan.
Brazilian based Kurotel Longevity Center and Spa has announced the opening of a new wellness facility in one of the world’s longest living people countries: Japan. Surveys completed by the government shows that Japan is ageing quicker than any other country in the world. After long scientific researches sharing and with similar high-end health technology, Kurotel has joined forces with CMIC Co., a leader Japanese health entrepreneur to offer an unprecedented health experience. The new center is located in the city of Kobuchizawa, in central Japan. In 2006, Kurotel has announced the opening of the first two wellness facilities: the first one in the beach of Porto de Galinhas in the north of Brazil; and the second in a living community in the Bavarian style city of Gramado. www.kurotel.com.br
Caneel Bay, St. John (U.S.V.I.) launches The Rejse På package.
Taken from the Danish phrase meaning “Journey Within,” the Rejse På package offers a varied selection of self-improvement programs and wellness treatments including yoga classes, meditation, breath walks, Keike Sho and Inner Body Fusion.
Prive starts at $4,145 U.S. per person for four nights, including accommodations, breakfast
and dinner daily, and round trip ferry transfers from St. Thomas. Available through December 31, 2008. www.caneelbay.com
Kamalame Cay Launches Weekend Spa & Wellness Programs
Kamalame Cay, the 96-acre, private island resort in the Bahamas, is launching a new Weekend Spa & Wellness program in early 2008. The three-night / four-day retreats will offer a tropical mini spa getaway. Daily yoga on the beach, meditation and chanting sessions, optional life coaching and treatments in Kamalame's unique spa. Nestled at the end of a 200-foot pier, the spa offers five treatment rooms suspended over the sea with walls of windows that open to expansive ocean views.
The Spa & Wellness weekends will be hosted by New York City-based Jo Hook, founder of Avatar Yoga Retreats and Body as an Instrument, a holistic fitness program. The Spa & Wellness programs will run Jan. 11-14 and Oct. 17-20, 2008. All-inclusive rates for the program start at $1,899 U.S. per person and include accommodations, scheduled programs, all meals plus two spa treatments. www.kamalame.com
b>Westin lauches Superfood-focused menus.
As part of Westin’s ongoing commitment to personal renewal they are teaming up with SuperFoods Partners LLC, owners of the SuperFoodsRx brand to become the first hotel brand to create a SuperFoods focused menu for their guests. Superfoods known for being health-enhancing and rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients will be the main ingredient in Westin signature dishes such as banana oatmeal brulé, green-tea-infused salmon and molten dark chocolate cake. The initiative, which is currently rolling out in 25 Westin hotels in the U.S. and Canada, will go global in 2008 with the introduction of the Westin Signature Breakfast, a SuperFoods breakfast selection that will be offered at all Westin properties. Westin Hotels recently announced that it will eliminate all artificial trans-fats from the food and beverage operations at its hotels in the U. S., Canada and the Caribbean by the end of 2007.
b>Four Seasons introduces new workout program
At Four Seasons hotels in Toronto, Vancouver and Whistler, a new program helps business travellers get back on the right track — soundtrack, that is. Pick up an MP3 player in the health club and you'll receive audio coaching for a high-energy treadmill or elliptical workout custom designed by a Toronto-based wellness consultant. www.fourseasons.com
Woodlands Spa at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort introduces New Wellness Program.
The Woodlands Spa at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, a Mobil Four Star/AAA Four Diamond spa and resort located just outside of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, has introduced a new wellness program called Turning Point. Designed to help both men and women find much-needed balance and improve their individual health and wellness, the five-day program will incorporate elements of health and fitness, relaxation, success coaching, life skills and personal creativity and self-discovery. The first session is Sept. 19 – 23, with three additional sessions scheduled through 2008. www.nemacolin.com
Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa opens new $7 million Solitude Spa in Jackson Hole, Wyo.
Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa has opened its new $7 million (U.S.), three-story, 16,000-square-foot spa and fitness center.
Located at the gateway to Grand Teton National Park amidst one of the world’s unique mountain settings., Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa takes its inspiration from the soaring Teton peaks and the alpine lakes - Lake Soliture, for one -that shimmer between them. Every aspect of the spa, from the design and architecture to its signature treatments, reflect Lake Solitude’s natural purity, restorative power and soothing beauty. Offering the latest spa therapies along with alpine and water-inspired rituals, the spa houses 10 treatment rooms and includes a rooftop Yoga/Motion studio for yoga, pilates and other activities. Other elements are indoor and outdoor pools, five separate hot tubs, steam rooms and Jacuzzis in each locker room, and a significantly expanded fitness room with state-of-the-art cardio machines and weight-training options. In addition, Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa added 17 new rooms and suites, increasing its overall capacity to 145 guest rooms. www.tetonlodge.com
JW Marriot Ihilani Resort & Spa goes Allergy-Friendly
The JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina is the first property in Hawaii and one of the first in the nation to adopt the PURE™ system which creates an allergy-friendly environment. All of the hotel’s 13 guest rooms and Presidential Suite on its 17th (top) floor have been converted to the system, and indoor meeting facilities and the Ihilani Spa will be converted by the end of the year.
The allergy-friendly environment can help ease respiratory problems, asthma and allergies that affect more than 70 million Americans. The PURE™ system reduces or minimizes biohazards and other irritants from all room surfaces and filters them from the air. The special purification technique is a one-of-a-kind high-tech cleansing a nd
maintenance process developed by Pure Solutions, North America. www.ihilani.com
Sofitel and Le Spa open in Queenstown, NewZealand
The new Sofitel Queenstown is the region’s first international-branded, five-star hotel spa and LeSpa at Sofitel is a new spa concept created specifically for Sofitel Hotels & Resorts. Housed in the multi-award-winning Sofitel Queenstown building in the heart of the popular tourist resort, the million-dollar spa features a full range of signature treatments. They include the Traditional Maori Ritual, combining ‘Ataahua’, a traditional exfoliation, full body massage and body wrapping with manuka honey and Rotorua volcanic mud, with the sensuality of a relaxing massage using warm and cool greenstones.
There's also a traditional Hammam (steam and exfoliation room), three personal spa suites and two luxury spa suites for two, each with its own steam shower or spa bath.
Using French and New Zealand product suppliers, the spa offers a range of lavish treatments for the face and body, with a strong emphasis on balance, wellbeing, rejuvenation and regeneration. www.lespaqueenstown.co.nz
Four Seasons Opens Fourth Egypt Hotel
The opening of Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano, Egypt, brings the count to four Four Seasons properties in the country and a total of nine properties in the Middle East. Located in a prime position overlooking the Mediterranean, the 118 guestroom Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria sits in the heart of this ancient city’s elite district of San Stefano. The two-story Spa has 14 treatment rooms – including two couple’s suites – and will offer an extensive menu of body care, face care, massages and spa treatments inspired by the sea. The adjacent 24-hour Fitness Centre includes a squash court and two gyms, one for women only, and certified trainers that are on duty at all times. The Fitness Centre also has a Kinesis Studio (special equipment for resistance training for a variety of sports). There's also an infinity pool on the fourth floor terrace. www.fourseasons.com
Red Door Opens First Destination Lifestyle Spa
Red Door Spa Holdings has announced the opening of its destination spa, Red Door Lifestyle Spa, Elizabeth Arden. Located at the Hyatt Regency Bonaventure, in Weston, Florida this 48,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility is the first of its kind in the company’s portfolio, which consists of more than 55 spas and salons.
The new Red Door Lifestyle Spa is designed as a place where people can go and spend anywhere from a day or two to an entire week. In addition to spa treatments, the new facility will also offer additional opportunities from executive coaching to nutrition wellness to hypnotherapy, all of which can be tailored into a personal program.
The free-standing building houses 30 private treatment rooms, a full-service beauty salon, state-of-the-art fitness and weight center with Techno Gym equipment and flat-screen televisions on all cardio equipment, 400 square foot hot yoga room, fully equipped Pilates studio and a 2,000 square foot movement studio. The studio offers more than 20 classes a week including kickboxing, weight training, cycling, trekking and boot camp. Plus, guests can enjoy use of the luxurious spa locker room, relaxation rooms, Zen Garden, steam rooms, saunas, whirlpools and private outdoor pool before and after their treatments. The Bamboo Spa Café provides a tempting, nutritionally balanced menu of delectable bites in a tropical oasis. www.reddoorlifestylespa.com
New Spa at Sea
The World, the only residential community at sea with a worldwide itinerary unveiled its newest and highly-anticipated addition – The World Spa by Banyan Tree. The 7,000 square foot spa, Banyan Tree’s first spa at sea, brings its Sanctuary of the Senses philosophy to The World. The Spa draws from Asian traditions and features a spa menu with a comprehensive selection of treatments including body massages, facials and body scrubs offered in eight treatment rooms. www.aboardtheworld.com
Westin New York Launches Walking Program
To encourage increased physical activity and promoting a healthy lifestyle on the road, The Westin New York at Times Square is launching Walk This Way, a program encouraging visitors to see the city by foot. Available upon request, Walk This Way arms pedestrians with a pedometer, pocket-sized maps of three- and five-mile loops from the hotel, and must-see Big Apple hot-spots. Whether traveling for business or for pleasure, the award-winning property, named one of America’s Top 11 Healthiest Hotels,will provide guests with the tools to walk their way to wellness…and have fun doing it!
Fitness fanatics who return their pedometer showing that they have walked 10,000 steps in one day, the daily amount recommended by The American Heart Foundation, will receive a 15% discount to the spa, to sooth tired legs and feet. For the average person, 10,000 steps is about 7.5 miles. The really ambitious can climb the 1,860 steps to the top of the Empire State Building, and take in a beautiful view while celebrating their accomplishment. www.westinny.com
Starwood Announces Program to Banish Trans-Fats
In June Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced its goal to eliminate all artificial trans-fats from the food and beverage operations at more than 400 hotels in the U. S., Canada and the Caribbean by the end of 2007. This includes food served at Starwood-operated restaurants, banquets, catering, room service, bars and lounges. Starwood’s efforts to eliminate artificial trans-fats in its food service is a result of a two-year process at its hotels in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean, including Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Le Méridien, and W brands. www.starwoodhotels.com
Mexico City Hotel Launches Spa Meetings
Keeping meeting attendees productive and relaxed is the goal at Marquis Reforma Hotel & Spa in Mexico City as it rolls out its new spa meetings option. Spa meetings are still a relatively new concept in Mexico, so Marquis Reforma, a member of Leading Hotels of the World, is helping to spread the concept to domestic and international meeting-goers. After testing its spa meetings concept late last year with successful results, Marquis Reforma now offers a comprehensive spa lifestyle menu from its signature spa. SPA Marquis has designed the entire meeting around the benefits of its spa lifestyle from the décor to the tranquil ambiance, from soothing aromatic scents to the healthy food menu. Marquis Reforma can accommodate spa meetings from 15 to 1,000 persons. www.marquisreforma.com
Canada gets its first desert-inspired spa.
The Sonora Desert Spa at Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa in Osoyoos, British Columbia, has become the country's first desert-inspired spa. Focusing on ritual experiences rather than traditional spa services, Sonora Desert Spa features desert and indigenously-inspired treatments that reflect the innovative nature of Canada’s only desert.
The Spa complements Spirit Ridge, the South Okanagan’s inaugural destination condo-resort, that currently includes 30 Villas and 64 Suites, a wine-country inspired restaurant – Passatempo, meeting spaces, beach activity rentals, and an outdoor pool and hot tub. A further 132 Villas and Suites are being constructed in Phase 2 of Spirit Ridge, along with additional meeting spaces, a bistro deli, outdoor pools and amenity space.
For more info: www.sonoradesertspa.com; www.spiritridge.ca
Vancouver Tour Company Offers One-Time Spiritual Odyssey to Italy
Passionate Travel is offering a unique Italian Spiritual Odyssey, September 30-October 12, 2007. Highlights include a Tuscan spa, truffle hunt, cooking class, wine and chocolate tastings, plus a winemaker dinner in Tuscany.
The tour also includes a dinner party with the
Guccis, dinner and tour of a Baron's castle and gardens, private visits and hands-on lessons with top Italian designers and artisans. Hosts are Sheilaa Hite, life coach and motivational author of Power Secrets: The Champion's Guide to Winning in All Areas of Your Life, and Randi Winter, a Vancouver, B.C. a travel specialist and travel writer.
www.passionatetravel.com
New Spa Suites at Royal Palm Resort & Spa, Scottsdale
As part of a $12 million renovation, the Royal Palms Resort and Spa now offers seven unique spa suites. Custom-designed by world-renowned spa designer, Sylvia Sepielli the spa suites encourage guests to place their focus on relaxation and restoration. Overlooking a tiered garden courtyard and reflecting pool, these custom suites offer a terrace with mountain views, and features such as white linen draped daybeds, color therapy lighting, fresh flowers,soaking tub with a steam shower, luxurious linens and reflexology slippers. Guests staying in the spa suites also are entitled to special services including exclusive in-room spa treatments such as the luxurious Savasana body treatment, and innovative therapies utilizing color, vibration and light (colorized yoga or meditation and a chakra balancing treatment.) The suites are part of the resort’s newly created enclave called Montavista. www.RoyalPalmsResortandSpa.com
October is National Health & Wellness Month
According to Spa Asia Magazine, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines has declared October National Health & Wellness Month. Spa Asia's annual Wellness Summit will be held in Manila October 3-5, 2007. www.spaasia.com
Fairmont Makes Staying Fit on the Road Easier
Fairmont Fit is now available at all hotels across the US and Canada. The new program provides travelers with easy access to adidas training gear during their stay. As the newest guest benefit for members of its complimentary loyalty club, Fairmont will deliver workout apparel, footwear and accessories direct to guestrooms. In addition, guests will get preloaded mp3 players to use during their workout with songs from EMI Music, like Coldplay, The Beatles, and Norah Jones. Guests can work out on-site or outdoors with guided morning walking tours at The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess and The Fairmont Banff Springs or a complimentary bike tour at The Fairmont Mayakoba led by a Tatich guide that teaches guests about the resort and the diverse eco-system that surrounds it. Adding to this new healthy offering, health buffs will also be pleased to know that Fairmont is eliminating the use of all artificial trans-fats from its food service operations. For more please go to www.fairmont.com
Creators of Pure Kauai Launch Pure Maui
Pure Maui, a new customized luxury spa vacation company based in Wailea, Maui. Following in the footsteps of sister program, Pure Kauai, Pure Maui’s spa program is geared to challenge its guests with daily activities such as private yoga and Pilates classes, personal training sessions, guided hikes and beach runs. All yoga and Pilates and spa treatments are done in the comfort of the guests’ villa, virtually a “private hotel,” lending a secluded and serene ambiance in which they can truly unwind and become physically, emotionally and spiritually centered. Maui has enlisted the assistance of an array of Maui’s most talented island healers who have mastered the art of massage and body/facial treatments. One of the more innovative treatments, performed by a massage therapist and marine naturalist is AquaCranial Therapy.
Fairmont Newport Beach Opens Willow Stream Spa
The Fairmont Newport Beach has put the finishing touch on its $32 million dollar renovation with the completion of its new Willow Stream Spa. The 8,000-square foot boutique spa features seven treatment rooms, and is the ninth signature Willow Stream spa to open within the company, but the first to offer the “U Room™,” a private do-it-yourself treatment room. Along with this new offering, the Spa will offer unique signature experiences such as the High Maintenance express treatment for those always on the move, the Generosity Treatment for anyone who cherishes California’s tranquil beaches or the Eco-Chic body experience that embodies Fairmont’s dedication to the environment.
One of the spa’s signature treatments is The U Room. A new spa experience exclusive to Willow Stream and making its debut in Newport Beach. In the U Room, you can escape from everything — including spa therapists. Treatments in one of two private sanctuaries, which feature their own steam shower and whirlpool, are DIY (do it yourself)- exfoliate with scrub, moisturize with muds, detoxifying in a salt bath. U Room allows guests to play, relax, pamper. www.fairmont.com/newportbeach
Emerson Resort Premiers Silk-Road Inspired Spa
Emerson Resort & Spa, a two-hour drive from New York City, is now opened and steeped in Asian flair. The spa menu includes eastern and western treatments including Ayurvedic rituals (roughly translated from Indian as “Science of Life”), massage therapies, facials and skin care, hydro therapies, salon services and packages. Inspiration for the spa was gleaned from surrounding Buddhist monasteries and spiritual centers of Hudson Valley – an area that boasts one of the largest concentrations of Buddhist centers in North America. Spa services are offered in 10 treatment rooms, and two outdoor cabanas large enough for couples. Additional spa amenities include a resistance pool, relaxation room, two yoga studios with instructor-lead classes, an indoor whirlpool, well-appointed locker rooms, the spa café, a 1,500 square-foot fitness center featuring Nautilus equipment, exercise classes, and guest lectures.
The spa’s signature treatments all include some form of ginseng, as American ginseng is native to the Hudson Valley region. www.emersonresort.com
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West Virginia Greenbrier set to reopen
After an extensive $50 million renovation project, The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia will reopen on April 2, 2007. The legendary property will debut 63 updated guest rooms with new marble bathrooms that will have soaking tubs and walk-in showers, updated décor under the direction of renowned designer Carleton Varney with patterned fabrics and pastel wallpapers, executive-style desks with larger workspaces, and new furniture. All of the resort’s 721 guest rooms will be outfitted with new bedding and linens, large plasma-screen televisions, and enhanced bathroom amenities. An entirely new culinary experience will debut summer 2007 with the opening of Hemisphere, a new restaurant with a globally-influenced tasting menu and 38°80, a unique cocktail lounge. The Greenbrier will continue to offer over 50 recreational activities to its guests, including indoor and outdoor tennis, golf on three championship courses, rock climbing, tours of its former Cold War-era Congressional bunker on property, falconry, fishing, off-road driving, and use of the property’s 40,000 square-foot spa. www.greenbrier.com
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B.C's Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa opens May 1
Opening May 1, 2007, The Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa is located in Sidney, BC 25 minutes north of Victoria, BC and five minutes from the Victoria International Airport and BC Ferries terminal. The upscale boutique hotel will offer 55 guest rooms all with ocean and mountain views, including nine suites with full kitchens. The Pier will also feature a waterfront restaurant and lounge, European-style café, in-house bakery, 2,050 sq. ft. full-service spa and salon, 1,200 sq. ft. fitness centre and a business centre. A 1,000 sq. ft. meeting and banquet space will accommodate groups up
to 60 guests and an additional 300 sq. ft. boardroom will seat up to ten people. The oceanfront hotel is situated at the foot of Beacon Avenue, the Town of Sidney's main shopping street, and is adjacent to the Sidney pier,
waterfront walkway and park. Sidney is the gateway to the Gulf Islands and the hotel is only steps from a variety of activities including kayaking, whale watching, sailing, diving and cycling. It is also minutes from The Butchart Gardens and the wineries and farms of the Saanich Peninsula. For more information visit www.sidneypier.com
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Westin Hotels & Resorts debuts Unwind.
Unwind… A Westin Evening Ritual, features the tastes, sights and sounds of each destination. From lessons on mixing a Bellini in Florence to pouring a perfect pint of Guinness in Dublin to whipping up a spicy batch of guacamole in Tucson, each of the Westin brand’s 129 hotels worldwide have carefully curated social experiences which are rolling out in hotels over the next month.
The Westin Unwind events transform each lobby into a gathering spot, encouraging guests to socialize and helping to combat the loneliness many travellers sometimes experience on the road. In fact, a recent study by Westin Hotels & Resorts found that that 34% of frequent travellers feel lonely away from home. For more: www.westin.com:come
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Mountain Lodge Spa, set to open July 1, unveils adventure and wellness packages
With four months until the opening of its new state-of-the-art, 16,000-square-foot spa and fitness center in Jackson Hole, Teton Mountain Lodge unveiled several new spa treatments and adventure and wellness packages that take advantage of the area’s amazing outdoor playground. All of the offerings can be paired with accommodations to create a full travel package or booked separately as a spa package. The Take a Hike & Relax package combines morning yoga, a healthy breakfast, a guided hike, an 80-minute sports massage and an herbal body wrap for an unforgettable spa and outdoor day. The Wild Country Wellness Package incorporates yoga lessons, yoga evaluation, posture exercises, diet evaluation and massage. This isn’t just a spa visit; it’s a wellness package designed for guests who are ready for a new way of life. The Mountain Lodge Spa also unveiled a new menu with a number of new treatments, including the Wild Sage & Olive Bliss body treatment and the Sun Relief Facial. www.tetonlodge.com
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Puerto Rico Goes Smoke Free March 2,2007
Puerto Rico takes an important step forward in safeguarding the health of its visitors, employees and residents with the new smoke-free regulations that take effect on March 2, 2007. The new regulations place Puerto Rico at the forefront of Caribbean destinations with a comprehensive smoke-free policy.
The new law prohibits smoking at all food establishments (restaurants, cafeterias, coffee shops and fast food) cultural centers (museums, theatres), casinos, liquor establishments (bar/pubs, nightclubs and liquor stores), convention centers, shopping centers and retail stores, recreation centers, public and government buildings, hospitals and health care centers, public transportation vehicles, judicial courts, all academic institutions, day care centers, retirement homes, funeral homes and private vehicles transporting children under 13 years of age.
The Puerto Rico Tourism company will implement a plan to educate the industry and travellers of the new regulations on smoking in public places in Puerto Rico, so travellers looking for a smoke-free environment can enjoy the island’s many tropical attractions and vibrant nightlife. www.gotopuertorico.com
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Hyatt Hotels & Resorts unveiles the Hyatt Pure web site www.hyattpure.com.
Highlighting experiences at over 70 destinations worldwide, Hyatt allows visitors to be digitally transported to their oasis of choice courtesy of photography, links to treatment menus, and a spa search feature. Whether exploring an indoor/outdoor residential spa room or an open-air sanctuary, guests will learn about the natural ingredients, exquisite treatments, and unexpected beauty that embody the HyattPure experience.
Guests may access the HyattPure website to locate a spa in their area, plan upcoming travels, view special offers and promotions, purchase HyattPure gift certificates good for treatments, read about HyattPure news and plans for future destinations, and purchase spa products
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Guided Outdoor Adventure Programs in Shenandoah National Park, VA
The Guided Outdoor Adventure Programs in Shenandoah National Park, introduced by park concessioner ARAMARK last year, have been redesigned for 2007 to include more dates and increased flexibility for park visitors. The programs offer one-day and two-day professionally-guided treks led by the certified Shenandoah Mountain Guides of Teamlink, Inc. to some of Shenandoah’s most renowned hiking and rock climbing destinations. The programs aim to enhance a visitor’s trail experience by providing individual attention and professional expertise to beginning and advanced hikers. Two-day trips are priced at $178 per person, while one-day trips are $89 per person. A total of 57 dates are included in the April through November 2007 schedule, which can be found online at www.visitshenandoah.com
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New Spa Lifestyle Guestrooms for Mandarin Oriental Miami
Mandarin Oriental, Miami has launched a selection of “Spa Lifestyle Rooms, specifically designed for the healthy-minded guest. Complete with an air purification system, in-room fitness program, personal lifestyle consultant and spa cuisine offerings, the new Spa Lifestyle Rooms aim to provide a balanced, stress-free environment for guests.
We are delighted to offer our guests this innovative, wellness-focused option in accommodation,” said Jill DeMone, Director of Sales & Marketing. “The Spa Lifestyle Rooms are ideal for guests wishing to eat healthier, maintain their exercise routine, sleep more soundly and unwind and relax while away on vacation or a business trip.”
Each of the 16 Spa Lifestyle Rooms is equipped with an air purification system to breathe air free of allergens. The rooms receive a seven-step cleaning process, developed by Pure Solutions N.A., which treats the walls, the bedcovers and air itself. As a result, all Spa Lifestyle Rooms are certified as “allergy-friendly.” Guests will breathe easier and wake up more refreshed. The rooms also feature a selection of pillows from a “water pillow” to memory foam pillows to ensure guests’ total comfort.
The in-room fitness program includes wellness dumbbell racks and wellness balls from Technogym, a world-class provider of fitness equipment. Eco-Yoga mats, organic cotton yoga straps and yoga blocks are also provided for guests to enjoy a fitness class or workout in the comfort of their room. A selection of fitness-themed TV channels, available 24 hours a day, offer classes of Pilates, Yoga and Body Sculpting as well as Guided Relaxation for Sleep. Private yoga and meditation classes can also be arranged in-room or in The Spa’s Chi Studio by expert instructors from The Spa. Guests can take advantage of the hotel’s state-of-the-art fitness centre which has been entirely renovated, with innovative equipment from Technogym. It showcases The Cardio Wave, an innovative machine offering a similar motion to rollerblading or skiing. The gym is a high-tech, luxurious space, with stunning views across Biscayne Bay.
To address health and wellness concerns, Lifestyle Consultant Michelle Menendez will meet with guests and provide recommendations on various topics from nutrition and fitness to relaxation. Ms. Menendez can also arrange nutrition consultations, personal training classes, in-room massages, treatments at The Spa or bespoke spa experiences for guests.
Upon arrival, guests will be offered welcome green tea and a variety of organic foods including raw natural bars, all natural granola, dried fruits and dark extra fine chocolate to enjoy in the comforts of their Spa Lifestyle Room. A special spa cuisine menu is available 24 hours a day through in-room dining. Spa cuisine selections are also offered at the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant Café Sambal or at the poolside bar.
The Spa Lifestyle Rooms are located on the sixth floor of the hotel and each feature an expansive, private veranda with views of Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline, a marble bathroom with separate glass shower, cherry wood furniture and a choice of king size or two double beds. Rates begin at $735 per room per night. www.mandarinoriental.com
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Green Stamp of Approval for New York State’s Emerson Resort & Spa, New York State
Set to open in February 2007, the new Emerson Resort & Spa is an oasis of luxury in the heart of New York’s Hudson Valley set among tall pines and shading maples and overlooking the Esopus Creek and one of the area’s most majestic peaks, Mt. Tremper. This exceptional retreat is a member of Green Hotels of America, a collection of properties whose managers are eager to institute programs that save water, save energy and reduce solid waste, proving Emerson Resort & Spa is as eco-friendly on the inside as it is on the outside. In addition to being a “green” hotel and utilizing ecologically friendly cleaning supplies (especially in laundry which is a huge user of potentially harmful products), the new Inn at Emerson Resort & Spa is installing geo-thermal heating, a method of heating and cooling a building that takes advantage of the natural stable warmth stored in the earth and is extremely environmentally friendly. www.emersonresort.com
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New Elemis spa for Sedona’s Amara Creekside Resort
Sedona’s Four-Diamond Amara Creekside Resort is reaching a pinnacle in its evolution by investing in a million dollar state-of-the-art spa boasting the Southwest’s only Elemis treatment program and line of products. The 4,000 square-foot Elements Spa at Amara will feature six treatment rooms, manicure/pedicure areas, separate male/female locker areas, full weight-training facilities and the exclusive London-based Elemis line of products and treatments.
The spa will be one of only five in the United States to offer the Elemis line of products as well as Elemis- trained professionals. The Elemis training program involves a two-week intensive, hands-on experience with site visits and training at the resort by Elemis professionals from London. Amara is investing in training nearly 20 full-time employees in the program.
The spa will feature separate men’s and women’s service areas and locker rooms, as well as a couples’ treatment room and a central “relaxation room” where groups or couples can meet to unwind before and/or after treatments. New York-based architect Michael Leclere designed the spa, which is intended to complement the resort’s architecture and, like the resort, offer a modern yet tranquil, spiritual and meditative experience.
Reservations can be made by calling toll free 866-455- 6610 or visiting www.amararesort.com for further details.
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