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The Inn at Essex plans to build a spa

The Inn at Essex has a culinary institute, a fly-fishing pond and a hot-air balloon. Now it’s getting a spa.

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“It’s the transformation from a country hotel to a full-service resort,” said Jim Glanville, general manager of The Inn at Essex.

On Friday, Glanville, Gov. Jim Douglas and a crowd of nearly 100 people — mostly staff at the Inn — gathered for an unveiling of a drawing of what the $6 million, 22,000-square-foot spa should look like. Behind the drawing lay a field of puddles surrounded by piles of mud — the future site of the spa.

Construction workers hit ledge, which will delay the project about three weeks, said developer Peter Edelmann, president of EuroWest Inns Inc. in Essex. The spa is scheduled to be completed in May, Edelmann said.

Wiemann Lamphere Architects of Colchester designed the building, and Dousevicz Construction of South Burlington is the general contractor for the project.

The spa will house a 25-yard indoor pool, an outdoor hot tub, 11 treatment rooms, a fitness center and locker rooms, steam rooms, saunas, and relaxation areas, according to a statement from the Inn.

The Inn at Essex employs 150-200 people, Glanville said. The spa could create up to 30 spa jobs, including a spa director, therapists and maintenance staff, he said.

Glanville and Edelmann said the spa will add to the inn’s “health and wellness” theme, complementing the on-site New England Culinary Institute and cooking classes offered by the inn.

Douglas remarked the spa would attract tourists and improve the state’s economy.

“Tourism is such an important part of our economic base,” Douglas said.

The inn has 120 rooms and suites, and 9,000 square feet of meeting space. The property covers 18 acres.

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SARASOTA, FL Lion’s Gate Development, along with The Waldorf=Astoria Collection™ and Spa Chakra, Inc., are pleased to announce that a Guerlain Spa Boutique will be included as part of the plan for the Proscenium’s luxury Waldorf=Astoria Sarasota hotel. Representing the first project between Guerlain and the luxury hotel brand, The Waldorf=Astoria® in Manhattan opened a Guerlain Spa Boutique in the main lobby in December 2007 and will debut its first Guerlain Spa in September of this year, occupying much of the 19th floor in the iconic New York landmark. Plans are to include them exclusively in other Waldorf=Astoria Collection Hotels. Spa Chakra, Inc. will develop and manage the spa.

“A Guerlain Spa will be the finishing touch to our future landmark hotel,” remarked Gary Moyer, who, along with his partner and wife, Karen Cook, and Zeb Portanova and Allen Ostroff, is developing The Proscenium. “Adding to the hotel’s already impressive list of amenities, the Guerlain Spa will ensure a comprehensive, luxurious experience for every Waldorf guest who chooses to enjoy its services. It will also be available to the public so anyone wanting to be pampered at a world-class spa will now have that opportunity at The Proscenium. We are fortunate that Hilton Hotels Corporation has partnered with Guerlain to create their spa experiences throughout the Waldorf=Astoria Collection hotels. We couldn’t have asked for a more prestigious component.”

Founded in France in 1828, Guerlain has devoted itself to the art of skincare and beauty. Its founder, Pierre-Francois-Pascal-Guerlain, was a renowned chemist who used rare and natural raw materials to create precious beauty potions. Guerlain research continues today and its products reflect its quest for perfection providing a luxurious experience in all areas of its beauty regimes.

The Guerlain Spa at The Proscenium is planned for 12,000 square feet, with almost 7,400 square feet devoted to the treatment rooms, approximately 3,000 for a fitness center, with the remaining reserved primarily for a salon area. Services will includes a roster of experiences for both men and women. There will be exclusive Guerlain massage and skin therapies, facials, body sublimations, hand and foot therapies and makeup artistry. Guerlain spa services will be available at the Waldorf=Astoria Lido Beach location, as well. One can come for an hour, an entire day or a luxurious weekend retreat. Spa package deals will be planned in conjunction with the hotel and are expected to draw clientele from Naples and Tampa.

“The Guerlain Spa will be in keeping with all of the Waldorf=Astoria amenities: first-class,” Moyer continued. “We look forward to raising the bar for hotel experiences in Sarasota. With our Proscenium project, Lion’s Gate Development plans to meet and exceed all expectations.”

Mike Canizales, Spa Chakra Chairman and CEO, added, “We are excited to announce the collaboration between Guerlain and Waldorf in The Proscenium project, extending our partnership with Waldorf and Hilton in the world’s great cities and sublime destinations. We look forward to providing an exclusive and totally indulgent spa experience for hotel guests and visitors alike at this idyllic location.”

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Hilton Hotels and Resorts Rejuvenate Spa Offerings with L’Occitane

Unique Partnership Brings the Warmth of Provence to Hilton’s Global Portfolio

Hilton Hotels and Resorts announced today a partnership with French luxury cosmetics and toiletries company L’Occitane to redesign the hotel company’s full service spas, menu of services and spa product offerings.

Building on the success of flagship spas in Paris, Hong Kong, Taipei, Sao Paulo and Comendatuba (Brazil), the L’Occitane Spa at Hilton will feature all natural products, regionally inspired, hand-performed spa treatments, alongside globally-favored services, and warm Provence-inspired décor selected to infuse spa visitors with a sense of ultimate relaxation and indulgence.

“Our goal with this partnership is to continue to align our world class hotel brands with the world’s top spa brands,” said Alexander Mirza, senior vice president – Corporate Development, Hilton Hotels Corporation. “Hilton and L’Occitane are a perfect fit – authentic brands with time honored traditions of excellence.”

The first L’Occitane Spas at Hilton will open in fourth quarter 2008 at select hotels, including Hilton San Francisco, Hilton Short Hills and Hilton Waikoloa Village. L’Occitane branded spas will be operated both in-house by Hilton and preferred third-party operators such as Spa Chakra.

“L’Occitane brings expertise and world class products that will allow Hilton to offer a consistent, luxurious spa experience for guests of our hotels around the world,” said Jeff Diskin, senior vice president – brand management, Hilton Hotels & Resorts. “Revitalizing our spa program goes hand in hand with our continued commitment to providing an array of wellbeing offerings, including our Hilton Fitness by Precor® fitness centers, swimming pools, and healthy dining options.”

The L’Occitane Spa will offer customized beauty and wellness treatments, including “Immortelle Secret to Youth”, “Grape Cure for body” and “Relaxing Well-Being of the Senses”. At select Hilton Hotels and Resorts travelers will be able to book spa packages that include a L’Occitane spa experience.

“We’re thrilled to work with Hilton to extend the reach of L’Occitane’s spa offerings to the world’s travelers,” said Olivier Baussan, Founder of L’Occitane. “In Hilton we’ve found a partner that aligns beautifully with our company’s core values: authenticity, simplicity, sensory pleasure and respect for people and the planet.”

The Hilton, L’Occitane partnership comes less than a year after Hilton Hotels Corporation’s announced plan to – along with hotel owners – invest approximately US$200 million to develop 70 new spas throughout its portfolio of hotel brands. In fourth quarter 2008, Hilton Hotels Corporation will launch its spa portal, a single Web site destination for its spas, enabling spa discovery, search and on-line booking for its destination spas around the globe.

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Hotel fitness and spa industry veteran Glenn Colarossi today announced that he has developed a new spa brand/concept, called “b spa,” with a goal of selling it directly to a hotel group. Unlike many hotel spas that are leased to independent operators, the new b spa brand will allow hotels to offer a complete spa package of products and services and participate more fully in the revenues it generates. Furthermore, purchase of the new brand will provide the hotel group with complete control of the spa and the guest experience.

“b spa is a deluxe spa product, providing the finest in health options and pampered relaxation,” Colarossi noted. “By combining the best of old world luxury and cutting-edge technologies, we have created the spa experience that guests truly desire. In my more than 20 years of fitness and spa experience, I have seen and experienced virtually all possible combinations available all over the world. I have taken the best of the best in creating b spa.”

b spa promotes its services through an easy-to-use spa “menu,” tailored for a hotel’s discerning, in-the-know guests. The b spa’s unique, branded products and services feature a special emphasis on skin care, with such products as b wet (moisturizer), b cool (after sun treatment), b smooth (anti-wrinkle cream), b clean (cleanser), b plump (lip balm) and b well (nutritional supplements). Additionally, the spa is designed to serve as a gathering place for patrons.

“Ancient spas were frequented as gathering places; not only places to relax and rejuvenate, but also to connect and engage with others,” Colarossi said. “The b spa model incorporates numerous rooms for people to get together and socialize with others.”

b spas offer a “balance cafe,” offering snacks and drinks with a balanced blend of carbohydrates, proteins and fats, as well as the chance to balance one’s life with healthy socializing. The brand also provides areas where guests can receive therapeutic mud treatments or relax in tiled, heated lounges. Another signature room is the Rain Room, where individuals or groups can luxuriate underneath full-length ceiling showers. For spa visitors preferring a more solitary experience, private meditation rooms also are available.

“Today’s business and leisure travelers have shown an increased desire to both stay fit and be pampered while on the road,” Colarossi said. “More and more hotel companies are responding by offering on-site spa facilities. But rather than leasing space to an independent spa operator, a growing number of hotel companies are creating and maintaining their own, in-house spa experience. The b spa brand that I have developed is a unique, powerful brand that combines luxuriousness with simplicity and is the perfect solution for a hospitality group in need of such an amenity.”

“Branded spa and related products can broaden and enhance a hotel’s bottom line,” Colarossi said. “But labeling the product using a hotel or resort’s own name may not effectively entice consumers to patronize a spa facility. Conversely, promoting an independent brand in one’s hotel and not sharing in that value creates a dilemma for properties interested in taking full advantage of the lucrative spa business, including the lack of control over brand integrity and potential fallout from adverse publicity. Already a trademark protected by the U.S. Patent Office, b spa offers both the brand image and return on investment hotels seek.”

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Hotel Galvez opens luxurious spa

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Mary Hodges got a sneak peak of The Spa at the Hotel Galvez before architects, designers and construction workers descended into the hotel’s basement and transformed it into an underground pampering retreat.

The almost 10,000-square-foot storage space was filled with boxes and banquet furniture, but begged to be restored to its former glory as the center of guests’ indoor recreation. When the hotel was built in 1911, the basement was home to a barbershop, candy and drugstore and soda fountain.

In 2005, hotel owners George and Cynthia Mitchell, island natives well known for their work to revitalize the city’s historic buildings and public spaces, decided to convert the space into a full-service spa to serve both locals and hotel guests.

Hodges, who is a friend of the Mitchells, was one of a small group who got a preview of the plans as the family sketched them out.

“I am just floored over this,” she said Thursday after touring the finished product. “I’m a big traveler, and I’ve had massages in Yugoslavia, Rome and Bangkok. I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Hodges acknowledged she’d never made a visit to any of New York’s world-famous spas, but said she found it hard to believe even they could compare to what was now available beneath the Galvez lobby.

Increasingly Popular

Spa popularity has almost doubled in the last five years as more and more people look for an experience of relaxation and escape from the pressures of their daily lives.

In 2003, the International Spa Association counted 9,865 spa facilities in the United States. By July 2007, the number of spas had grown to 14,615.

One in four Americans has visited a spa, and the more than 32 million active spa clients generated $9.4 billion in revenue for the industry in 2006, according to the association.

Comfort, Luxury, Tranquility

The Galvez spa is unlike anything else available in Galveston, said Director Vanessa Harris. It’s mission is to provide an environment of total comfort, luxury and tranquility, she said.

The experience starts in the spa’s meditation garden, a walled oasis seemingly worlds away from the busy street that runs just outside its perimeter. A tiled wall covered with flowing water and a gazing pool, where a bed of smooth black river rocks glistens just below the surface, begins to create a more serene state of mind.

Clients transition from the bright light of a sunny island day into the cool and soft atmosphere of the spa’s interior down a long staircase that ends at a wall inlaid with mother of pearl.

The walls, floors and furniture are all done in neutral tones that invoke the feeling of tranquility associated with standing on an empty beach.

Inspired By The Sea

The spa’s treatments are inspired by the sea, with hydrotherapy baths, facials and massages enhanced with marine extracts. Prices range from $30 for a 20-minute aromatherapy bath to $200 for a massage done by two therapists.

Clients start their treatment with a stop in the relaxation room, where they can read, soak their feet in a rose petal-infused bath or listen to guided meditation recordings.

The spa is equipped with seven treatment rooms, including what staff say is the island’s only Vichy shower — a system of water jets that exfoliates and polishes clients while they are laying on a massage table.

The facility was designed with the hotel’s numerous wedding parties in mind and offers a suite where bride and bridesmaids or groups of friends can gather to share their pampering experience together.

The spa includes a full-service salon that provides hair, nail and makeup services and uses Kérastase, an elite line of hair care products found only in 1 percent of American spas.

Good Investment

The renovation, which cost $6 million and took 22 months to complete, also includes a new fitness center with Paramount and Precor equipment, Pilates classes and an on-site private trainer.

Melinda Minton, executive director of The Spa Association, said the Mitchells probably made a good investment.

In a recent survey, 67 percent of respondents said they based their decision about where to stay on spa amenities, Minton said.

And trips to the spa are no longer saved for special occasions, she said.

“A lot of people just have a standing appointment,” she said, attributing spa popularity to the overall focus being placed on health and wellness.

“There’s been a real switch to going to the spa as part of a routine.”

Hodges made an appointment at the spa for a Swedish massage shortly after it opened on March 15.

She said she planned to visit the salon again this weekend for a pedicure.

“I hope the locals realize how special this place is and come and enjoy it,” she said.

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