Luxury Hotelier - November 2007 - (Page 61)

credits the popularity of the women’s and men’s tea menus she has created to growing interest in the healing properties of the brew. “Overall, tea has always been a part of the spa experience, but this is something brand-new to the industry,” she explains. Ms. Fielding offers three menus in Melissa Fielding the spa—the women’s menu features light, fruity flavors, the men’s spa highlights more robust flavors and the third menu features teas from the Art of Tea (www.artoftea.com) that Ms. Fielding and her staff pair with spa services. “For example, if you are having a facial, we pair it with pomegranate blueberry white tea, because the blueberries are high in antioxidants and white tea helps increase collagen in the skin,” she says. White tea and Pu-erh tea, a fermented FILADELFIA COFFEE RESORT & SPA tea from China, are the trendy teas right now, Ms. Fielding says. She calls her tea programs successful thus far at the spa, and she plans to build the program to include special programs to educate guests on the health benefits of tea. And for the guests who think tea programs are strictly for women, Ms. Fielding has a surprising answer. “Our tea programs attract most of the guests who walk into the spa,” she says. “I was hesitant to put the tea menu on the men’s side, but surprisingly, men are drinking more tea than women.” » BY STEPHANIE RICCA Tradition with a twist The Fairmont Empress Hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, first offered afternoon tea to its guests nearly 100 years ago, and today the practice still is very much a traditional affair. But afternoon tea manager and tea sommelier Mark Wachtin is constantly evolving his tea offerings to keep the service anything but old fashioned. For Mr. Wachtin and his staff, their commitment to tea begins with the leaf. Fairmont Hotels and Resorts works with Toronto-based Metropolitan Tea Co. (www.metrotea.com) to produce the hotel chain’s proprietary blends. Metropolitan produces its teas and packaging using sustainable environmental practices, a philosophy important to Fairmont. While the afternoon tea presentation at the Empress is traditional, featuring fresh fruit, sandwiches and pastries paired with the tea, in the last few years Mr. Wachtin has seen an evolution in the customer. “What was once a traditional family and socially arranged affair, participated in by mostly women, has evolved into an afternoon meal enjoyed by a vast cross section of travelers and local residents,” he says. “We see more men and young couples than ever.” FAIRMONT HOTELS AND RESORTS To appeal to his growing audience, Mr. Wachtin has developed programs including tea-tasting seminars and menus with tea notes. Fairmont as a company, and his property, offer extensive training to keep the tea staff educated on blends, pairings and operations. “The resurgence of afternoon tea … is, in my observation, fulfilling a need to reclaim ritual and restoration,” Mr. Wachtin says. “It’s related to current health trends and demographics. More than ever, we want to stay healthier, we also want to live longer and age differently than our parents’ generation.” --S.R. www.LuxuryHotelier.com | November 2007 | Luxury Hotelier http://www.artoftea.com http://www.metrotea.com http://www.LuxuryHotelier.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Luxury Hotelier - November 2007

Luxury Hotelier - November 2007 Contents Editor's Letter Publisher's Letter Inform: News and Notes Network: People Personalities: Traditional Innovator Insight: Smith Travel Research / The Bench Insight: Ypartnership Properties: A Front-Row Seat to Moscow Properties: Northern Star Inspire: Outdoor Showers Deliver: Wellness and Fitness Protocols: The Real Deal Insight: Cornell University Innovate: In-Room Technology Development: Global Project Pipeline Indulge: Coffee and Tea Insight: Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne Connect: Regional Marketing Update: IH/M&RS Luxury Product Collection Dossier: Davide Bertilaccio of The Rocco Forte Collection’s Le Richemond

Luxury Hotelier - November 2007

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