Premier Spas & Romance - Winter/Spring 2008 - (Page 9) did I feel cleansed, toned and tightened, but I felt like a true, in-the-know local. At Little Dix Bay, A Rosewood Resort on the Caribbean island of Virgin Gorda, my assortment of spa treatments utilized local flora to create a fragrant blend of products that melted away fatigue and soreness from an early-morning hike up Cow Hill Trail. (Views of the ocean from my treatment room only added to the paralyzing bliss.) Similarly, on a visit to the spa at Cape Grace Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa, I was awed by my massage therapist, Rose, who administered a muscle-melting African Cape Massage that consisted only of full circular movements, mimicking the Khoi San tradition of dancing in circular motions in preparation for healing. Rose asked if I preferred to enjoy my massage in silence, or if I’d like for her to tell the Khoi San story as she went along. I opted for the narrated version and, after the massage (which also used one of the first-known essential oils to come out of South Africa), I had an even deeper appreciation for the destination. Let’s not forget how fresh and energized I felt, eager to take in as many of the sights as I could following such a wonderful introduction to the country. But what I enjoy even more about spas today, perhaps, and what I think lends itself to the best possible spa experience, is the welcome trend of customization. Massage therapists and estheticians are spending more time getting to know their clients (and their aches, pains and ailments) in order to concoct treatments aimed at a specific set of problems. I’ve had facials fit for fair skin (Bellagio Spa in Las Vegas), hydrating wraps to beat the desert heat (The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas), hand and foot massages to combat keyboardinduced Carpal Tunnel-like symptoms and cramping that comes from walking New York City streets in painfully high heels, respectively (Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa, though I request this everywhere I go). On a diving trip in the Republic of Palau, I even had a post-snorkel massage that my therapist vowed would dull the sting of a searing, scarlet sunburn. Not only are spas changing the ways in which they cater to their clientele, www.premierhotels.com Cape Grace Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa Bellagio Spa, Las Vegas, Nevada however; those clients are themselves changing the way they use spas. Though spas may once have been an afterthought or an extracurricular addition to a traveler’s itinerary, in many cases now, the spa is the main draw. During the course of my aforementioned travels, I’ve been to spas with my girlfriends and my mom and have also gone in search of a little romance. Like these spa experts do, know your clients’ purpose, and plan accordingly; perhaps a painful deep-tissue massage or muchneeded lymph drainage treatment is just what the doctor ordered on a solo visit to the spa, but a girls’ getaway might call for something a little more leisurely—a round of skin-soothing facials, a relaxing rubdown or group manicures and pedicures. Plan a few treatments with time in between to relax, which my mom and I appreciated having for some rare catching-up time. Tailor your clients’ spa treatments to match the mood that’s set by the company they plan to keep; spa visits don’t have to be over-the-top to be effective or unforgettable. With a little careful planning and foresight, you can rest assured knowing that when your client walks out of a spa treatment room, the benefits she reaps— deeper bonds with friends and family, a stronger connection or an intimate moment with her special someone—will reach far beyond the fleeting feeling of physical euphoria that might not last beyond the locker room. Lindsay Lambert is the managing editor of Premier Hotels & Resorts, Premier Spas & Romance and Luxury Travel Advisor magazines. Winter/Spring 2008 | PREMIER SPAS & ROMANCE 9 http://www.premierhotels.com
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