Incentive - December 2007 - (Page 72)

TRAVEL The spa at Las Ventanas al Paraiso incorporates native plants such as elephant tree, chaparral and sage in its treatments Spas with a Sense of Place Give your trip some local flavor with spas that incorporate native culture, indigenous products and local traditions in the treatments By Maryann Hammers With that in mind, many spas are incorporating local customs and lore in their treatments. For example, the new spa at Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert, California, offers a Date Scrub, since the surrounding Coachella Valley is one of the world’s top date-producing areas. El Spa at Iberostar Playa Paraiso along the Riviera Maya envelops guests with aromatic Mexican spices and indigenous music in traditional Temezcal ceremonies, complete with shaman. And can anyone resist the “Wine and Roses” treatment at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa in California wine country, which starts with a tub full of rose petals, followed by a massage with fragrant grape seed oil and a glass of sparkling wine? Sign us up! Here are a few spas that capture the essence of the destination in treatments and surroundings—thus enhancing your group’s perception of the destination and your event. N 72 | Incentive orma McGrody, owner of Meeting Management Associates, based in New York City, knows that her client groups are seasoned travelers who’ve been there, done that. So she makes sure that the trips she puts together offer something they can’t get elsewhere. “I expect top-of-the-line food, activities and golf at a high-end hotel or resort,” she says. “So I look for things my attendees could never do at home, whether it’s special tours, activities or spa treatments. And I want the whole package to tie together with the environment.” Here Today, Gone to Maui Slated to reopen in early January after a massive, $125 million transformation, the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua in Maui boasts a pristine beach, lush landscaping with fragrant plumeria, coastal golf course, and torch-lit fine-dining restaurant. The resort’s new spa is called “Waihua.” It’s a Hawaiian term that refers to water that falls from heaven and rests on native plants, such as taro. At Waihua, taro plants | December 2007 | incentivemag.com http://incentivemag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Incentive - December 2007

Incentive - December 2007
Contents
Editor’s Note: Revved Up
In the News
Cover Story: Rolls-Royce Empowers Its Own
Case Study: Booz Allen Hamilton
Beating Your Best
Incentive Primer: Add Value to Your Event
Keeping Safety In Mind
Incentive Interview
Potentials Here and Now
Research: Corporate Gifts Facts Report
Tabletop
Awards: Travel Gift Cards
Travel News
Viva Puerto Vallarta
Indigenous Spas
Advertiser Index
Off the Cuff: Ambassador Christoph Bubb
Luxury Brands Special Supplement

Incentive - December 2007