Reiki at a Spa. Real energy Medicine or Bunk?
by Susie Ellis

Reiki. I have always found it mysterious. What is it exactly? Every explanation I have heard seems to be different. I have tried it a few times, however when faced with a choice between a wonderfully relaxing deep tissue massage or a Reiki session, I have always opted for the massage. In Reiki there isn't a lot of actual touch - and no massaging of muscles. In fact I have been suspicious of the possibility that a therapist likes to do Reiki because it isn't as much work - a way for them to "rest" during a treatment.

Well, I stand corrected. I couldn't have been more wrong about Reiki (or perhaps I should say about Reiki with a Reiki Master.) During my visit to the Trisara Resort & Spa they had arranged for me to have a session with this famous Reiki healer in Phuket.

Here is what I remember: The Reiki practitioner had a gentle and positive spirit. He explained ahead of time that we would begin with me on the massage table face up, and then later face down. I wouldn't necessarily feel anything, however many people have found that they feel an energy release afterward. For some it is more immediate, for others within the next day or two. Some people get emotional, others just have a greater sense of the body/mind/spirit being in balance.

So we begin. After washing his hands and some mental preparation, he cupped his hands and began "hovering" over various parts of my body. I could feel an intense heat from his hands which he kept close to - but not directly on - my body. He seemed to be channeling energy from his body to mine. This kind of energy transmission happened continually as he went from one part of the body to another. Always, there was heat from his hands. The entire session was about 75 minutes and the longer it went on, the more pleasurable the feeling of energy transfer was.

That was it. The only "ah ha" moment during this time was a very bright flashlight-like strobe which I saw while my eyes were closed which startled me. I really don't know if I had fallen asleep and was dreaming or if some other phenomenon had occcured.

Anyway, the practitioner bid me farewell afterwhich I went right from the massage table to change and then head to the Phuket airport for my trip back to New York. As I began what would end up being a 24 hour journey home, I was aware of feeling a bit more relaxed than usual, a bit less anxious - in fact not anxious at all. And then it happened. A flood of tears during my layover at the Bangkok airport. The weeping lasted about two hours. Now I suppose it might have had something to do with the fact that my flight out of Phuket was delayed 5 hours and I missed my connection to New York and had to rearrange everything through Tokyo, etc. However, I am a seasoned traveler and have faced these sort of travel irritations many times and never have they resulted in an uncontrollable flood of tears. Something had truly shifted.


It seems time for me to learn more about Reiki and energy medicine. Please share with me whatever experience you may have had. You have my attention.


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Trisara Resort and Spa: The Perfectly Designed Hotel Suite with Plenty of Room for Spa Treatments
by Susie Ellis

Last year I experienced what I considered to be one of the most perfectly choreographed spa treatments I had ever had. It was at the Sphatika Holistic Treatment Center in New York - a 2 hour treatment superbly executed. Later I found out that they had worked on this particular treatment for five years in order to reach this level of perfection!

Well, now I feel that I have experienced the most perfectly designed resort suite. Am here at the Trisara Resort and Spa in Phuket, Thailand. And sure enough, when I had breakfast with the general manager, Anthony Lark, I found out that he had spent almost ten years thinking about and finally designing and perfecting this room. It was 1,000 square feet and all I can say is that I couldn't wait to get back to the room although the rest of the resort was superb as well.
Apparently every villa at the resort has this same design which includes an infinity pool and ocean view from every part of the villa - from the office/bedroom/sitting&eating area, and even the long bathroom that runs the length of the entire villa behind the bed and rooms. That's the ingenious part.

Take a look at the photo. You can see the bed from which the view would include the large infinity pool and past that, the ocean. If you are lying in bed, to the right of you is a large area with a desk, a large (initially hidden) area to plug in all kinds of electronics, banquette space, storage underneath and some closet and drawers all built in. To the left of you is the sitting/eating area from which you enjoy the same pool/ocean view. There is a spacious minibar area including a large pull-out shelf with coffee maker, instant hot tea maker, dishes, etc.

This large open trio of rooms has gorgeous wooden ceilings - each with a dfferent configuration and at varying heights, with all kinds of lighting effects. And then what was really cool, is that if you are lying in bed - behind you and running across the entire back of the villa - is the bathroom from which you can also enjoy the infinity pool/ocean view because there are pocket windows (mirrored) that stretch the length of the room above and behind the bed. When these are opened, they give you the ocean view from the bathroom and when closed give the bathroom total privacy.

It wasn't just the design of the villa, it was also every small little detail that felt perfect - like the reading light above your bed that shines at just the perfect angle and where you can reach the switch from your bed without straining, etc.

There is something about perfection that is inspiring...and in a way, part of what makes a spa vacation something memorable and transformative.

The only thing I felt didn't fit was a kind of elephant-like structure made out of two hand towels to which two small black slips had been added to look like eyes that was sitting on the banquette in front of the bed to greet you when you first arrived at the room. It reminded me of the "napkin-art" you get at convention meals. Odd, but I suppose, forgiveable.

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Most Expensive Spa in the World Opening Soon! Six Senses Spa to Introduce its Destination Spa and 7th Sense Spa Experience
by Susie Ellis

Had a sneak peek at the soon-to-be-launched new Six Senses Destination Spa here in Thailand. It was a 30 minute boat ride from the Six Senses Hideaway Yao Noi where I am currently staying. During a tour of the property which is nearing completion (although it looks to me will need more time than they think to be ready for opening), I kept saying, "wow," "wow," "wow" with every corner I turned.

The opening of this Destination Spa is going to be big news, - both inside the spa industry and outside of the spa industry. My guess is that these will be the big media stories:

1. You can eat the landscaping around your villa and pretty much eat everything else growing on the property.

2. This isn't one spa - it is literally four spas in one: an Indian spa, an Indonesian Spa, a Chinese Spa, and a Thai Spa. And I don't mean "area" but "spa"! There is also a salon called the hair spa as well as color therapy spaces, colonics, Watsu area, Pilates, kenisis, a feng shui'd gym (finally!), and a host of other offerings too numerous for me to remember. It would be easier to try and list what they don't offer.

3. Although not a medical spa per se, there will be master practitioners and medical doctors and an emphasis on both Eastern and Western wellness options - no aesthetic medicine.

4. It will no doubt be lauded for its ecologically embedded practices.

5. The food will likely get rave reviews because of the garden-fresh ingredients, their raw food restaurant option, and the status of their spa-celebrity chefs.

6. The 7th Sense will be introduced which will trump the Sixth.

7. It will be the most expensive spa in the world.

There are very few true destination spas left. In Asia there are just a handful - Chiva Som in Thailand (the most well known), Como Shambala in Bali (very small but exquisite), and the Farm at San Benito in the Philippines (unfortunately, a well kept secret).

North America has Canyon Ranch, Miraval, Rancho La Puerta, Golden Door, Greenhouse, Cal a Vie, and about 10 others. All destination spas are gems in my opinion. Very expensive to create and operate yet offer the greatest chance to pursue wellness and transformation. Bottom line for me is that I always feel my best (and am told I look my best) after a stay at a destination spa.

In fact that reminds me of how I recently heard someone describe the difference between a resort spa and a destination spa: When you return home from a resort spa you tell others how great it looked. When you return home from a destination spa others tell you how great you look!

Stay tuned....and fasten your seat belts.

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What Makes a Spa Soulful? Contemplating this at a Soulful Spa in Thailand is a Good Way to Find Out.
by Susie Ellis

Am in Thailand at the Six Senses Hideaway Yao Noi while at the same time continuing my work regarding preparations for the Global Spa Summit 2008. Interesting how the two intersect.

Am working with the famous architect Robert Henry who will be leading a panel discussion on "How to Create, Design, and Maintain a Spa with Soul" at the Summit which both of us feel is a very exciting and timely topic. Spas are becoming big business and increasingly we find large companies and corporations beginning to create spas when in the past they were birthed and nurtured by individuals whose passion guided the evolution of their spas. People like Deborah Szekely (Rancho La Puerta and Golden Door), Sheila Cluff (The Oaks at Ojai), Dorothy Purdue (various spas in UK), and Enid and Mel Zuckerman (Canyon Ranch), etc.

Here at this very exclusive Six Senses Hideaway I think most people would agree it is a "spa with soul." This one was create by founders of the Six Senses and Soneva Brands, the famous Eve and Sonu team.

All villas have butlers, pools, and mesmerizing views - mine with turquoise water and small islands in the distance. The design and décor is imaginative, the entire resort is not only eco-friendly but what I call eco-embedded. The entire experience one of a sort of "barefoot luxury." Part of the fine dining room sits on top of a glass floor under which is a magically lit green plant garden with trickling stream. And don't even get me started on the "Private Reserve" villa with the 180-degree view and gigantic pool which rents for $16,000 per night.

My outdoor shower has two shower heads. One is a rain shower and the other a more traditional shower head (for when you don't want to get your hair wet). The mini bar has lots of healthy things (and some not-so-healthy for the occasional indulgence). No nickel and dime fees....everything is complimentary. (Well, you can figure it is in the price of your villa.)

It is easy to get a spa treatment booked because they have plenty of staff available so I was able to simply walk in and collapse in their care on day one when I was still feeling jet-lagged.

Have had some very nice moments of time to think about what makes a spa soulful. Can't wait to hear what Robert and his panel share from their points of view.
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A "Plugged-In" Spa Visit To Thailand with Massage and Facial on Day One and a Pre-Flight Manicure and Pedicure
by Susie Ellis

Just got to Thailand after a 16 hour flight from New York to Bangkok aboard Thai Airways, a three hour layover at the Bangkok airport, a one hour flight to Phuket, a 1/2 hour drive to a jetty and a 45 minute boat trip to the island of Yao Noi where I am staying at the Six Senses Hideaway.

I have learned to make the most of my traveling. Got a manicure and pedicure in at the JFK airport (what a time-saver that was!) and answered about 50 emails on the flight (which to the chagrin of the receivers - especially my assistant - all go out at the exact moment that I land in Bangkok), handled another bunch of emails at the Bangkok airport, and finished up the rest when I arrived at Six Senses Hideaway.

Am in the middle of helping plan the Global Spa Summit and don't have the luxury of turning off my Treo for the duration of my trip...however I am not complaining. This is going to be a "plugged in" trip rather than an "unplugged" trip. However, if it wasn't plugged in, I wouldn't be able to take it.

More later....

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SpaFinder Biggest Loser Contest Finale with Spa Trips for the Winners!

by Susie Ellis

The SpaFinder Biggest Loser Contest began in January and ended with our "grand finale" yesterday! We got down to our final 4, pictured here from left to right: Lisa (Accounting), Dan (SpaBooker), Sarah (Publishing), Nikki (Accounting) and each stepped on the scale for the final time at 5:00 p.m. Our winner was Sarah Day - who had lost the highest percentage of body weight and about 22 lbs! Her prize was a week at the spa of her choice - and she chose Rancho la Puerta!

We had designed our Biggest Loser contest to have a runner up - someone who had been voted off and didn't make it into the final four but lost the most weight. That winner (pictured to the right with Sarah Day) was Raul Diaz (Online Marketing) who lost 55 lbs! His prize was a weekend at a spa and he choose the Lodge at Woodloch.

And finally, there was a prize for the group who lost the most weight. That prize - a group trip to a day spa in New York for a spa treatment and lunch at Great Jones Spa - was won by the group named the Ice Screamers. This group lost over 100 lbs in total (yes, that's me on the right and I did contribute 4 lbs of that weight loss). Also pictured from left to right: Raul, Amanda (Web Editor), Alex (SpaBooker), Emma (Accounting), Reggie (IT), and Nikki.

All in all, this contest was a huge success. The company lost about 275 lbs and since the contest lasted for 4 months, this was not as much about a crash diet as it was about losing and keeping the weight off. The unexpected pay-off was getting to know people in other departments and learning that working for your team mates can be a greater incentive than just losing weight for yourself.

And the final lesson - that it is possible for someone to make it to the final four (Dan) who never lost a pound but was so clever at forming (and deceiving) alliances that he taught us that strategy is definitely part of the game. (On the other hand, in the end....seems that you will have to pay your own way to a spa Dan.) :)

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Spa Related Highlights from a Hospitality Forum: Through my Spa Eyes
by Susie Ellis

A few things got my attention at yesterday’s 2008 Leadership in Hospitality & Leisure Executive Forum (an Argyle Executive Forum) which was held here in New York. Some of us “spa-types” were in attendance - Judy Singer, Patti Monteson, and Jeff Kohl – but most were either hotel executives from companies such as Ritz-Carlton, Starwood, Marriott, Loews, Jumeirah, Wyndham, and Disney or financial/investor folks. From my notes, here are a few spa and hotel related highlights. I will elaborate as I have time in future blogs.

• Theatrical hospitality is a new buzzword (I like that)
• Walt Disney is expanding their brand and getting more into hotels and spas (for families, no doubt)
• Hotels need to keep up with consumer expectations – this can often be costly. Currently the big “must have” is the flat screen TV. Next will be the curved shower curtain. (Yep, love those curved shower curtain rods where I don’t have to have my body come in contact with the curtain!)
• Highest growth potential for hotels/resorts/spas currently is in Russia, Turkey, China, Thailand, and Malaysia. (Turkey was the surprise for me on this list)
• A new growth area for hotels and spas which is not yet on people’s radar, is the northern part of Africa (Interesting)

• Blue Harmony “Renew you inner Rhythm” is the spa and fitness program that Wyndham is going to be rolling out. The blue is for water and the name kind of fits with their Gen X positioning. (Wonder if they can execute…)
• Aber and Kent is getting into the Exclusive Resorts arena…interesting idea to have this new product category with a recognized brand name. (Clever)
• Jumeirah wants to help people not feel guilty while enjoying their luxury. (at least they admit it…am sure they aren’t the only ones)
• High touch and good architecture is not so easy for Asia to duplicate quickly. (It’s the high touch part that’s tough with a language barrier)
• Residences are becoming more and more a part of the hotel/resort formula. In fact, I am now seeing brands say they are in the hotel/resort/residence business. (Pardon me while I revert to third grade antics: “I told you so” – hmmm that felt good)
• People are really starting to talk about Gen X. (Makes me think we are right on trend with our switch to the new SpaFinder Interactive Magazine in 6 different languages.)
• Even the people in emerging markets know “what is in.” (The Internet and TV make what’s “in” instantly known)
• The other shoe has dropped in Las Vegas. There were ten projects under construction and now it appears as if the Fountainbleu will be the only one to make it to the finish line at the end of this year. It will cost more than $4 billion, be the tallest hotel on the strip (63 stories), will not have a “theme,” and their 50,000-square-foot spa will be in the sky. (With all that investment, I hope they get the spa right…but time and time again, I see people miss the opportunity to do something extraordinary. Fingers crossed.)

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Spa Lifestyle Real Estate Experiences a Hiccup: Spa Lifestyle Living Still Resonates
by Susie Ellis

Sad news. Canyon Ranch Living Chicago, which was in the design and pre-sale phase, has been cancelled. This article, "End of the Trail", gives some of the details. From the few mentions I could find on the web, it appears that there were insufficient sales of condos and that it fell victim to the current market crunch. Too bad. The design seemed really inspired and I love the idea of "wellness condos."

But timing is a big factor in these kinds of things. What would have worked several years ago - and may very well work several years from now - is struggling today amidst the bad economic news. Who knows, it may have been the size of the project, the price point, the location, or maybe the marketing plan that didn't work. And I can't help but wonder if the condo project was kept alive longer than it might have been because of its unique spa aspect.

One thing I am convinced about, however, is that the idea of spa lifestyle real estate is here to stay and it will find its ideal expression as time goes on. Canyon Ranch Living in Miami looks to be a successful project - as does Miraval Living in New York. Red Mountain keeps building more residences because of the demand and our spa real estate section on Spafinder.com keeps growing.

This situation reminds me a bit of the time when the internet bubble burst. Remember? The bubble grew from approximately 1995 - 2001 and then it "burst" and share prices fell dramatically. The pendulum swung from being gung-ho regarding the Internet to doom and gloom. I remember noticing only one person during the "down" time who kept saying, "don't worry about it. The future of the Internet is still so amazing that even with this "correction" there will be huge upsides and the Internet world will continue to grow exponentially." That person was my husband. In time, he was proven correct.

Alas...I feel the same way about setbacks in the evolution of spa lifestyle real estate. To me it is a two steps forward and one step back kind of thing. The fundamentals are just too compelling: aging baby boomers who are reaching retirement age, who value their health and well-being above almost anything else and who have money (much of it inherited) to spend. We also have a younger generation embracing the LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) lifestyle and wanting to raise their families in a healthy environment.

Real estate with spa components is here to stay.

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