Tag Archives: crystal award winners

Tamara’s Texas Visit Continues at the Lake Austin Resort and Spa

My favorite spa of all has to be Lake Austin. I don’t see why they haven’t won our Crystal Award yet. This spa comes with my highest recommendations and high hopes that next year they will win “Top Spa in North America.” As I was driving up to the resort, I saw a sign that reads, “Slow down as this road ends in a lake,” and they weren’t kidding. Lake Austin is literally right on Lake Austin (if that makes sense).

I appreciated that the cardio machines in the fitness room overlook the lake so that carBlue room pic 1 741237 Tamaras Texas Visit Continues at the Lake Austin Resort and Spadio seems much more exhilarating (and less hamster/treadmill like) than usual. The entire resort is breathtaking. The views made me want to cry, and I am not an emotional person (at all). This property just triggered something in me. When I saw the famous “blue room” at the new Lakehouse Spa, I seriously considered just reclining right there on the lounge, wrapping myself in one of their quilts and asking my client to come back for me later, or better yet tomorrow! The design elements in this one room top what most spas have to offer throughout their whole property. I just couldn’t stop gushing (can you tell).

This place is rustic without making you feel as though you were entirely removed from reality. All rooms have internet access and all the amenities you can think of…The Spa Café has cuisine that’s both healthy AND tasty, which isn’t always accomplished at spas. Ok, the best part of Lake Austin is this little secret I am about to let you in on. The Lakehouse Spa is open for day guests, and they encourage them! So if you are only in Austin for the day or only have time in your schedule for one day at the spa, don’t let that stop you from visiting Lake Austin. Booking a treatment at the spa entitles you to spend your entire day there, enjoying the pools, the café, and of course the blue room, which will leave you very far from blue.

Tamara’s Visit to Cooper Wellness Center

Since I have been immersed in some projects at the office this week, I can’t report on any spa experiences (darn), but fortunately there is hardly a day on which someone from our staff of over 50 people isn’t at a spa. So here is an email I received from Tamara Bedrosian – one of our top account executives – from her recent trip to the “big” state of Texas.

“I am out in Texas visiting spas and, wow, the variety here is pretty fascinating. My trainer told me before I left that Texas is the “fattest state” as kind of a warning not to stray too far from my usual healthy eating regimen and regular workouts. Well, whoever said that Texas is the fat state apparently hasn’t visited Cooper Aerobics Center, founded by Dr. Ken Cooper in Dallas. This place is so full of fit people. The grounds are beautiful- unlike anything I had ever seen before. This is NOT a destination spa. Health and wellness is the main game, with serenity and relaxation second. I felt as though I was back at University…Actually, if you can picture this, a college campus crossed with the White House. I stayed at the Lodge at Cooper Aerobics Center, which has a very regal feeling. My room was fit for a queen (which is fitting), and I have heard that several presidents have stayed at Cooper. Everything about this place is inspiring. I woke every day to joggers doing laps around the outdoor track. Joggers of all ages, I might add, as well as all sizes. The focus wasn’t necessarily on being thin but being fit.

Guilt and curiosity dragged me to the fitness center bright and early before my meeti04 742471 Tamaras Visit to Cooper Wellness Centerngs. The center is 40,000 square feet and has everything you can possibly imagine and more. About 70% of the guests there worked with trainers. The renewal rate on memberships at Cooper is 89%, which is one of the highest in the country. I can see why: this place is serious on results. I hope I haven’t scared you, though. Cooper is lenient on a couple of things. They still have Snickers Bars in the vending machine and now they are offering BOTOX® in the Spa. Might that seem contradictory? Perhaps. But Dr. Ken Cooper understands, that sometimes nature needs just a little nurture.”

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