Tag Archives: european

Attention all dentists….we would love a spa service while you are drilling!

The day after Christmas, I received an unwelcome surprise — a toothache resulting in my first root canal. It was a three-hour ordeal (not fun, although thankfully not too painful), and all the while I was thinking about my favorite dental spa experience, which occurred a while ago at Dell’Acqua Dental Studio in Palm Desert. That’s the place I wrote about in my Ask Susie column in the Jan/Feb 2007 issue of Luxury SpaFinder Magazine.
acqua1 754527 Attention all dentists....we would love a spa service while you are drilling!
After trying a variety of dental spas, I concluded that Dr. Renee at the Dell’Acqua Dental Studio has done the most to incorporate a spa ambiance and nurturing spa services into the dental experience. Unfortunately, the endodontist I was sent to hasn’t gotten with the spa program yet. While I was undergoing my root canal, I kept thinking: “This would be so much easier with a foot massage.”

In case you haven’t seen our latest issue, I will share with you what I wrote in my column. Please pass it on to your dentist, and let’s see if we can’t get more of our dentists (and endodontists) to offset their patients’ stress with relaxation treatments.

From Jan/Feb 2007, Luxury Spa Finder Magazine

WHAT I LOVED:

Being given a robe and slippers to change into. Andrea Bocelli on the sound system, flower petals at my feet, a warm aromatherapy towel around my shoulders, and an eye pillow on my lids during the dental exam and teeth whitening session. The way therapist Sam Nguyen expertly massaged my forearms and hands, placed them in warm mitts, and then performed a reflexology massage on my lower legs and feet during the dental procedure. (And at no charge — it’s all included in the fee.)

WHAT’S UNIQUE:
This isn’t a dental spa; it’s spa dentistry, a field in which Rene Del’Acqua, D.D.S., was a pioneer. The spa amenities, setting, and services (and the oxygen inhalation offered throughout my 90-minute treatment) left me as relaxed and rejuvenated as a regular spa visit–but this one included dental work.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
Not having quite enough moisturizer on my hands during the hot mitt treatment.

MAKE SURE YOU:
Book one of the newly decorated spa suites. Request Kelly Rambold for tooth bleaching. Her attentiveness makes me proud of the way spa practices have enhanced the practice of dentistry.

Spa Survey from Cornell

logo100 737014 Spa Survey from CornellWe received a call at the beginning of the fall semester from several Cornell students who are in Professor Mary Tabacchi’s Spa Management class requesting our help for a class project.

They have designed two short surveys – one for spa managers and one for spa consumers – and asked us to help distribute them so that they can get as many responses as possible. For those of you who don’t know, Cornell has one of the most prestigious hospitality programs in the world. The university was also the first to offer spa management classes. Many graduates are now in top spa positions all over the world. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey for the students.

If you are a spa industry manager or owner, please take this survey.

If you are a spa consumer, please take this survey.

Spa Revitalization in New York State

lakegeorgeinset 749716 Spa Revitalization in New York StateYesterday I was up at The Sagamore in northern New York to attend the first meeting of the recently formed New York Spa Association (NYSPA), a new organization whose mission includes revitalizing the historically rich spa industry in the state of New York. Professor Mary Tabacchi, from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, the major organizer of the event, pulled in a stellar group of spa professionals from around the world.

Former Lieutenant Governor, The State of New York Hon. Mary Anne Krupsak is the chairman of NYSPA. She made some interesting points in her talk when she compared New York’s recent revitalization efforts for the wine industry (which have been incredibly successful!) to the opportunities she sees for revitalizing the spa industry.

After all, New York State has a rich history of spa because of its amazing natural mineral springs, which are still in existence today. Modern facilities and appropriate marketing efforts to promote spa visitation, not to mention a “spa trail” where visitors can enjoy a variety of spas, attract visitors from all over the world to enjoy the beauty of the area and the many wellness opportunities offered by the setting and its natural resources. And as the Hon. Mary Anne Krupsak pointed out, the wine initiatives had nay-sayers who were concerned about the negative effects of wine, but the spa industry would likely enjoy wholehearted support for all the myriad health benefits it promotes. An exciting direction.

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