Tag Archives: LA Times

Guerlain Spa at the Waldorf=Astoria Finally Opens

Guerlain Spa at the Waldorf=Astoria Finally Opens

by Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider

At last. The much anticipated Guerlain Spa at the Waldorf=Astoria (yes, the Waldorf does use that = sign in their name) has finally opened! And while I had already toured the spa a few days ago, last night’s opening party gave me a chance to see it again with hubby Peter. Lucky for us, Mike Canizales, CEO of Spa Chakra, Inc., which is the company responsible for the Guerlain Spas in the Astoria collection, was there and offered to show us around. I love getting to hear some of the inside scoop regarding how a spa came together.

My overall impression? I was impressed. And not because the spa is splashy with over-the-top-never-to-be-forgotten design. (I saw that at the Dolder Grand in Zurich a few weeks ago…subject of a future blog.) The Guerlain Spa is impressive because of its tasteful simplicity and sophistication. It is a beautifully appointed spspa new bottle 794355 Guerlain Spa at the Waldorf=Astoria Finally Opensace with some stunning – yet understated features.

There are custom-made chandeliers throughout with the standout being the rectangular one in the foyer which hangs almost to the floor and looks like strings of cascading crystals. There are large crystal framed mirrors in the treatment suites (each unique) and a lovely display of those beautiful antique gold Guerlain perfume bottles which just exude “royalty.” (photo on the left)

But it is the nuances – a few thoughtful and subtle points of differentiation – which I feel will end up setting this spa apart. I questioned Mike about how he decided to make these minor shifts in the traditional spa experience to appeal to the New York crowd. His answer? Lots of listening. Apparently his company does a lot of research. In this case they wanted to find out how to take the luxury spa experience to the next level. Here are some things I noticed:

  • Spotlessly clean…in fact, gleaming, amidst white, crystal, white, silver, more crystal and more white
  • No locker room experience to dread… every guest is given their very own spa suite (with a safe) where they change, have their treatment and, in most cases, shower and steam
  • No shared saunas and Jacuzzis… privacy and sophistication is what this experience is about
  • Treatments are at least two hours… this is a place where you linger
  • Intake form information is gathered while you are receiving a relaxing foot massage in the dreamy relaxation room…but there is no extra charge for a “foot ritual” which I have begun to find annoying
  • Guerlain products are used exclusively which communicates the high standard…and fragrance is given importance and incorporated into each experience
  • The fitness program is unique…the Slow Burn method where just 20 minutes of exercise twice a week is recommended…and there is no sweating
  • Gratuities are included and they mean it… staff will not accept extra gratuities no matter how hard you try to get them to take it
  • No clutter… no spa products sitting out in the treatments rooms…nothing on the reception desk…everything serene…sleek

When you think about it from the Guerlain and Spa Chakra point of view, it is quite a challenge to create a spa in New York City in a landmark location where you know your brand’s entire reputation is on the line! You have to see what the other luxury spas are doing and then try to differentiate and trump them all (to some degree) without overdoing it. You want to be able to attract a complex clientele – sophisticated international visitors, heads of state, business titans, the occasional celebrity as well as the tourist who comes to the Waldorf for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And, for your bottom line, you will most likely want to have some loyal local clientele who will call this spa their home.

Time will tell how things work out. The real test is ahead of them. Will the quality of their spa services live up to expectations? Having gotten quite a bit right so far, my bet is that the answer will be yes.

P.S. Rereading this blog the day after I wrote it (I usually let my blogs sit a day and then check back for spelling errors, rewording, etc. before hitting the “publish post” button), I thought I should share a comment Peter made to me post-event. He mentioned that he thought the spa will appeal to women more than men. Fair enough. I see his point. Other than the gym, in which I am sure any man would feel comfortable, the decor might be slightly more appealing to women. However, given that their clientele will likely be mostly women, that may not be such a bad thing. And I got to thinking…if you try to appeal equally to men and women, you often don’t “wow” either. In this case, the women will be “wowed”. And that’s fine with me!

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Visiting Spas Has Other Than Spa Benefits

Visiting Spas Has Other Than Spa Benefits

By Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider

The family appreciates me these days.

Am at a family gathering in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico for the 4th of July weekend. Peter and I are with his nephew and wife, their two cute little girls (ages 3 and 6), his sister and his daughter. After 25 years with Peter who has umpteen cousins, each with lots of kids, well, there are always plenty of family gatherings.

It is a new adventure for me to be invited to spend four days in a rented house by the ocean where you eat most meals in and the day consists basically of moving between pool, bedroom, dinner table and assorted naps. Oh, and yes, a massage thrown in now and then. Am adjusting well.

Today was our Dolphin-Encounter outing for the little girls. After years of non-assertive behavior, where I always went along with whatever anyone else wanted to do (to be nice) and later in life learning that this is a formula for depression, I decided to announce that after the Dolphin-Encounter I wanted to stop at a spa (Grand Velas) for a quick tour. This spa is featured on our website and I have never seen it. In years past this “announcement” would have been met with rolled eyes and efforts to persuade me otherwise. No longer. People prefer that I am not depressed. Ditto that for me.

girl dolphin 771666 Visiting Spas Has Other Than Spa BenefitsSo off we went. First stop – Dolphin-land. Quite a nice place with six or seven large pools, all with dolphins and groups of tourists and locals in various encounter adventures. We watched as those from our group went through the whole process: waiting in line, checking in, changing into swimsuits, some crying, more waiting, then instruction sessions, demonstrations, and finally…into the pool with the dolphins. We waited patiently in the hot, noon-day sun on the viewing deck in order to enjoy the faces of the darling little girls who went from being afraid, to getting a kiss from a dolphin, to petting a dolphin and then finally for the six year old and her mom, to actually have a ride on a dolphin.

After our three hour sweltering adventure, it was back into the van and off to Grand Velas (a quick 5 minute drive) where the plan was for everyone to wait in the car while I did my 10 minute walk through the spa. What no one realized at the time is that somewhere in the middle of the sizzling hot dolphin adventure, I decided that the planned lunch stop – at a local thatched roof hut (read – hot) restaurant in downtown Puerta Vallarta, was no longer sounding at all appealing to me. So I suggested to the group that they wander around Grand Velas for a few moments while I tour the spa, in case they might come upon a restaurant which would allow us to eat a tad earlier.

grand velas pool 732295 Visiting Spas Has Other Than Spa BenefitsAlthough it was my first time at Grand Velas, I had done my homework. This property was a Leading Hotel of the World, the spa is in our Connoisseur Spa Collection, and it had also received dining awards. I figured they must have a beautiful dining spot which might prove enticing. Sure enough while I headed to the spa, the group spotted this absolutely magnificent beach and pool side restaurant, Azul, with amazing views and even more wonderful – cool ocean breezes. They all succumbed, lunch was a delight, and I was thanked profusely.

Re the spa and property….plus points for the congenial spa receptionist who gave me a tour, plus points for the size of the spa (more than 20 treatment rooms for around 250 all-suite rooms), plus points for the tastefully appointed treatment rooms – especially the ones for couples, the nicely decorated amenity area with unusual foot baths, and the many options on the spa service menu. Double-plus points for the gigantic outdoor swimming pools whose infinity edging overlook vast ocean views – a site many would recognize from the cover of magazines. And triple-plus points for the supervised children’s water play area and the water volleyball game which was going on in one area of the pool. Sixteen men were having the time of their lives standing in just the right-depth-of-water, playing water volleyball. (From my days at the Golden Door, I can vouch for the fact that there is no better way for men to “bond” than playing water volleyball. I am certain that it easily counts for improved guest return rates.)

Questions which swirled through my head….the spa is beautiful, can it really be very profitable since it is so large? It didn’t appear very busy although it was early afternoon. Spa prices seemed slightly higher than I would have expected. And once again, the sad fact (although outsiders wouldn’t notice) that even though a spa is quite new (five years old) and gorgeous, to those of us in the industry five years ago in the spa world is another generation. It won’t be long before it will seem dated.

images 744499 Visiting Spas Has Other Than Spa BenefitsWould I want to check into Grand Velas next time instead of going to a private house on the beach for a holiday weekend? Well, yes for sure, if I was alone with my husband.

And yes, probably, if we were with the rest of the family. After all…even the little girls kept eyeing that swimming pool all during lunch wanting soooo much to plunge in and play with the other kids.

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