Tag Archives: New York

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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A Motorcycle Ride to Red Mountain Spa

20040025 725505 A Motorcycle Ride to Red Mountain SpaGot a call from my husband Peter last night. He was at the Red Mountain Adventure Spa in Utah and had just finished a two-hour massage. He is a happy camper because this is “his” week. He rode his motorcycle all the way from Manhattan to Sturgis, South Dakota. And if you wonder why he would go to Sturgis, then you probably do not have any Harley-owning friends. It is the yearly Mecca of motorcycle enthusiasts – 700,000 this year – where all bike riders do, well, what bikers do. Buy leather jackets, gadgets for their bikes, show off their bike’s unique paint jobs, get tattoos, etc. I went with Peter a few years ago just to see what all the fuss was about. It was a hoot – but once was enough for me. This year he stayed two days, then headed to Red Mountain on his way to California, where he will leave the bike and then fly home. Admittedly, I will breathe a little easier when I hear that the bike is parked in California.

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Anitra Knows What Spa Is All “About”

spas6565 709795 Anitra Knows What Spa Is All AboutI just wanted to send kudos to my friend Anitra Brown, writer of Spas.about.com, for her piece about the recent issue of Travel + Leisure that promised elite spa coverage but offered little actual content. I think she came to an accurate conclusion. Here are her words under the headline “T + L’s Favorite Spas”:

“Headlines are meant to get people to buy magazines, but sometimes they overpromise. Take, for instance, the June issue of Travel + Leisure. It has “T + L Editors’ Picks: Our favorite hotels, spas, concierges, bars, views and more.” Favorite spas! That worked with me! But when I turned to page 134 there were just four quirky entries under spas — the Pilates facilities at the spa at the Landmark Mandarin Hong Kong, the new 42,000 square foot spa at the Peninsula in Beverly Hills, open-air couples treatments at the Datai in Langkawai, Malaysia, and great views of Lisbon from the running track on the roof of the Four Seasons Ritz, Lisbon. This whole article is basically random tidbits that struck the editors and their trusted contributors. Don’t expect much of a resource. I found it interesting that there were more restaurants in the article than spas, but restaurants didn’t get a mention on the cover. It looks like spas sell magazines these days, but the editors are spending more of their time dining out in fine restaurants.”

http://spas.about.com/b/a/257543.htm?nl=1

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The Spa Industry in Dubai

dubaiJune1 703808 The Spa Industry in DubaiMy final day in Dubai included a spa forum organized by Michael Loh from Spa Asia Magazine and Christiane Walter, from Messe Frankfurt Exhibition. The organizers invited a panel of spa managers from Dubai to address our international group of spa enthusiasts who had come to learn about the industry in the Middle East.

The three points I found most interesting:

  • The Arab culture necessitates separating men and women in spa facilities. Every facility has private changing rooms, as being naked in front of anyone else is not appropriate. Everyone wears swimsuits in the sauna and steam. Men massage men, and women massage women. Only recently was a new law passed that allows women to give men facials. This only applies to resort and hotel spas, however, not day spas.
  • Dubai has a major shortage of therapists. It is difficult to get therapists and difficult to keep them. When I asked what percentage of spa expenses accounts for staff compensation, I was told it was about 25%. In the U.S. it is about 50%. Seems like part of the solution is fairly obvious.
  • Michael Loh said – and I agree with him – that when coming to Dubai, people no longer need to ask whether a resort or hotel has a spa. They all do. What their choice is based on now is what the spa is like, what it offers, and whether there are any special features or programs. This is now happening everywhere around the world. Thus, a spa’s individuality is becoming more important.

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Dubai SPAspitality

gallery31 728579 Dubai SPAspitalityMy spa touring continues. Grand Hyatt is next on my list, where I find a fairly traditional spa facility very much like the spas I see in the US health clubs, but with gracious hospitality a la Dubai from Steven, the spa director, and Peter, the regional GM. Note to self: Showing enthusiasm when someone is visiting (even unannounced) is very impressive.

Over to Emirates Towers and a peak at their brand new H²0 Spa – the first all-male spa in Dubai. I’m curious to see how this concept works – a very large hotel with a spa only for men? After meeting with Anthony Lawrence, the group director of marketing (and a very busy man with the telephone), I head down to the all-male spa for a tour. Cecelia Larson, the stunningly gorgeous Swedish, blonde spa manager, greets me (I know instantly at least one reason why this spa would be popular with men!). She shows me around – lovely ambiance, minimalist décor, blacks and woods, very small (just a few treatment rooms). The hotel is 80% male business travelers. Females are relegated to the day spa in the attached shopping center. This hotel does, however, offer the “Chopard Floor,” which has guest rooms for women only, with an all-female staff. The women don’t get a spa – but they do get a floor.

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If you wish to be put on a list that automatically sends my blog posts to your email, just let dulcy.gregory@spafinder.com know and she will add you to that list. Thanks so much!