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I Have Become a Spa Candle Snob

I have Become a Spa Candle Snob
By Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider

I have become a spa candle snob…and to a large degree I have only myself to blame. I noticed it last week as I was touring the new Amrita Spa at the Swiss Hotel in Istanbul. Their spa is quite large and has a lovely ambiance. I was especially impressed with the long corridors, which featured rich-colored wooden floors lined with candles. Gorgeous. I noticed the candles because they were beautifully spaced, occasionally branched into an artfully designed cluster of candles, and mostly because they were real! I remember thinking how great it was to see genuine candles again.

(Althought I couldn’t find a photo of the actual corridor at the Amrita Spa in Istanbul, this photo gives you an idea of what it looked like.)

candlespa 796111 I Have Become a Spa Candle SnobYou see I have been noticing that more and more spas are using fake (flameless) candles. I must admit I was really enthused about these flameless candles when I first discovered them years ago. In fact I remembered writing about them in one of my SpaFinder Insiders. candlesflamevisible 798088 I Have Become a Spa Candle Snob

Checking my blog archives I was amazed to see that I had written about flameless candles (like those pictured here on the right) in 2003! Well, the word spread like wildfire (pun intended) and voilà, they are now everywhere – including the foyer of our SpaFinder offices to my chagrin. I still think they are clever, avoid a fire hazard, and give a pretty nice ambiance. However… I am afraid the novelty has worn off for me. I miss my real candles.

My aversion seems to be escalating. Lately I have noticed that I am actually “judging” a spa based on their candles! The spas with “real” candles get higher marks in my mind than the spas with “faux” candles. I know that isn’t fair, but I am beginning to see fake candles like artificial plants – I much prefer the real thing. Perhaps all the emphasis on authenticity in spas has now spilled over into my preference for candles with a natural smell, sound, and look.

I think I liked the fake candles more when most people didn’t know they were fake. Nowadays many spa guests have had the chance to peer into the top of one of those flameless candles (often they are placed on the floor or in a low position where people can easily look down into them) and seen the surprise fake “wick” which goes on and off via a battery. The jig is up.

So…what to do?

Well, I think it is unreasonable to assume that all spas will go back to real candles because some places don’t allow thecandlesbranches 772447 I Have Become a Spa Candle Snobm and for others, it just isn’t worth the fire risk. So I think the best thing we as an industry can do is make more of an effort to use these little darlings in a better way.

Here are some suggestions and I welcome yours!

1. Place flameless candles in a higher position (not on the floor) so guests cannot peer into them

2. Get creative in disguising the battery operated “wicks”

3. Mix it up. Use some of the newer fake candle varieties (example shown) that are available so we don’t see the standard fake ones over and over again.

4. Try some candle arrangements, which use a few fakes and a few real candles together.

Perhaps together we can spark interest in putting this rabbit back in the hat.

And spa-goers…do let us know how you feel. Are you aware of the fake candles? Do you like them? Any suggestions on how we can make the ambiance just right for you in terms of candles?
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Spa Highs and Spa Lows for the New Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa

Spa Highs and Spa Lows for the New Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa
by Susie Ellis

I visited the renovated Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa in Palm Desert a few days ago. I remember when it was built (20 years ago I believe) – it was really quite a sensation. There were water taxis which picked you up and took you to various places on the property which made quite a splash – pardon the pun…Their spa was the first for JW Marriott and one of the largest ever built to date. Its components were integrated well: fitness, salon, and a spa bistro were all part of the facility, which was quite revolutionary at the time.

Before I went for a tour, I called to speak with Bruce Taylor who had left the Hyatt Grand Champions to open this new facility. To my surprise I was told he was no longer there…..that the “departure” happened just two weeks ago. I don’t know the details, but hope things ended amicably on both ends. Bruce had been in the spa world a long time.

Here are my thoughts about the new Spa Desert Springs:

spa howtospa Spa Highs and Spa Lows for the New Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa

Highs:

  • Sheered drapery throughout the relaxation and waiting lounge are fashion-forward and look extremely expensive. They are probably the spa’s most memorable design feature.
  • The fact that they created a waiting lounge for spa services and a relaxation lounge for resting and sleeping is a big plus. Very few spas do this because it isn’t revenue-producing space. A nice luxury.
  • The “Spa by Design” package seems an especially good bargain…. Two spa services for $240. Pretty good price for a resort spa these days especially considering the amenities.
  • The hammam updates the spa dramatically.
  • The outdoor pool is a beautiful setting and although in repair when I visited, looks as if it would be the focal place for spa goers.
  • The Spa Bistro is a huge plus.

Lows:

  • The new gym was a disappointment. After all of the recent conversation about the need to improve gym environments, this had the same heavy, florescent-lighting and mirrored feel of any-gym-USA. Fortunately the fitness studio had more warmth, and was filled with a very nice selection of props.
  • The hydrotherapy area with steam room, sauna, hammam and whirlpool were nice; however (as I see in so many other spas) the chlorine fumes from the whirlpool permeated everywhere. It reminded me of the conversation I had with the Water Scientist who spoke in Monaco at the Monaco Spa Event. I asked him if he thought the positive hydrotherapy benefits of a whirlpool outweighed the negatives of the chlorinated water you end up breathing and absorbing through your skin. His answer? No.

In general I think the spa turned out very well. For a very large resort (over 800 rooms!) the spa achieved an intimate feel. Anyone who visits the Coachella Valley and is looking to enjoy a day at the spa….this one would be a good choice.

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