Buying a golf club was the Havens' latest inspiration. The two properties adjoin, and Cal-a-Vie guests regularly hike the lavender and eucalyptus scented hills around the 18-hole Vista Valley course. Now you can add golf to spa options.

Overlooking a lake, with hillside chapel in the distance, the Fitness Pavilion studios are furnished with French and Italian antiques instead of the usual gym equipment. Options include Latin dance, aerobic circuit training, waterworks, and Pilates. Restorative yoga emphasizes stretches and breathing. Feeling creative? Make a souvenir in the fully stocked arts studio.

Hiking to the hilltop chapel at twilight, we had awesome views of fruit orchards sloping toward the Pacific shore. Meditation by candlelight began with breathing exercises led by the resident yogi. Glowing stone walls, wooden pews, and stained glass windows enhanced the experience.

Get down and dirty in organic gardens that supply the kitchen with fresh vegetables year-round. Meals are served al fresco on a shaded terrace, by the fireplace of the chandeliered dining room, or in your cottage. One evening we were seated in the kitchen as executive chef Steve Peretti demonstrated how gourmet spa cuisine can be low-cal. And on the wall was a chart of every guest's meal plan, as well as food preferences. Meals are plated according to that chart, I discovered, ensuring that you don't overeat, even though portions are ample, the food flavored, complex, and delicious.

Destination spas are your private world, apart from stress, focused on staying well and looking your best. Cal-a-Vie creates a sense of community, camaraderie that helps you unwind and revitalize. The caring staff make it seem easy to set and exceed goals.

The recommended one-week program ($7,395) is structured, tailored to your fitness level, gradually increasing intensity of classes and walks, balanced by body-and beauty services. Short-break La Petite package (from $3,195) includes six spa services with program for three or four nights. Most guests arrive on a Sunday, are met at the airport by a spa van. On the return ride, we were handed a lunch box for our flight home.

Contact: 760/945-2055 or 866/772-4283; www.cal-a-vie.com

Cunard Royal Spa & Fitness Centre Ushers in
New Level of Luxurious Spa Treatments, Health and Wellness
Aboard New Liner Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria, the world's newest cruise ship, is set to redefine the modern spa experience at sea. The luxurious 13,000 square foot Cunard Royal Spa & Fitness Centre features glass-enclosed, ocean view health and wellness programs, with a stunning Hydrotherapy Pool and Thermal Suite as the centerpiece.

Inspired by holistic, relaxing and stress-relieving treatments drawn from disciplines around the world, the Cunard Royal Spa will offer programs to complement the ship's worldwide journeys.

For health enthusiasts, the fitness centre provides a comprehensive wellness approach to keeping fit: acupuncture, nutrition consultations, and a meditation program. Also, Stylespa and Nailspa offer comprehensive hair and beauty treatments.

"As a perfect complement to Queen Victoria's worldwide itineraries, our guests can take stimulating journeys with treatments inspired by Asian, far eastern, and exotic cultures while enjoying a multi-dimensional lifestyle-wellness approach, through a comprehensive structured fitness program," said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard.

Seeking the perfect balance between pure indulgence and fitness, Cunard turned to The Onboard Spa Company, a team comprised of experts from UK-based Harding Brothers Spa, and Multitrax Maritime. Together, they have created a unique program for cruise passengers.

Day Spa Escape packages ranging from three-and-a-half to four-and-a-half hours, combine an intuitive collection of complementary treatments for a special spa-at-sea experience.

Legendary Indulgence

Thermal Suite and Hydrotherapy Pool: This relaxing space includes saunas, steam rooms, a meditation room, showers and relaxation area. Following the Thermal Suite experience, guests can enjoy a private 745-gallon Hydrotherapy Pool area with relaxation beds. Luxurious robes and slippers are provided. (Thermal Suite is included with spa services; day passes are available for those guests not booking a treatment.)

Treatment highlights: Aromasoul Signature Body Rituals, a collection of four massage therapies inspired by the techniques of ancient cultures. A multi-sensorial journey, these body rituals stimulate mind, body and soul through the combination of exotic oils, soothing music, unique room atomizers, and traditional massage strokes. The 90-minute rituals include Arabian, Oriental, Mediterranean and Indian inspired treatments. At the conclusion, the therapist serves the guest an herbal tea in the relaxation room.

To rejuvenate and revitalize, guests will also enjoy age-defying facials, scrubs and mud wraps. The Stylespa Salon is a full-service hair and beauty facility that features four Kérastase Hair Rituals, each designed to address the specific needs of a guest's hair, as determined by the Kérastase Ambassador. A five-step process will rebalance, bathe, treat, revitalize and retexture hair.

For the Gentlemen

The spa will include a range of treatments and products specially designed for the distinguished Cunard gentlemen. These include a traditional shave and barbering experience, tailored skin programs, and revitalizing massages.

Featured products include Guinot, comfort zone, and Aromasceane marine body wrap. A specialty aboard ship, the Oxyjet ^TM facial is said to produce results like Boxtox without needles.

A Fresh Focus on Fitness

Queen Victoria's fitness centre includes a fully appointed strength training and aerobics studio. A half-dozen branded fitness programs are featured, including Pilates Institute at Sea, as well as Gravity, a trainer-led workout using a glide board and body weight; Yo'Fit, for private and group yoga; Multitrax Indoor Cycling; Push and Lift, a resistance workout; and Zumba, Latino-inspired dance aerobic workout.

To promote wellbeing, the spa also offers guided meditation, one-on-one personal training, acupuncture by registered therapists of the British Acupuncture Council, and an ionic detox. Aerobics, step and conditioning classes, and guest lectures, including Michael King, the creator of the Pilates Institute Method will be offered.

Hail The New Queen

In 1998, Cunard became one of a number of cruise lines owned by Carnival Corporation, now Carnival Corporation & PLC. Business, assets, and liabilities of Cunard Line Ltd were transferred to Carnival plc, ending the Cunard name as a business entity. While three "Queens" sail under the Cunard brand, it is controlled by Princess Cruises, based in California.

Continuing trans-Atlantic service and winter cruises, Cunard's Queen Mary 2 features the only Canyon Ranch SpaClub at sea. Captained by Darrell Leiman, with a multi-national staff of therapists and full-service salon, the SpaClub has a private, indoor pool and saunas, worth the daily fee. Guest lecturers discuss healthy lifestyles and therapies aboard every sailing, and Canyon Ranch cuisine is an option in all dining rooms.

Sailing into history, the magnificent Queen Elizabeth 2 becomes a floating hotel in Dubai after a series of farewell cruises in 2008. Carnival sold the QE2 for $100 million to a Dubai corporation that will convert the ship as a hotel and tourist attraction at the massive Palm Resort. Steiner currently operates the seawater spa aboard QE2.

For more information about Cunard Line and Queen Victoria, contact your travel professional, call 1-800-7-CUNARD or go to www.cunard.com.

# # #

About Queen Victoria

The 90,000-ton Queen Victoria will offer the very best of the heritage and traditions of Cunard Line, along with all modern day luxuries, plus exciting innovations. These include the first traditional West End-style private boxes at sea in the Royal Court Theatre. A museum housing Cunard memorabilia complements the first two-story library at sea, complete with elegant spiral staircase. The line's celebrated Queens Grill and Princess Grill accommodations and dining are further enhanced on Queen Victoria with an exclusive deck terrace and an al fresco dining option.

From the outside, distinctive black and red livery reflects the sophistication that differentiates a Cunard liner. Elegant public rooms, many on a grand scale, have rich wood paneling, intricate mosaics, and gleaming chandeliers. A grand, colonial-style conservatory, complete with a retractable glass roof, recalls traditions of the past.

As well as being the second largest Cunarder ever built, Queen Victoria's arrival marks the first time that three Cunard Queens have been in service together in the company's 168-year history

About The Onboard Spa Company

Recently established in the UK by seasoned spa operators Harold Gittlemon and Neal Harding, who head Harding Brothers, Ltd., and Spencer McGuiness of Multitrax, a UK producer of fitness systems, The Onboard Spa Company operates spas on cruise ships for 12 lines. These include Cunard, Royal Caribbean, Crystal, Silversea, Celebrity, P&O, and the Yachts of Seabourn. Based near the cruise ship terminal in Southampton, the company has training centers in London as well as Southampton. Career opportunities and information on shipboard services are online at www.theonboardspacompany.com

About Cunard Line

Cunard Line has been synonymous with the quest for new discoveries and the epitome of British refinement since the company's first paddle-wheeled steamer, Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840. Cunard voyages bring together like-minded travelers who relish the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star ServiceTM, fine dining, sophisticated adventure, the legacy of historic voyages.

DESIGNER CLODAGH HONORED BY ISPA, RETURNS TO IRISH ROOTS AT DOONBEG

Irish-born American design diva Clodagh receives the ISPA Visionary Award during the 17th ISPA conference Nov. 12-14 at the Gaylord Palms Resort. To experience her first spa in Ireland, I traveled to Doonbeg, an awesome golf club on the Atlantic seacoast near Shannon Airport. Surrounded by the sea and verdant links, the stone clubhouse sits atop dunes that frame a long crescent bay. Seeming to have been there for ages, the club opened one year ago. An almost mystical blend of traditional country manor and the latest in high-tech comfort, manor rooms overlook the sea and links. Entered from the clubhouse, the spa is underground, secluded, private.

Developed by American investors from South Carolina who created the Kiawah Island club and spa (also a Clodagh design), Dooonbeg raised the bar on luxury in Ireland with distinctly American style. Charles P. Darby, III, chairman and CEO of Kiawah Development Partners, saw the potential for a classic links course along contours of the coastal dunes. Golf legend Greg Norman made the vision come alive: "If I spent the rest of my life building courses, I don't think I'd find a comparable site anywhere."

Returning to her homeland to design the Doonbeg spa was a dream come true for Clodagh. "This is the place that first defined my own sensibilities and forged the way I look at the world." Looking out to sea, she imagined white-maned horses, a villager way of describing white-capped waves that pound the dunes in winter. Inspired by the wild, natural setting, Clodagh used elements of earth, water, fire, and air to create the White Horses Spa. Clad in native stone, floored with black slate, four vaulted treatment rooms exude energy. Both women's and men's lounges have deep soaking pools with underwater jets to massage golfers' tired muscles, as well as sauna and steam rooms. Mineral salts are added to springwater in the pools, I learned from spa manager Nicolla Campbell during a delightful seafood dinner with Charlene Florian, who was visiting from California to introduce Kerstin Florian skin care to club members. So here on the rugged coast of Ireland, I had my favorite Florian kur and facial.

Open to a limited number of visitors, Doonbeg Golf Club has spacious garden suites with full kitchen, serene bedrooms, as well as accommodations in the manor and new cottages. Contact in US: 843/768-5220 or email Theresa_Martin@kiawahisland.com; www.doonbeggolfclub.com

For information on Clodagh collections of furniture and fabric, go online at www.clodagh.com. Visit the Clodagh Collection in New York City, 670 Broadway, phone 212/780-5300.

New resort spas in Ireland this season include ESPA at the Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt near Dublin, and the Capella Castlemyrtr in Cork.

Park Hotel Kenmare in Kerry adds indoor swimming pool, residences. See report in the March issue of Spa Management Journal.

DEEPAK CHOPRA REVEALS SOURCE OF CONSCIOUSNESS IN NEW NOVEL, "BUDDHA: A STORY OF ENLIGHTENMENT"

Revealing an inspired affinity for the personality of the Buddha, Dr Deepak Chopra brings to life the story of a prince who became a monk and changed the world. In his new novel "Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment," Dr. Chopra takes on the role of storyteller. To understand how the Buddha achieved enlightenment, Chopra takes you into the legendary court of a Chinese ruler who understands only war. When his son, Prince Siddartha, rejects war and sets out to discover a higher meaning to life, readers are shown how choices that seem simple can have global impact.

Along the way, you are treated to Chopra's take on legends and teachings of the Buddha, and how to achieve enlightened consciousness. Ideal for gift giving, the novel published by HarperCollins is available at Amazon.com

The Chopra Center in California at the La Costa Resort offers learning and wellness retreats, will soon be joined by a residential facility near Denver, Colorado. Contact: www.chopra.com

DESTINATION SPA GROUP GROWS, 2008 DIRECTORY HAS 25 MEMBERS

What's the difference between the original concept of destination spas - a full-immersion experience - and resort spas? Check out the new magazine published by the Destination Spa Group. Their 2008 edition features 25 destination spas across the USA and Canada, plus Mexico and Thailand. New: Fitness Ridge in Utah's red rock canyons; Coastal Trek on Vancouver Island. Copies can be ordered by calling 888.772-4363 or online at www.destinationspavacations.com. For more on membership, see our report on the COOL page.

And we'll be seeing you more frequently online at www.healinglifestyles.com - newly expanded by the Editors of Healing Lifestyles & Spas magazine.

WHO ARE THE NEW SPAGOERS?

News Update: The Costa Rican Government turned down Revolution Places' plans for the Caique Resort. A new ecological consultant has been hired

After tracking trends for two decades, I am constantly amazed at the pace of change in the spa industry. Rapid expansion of resort spas, proliferation of day spas, and the rise of branding dominate the news. Competition may be the mother of invention, but spa designers stick to the tried and true. Now spa developers are going green, appealing to consumers who are sensitive to environmental issues.

Steve Case, AOL co-founder and ex-chairman of Time-Warner, launched a new concept of integrated spa living by a company called Revolution. Founded by Case in 2005 with $500 million of his own money, Revolution subsidiaries include Revolution Health - a consumer-oriented healthcare company, and Revolution Living - a lifestyle business whose holdings include the Miraval resort in Arizona, and a soon-to-open condominium residence in New York City.

Announcing his destination resort division, Revolution Places, Case said they will seek to redefine the luxury resort category by making environmental preservation and cultural authenticity priorities at every property it develops. The first, scheduled to open in 2010, is a 650-acre development on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, a country not known for environmental concerns.

Pledging to make the new resort - which will be called Cacique - an environmentally friendly and culturally sensitive destination, Revolution says its 270 guest rooms and 300 private homes will be set among existing rain forest and wildlife preserves.

However, any development within a complex ecosystem like a rain forest will always make a significant impact, said Daniel Williams, author of "Sustainable Design: Ecology, Architecture and Planning." Interviewed by The Washington Post, Williams commented "If you're going to tear something down and change the ecological value of it, you have to replace an equal amount of rain forest, which is virtually impossible."

Ecotourism continues to gain popularity as consumers become more sensitive to the environmental impact of their spending decisions, said James Angel of Georgetown University. "For someone who made money in the high-tech boom, they may have some ecological guilt about a high-consumption lifestyle." Like Revolution's other ventures, Revolution Places caters to a new generation of consumer. In the past, high-end vacations were equated with pristine hotels and fine dining, said Donn Davis, chief executive of Revolution Places at corporate headquarters in Washington, D.C. "Today's affluent tourists prefer swimming with dolphins and swinging down zip lines. They want to eat authentic local food. And they want to take their kids," he said.

"It's a whole new definition of luxury," commented Davis.

The Cacique project brings together several high-end travel brands: One & Only Resorts will operate the beachfront hotel; Exclusive Resorts, a time-share business owned by Revolution, will build and market 30 of the resort's residences; and Miraval is scheduled to operate a spa facility with 120 rooms and 60 villas. Eco-friendly design is promised; delivering services that meet Miraval standards could be a challenge in this isolated region.

Philippe Cousteau, grandson of the famous underwater explorer, will serve as Revolution Places' special adviser on environmental issues, and develop activities at the resort. Once a remote destination favored by backpackers and surfers, the northwest Pacific corner of Costa Rica has experienced a recent surge of resort development - including one operated by Four Seasons - and more are being planned, possibly including Canyon Ranch. Yet the infrastructure of Costa Rica's roads and bridges lags behind some third world countries. Arriving by private jet may be preferred by Revolutionistas, but the nearest airport, 25 miles from the resort, is in the town of Liberia.

Meanwhile, a revolution of sorts is taking place at the original Miraval resort in Arizona. The appointment of Michael Tompkins as General Manager is the first step in enhancing the resort's branded Miraval, Life in Balance® program. Famed interior designer Clodagh is upgrading the resort spa, and a Center for Life in Balance created with Dr. Andrew Weil, states John Vanderslice, CEO Miraval. Addition of 30 guest suites, plus full-ownership homes, is under construction at the 400-acre Sonoran Desert resort between Tucson and Phoenix.

Tompkins completed the much-lauded Skana Spa at Turning Stone Resort & Casino in New York State prior to joining Miraval. Named the state's 2007 Hospitality and Tourism Executive of the Year, he brings over 11 years' experience to the Revolution team. Previous positions included Director Health and Healing and Associate Managing Director at Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires, and Assistant Director of Nursing at the Sharon Health Care Center, NY.

Addressing his own transformation at Miraval, Steve Case told the Spa Finder Global Spa Summit he wants to create a lifestyle brand. "Wellness must go beyond just the facial and the massage," he said. Then added to a New Yorker magazine columnist " We don't really use the word spa; it conjures up pampering."

- Bernard Burt, Senior editor, Spa Management Journal - October 2007

Spa Industry Summit Sees Continued Growth

Running a spa conference like their business, Spa Finder Chairman & CEO Pete Ellis and President Susie Ellis convened the first-ever Global Spa Summit devoted to the business side of the spa industry in New York, May 20-22. Focused on management issues, from investment to staffing, the three-day event drew an unprecedented top-level gathering to the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

Having experienced explosive growth in the past decade, the spa industry needs benchmarks, Ellis said. Consolidation is predicted because the operators of spas are fragmented and segmented.

Global branding of spas by major hotel chains is changing the way travelers select resorts. Builders need benchmarks to justify investment, the conference was told. Keynote speakers included Steve Case, founder of Revolution LLC which acquired and expanded Miraval Living from Arizona to Manhattan. Also on the program was Kevin Kelly, president of Canyon Ranch, which has grown from Arizona to Miami Beach, aboard the Queen Mary 2, and at resorts in Florida and Las Vegas.

The invitation-only event differed from conferences of spa professionals in Europe, Asia, and America: no motivational speakers explored the mind-body connection, no exhibition hall filled with skin care products, no committees. Instead, registrants dialogued with panels of experts. Activities included spa treatments at Cornelia Day Resort on Fifth Avenue.

"It was the best investment of my company's time and money," commented Anne McCall Wilson, Vice President Spas for Fairmont/Raffles Hotels International, Inc.

"We're about health and the prevention of illness," said Canyon Ranch President Kelly. Baby boomers are predicted to increase demand for spa services in China, Germany, and Australia, while continued growth is forecast for the Americas and U.K.

Emerging issues include education of spa staff and managers. Retailing in spas was predicted to become an important profit center, according to lifestyle consultant Mark Wuttke, whose Atlanta-based company set up shops for the new spa at Sea Island Resort.

Susan Harmsworth, founder and chief executive officer of ESPA, a consultancy and management firm based in the UK, noted that spa growth has been global but the integrity of management is not consistent in every country. "What I worry about is that some summits tend to attract self-promoters," Harmsworth explained, "and those are parochial without a global view. ESPA has clients around the world."

More than 150 registrants from around the world participated. Many applicants were turned down, according to Ellis, because the Summit was limited to top-level decision makers. Plans to make it an annual event are moving forward, he added. In an unrelated development, Hilton Corp. announced plans to unveil Guerlain Spa brand at the Waldorf.

Awesome Aussies: Gwinganna’s New Oz Opens

Experience the five-day healthy lifestyle retreat. Just 40 participants learn how to prevent illness.

The camaraderie level is great.

Therapists told me they come from near and far to share extraordinary skills because they love working here. Experiencing the earthy energy and passion that distinguish the world’s newest destination spa, Aussies from all walks of life praised the food, staff, and lodging. But were amazed that a place like this exists 30 minutes from surfer beaches of Queensland’s Gold Coast. Now you can combine both, for a day, weekend, or week-long retreat in Oz.

www.gwinganna.com

SHANGHAIED: ISPA CHINA NO-SHOW

"This has been a very difficult decision but one that was necessary. Through the years, the ISPA Asia Conference has continually exceeded attendees' expectations with its high level of education and networking, so we could accept no less this year. We were recently notified that attendance for the event was extremely low and we are unable to continue to justify the expense of sending a delegation to China and invest in an event that will not have the impact on the spa industry as originally intended."

Peter Sng, ISPA board member based in Singapore, issued invitations in English, possibly creating a barrier for registrants. English is not as widely spoken in China as we were led to think. Nor were the speakers offering new insights. The registration fee of $520 for non-ISPA members may have been difficult to justify for spa managers in China and other parts of Asia who do not enjoy executive perks. Having no membership base in China, ISPA took a big gamble - and lost face as well as funds.

Over-optimistic predictions of attendance and exhibitors contributed to the show's failure. The conference venue chosen by a Singapore-based management firm was not in the best part of Shanghai. Nor were hotel packages offered. Add the expense of travel to Shanghai, and visas.

The spa market in China is booming. Although the show went on, we saw less than 100 visitors. With limited promotion, no media coverage, Asian ISPA 2007 was a no-show.

Canadian pioneer Juanita Corbett has been recognized as Canada's Spa Industry Contributor of the Year, a major national award in recognition of her significant contribution to the promotion, growth, strength and education of the Canadian spa industry. Under Corbett's Leadership, the spa at The Hills Health Ranch has been pushing the boundaries and raising the bar in Canada's spa industry for the past 25 years. The award, presented during the Canadian National Spa Industry Conference and Expo last March, recognized Juanita's work and contributions through early years at the International Spa Association (ISPA); initiation of the first ever spa industry study in North America; and setting the stage for the future focus of that international association. In addition, Juanita established the Erica Miller Spa School to train future spa managers, and undertook high level R&D to extract essential oils from indigenous plants, creating new jobs to produce Canadian Natural Oils. This prestigious award recognizes her innovation, determination, and on-going commitment to research & development, training and education to stretch the boundaries of Canadian spas.

With the largest staff of health professionals of any resort in Canada, 3 fitness workout areas, 18 treatment & consultation rooms, 2 dining rooms, 3 meeting rooms, indoor swimming pool, and stables for trail rides. In addition, the ranch offers extensive summer hiking and winter cross country skiAing on over 20 000 acres of Cariboo wilderness.

Juanita and Pat Corbett opened The Hills Health Ranch in 1985 as Canada's first destination spa & fitness resort. Situated in the heart of British Columbia's Cariboo Region, the privately owned and managed ranch has 26 deluxe rooms, 19 family-style chalets.

THE CLARINS CONNECTION

Long before organic skincare became fashionable, French naturopath Jacques Courtin-Clarins marketed a line of all-natural beauty creams. Now the leading brand in Europe, Clarins SA of France manufactures products for sale in 150 countries. In his 2006 memoir, "A Beautiful Woman," he revealed how he branded himself by adding Clarins to his last name: In a school show he played a Roman named Clarins who overfed lions in the Coliseum, thus saving Christians from being devoured.

Mr. Courtin-Clarins, who died last March at age 85, worked as a massage therapist in a hospital after World War II, formulating his own massage oil. In 1954, he opened the first Institut Clarins beauty salon in Paris, sharing the premises with a wigmaker. Dubbed "The Paris Method," it gained a reputation for quintessentially Parisian luxury. With two sons now running the company, it went public in 1984. In 2006, sales topped $1.3 billion, netting profit of nearly $300 million, according to the Wall Street Journal.

DETOX DESTINATIONS

During a retreat at California destination spa Cal-a-Vie, seaweed soaks are recommended to help smokers detox. Hydrotherapy treatment (soak in tubs with essential oils and multi-jet massagers) invigorates tired muscles using Phytomer's Laminaria Liquid Seaweed Bath. The effect of the seaweed is such that all systems are stimulated: circulation, perspiration, and lymphatic function increase; cell waste products are eliminated, along with excess water in the tissues. Cal-a-Vie complements baths with exercise and treatments for slimming as well as detoxing.

The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat are filled with man-made chemicals and pesticides that overload the liver and the entire immune system. Studies show that these toxins have been associated with hormone disruption, immune system suppression, reproductive disorders, several types of cancer and other disorders such as allergies. An alarming finding of one study showed that PCB and DDE levels appear to be unexpectedly high in the general population and may actually be increasing. These toxicants were banned decades ago; it was assumed that they would now be almost non-existent in the U.S. population.

The good news is that a scientific study on a detox program using Maharishi Ayurveda purification procedures found that the fat-soluble toxicants were reduced by about 50%. Robert Herron, Ph.D., the lead author of a study published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, says that this is the first published study on humans to demonstrate that a specific detoxification regimen can significantly reduce levels of lipophilic toxicants that are known to be associated with chronic blood-related disorders.

PACIFIC MEXICO's LARGEST: DESERT SPA OPENS IN CABO SAN LUCAS AT VILLAS RESORT

Overlooking the Sea of Cotez, the largest spa in Baja California opened last summer at The Villas in Cabo San Lucas. The 17 treatment rooms include two exclusive VIP suites with private Jacuzzi and shower. A full service beauty salon, and fitness center complete The Desert Spa.

With a 4,500 sq. ft. fitness center, Villas guests work out in air conditioned comfort: seven treadmills, four elliptical bikes, three stationary bikes, 10 strength training stations, a multi-purpose station, four free weight stations, a yoga/Pilates studio with classes.

The Villa Group's three Cabo San Lucas properties collectively offer 845 one-, two- and three-bedroom villas, studios and penthouse suites. Villas and penthouse suites include complete kitchens, separate living/dining areas, private terraces or balconies, air conditioning with individual climate control, in-room safes, ceiling fans and satellite TV.

Located at the southern tip of Baja California, Villa beach resort is close to the port and town of Cabo San Lucas. Guests may choose upscale dining at La Casona and La Perla, casual dining at El Faro, El Bucanero, La Parilla, and Bella California, and theme night buffets at Las Tortugas. An adjacent shopping plaza is home to the Palmita Market.

The Villa Group is one of Mexico's leading privately owned hotel, resort and real estate development companies. Their portfolio includes beachfront destination resorts, exclusive fractional and full-ownership luxury real estate developments, and a secluded mountain top boutique spa retreat. For information or reservations, call toll free from US & Canada (877) 845-5247 or visit www.villagroupresorts.com.

EMIRATES RESORTS TEAM SODASHI, BABOR IN NEW BRAND

Emirates Hotels and Resorts has tied up with Sodashi and Babor to create Timeless Spas for its luxurious resorts throughout Dubai.

Sodashi products and treatments will soon be available at Emirates Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa and Emirates Marina Hotel & Residence, which is due to open in September 2007. The Sodashi range will then be rolled out at all Emirates' luxury Timeless Spas, complementing its existing Babor range of products and treatments.

As a division of Emirates Airlines, Emirates Hotels and Resorts turned to Sodashi founder /CEO Megan Larsen to develop a new spa brand: Timeless Spas. Professional staff trained by Sodashi and Babor are on hand at the Timeless Spas to advise guests of the best treatment for their skin-types, skin-conditions and needs. The products are also available for purchase at the properties, enabling guests to carry home the memory of a blissful time.

Produced in Australia, Sodashi treatments and products are natural and considered the purest spa brand in the world. Its entire range of formulations draws upon the regenerative power of plants, herbs, marine algae extracts and precious essential oils. Named with an ancient Sanskrit term that translates to "wholeness, purity and radiance," Sodashi is a lavish, organic skincare and body-care line with a no-expense-spared philosophy. It caters to both genders, all age groups, and is ideal for frequent flyers and those with a hectic lifestyle as the products have anti-ageing, purifying, hydrating, revitalising and balancing properties.

Tony Williams, Vice President Resorts & Projects at Emirates Hotels & Resorts said: "The Timeless Spa at our flagship property Emirates Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa has been incredibly successful and continues to receive accolades for enhancing our guests' experience. Through the Timeless Spa in each of our properties we intend to make Dubai an important city on the world's spa and lifestyle map. He added: "Both Babor and Sodashi create a synergy with their brand management and unique appeal. While Babor's leadership in the traditional spa market is undisputed and we are extremely happy with their product range, support and service, Sodashi complements it and offers a very fresh approach. We are also working with Sodashi to develop signature products for our Timeless Spas and an exclusive range for our guests."

Sodashi's exclusive range will be launched at Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa in Australia when it opens its doors in 2008. Megan Larsen, Founder of Sodashi said, "We are delighted to be working with Emirates Timeless Spas as they share our commitment to quality and understand the importance of using 100 per cent natural products."

Both, Sodashi and Babor, are exclusive to spa owners and spa consultants, and are unavailable at any retail outlet. In partnership with Babor, Emirates Al Maha has developed its own range of exclusive treatments using traditional frankincense and date extracts, known for their recuperative and relaxation properties.

Featured in Healing Lifestyles & Spas magazine

Spa Sleuth Column, May/June 2007

THE CHINA CONNECTION

What's behind China's sizzling spa culture?

Sparked by plans for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, new hotels and resorts sport spas that blend traditions of East and West.

Entrepreneurs like Yue-Sai Kan, states Forbes Life magazine, capitalized on Chinese consumer demand for the good life. In a country where an estimated one-fifth of all entrepreneurs are female, the self-made Yue-Sai Kan created a cosmetics line for Asian women so successful it was snapped up by L'Oreal. A former journalist, Kan says everyone in China wants the same thing: Fui Gui – money and style.

From new Mandarin Oriental hotels in Guangzhou and Shanghai, to the Westin in Beijing, couth is catching up with cash in the New China.

• "The Tea Tree brand is being positioned as an enabler to get more out of your day". This can be getting your holiday off to a "flyer" or getting you back on your feet if you are on business
• " We are working with a focused menu of 15 treatments across all of our properties that incorporates brand and regional signatures, luxury indulgent packages, and outcome orientated packages. The goal is to provide great treatments in a welcoming environment at great prices"

On a Mission

When the Guinness World Records called Mission Hills the world's largest golf club, we went online to get the skinny. Golfers can tee off on 12 courses, then find comfort and rejuvenation in not one, but four spas. Opening this spring: Mission Hills' first "destination spa."

Mission Hills is near a national park in Dongguan province. Including herb and spice gardens, rooftop pavilions for yoga or qi gong, the resort's three clubhouses offer spas appealing to families. At the new Mission Hills destination spa - Wellsprings - elaborate bath rituals: aquatonic pools, tepidariums, samarium, and caldarium are designed for international spagoers. Sounds more Roman than Asian. Featured from France is China's first thalassotherapy by Algotherm and Beaute´ Oce´ane. Also: Traditional Chinese medicine, Thai and Balinese massage.
Contact: www.missionhillsgroup.com

Workouts by The Great Wall

Designed by 12 Asian architects, Commune by the Great Wall is Beijing's most creative new place to live and enjoy historic wonders. Set in a retreat-like environment, the Commune includes a five-star hotel managed by Germany's Kempinski group. Gazing out at the Great Wall from the hotel's Anantara Spa, your inner voice may remind you of other wonders. Offering healing massages from around the world, as well as Chinese wellness rituals, this new entry by an Asian spa group promises a revolutionary experience. Coming in 2008: luxury train excursions managed by Kempinski.
Contact: www.kempinski.com

Experience Shanghai Marriott Style

Towering over Tomorrow Square, the JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai has China's first Mandara Spa. Re-creating an ancient village, cobblestone walkways lead to your private suite. Experience Elemis skincare made in the UK, treatments with Dr. Spiller line. Complete with salon for hair/nail care, baths, massage, Thai stretches, indoor swimming pool, the Marriott is steps from museums, opera, dazzling shops and restaurants on the Bund riverfront. Join tai chi groups in the People's Park, explore this cosmopolitan city to see the new China.
Contact: www.marriott.com

Tea-off at Fuchun Resort

Tea plantations surround Fuchun Resort, supply fresh leaves for spa treatments, scenting the air. This design hot spot is a favored hideaway for Shanghai business executives and expats. A blend of contemporary style with traditional architecture, Fuchun Resort is featured in the new edition of "100 Best Spas of the World" published by the Globe Pequot Press. Enjoy spa treatments with organic products by A. W. Lake in your private villa or lakeside pavilions. Join tai chi and yoga groups every morning, swim, play the par-72 golf course. The resort restaurant is associated with one of Shanghai's top kitchens for new Chinese cuisine.
Contact: www.fuchunresort.com

Sojourn to the Silk Road Banyan Tree Resort

Dating to the Song Dynasty, Lijiang was a stop on the Silk Road trade route. Set in foothills of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lijiang's new Banyan Tree Resort and Spa is close to scenic Tiger Leaping Gorge and a dry sea where you can go grass sliding. Built like a Tibetan village, 55 private villas with red-clay roofs nestle in secluded gardens. Treatments incorporate the five Chinese elements: earth, water, fire, wood, and gold. Get there on Dragonair from Hong Kong to Kumming, then China Southern Airline.
Contact: www.banyantree.com

Return of the Mandarin Hong Kong

Legendary style and service distinguish the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong. Inspired by feng shui design, the hotel's makeover features a three-floor spa with herbal steam room, Vichy shower, Kneipp water walk, Ayurveda sanctuary, traditional Chinese medicine consultation. Indulge in ice fountain or topical rainfall shower, vitality pool soak. Guys get urban lifestyle retreat, barber and pedicure by legendary therapist Mr. So. Redolent of the 1930s, this beautiful oasis on the hotel's 24th floor overlooks Victoria Harbour.
Contact: www.mandarinoriental/hongkong.com

Bet on Macao

The Chinese Territory of Macao may be the next Las Vegas.

American casino impresarios Sheldon Adelson and Stephen A. Wynn led a wave of new casino hotels in the former Portugese colony. High-speed ferries get you there in an hour from Hong Kong.

The Chinese version of Adelson's Venetian hotel, casino, and shopping complex, bigger than its Las Vegas namesake, opens this fall with gondolas plying indoor canals of a miniature Venice. The 32-floor hotel will have 3,000 suites, spa featuring an international treatment menu, 500,000 square feet of gambling space with 6,000 slot machines.
Contact: www.venetianmacao.com

The Wynn Macau rates raves: high-tech guest rooms are equipped with deep-soaking tub, tropical spa has garden swimming pool.

Looking remarkably similar to the Vegas tower, but smaller, Wynn Macau spa features marble baths, salon, and Cybex fitness center. Weekday rates start at 1,500 Hong Kong dollars plus tax.
Contact: www.wynnmacau.com; phone 853-986-9966.

Government estimates show Macao outpacing Vegas in gambling revenue. Chinese high rollers contributed to amazing growth. Last year, 22 million tourists visited Macao, up from about 7 million in 1999. Just opened by Hong Kong billionaire Stanley Ho, the Grand Lisboa casino attracted huge crowds over the Chinese New Year holiday, an estimated 500,000 visitors in 10 days. Ho's latest project is a joint venture with MGM Mirage, due to open at the end of this year, featuring a 600-room hotel and casino. Other projects include a six-star Park Hyatt hotel, and an entertainment complex.

When the Sands casino opened here in 2004, people broke doorways as they stampeded to enter, according to reports in the International Herald Tribune.

With the Venetian aiming to take further advantage of that demand, Sands founder Adelson says "This is just the tip of the iceberg." Next for Sands: Singapore's Integrated Resort/Casino/Spa on Sentosa Island.

About the Author:

Bernard Burt's Spa Sleuth column is a regular feature of Healing Lifestyles & Spas magazine. Co-author of "100 Best Spas of the World" (2006), Burt is a member of the Advisory Board for SpaAsia magazine. He recently visited Asia, and participated in a seminar sponsored by the Asia Spa Institute in Singapore.

Romancing the Spa,
Canadian Musical Premieres at Shaw Theater Festival

Swept away by operatic passion, star-crossed lovers meet at an Alpine spa in "Tristan," the new Canadian musical at Ontario's Shaw Theater Festival in the charming town of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Wagner's opera "Tristan und Isolde" plays a key role in this homegrown production. Based on a novella by Thomas Mann, the musical by Paul Sortelly and Jay Turvey humanizes gifts that lovers share while at a German mountain spa. Unexpected pleasures result.

Matching the romantic spirit, Vintage Hotels spas feature vinotherapy with grape seed oil from local vineyards. Stay at Georgian gem Queen's Landing overlooking the marina, downtown at The Prince of Wales, or rustic Pillar and Post Inn. All offer free transport to theaters

Tour the town by horse-drawn carriage, bike, or London taxi. Queen Street shops and pubs neighbor Victorian gardens and homes. Along the Niagara River, enjoy wine tastings at premier vineyards like Inniskillen, visit a Chinese ginseng farm. Spectacular views of Niagara Falls from the Canadian side of the border thrill honeymooners and adventurers on the Whirlpool Jet Boat tour.

Founded by Loyalists to the British monarchy, the town was destroyed by American forces during the War of 1812. During the Civil War, the Underground Railroad helped slaves escape here. Renamed, Niagara-on-the-Lake gained fame as the Shaw Festival converted an historic courthouse where "Tristan" runs July 12 though Oct. 6. Other highlights: "Saint Joan" by George Bernard Shaw, and a musical about movie pioneers Mack Sennett and Mabel Normand at the modernistic Festival Theatre.

For show calendar, lodging: www.shawfest.com, call 1-800/555-7429. Vintage Hotels' theatre package includes choice show tickets for two, accommodation, from $445 (Canadian) per couple, per day:

www.vintage-hotels.com; 905/468-2195 or 1-800/669-5566.
Southwest Airlines has flights to nearby Buffalo, Air Canada to Toronto.