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Sonia Alexandra invented the wildly popular hot stone massage in the mid nineties, now she is taking her passion for holistic healing to pet owners worldwide. Pets will now be able to experience the holistic benefits of the hot stone massage thanks to Stone-Healing.com.
Michele Merhib, occupational therapist registered (OTR) and certified massage therapist (CMT), is the founder of Elements Therapeutic Massage, an International franchise selling over 50 locations in the U.S. This single mom of two teenagers recently announced the opening of her first therapeutic massage franchise in Costs Rica and selling the master franchise rights in Ireland.
Inc., the daily resource for entrepreneurs, recently recognized TIG Global on its list of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States. Rankings for the 2007 Inc. list were based on the year over year revenue growth of private U.S. companies. In this first year of acknowledgements, TIG Global ranked as the 53rd fastest growing advertising and marketing company in the nation
TIG Global (www.TIGglobal.com), the leading interactive marketing company for hospitality, recently announced the receipt of two WebAwards for excellence in website design and strategy. This year’s international competition, held by the Web Marketing Association, received 2,400 entries from over 40 countries. Websites were judged on design, innovation, content, interactivity, ease of use, navigation, and use of technology.
The legendary Eden Roc Renaissance Beach Resort & Spa, Florida, has embarked on a $170 million transformation to be completed in late 2008. Architect John Nichols will masterfully execute the extensive renovations, including all 349 guest rooms of the existing tower, pools and cabanas, Spa, restaurants, meeting space and retail options, as well as the creation of a 21-story, 283 guest room tower.
Sheila Cluff is sparkling. That might be because the tiny crystals decorating her denim-blue warm-up suit are catching the morning light. Or because her halo of white hair shimmers like a beacon. Whatever the reason, as she rounds the corner onto Ojai Avenue and leads more than a dozen women clad in T-shirts and tracksuits back to The Oaks at Ojai — the "reducing spa" she founded 30 years ago this month — Cluff is glowing.
Alcohol and pampering have always gone hand in hand. Just ask any woman who has ever happily accepted a complimentary glass of wine or a martini from her aesthetician while waiting for her toes to dry or highlights to take (Vodka shots after a sauna are de rigueur with the hedge-fund set).
Spas, however, were different. Marketing themselves as wellness centres, with strict detox programs, alcohol was banned along with caffeine, salt and gluten (corks still popped, of course, but on the down low).
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John Marco is the founder and CEO of Hand and Stone Massage Spas, a franchised spa concept that offers convenient, affordable, top-quality massage services. Hand and Stone Massage Spas offer consumers flexible hours, low introductory pricing and low-cost membership programs with incentives for repeat business. The locations themselves augment the experience, with relaxing stone waterfalls, subdued lighting and comfortable, contemporary furnishings. Introductory prices for first-time visitors start at $39.95 for a full-body therapeutic Relaxation Massage.
Killington Resort (Vermont) enters the 2007-08 ski and snowboard season with more than $5.3 million in resort improvements and new programs to enhance the overall guest experience. In addition, Killington is implementing new environmental initiatives in an effort to reduce the resort's overall carbon footprint.
The Killington Grand Resort Hotel and Spa has recently undergone a $2 million renovation, including newly-renovated guest rooms with new carpet, trim, furnishings and paint. These improvements complement the full-service spa opened during the summer of 2006. The Grand Hotel also features new carpet throughout the lobby, hallways and Grand Ballroom. Guests will also notice a new ski and snowboard check room and newly remodeled locker rooms in the health club.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC is teaming up with Cottonwood Properties and Greenbrier Southwest Corporation to develop a 250-room golf and spa resort in the high Sonoran desert, northwest of Tucson, Ariz. Located in Marana, The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain will feature a resort/residential community that will include 36 holes of golf along with single-family residences. The $160 million project will be the second Ritz-Carlton in Arizona, joining the Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix.
The resort will offer a range of amenities and features to appeal to travelers as well group meetings and special events. It will contain two ballrooms of 9,000 and 4,800 square feet, three restaurants, a 17,000-square-foot spa and fitness center, 20 miles of hiking trails, and tennis and swim facilities.
In June 2008, L’Auberge Del Mar Resort and Spa will be reborn. Respected for its romantic coastal sophistication and uncompromised service, the historic California hotel, managed by Destination Hotels & Resorts, will set a new standard in hospitality as a result of a $25 million comprehensive property renovation including a new restaurant, spa and remodeled guestrooms.
VIA Rail Canada is pleased to announce it has partnered with Premier Spas of Ontario to introduce the new Spa Train Route. Passengers can immerse themselves in the relaxing comforts of train travel while contemplating the peaceful spa treatments that await them at one of the premier spa destinations along the Spa Train Route.
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Browse Stay Spas in Ontario
In conjunction with Intrinsics, manufacturer of single-use spa essentials, Universal Companies is offering pink vinyl gloves to be used during spa treatments. As part of the Pink Gloves Campaign, Universal Companies will donate $5.50 out of each $9.99 box of gloves to the City of Hope (www.cityofhope.org). For more information visit www.universalcompanies.com.
Spa Makeover
Newsweek - USA
Mel Zuckerman and Jerry Cohen were hiking in the Arizona mountains in 1995 when they wound up having the conversation that determined their company's future. Zuckerman is the founder of Canyon Ranch, the Tucson-based spa resort; Cohen is vice chairman. Canyon Ranch has a devout following among affluent travelers and, to capitalize on that, companies were constantly pitching to Zuckerman licensing deals to stamp its name on frozen food, fitness equipment and face cream. Guests, meanwhile, were urging him to open more locations. Amid the desert scenery, the two men talked about the headaches and risks of trying to expand—particularly as Zuckerman neared 70. Cohen played devil's advocate. "You built this place to get away from stress, and you love your life," he said. "What do you want to grow for?" Zuckerman pondered, then replied: "Once an entrepreneur, always an entrepreneur." And after a few final moments of respite, they hiked down the mountain and began the work of turning Canyon Ranch into an empire.
Hotels scramble for cover-up
The State - Columbia,SC,USA
Hotels have spent the last decade courting travelers and one-upping each other with plusher, sexier bathrobes. Now, the hard part: convincing guests to wear anything else. Management at the Huntington Hotel in San Francisco is instructing its staff not to seat anyone wearing robes in the bar.
Nikki Beach at Caicos and Turks Islands on March 2008
Newswire Today (press release) - London,UK
The Nikki Beach Club, Marina Club Villas and the Marina will open in March 2008 and the 100 room Nikki Beach Resort and Spa will open in 2009.
