Spa and Hotel news from SpaCast.com. Part of Spa Index Media Network.

Sailing the Arctic in a fishing boat turned luxury spa

To the outside world she looks like an ordinary fishing boat. But you won't find nets and winches on this vessel.   Instead you'll be greeted by scented candles, silk robes and a shrine to the Hindu elephant God.

Welcome to "Vulkana," an old fishing trawler refashioned into a floating spa moored in Tromso, northern Norway. "Vulcana" offers arctic safaris along northern Norway's majestic coastline taking in the northern lights and other wonders of the Arctic Circle.

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NBC selects Fitness Ridge Resort Utah as exclusive destination partner for The Biggest Loser

Congratulations to the newly named "Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge" in Ivins, Utah, selected to be the exclusive weight loss destination to NBC's television show "The Biggest Loser."  The Resort provides an affordable, calorie-controlled, structured program, boot camp style, for both men and women of any fitness level.  The program is aligned with The Biggest Loser lifestyle and features hiking, stimulating cardio and stretch classes, healthy and tasty spa cuisine, and practical education to help participants succeed.

Read more about The Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge on SpaIndex.com: Guide to Day Spas and Stay Spas

Additional headlines:

Biggest Loser franchise expands into games and a resort spa (LA Times)

"Guests will spend up to $2,000 a week to have an experience that resort co-owner Tami Clark says mimics the life that contestants live on “The Biggest Loser.”

'Loser' licensing pumps up Reveille (Variety)

Already a ratings heavyweight for NBC, "The Biggest Loser" is also proving a major moneymaker for the network and producer Reveille Entertainment through licensed merchandise, which now includes a videogame and resort. ...

The resort enables visitors to live a "Biggest Loser" lifestyle by offering a weight-loss program similar to what contestants on the series experience at the show's ranch.  Fitness Ridge opened in 2002 as a collaboration between health and wellness entrepreneurs Tami Clark, Michelle Kelsch and Cameron Kelsch. The venue will be featured in upcoming episodes of the show.

Twitter Reference Guide to ISPA Conference Expo 2009 (#ISPA09)

SpaIndex.com: Guide to Day Spas and Stay Spas (@SpaIndex) has compiled a Twitter Users Quick Reference Guide to the International Spa Association 2009  Conference & Expo underway in Austin Texas  (October 5 through October 8 2009).

All things #ISPA09:
@ISpaDoYou @LynneMcNees @livespa @spagal2009 @melissajriley @PulseMagazine

#ISPA09 Hotels:
@lakeaustinspa @TheCrossingsATX @FSAustin @bartoncreekstay @HiltonAustin

#ISPA09: Speakers:
@GuyKawasaki @Bertice_Berry @Lancearmstrong @zappos @jeremygutsche

#ISPA09: Austin Spas:
@VisitLostPines @milkandhoneyspa @BartonCreekSpa @lakeaustinspa @SpaReveil

#ISPA09: Guides:
@CenterdinAustin @VisitAustinTX @Austin_Monthly @austin360music and lastly: @dfiske

Spa goers increasing in Asia

Health is a key buzzword in Asia these days. The region's rapid growth of the last decade has meant a proliferation of fried chicken and ice cream, air pollution, and generally unhealthy lifestyles. Waistlines swelled along with GDP, and smoking and heavy drinking became fashionable among a certain segment of upwardly mobile Asians.

But increasingly, those with disposable incomes are recognizing the benefits of taking care of their health, and they're turning to spas to do it. "Beforehand there were hardly any Chinese, hardly any Asians, and now there are a lot," says Kan, who has visited Chiva-Som for more than a decade. "People get more money and they want to be more health conscious."

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Orange County #Spa Hotels struggle at height of travel season

On a sultry midweek afternoon at the grand new Resort at Pelican Hill in California, a scant dozen vacationers lounged at what is billed as the world's largest circular pool, flanked on one side by a Coliseum-style amphitheater and on the other by an ocean-view golf course.  A few miles south in Laguna Beach, most of the 170 lounge chairs at the Montage resort's oceanfront pool were empty as the afternoon wore on. Cocktail hour arrived, but at 5:45 p.m. only a single table at the poolside Mosaic Bar & Grille was occupied. Few businesses have been so brutalized by the recession as hospitality.

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Canyon Ranch expands Sea Spa

Canyon Ranch, which first took its health spa operations to sea when Cunard launched the Queen Mary 2 in 2004, has announced a similar deal with Oceania Cruises. The Tucson-based company's SpaClub at Sea will debut next month aboard Oceania Cruises ships Regatta, Insignia and Nautica, and it will also be aboard the line's newest ship, the Marina, expected to be put into service in 2010.

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The 5 most expensive hotel rooms in the world

Forget about your financial worries and enter the world of the super rich, where spending almost £23,000 a night to stay at the world's most luxurious hotels is nothing special. With help from Forbes here is a list of the five most expensive hotels in the world.

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The new Hilton Maldives Irufushi Resort & Spa

The Hilton Maldives Irufushi Resort and Spa in South Miladhunmadulu atoll was inaugurated by President Mohamed Nasheed on Wednesday.   Upon arrival at the resort, the President was greeted by Chairman of Sun Hotels, Ahmed Siyam Mohamed and senior management of Hilton.  Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the President expressed hope that the resort would contribute for greater advancement of the tourism sector. He also spoke on the importance of good management practices. Speaking in this regard, the President said good management practices were essential for sustainable tourism.

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Trading: HLN, HLT

JetBlue Introduces Spa Getaways Vacation Package

JetBlue Airways Corporation is pleased to introduce new Lifestyle Getaways, themed vacation package options designed to fit vacationers' interests. Lifestyle Getaways categorize hotels and resorts according to a common interest or theme, such as all-inclusive, family, golf, historic, romantic and spa. 

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Trading: JBLU

Oregon's first wine-country resort nears completion

A sagging economy hasn't stopped four stories of steel from springing up in Newberg, where Oregon wine country's first luxury hotel and spa is fast taking shape.

The 85-room Allison Inn & Spa, comparable in rates and amenities to just a few upscale boutique hotels in California's Napa Valley, is on schedule to open in time for this fall's wine-grape harvest.

"This is really a dream," said Bruce Hraba, a native of nearby Dayton and longtime consultant who conducted the feasibility study for the project. "To see Yamhill County go from growing potatoes, beans and strawberries to spawning a wine industry capable of supporting something like this is amazing."

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