By Terry Herman

This 560-room resort is definitely high-end. The lobby ambience is exquisite, with its massive winding staircase and rich interior touches. The soft palette of colors, indirect lighting, stunning architectural detail and materials like marble, granite, luxuriant fabrics, lush foliage, gurgling fountains, and exotic woods, makes for an impressive and soothing sensory experience. This would be the theme throughout the resort, including its gorgeous spa.

This exquisite 13k sf spa opened in May 2002; it has nineteen treatment rooms and separate areas for men and women. In the changing areas, there’s a spacious, high-end amenity and grooming station, showers and steam. The relaxation areas have plush over-stuffed day beds, healthy nibbles, flavored waters, Elixir tonics and herbal tea for its guests. Outside is a beautiful private garden, complete with treatment cabanas, whirlpools with waterfalls, and a lounging area. The lush vegetation lends an aura of tropical splendor. Spa-ing al fresca is a must while at this resort.

The spa uses Kerstin Florian, Eminence and The Body Deli treatment lines; all products are also available at the spa’s retail area. Kerstin Florian has been a favored spa treatment line for years and known for its therapeutic body and facial treatments; the series of “kurs” has devotees worldwide.

The Eminence and The Body Deli lines are exclusive to Spa Esmeralda (and the entire desert area for that matter). Eminence is used for facials, and The Body Deli for the spa’s signature treatments of Botanical Bliss and the Cocoa Butter and Vitamin E Massage. Both product lines are botanical-based, and use only pure organic plant and flower essences and essential oils. Most treatment products are also available in the retail shop.

The spa offers a diverse and comprehensive menu of services that includes massages (including pregnancy, couples, reflexology and hot stone), hydrotherapy, facials, mineral and seaweed baths, mud, scrubs and wraps.

I booked the Eminence Facial. The facial was terrific, and the products were kind to my finicky skin; results were immediately noticeable, with improved texture and firmness. The products were deliciously fragrant as well (rose, lavender, lemon, and stonecrop (a cactus); therapeutic ingredients included lycopene (tomato), vitamin A (carrot), and vitamin C (rosehip). It was an absolutely yummy experience. This was one of the better facials I had received in some time.

Speaking of yummy, The Body Deli also has some delicious and scrumptious smelling products. This company is local and makes all of its products by hand, which preserves ingredient integrity and cellular efficacy. The spa’s signature treatments are the ritual Botanical Bliss, and the Cocoa Butter and Vitamin E Massage. The Botanical Bliss begins with the guest choosing a theme aroma; an aromatherapy bath soak is given, followed by a body scrub that uses an 80% shea butter scrub; the ritual culminates with a luxurious body massage. Another signature treatment, the Cocoa Butter and Vitamin E Massage, is a tremendous hit with chocoholics! The decadently rich cocoa butter aroma is enough to drive you nuts! Products smell good enough to eat! After the treatment, you’re also given chocolate truffles to extend the luxuriant experience.

In addition to these signature treatments, there’s a comprehensive array of other facials, massages (including pregnancy, reflexology, hot stone, and aromatherapy), body treatments, mineral and seaweed baths, mud, scrubs and wraps and hydrotherapy. The spa’s retail area is well stocked with must-haves for that at-home spa experience. Spa Esmeralda has exquisite environs and amenities, outstanding treatments and exceptional staff.

Spa Stats: Spa Director, Rianna Riego. Top three treatments include Swedish massage, facials and sports/therapeutic massage. Clientele comprised of 76% women and 24% men. The spa currently has forty-two staff, and has in place plans for increasing that number to correspond to its growth. Weekday traffic, approximately 40 daily; weekends, 80 to 120 per day. There’s also a hair salon.

The resort’s fitness center is 7,500 sf and has a full-range of weights, treadmills, stair steppers, etc. Fitness activities include power walks, water aerobics and hiking. The spa offers several different packages to enhance your spa experience, or you can customize and create your own unique spa experience. Spa specializes in offering revitalizing and rejuvenating wellness-based treatments.

Highly recommended; I give it my five-loofah rating!
For more information on the spa, call 800-214-5524. or 760-836-1265.

Overall: Everything the resort offers is exceptional. There are outstanding eateries to please any palate or pocketbook, live entertainment, fun stuff for kids of all ages, beautifully appointed rooms with luxurious bedding, a variety of meeting and conference space venues (all high-tech equipped), a ballroom, outdoor pools, golf, tennis, and gorgeous mountain vistas. This is a luxury resort and spa, complete with beautiful gardens and landscaping, supported by outstanding and exemplary staff.

For more information on the resort, call 800-214-5540,
or 760-773-4444.

© SPA MANAGEMENT JOURNAL - JULY/AUGUST 2004

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