Quick Last Minute Update:

The other day I posted about a special I have at Canyon Ranch in  Lenox from 9/18 – 22.  Great news…..due to the popularity of this special I have more space available, however this ends  tomorrow (Wednesday, 9/14).

If you’re still thinking about Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA while the whether is still warmer (high 60’s) then this is a great time to go at a great rate.

SPECIAL OFFER:

The opportunities are endless, however this special will  end soon.  If you can travel between 9/18 – 22 for a 3- or 4-night stay contact me at 1-800-532-5590 or via e-mail and I’ll review the details with you. Space is limited and this special must be reserved no later than 9/14/11.

PS  If you’re thinking of another time of year, call or e-mail me and I’ll review what’s possible.   If you’d like to go to Tucson, I have a great opportunity for late October.  More details coming up.

The kids are getting ready to go back to school.  Work will most likely get busier after Labor Day and you might be thinking it’s a good time for a quick getaway.  Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA may be the answer.  The weather is still great in September and with this special offer you can save quite a bit and enjoy everything that Canyon Ranch has to offer.

Outdoor activities abound like kayaking, hiking, biking and more.  There is an abundance of fitness opportunities, healthy living classes, cooking demos and oh those luxurious and pampering spa services, like the Canyon Ranch massage and the ever popular Ayurvedic treatment, Bindi-Shirodhara.

If you’re focused on weight management, then this is the place to get back on track or enhance your already good eating habits.  One of the most useful sessions I’ve ever experienced is the Metabolic Exercise Assessment.   Great information and insight to help you change body composition and much more.

SPECIAL OFFER:

The opportunities are endless, however this special will  end soon.  If you can travel between 9/18 – 22 for a 3- or 4-night stay contact me at 1-800-532-5590 or via e-mail and I’ll review the details with you. Space is limited and this special must be reserved no later than 9/6/11.

If you like to look at Top 10 lists, then this is one for you!

The World’s Best Awards 2011 has been released by Travel+Leisure.   Take a look and see if your favorite destination spa is on the list.

As always, if you have any specific questions about a destination spa, feel free to e-mail me.

Happy Travels!

 Are you in the know about Miraval rates?  Here’s the FYI for 2010!

Rates have changed at Miraval, and while the $399++ per night promotion is gone, there are some great options being offered through 2010. 

The 5-th night free promotion at Miraval is back when you reserve the Deluxe room (or higher) and it’s the best value at this time.  If 5-nights isn’t in the stars, then the standard room is the next best option if less than 4/5 nights.

And, rates for 2010 at Miraval Spa are seasonal, so if you travel between June 6 and August 14, you’ll receive the very lowest rates of the year.  And, there are date ranges at Miraval for the other seasons so for instance, if you travel between today and Feb. 20th, you’ll receive the Premium rate and then it goes to peak season for Feb. 21 – March 6th.  There are several date ranges for each season and this is just an example.  (Rates are subject to change.)

The other option at Miraval for 2010 is the custom rate, which means that spa services can be a la carte.  A little advice though – if you’re planning on getting one Miraval spa service per day, then go with the full package as it offers a better value.

So now you’re in the know about Miraval rates!

Extra, extra…read all about it! SpaFinder released their seventh annual “Top 10 Global Spa
Trends to Watch in 2010” and I’ve included a briefing of them below.

Whether you’re a consumer or also in the industry, take a look at the listing below to find out more about where the spa industry is heading. It’s going to be another exciting year and I’m so thrilled that prevention is becoming more apparent in the growth of the spa lifestyle.

And, check out the bonus trend at the bottom…….it’s what many of you have known for some
time now and why I do what I do. A destination spa vacation is an investment in you and the
first step to integrating a healthier lifestyle and an awakening to who you truly are.

Here’s to you and to a year of health, adventure and 365 nights of restful sleep!

Source: SpaFinders.com

Top 10 Global Spa Trends to Watch in 2010

1) The New “P” Word
Goodbye, pampering. Hello, prevention. Well, not so fast. It’s more like, move over, pampering; hello, prevention. Against the backdrop of a global healthcare crisis, prevention is poised to be the new “it” word of the spa industry in 2010 and beyond. But rather than replacing established industry concepts like pampering and wellness, it’s a sharp (and smart) refocusing of the conversation. Pampering, after all, speaks to the stress-reduction, relaxation goal of most spa-goers, and that in itself is preventive.

2) Year of the Hammam
With spa-goers increasingly seeking authenticity, tradition, and that magical spa experience that also offers true results, the Middle Eastern hammam (hamam in Turkey) represents one of the hottest trends for 2010, albeit with a distinctly modern expression. This is the year in which people who have never heard the term hammam will learn its meaning, and those already familiar with it will discover new places to experience it.

3) Not “Going to,” But “Belonging to” a Spa
No longer a place where you infrequently “go” for the occasional treatment, spas are being creatively re-imagined as places of “belonging”—not only through the big rise in membership programs, but also in the diverse ways spas are being recast as social or communal hubs—contributing the additional, although unspoken, benefit of emotional health.

4) The Online Spa
2010 will be a watershed year for the spa industry’s virtual presence. Consumers are already online searching for spas, booking treatments, joining online weight loss and coaching groups, and embracing social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter. (Some even play the online Sally Spa game.) But there’s more to come.
Get ready for gaming while you exercise, for having health information (like your blood pressure and heart rate) automatically uploaded for access online by your spa or doctor, and for spas to use yield management software that—much like the airlines—enables price variation, so spas can offer a less expensive massage on weekday mornings, compared to Saturday afternoons. And in early 2010, you’ll be able to stroll down any street in the U.S. and check your iPhone to pinpoint the spa nearest you, thanks to the upcoming SpaFinder App.

5) The Hybrid Spa
The modern spa is increasingly a “hyphenated” affair, with spas incorporating far more fitness, fitness centers incorporating more spa, hospitals incorporating spa elements, and spas bringing in more medical doctors and specialists. The era of the spa/fitness/integrated-health-center/hospital/spiritual-retreat/wellness-center/beauty-clinic is on a serious upswing. It’s one integrated human body, after all, and the “pure” spa is on the decline, while the hybrid spa is busy inventing new you-name-it plugged-in hybrid models.

6) The Price Is (Still) Right
2009’s headline spa story was the industry’s aggressive response to the global recession and the near-universal focus on deals, deals, and more deals. While there’s (cautious) consensus that the economy is in recovery mode, there’s great news for consumers in 2010: The spa bargains will continue apace, not only straight discounting, but also more innovative incentives smartly designed by spas to drive incremental revenue and retain loyal customers. And keep an eye out for savvy new spas combining less expensive treatments and facilities with a touch of glamour, hitting a sweet spot between nice and price.

7) Wellness Tourism Wows
We’re familiar with people seeking spas for wellness—and also with “medical tourism,” crossing borders for medical procedures (often plastic surgery, dentistry, knee replacements, etc.). Well, make room for “wellness tourism,” a new term describing travel across borders for preventive services, diagnostics, spa and well-being vacations, even stem cell banking. The concept not only dramatically broadens the appeal of the medical tourism model (which has suffered from its narrow association with plastic surgery), it’s increasingly poised to become the way we define our time away from home and work in the future.

8. Scary and Silly Spa Stories Drive Evidence, Science, and Standards
The fallout from heavily publicized spa horror stories—and the recession-driven consumer insistence on no-gimmick treatments with real, measurable benefits—will quicken a rising industry trend: the demand for evidence-based therapies, stricter industry standards, and greater transparency/resources to help spa-goers separate the wheat from the chaff. As spas move into the health and wellness sectors, facts, evidence, and science that support industry approaches will move front and center, even at the cost of a few diamond facials.

9) Diversity at a Tipping Point
For years analysts have discussed how the spa industry has been attracting new demographics (men, teens, seniors, new ethnic groups). But in 2010 diversity has reached a tipping point: It has fully arrived, and it’s here to stay. Spa-going has become so mainstream that the face of the spa-goer will now continue to reflect the wider global population. Every spa region has its unique “diversity story,” and around the globe far more men, younger and older generations, and ethnic groups are hitting the spa. And spas are taking note, with offerings that cater to these diverse groups’ needs and wants. Set to explode: In the U.S. alone, where approximately 78 million baby boomers are poised to enter their 60s, watch for “silver spa-ing” to really take off.

10) Stillness
The modern human experience is an unprecedented amount of sensory overload, noise, and media stimulation. We’re wired to the gills, spending nearly all waking hours in front of TV and computer screens—bombarded, texting, tweeting, clattering away—now even on airplanes. With the spa as one of the last remaining sanctuaries of silence and serenity, look for the industry to put a new emphasis on stillness, on slowness, on silence. From totally silent massages/treatments or using white noise and subtle nature sounds instead of music; to silent walks, hikes, and dinners at Red Mountain or Rancho La Puerta; to Six Senses Spas’ focus on a “Slow Life” approach; to an upswing in meditation offerings and programs, spas will help clients move from busy-ness and overload to quiet, to stillness. “Sounds” awfully good.

Bonus Trend: Celebrating Celebration
In a recent survey, travel agents reported the #1 emerging spa travel trend was people increasingly hitting stay spas for special occasions like the big ’0s’, anniversaries, weddings, retirement parties, etc. And after the severe downturn in spas’ corporate/meetings business (which, because of virtual conferencing, will continue to decline), the industry is aggressively incentivizing group celebration travel to revitalize lost business. This concept was born at the day spa (with its long tradition of bachelorette, graduation and “girlfriend” parties), and its rapid migration into the travel arena in 2010 is one great reason for the industry to celebrate.

About SpaFinder, Inc.:
The world’s largest spa media, marketing, and gifting company, SpaFinder, Inc., connects millions of wellness-focused consumers with thousands of spas worldwide. SpaFinder’s media properties include the award-winning Spafinder.com, the Spa Enthusiast newsletter, and the annual Global Spa and Wellness Directory. SpaFinder and its new gift division, Salon Wish, offer spa gift certificates and cards that are redeemable at a combined network of over 9,000 spas and salons worldwide and are available at thousands of retail outlets. The company’s technology division innovates new solutions that help spas build and streamline their businesses, including the popular SpaBooker online booking system. SpaFinder Europe and SpaFinder Japan offer regional spa marketing and gifting programs, including localized, native-language websites. Founded in 1986, the privately held company is headquartered in Manhattan./p>

Source:
Copyright © 2008, SpaFinder, Inc. Information and data extracted from SpaFinder (Inc.),
the publisher and source.

I just returned from a week at Canyon Ranch in Tucson and participated in the Life Enhancement Program. For anyone that is looking at being their best physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually I highly recommend this program and a stay at the Ranch. I’m working on a more detailed post and an article that covers my stay so please check here again in the next few days for an update.

In the meantime, if anyone has been considering a stay at Canyon Ranch (Tucson) I am putting something together for early January (approx. Jan. 2) so that you too can start the year off with the tools you need to be the best you that you can be. When armed with healthy living tools and ideas, and the opportunity to take action in a nurturing environment, it’s amazing how much better you feel and how much more you’re capable of attaining for yourself……all of your senses are heightened, you live more joyfully and fully and are ready to move forward in your life.

One of the reasons I chose the Life Enhancement Program was due to an injury I sustained, which had been taking longer than I hoped to heal. The staff is incredible and Doug, my exercise physiologist, was able to review a program that best suited my needs and more important than that was the encouragement he offered and the feeling of being hopeful when we were done vs that hopeless feeling I came in with. That’s just the start of the amazing week I had. More to come…….

And, again, if you’re interested in realizing your own aha! moments and tools for a healthier life, drop me a note about Jan. 2 and I’ll get you the details.

Have a joyful day!

As some of you know, Miraval has been running promotional rates most of 2009 and a rate increase may be on the horizon very soon. For my current clients and for those of you thinking about Miraval now may be the time to get something scheduled for later this year or next year (maybe by this Saturday). And in honor of Halloween, why not consider a treat for yourself.

The rate is currently starting at $399 per person (plus tax/service) per night, so it comes out to about $509 per person per night (much lower than the usual peak season rate). This is for the Standard room and then it’s about $30+ more per night (per person) for the deluxe room (and then higher for other categories).

Miraval requires a two night deposit totaling $798 pp to secure the current rate and preferred dates. Should another promotion come out later that is better than this, we can review the options and I can do all possible to adjust the promotion to be sure you’re getting the best option for your stay.

If you or someone you know may be interested in experiencing Miraval, please let me know as soon as possible. I’ve included my contact info below for anyone that you’d like to send this to. I’ve also just returned from a few days at Miraval as well and it was another wonderful experience.

Thanks again and wishing you the best for the upcoming holiday season.

Healthy regards,

Donna
1-800-532-5590
donna@spa-vacation-experts.com
www.spa-vacation-experts.com

Kids are getting ready for camp, families are planning summer vacations and there are some adults that are looking for a stress-free getaway…..and more than ever nowadays. Well, for those of you who have thought about Canyon Ranch, now may be the time to plan your adult getaway and for good reasons.

First, Canyon Ranch was just named the #1 Destination Spa by Conde Nast Traveler Readers and if you’re flexible with your travel plans you can save up to 50% (see below for more details).

With the constant flow of information, the speed at which we now go through our day, cell phones, e-mail, and tending to others it seems that perhaps a getaway to a place like Canyon Ranch can give us the time to slow down, find clarity within ourselves and allow joy to flow through our day. Canyon Ranch offers us a chance to focus on our physical as well as our mental and emotional selves while enjoying three healthy gourmet meals, comfortable accommodations and an abundance of activities both indoors and out. And, yes, a spa to relax our body and soothe our soul!

Okay, back to the note above about saving up to 50%. If you can travel between August 22 – 29 for either 4- or 7-nights, send an e-mail to me at donna@spa-vacation-experts.com and I’ll give you the details. Space at this rate is limited though. And, if you’d like to get a jumpstart on 2010, consider traveling between January 1 – 8 (for either 4- or 7-nights) and again save up to 50% during this peak travel time. Both opportunities are for the Tucson, AZ location. I’ll be updating details for Lenox soon as well.

To your health!
- Donna

Wow, talk about stress release! I just got word that Red Mountain Spa is offering a 50-minute Swedish Massage+ during the summer for only $1.00. Yes, that is correct……..and this is for stays of three nights (or longer) on the Signature Package, which is the best value so anyone interested has everything to gain and only stress to lose!

Note: +One 50-minute Sagestone Swedish massage per person per stay at special rate. Subject to availability. Valid through 8/31/09.

And here’s some more info about what is going on at Red Mountain Spa this summer.

7/9-7/12
Dr. Brad Crump Stepping Stones…Transitions through Menopause

7/10-7/13
and 8/7-8/10
Life Coach Cindy Clemens Passages: What’s NEXT!

7/11 Red Mountain Spa Event Climb to Conquer Cancer

7/12-7/19 Dr. Brad Crump Re-Energizing through Weight Loss

7/19-7/26 Fitness Manager Kim Watters Fitness Boot Camp

8/9-8/14 Chef Dale Van Sky Eat Well, Feel Well Culinary School

Take the time to do something for yourself as well as enjoy the feeling of sharing the experience with someone you care about. Here are some ideas and reasons to consider Canyon Ranch…

De-Stress & Unwind:
* Massage, Body Work and Meditation
* Yoga
* Golf

Grow & Learn:
* Sleep
* Genomics
* Sexuality & Intimacy

Lifestyle Changes:
* Nutrition
* Weight Management
* Smoking Cessation

Be open to the possibilities…

Re-discover You!
Sometimes we lose track of who we are and our core being. Peel away the layers and rediscover yourself. Nourish your body, mind and spirit.

Discovery:
You know that feeling when you want to experience something more? Perhaps you want to take up golf or tennis or learn something new in the field of sleep or nutrition; here is your opportunity to be in the moment and learn more to improve your life.

Awakening:
When was the last time you had that Aha! moment? Is there something else you want to do with your life? Have you lost sight of passion and all that makes you feel good? We’re here to feel good despite the challenges we face from time to time.

You are ready to explore the options available to help you create positive change now. Call me for moe insight and details about all that Canyon Ranch has to offer.

Remember…..”The Journey of a Thousand Miles begins with a single step.” Lao Tzu

VALUE-ADDED REASON: Just wanted to remind everyone reading this posting that I have limited space available for a promotion at Canyon Ranch Tucson from May 7 – 14 (4- or 7-night stay). It’s over Mother’s Day and offers an amazing opportunity to experience all that’s possible at Canyon Ranch with the benefit of sharing the moments with someone close to you.