|
You Time
.gif)
Meeting Resorts Keep Wellbeing in
Mind
By Kevin Woo
In today’s busy world, the push is on to do
more with less. Stress levels continue to rise as our downtime
decreases. Between work and family, there is little time to
unwind and rejuvenate. Too often, our health and wellbeing
take a backseat to life’s demands.
 SMART |
INFORMATION | |
Wailea
Marriott
(808)
879-1922
www.outrigger.com
San Ysidro Ranch
(800)
368-6788
www.sanysidroranch.com
Canyon Ranch
(800)
742-9000
www.canyonranch.com
Red
Mountain Spa
(808)
690-9215
www.redmtn.com
Green Valley Spa
(800)
237-1068
www.greenvalleyspa.com
Montage Resort & Spa
(949)
715-6000
www.montagelagunabeach.com
The Inn at Sunrise Springs
(800)
955-0028
www.sunrisesprings.com
|
But a new type of meeting is helping to offset this growing
trend. Wellness retreats focus on a small group of people and
provide them each with value-added classes that teach
healthier lifestyles, stress reduction, and nutrition, while
also interspersing work-related meetings. Activities ranging
from hikes and yoga to meditation and stress management keep
energy levels up and minds active. The result for attendees is
better overall health, increased productivity, and greater
life management skills.
Here, we take a look at a selection of western
meetings resorts and spas providing education in lifestyle
management, fitness, and nutrition counseling.
How do
you describe perfection? Rather than searching for the correct
words, it might simply be easier to say “Wailea Marriott.” Set
amidst a lush, tropical garden on 22 acres of prime oceanfront
property, the Wailea Marriott is truly one of the world’s most
beautiful locations. The resort has sweeping views of the
bright blue Pacific, three championship golf courses, and is
just steps from the elegant shops at Wailea.
The Maui Wellness Institute, located at the
Wailea Marriott, is ideal for those wishing to incorporate
health and anti-aging programs into group meetings. The
Wellness Institute staff can customize a variety of programs
and assemble a group of faculty members to meet the specific
needs of a group. Based on the principle of “lokahi,” which
means all things are connected and interrelated, the staff of
the Maui Wellness Institute can utilize a variety of
scientific and holistic-based programs designed to enhance
wellbeing and quality of life.
Nutrition, weight management, fitness, yoga, and
Feng Shui are but a few of the life skills
classes taught
at the Wellness Institute. Doctors are on hand to council
attendees on enhancing quality of life without pills, shots,
or deprivation. “For many people, personal wellbeing and a
good quality of life are very important, but they're sometimes
pushed aside because we're so busy living our daily lives,”
said Dorsey Brady, Vice President and General Manager of the
Wailea Resort. “Taking a trip to Maui is all about devoting
time to you; relaxing, decompressing, sleeping well, and
feeling great. The Maui Wellness Center at the Wailea Marriott
is a perfect opportunity to do something for you.”
The Wailea has two primary restaurants, The Hula
Moons and Kuma Bar & Grill. Both have extensive menus and
serve a selection of salads that can include fresh fish,
chicken, lean meats, or locally grown fresh fruit. The chefs
are happy to accommodate personal preparation requests. The
resort has 521 guestrooms, 45,000 square feet of indoor
meeting space, 60,000 square feet of outdoor function area and
29 meeting rooms.
Located in the foothills of Montecito in
beautiful Santa Barbara, San Ysidro Ranch has played host to
discriminating travelers for more than a century. Vivien Leigh
and Sir Lawrence Olivier exchanged wedding vows here and John
F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier chose it as their honeymoon
destination. The San Ysidro Ranch is the perfect getaway for
small group planning sessions at which creativity and
productivity are essential. Private yoga instructors and
personal fitness trainers are available to help with energy
boost breaks. Relaxation specialists will listen to individual
needs and guide attendees through a series of focused
breathing techniques, as well as visualization and stretching
exercises to manage and relieve stress. Afternoon hikes
through the lush Santa Ynez Mountains are lead by guides
well-versed on the local trails.
There are several restaurants located at the San
Ysidro Ranch, each featuring freshly grown herbs and
vegetables from the on-premises organic garden. Every day
Executive Chef Jamie West incorporates the ingredients into
healthy and delicious meals.
The Colman Cottage provides a homey setting for
meetings. With French doors that open to an enclosed patio, a
working stone fireplace and hardwood floors, the cottage has
900 square feet of meeting space, which can accommodate up to
60 people.
In today’s intense business climate, senior
executives face unimaginable pressures. At Canyon Ranch,
executives are provided a chance to reenergize, gain a fresh
perspective, and
refocus for peak performance. Canyon
Ranch offers the opportunity to receive a complete physical at
the fully equipped Health & Healing Center. All tests and
consultations with medical personnel are handled in one place
without appointments. Board-certified physicians,
nurses,
dietitians, and behavior therapists work with individuals or
small groups on such issues as stress management, physical and
spiritual wellness, and nutrition. The medical team helps
guests with preventative tips to enhance quality of
life.
Onsite exercise physiologists conduct a full
assessment of fitness, cardio-metabolic status, and skeletal
health. Bone density and DEXA tests are conducted to measure
body composition. Take-home plans are customized and given to
each attendee. Body treatments, movement therapy, yoga, and
more than 40 daily fitness classes are offered at Canyon
Ranch. Meals are included in the room rate, and menu items are
listed with their nutritional value rather than with prices.
Specialties include egg white omelets, seven-grain breads, Ahi
tuna salads, lobster, lamb, and healthy pizzas. But eating
well doesn’t mean going hungry. Demonstrations of low-fat
cooking techniques help attendees to replicate the healthy
cooking at home. Chefs are also available to teach guests how
to convert their own recipes into
low-fat dishes using
substitutes.
The ranch has guest accommodations for 45 and a
3,200 square foot conference room for 80. The Ranch does not
serve or sell alcohol nor does it allow cell phones in public
areas.
Located in the majestic beauty of Southwestern
Utah at the gateway to the Grand Circle of National Parks, Red
Mountain Spa offers a wide selection of activities, ranging
from full-service spa treatments and outdoor adventures, to
stress management and nutrition classes. Just 125 miles
northeast of Las Vegas, and surrounded by red rock formations
and tall cliffs, the Spa is a great getaway to begin or
continue a health program, regardless of fitness level. The
helpful staff conducts fitness and nutrition assessments and
designs programs to meet individual goals. Daily fitness
offerings include hiking in Snow Canyon, mountain biking,
kayaking, and rock climbing. Not feeling athletic? Try one of
Red Mountain Spa’s daily classes on healthy cooking, stress
management, or anti-aging.
The Spa is well suited for
groups from 8 to 60 people. Groups can custom design an agenda
to meet its specific needs. Private hikes, team building
sessions, and themed social functions can all be arranged.
Social events such as music, comedy, theatre, art, and
creative expression are also available. After exploring the
outdoors, guests can unwind over a delicious and nutritious
meal. Staple items include a bevy of fresh fruits and
vegetables. Bread pudding, blue corn griddlecakes, sweet
potato salad, poached salmon, and pork tenderloin are a few
highlights on the menu. Beer and wine are served in
moderation. Cooking demonstrations are held daily.
Red Mountain can accommodate 174 overnight
guests. The spa is available for group buy-outs with advance
notice. The largest meeting room is The Learning Center with
nearly 2,300 square feet of meeting space. The meeting
facilities can accommodate up to 60 people.
When you arrive at the Green Valley Spa, you can
expect three things: you’ll work your body, relax your mind,
and calm your spirit. Located 120 miles northeast of Las Vegas
and 300 miles south of Salt Lake City, the Green Valley Spa is
a desert playground featuring rocky hills, desert tortoises,
and sandstone that dates back more than 200 million years.
Many guests begin their stay taking the Green Valley
Challenge, which takes place in the area surrounding the spa.
The Challenge includes hiking, 30-foot rock climbs, and
propelling across two 350-foot-wide canyons via “zip lines.”
The adventure is sure to provide an adrenaline rush and an
exciting start to your meeting.
After completing the Challenge, guests return to
the spa for lunch and a full body massage. The Relaxation
Center is a perfect place to decompress from the stress of the
“real world.” Fresh flowers, aromatics, music, and subtly
flavored and scented water help guide guests toward what the
Relaxation Center calls, “that special condition of lightness
and clarity.”
Because most diseases take years to show
symptoms, healthcare professionals typically advocate
prevention. Due to trends in medical care, however, physicians
are often denied the time necessary to instruct patients on
how to evaluate and address health risks. At the Green Valley
Spa, a team of physicians is on staff to review your medical
history and determine potential risks and concerns. Blood
tests, metabolic profiles, lipid panels, TSH (thyroid), and
glucose/insulin levels are just a few of the available tests.
Physicians are available to interpret and discuss the test
results.
Nutrition is a big part of the learning
experience at Green Valley. The spa incorporates into its menu
the American Heart Association’s 60-20-20 ratio of carbs to
fats to proteins. Spices and monounsaturated fats are used,
negating the need for sugars, salt, and unfavorable fats.
Careful monitoring of each meal ensures that the daily caloric
intake will remain under 1,500 calories (and yes, you can have
dessert).
Also, Dr. Jane Miner teaches life coaching
classes at Green Valley during which she discusses how to
balance life while reducing stress, how to remove barriers to
success, and how to live life based on values, vision, and
gifts.
Green Valley’s Coyote Inn has 45 guestrooms and
3,200 square feet of meeting space, capable of accommodating
up to 80 people.
The California coastal city of Laguna Beach has
artistic roots dating back to the early 1900s. A group of
artists were inspired by the natural beauty of the location
and decided to settle here. They no doubt took advantage of
the natural beauty to help feel better. Today the artistic
penchant continues to thrive and people in Laguna Beach still
take their physical wellbeing very seriously. At the Montage
Resort & Spa, the heritage is recalled in the
museum-quality fine art hanging on the walls and positioned in
the gardens of the fantastic Arts & Crafts-inspired
structure. The building is situated on a coastal bluff and
mixes the amenities and conveniences of a luxury hotel with
the warmth of a cozy seaside inn.
Montage is known for
its spa, a beachfront facility that offers treatments indoors
or outdoors, taking advantage of the awe-inspiring ocean
vistas. Among the treatment rooms is the Gallery, which can be
used by groups of up to 6 people, ideal for bridal parties and
reunions. Montage also offers a Mind and Body Movement Studio,
with floor-to-ceiling open-air windows to help clear the
cobwebs and relax the muscles.
The focus here is on holistic principles and
noninvasive techniques. The primary elements of Spa Montage
include relaxation, body therapies, nutrition, and fitness.
The spa takes full advantage of the area's lush habitat using
a variety of indigenous natural ingredients to make its
hand-mixed oils and lotions, including eucalyptus, lavender,
orange blossoms, and citrus.
The mile-long stretch of beach and Laguna
Beach-area coves and inlets provide guests private sanctuaries
in which to contemplate or enjoy beachside yoga or meditation
sessions.
The Spa offers inventive therapeutic treatments
and expert guidance to help instill a sense of well-being and
balanced living. Some of the specialized treatments available
include mineral baths, aroma-balancing therapy, a marine wrap,
a clay wrap, and the Montage anti-aging facial.
Montage also has an expansive fitness room with
state-of-the-art cardiovascular equipment outfitted with
individual media and music centers. And when all the physical
exertion is done, guests can unwind in the relaxation room,
complete with roaring fireplace. Other amenities include a
marble-faced steam room, a sauna, an outdoor cold plunge and
whirlpool, and custom bath amenities.
You probably wouldn’t expect to find a
retreat featuring Japanese Tea Gatherings, flower arranging,
Tai Chi or East Indian cooking demonstrations in New Mexico,
but at The Inn
at Sunrise Springs, located 20 minutes
outside Santa Fe, east truly does meet west.
Guests of the Inn, which has sixty guestrooms,
experience a combination of ancient teachings and contemporary
adaptations to help bring groups and individuals to a place of
enduring peace. Sunrise Springs instructors teach classes
ranging from Ikebana (the Japanese art of flower arrangement)
and Tibetan Th’anka Painting (an ancient form of meditative
painting) to East Indian cooking demonstrations (focused on
the combination of smells and colors) and Medicine Wheels
(designed to help us look at ourselves from a different point
of view).
“People relax and melt into Sunrise Springs,”
says Becky Ellis, General Manager of The Inn at Sunrise
Springs. “We call it ‘blissed out.’ Our clients range from a
weekend guest, who wants yoga, massage, great food, and
relaxation, to uptight, stressed-out corporate executives,
who select Sunrise Springs to host important board
meetings, strategy sessions or, most
recently, scientists
from all over the world having a collaborative meeting. We
cover the range
of clients from Shaman's to holistic
meditative groups.”
Sunrise Springs offers 7,500 square feet of
meeting space that can accommodate 210 guests. On-site
services such as massage and wellness breaks, yoga, Japanese
tea gatherings, pottery making, and meditation are available
for all groups.
The on-site restaurant is aptly named The Blue
Heron, after the elegant bird that finds refuge on Sunrise’s
grounds. Chef Marianne Deery incorporates organically (and
locally) grown produce and herbs into cuisine that is light
and healthy yet satisfying. Most dishes feature an Asian
influence. Indoor and outdoor dining is available with private
dining facilities for parties of 12 to 24 people. 
|
