Take five…Hotel spasOne of the best ways to unw<strong>in</strong>d is by <strong>in</strong>dulg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a spot of pamper<strong>in</strong>g, and a hotel spa is theperfect place for it. Here are five fabulous spas <strong>in</strong> Summit Hotels & Resorts around the worldPrana Spa at The Tongsai Bay, Ko Samui, ThailandTreat<strong>in</strong>g yourself to regular massages is one of the highlights of any holiday <strong>in</strong> Thailand,so it’s hardly surpris<strong>in</strong>g to f<strong>in</strong>d that Prana Spa specialises <strong>in</strong> massage treatments. Choosebetween Western and Thai techniques – either way you’ll feel the stresses and stra<strong>in</strong>s ofdaily life gently slipp<strong>in</strong>g away with every stroke. Another special feature of this peacefulspot, hidden away among tropical trees above a private bay on Ko Samui, is the way it<strong>in</strong>corporates local <strong>in</strong>gredients wherever possible. The Samui Dream treatment, for example,comb<strong>in</strong>es an aromatherapy massage and facial with a body mask of coconut oil and localherbs to help repair sunburned sk<strong>in</strong> – bliss for those who’ve overdone it <strong>in</strong> the tropical sun.12T Spa at Tulalip Resort Cas<strong>in</strong>o &Spa, near Seattle, Wash<strong>in</strong>gton, USATranquillity, serenity and a sense ofharmony – that’s the promise at the1,300 sq m T Spa. Reverence for nature isreflected <strong>in</strong> the native-<strong>in</strong>spired rituals andtherapies on the spa menu: Mission BeachHot Stone Massage uses hot river rocks withjuniper and sage oils to melt away achesand pa<strong>in</strong>s, while Re-balance, a warm bodywrap designed to improve circulation andelim<strong>in</strong>ate tox<strong>in</strong>s, <strong>in</strong>corporates true oceanbath mar<strong>in</strong>e crystals. For the ultimate <strong>in</strong>pamper<strong>in</strong>g, book a Canoe Puller – <strong>in</strong> oneheady five-hour package it comb<strong>in</strong>es are-energis<strong>in</strong>g ritual, mud bath, deep tissuemassage, vitam<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>fusion facial, nativestone ritual for feet, and lunch.Makena Kai Day Spa at MakenaBeach & Golf Resort, Maui,Hawaii, USAAs well as offer<strong>in</strong>g traditional treatmentrooms, Makena Kai Day Spa on Maui alsohas thatched-roof, open-air cabanas righton the beach, so you can enjoy a massagejust steps away from the sooth<strong>in</strong>g soundand scent of the ocean waves. A specialityof the spa is unique island-<strong>in</strong>spiredtreatments, such as the Hawaiian LomiLomi Massage, with its blend of long, glid<strong>in</strong>gstrokes and gentle rhythmic motions. Andfor active types tak<strong>in</strong>g advantage of Maui’smany outdoor activities, a Sports Massage isthe one to go for: the therapist will tailor thetreatment to target different muscle groups,depend<strong>in</strong>g on whether you’ve been golf<strong>in</strong>g,runn<strong>in</strong>g, hik<strong>in</strong>g, play<strong>in</strong>g tennis or surf<strong>in</strong>g.318volume thirteen q Summit
<strong>check</strong>-<strong>in</strong>4Wellness centre at Hotel Francia& Quir<strong>in</strong>ale, Montecat<strong>in</strong>i Terme,Tuscany, ItalyThe cultural riches of Florence, Lucca andPisa are all with<strong>in</strong> easy day-tripp<strong>in</strong>g reachof Montecat<strong>in</strong>i Terme – but the really bigdraw of this Tuscan resort is its m<strong>in</strong>eral-richthermal spr<strong>in</strong>gs. Their fame dates back toRoman times and they’re reputed to possessheal<strong>in</strong>g powers that can help with a rangeof health problems. Hotel Francia &Quir<strong>in</strong>ale, just a short stroll from the town’sbaths, makes the perfect base for tak<strong>in</strong>g thewaters, after which you can retreat to thehotel’s own wellness centre, where theservices on offer range from hot stonemassages to Ayurvedic treatments.travell<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> styleaccessoriesP3 headphonesBowers & Wilk<strong>in</strong>s – These new headphonesare the ideal travel companion for anyonewho demands great sound on the go. Theirfoldable design makes them compactenough to carry easily, and the memoryfoam cushion and ultra-light acousticfabric on the ear pad mean they deliver onthe comfort front, too. Available <strong>in</strong> blackor white, they also come with a choice ofcable leads, mak<strong>in</strong>g them compatible withiPhones®, all other mobile phones and MP3players. www.bowers-wilk<strong>in</strong>s.comQu<strong>in</strong>ton Leather SatchelTust<strong>in</strong>g – Tust<strong>in</strong>g takes the f<strong>in</strong>est leathers andconverts them <strong>in</strong>to desirable items, designedto endure. Made from basket-weave-pr<strong>in</strong>tcalf leather and trimmed with strong darktan bridle for contrast and strength, thisdist<strong>in</strong>ctive satchel ispetite enoughto be smart,but roomyenough totake an A4pad or glossymagaz<strong>in</strong>es.www.tust<strong>in</strong>g.co.ukMaya Spa at The Zuri White SandsGoa Resort & Cas<strong>in</strong>o, Goa, IndiaThe ancient holistic discipl<strong>in</strong>e of Ayurveda,designed to heal body, m<strong>in</strong>d and soul, ismuch <strong>in</strong> evidence at Maya Spa, where themenu offers more than 50 health and beautytreatments. Signature therapies <strong>in</strong>cludeMukhalepam, a traditional Ayurvedic herbalfacial that cleanses, hydrates and refreshesthe sk<strong>in</strong>, and Maya Cure, <strong>in</strong> which hotbundles of herbs and a comb<strong>in</strong>ation ofmassage techniques relieve tense muscles.All treatments start with a traditionalwelcom<strong>in</strong>g foot ritual, and afterwards youcan relax <strong>in</strong> the steam room, sauna orJacuzzi, or head straight for the beautyparlour, where the services range fromeyebrow thread<strong>in</strong>g and leg wax<strong>in</strong>g to hairiron<strong>in</strong>g and saree drap<strong>in</strong>g.5Eye maskHolistic Silk – Put some style <strong>in</strong>to your<strong>in</strong>-flight snooz<strong>in</strong>g, with one of the newseason’s eye masks from Holistic Silk. Theycome <strong>in</strong> a range of patterns, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g funkyanimal pr<strong>in</strong>ts and bright tropical flowerdesigns, all made from the f<strong>in</strong>est, softestcotton and velvet and filled with lavenderto soothe the spirits and scent the air.Adjust<strong>in</strong>g the ties for perfect comfort willtotally block out the cab<strong>in</strong> lights and allowyou to drift off to sleep until it’s time to land.www.holisticsilk.comLOCAL FLAVOURHive talk<strong>in</strong>gJo Hemesley, Corporate Senior SalesManager at Lancaster London, talks aboutthe buzz she gets from be<strong>in</strong>g a memberof the hotel’s beekeep<strong>in</strong>g teamWe’ve had bees on the roof of LancasterLondon for three years now. We’d allheard about bee populations be<strong>in</strong>g underthreat, and thought that <strong>in</strong>troduc<strong>in</strong>g somerooftop hives could have a positive effecton our environment.There are 10 hives, each conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g around50,000 bees. The bees can fly for up toabout three miles from home, but the hotelis right on the doorstep of Hyde Park, sothat’s where they feed mostly. They forageon whatever nectar is available, whichchanges throughout the year, but a lot ofit comes from the pollen of the lime trees<strong>in</strong> the park.On average, each colony produces around14kg of honey each summer. It’s a lovelyhoney, very pale, clear and runny, with a realcitrusy z<strong>in</strong>g to it. We don’t sell it, but we givejars as gifts to some of our clients and usethe rest <strong>in</strong> our restaurants. The porridge onthe breakfast menu <strong>in</strong> Island Grill is servedwith honey from the hotel hives.There are four of us <strong>in</strong> the beekeep<strong>in</strong>gteam, and we all do it <strong>in</strong> addition to ourother roles <strong>in</strong> the hotel. As well as myself,there’s Darren Marshall (Island Head Chef),Jeff Tonks (Eng<strong>in</strong>eer) and Jo Cope (EventsSales Associate). The hives need to be<strong>in</strong>spected once a week and we take it <strong>in</strong>turns. Quite a lot of the guestrooms lookout over the bees and it’s funny to see thesurprise on people’s faces if they see usthere <strong>in</strong> our white boiler suits and veils!You’d be surprised how many rooftophives there are <strong>in</strong> London.They’re on top of Fortnum& Mason on Piccadilly,Ted Baker’s head office<strong>in</strong> Camden, the NationalMagaz<strong>in</strong>e Company <strong>in</strong>Soho, the Royal FestivalHall, Mishcon de Reya<strong>in</strong> the City and plentyof other places.Everyone <strong>in</strong> the hotel is reallyenthusiastic about the bees.We have a staff football team, whoseplayers wear a black-and-yellow stripedkit and are called the Lancaster Bees.And last year we organised the first-everLondon Honey Show <strong>in</strong> the hotel, <strong>in</strong>vit<strong>in</strong>glocal beekeepers to enter their honeys<strong>in</strong> various competition categories. It wasa great success, so we’re repeat<strong>in</strong>g it aga<strong>in</strong>this year (8 October 2012), but scal<strong>in</strong>g itup to attract even more beekeepersand visitors.volume thirteen q Summit 19
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