Spa retreat
Chianti & Cacao
T_h e anti-ageing benef_i ts of wine and dark chocolate are the
selling points of a new Tuscan mind, body and soul retreat.
But what does this bring to business? We f_i nd out more
KATH HUDSON guillemotright.cap JOURNALIST guillemotright.cap SPA BUSINESS
he hook of the retreat is live to great ages, with a good quality of So what was the rationale behind intro-
“T
anti-ageing,” says Mike life,” Rhodes explains. “He discovered that ducing a spa and what is the new retreat
Rhodes, Villa Lucia’s ebul- they eat food high in procyanidins [com- package expected to add to the business?
lient six.fittedeight.fitted-year-old owner. pounds that protect the blood vessels],
Rhodes’ mainstay in business is luxury that can be found in red wine from certain
BRANCHING OUT
holiday accommodation. Yet with a three.fittedtwo.fitted- regions as well as cranberries, apples, A US-born property developer, who has
year-old Italian siren for a girlfriend, the cacao, dark chocolate and pomegranates. lived in Europe for four.fittedzero.fitted years, Rhodes
energy to jog up Tuscan hills and an “T_h e use of the Red Wine Diet is unique has made his fortune through Luxury
infectious zest for life, his take on ageing at Villa Lucia as a basis for our menus Destinations Ltd – a company which today
also seems to be worth paying attention to, and treatments,” says Rhodes. Indeed, owns three luxury holiday properties: one
especially as he was topping up my wine wine is freely of_f ered at dinners and in Provence, France, one in Marrakech,
glass while he said it. “T_h ere are loads of lunches, while the spa boasts bowls of dark Morocco and Villa Lucia in Italy.
spas out there, but not many of them are chocolate as well as ChocoT_h erapy, Truf- Rhodes acquired the tumbling Villa Lucia
focused on anti-ageing,” he says. f_l eT_h erapy and VinoT_h erapy treatments in two.fittedzero.fittedzero.fittedone.fitted for Euro.fittedone.fittedm (USdollar.fittedone.fitted.four.fittedfour.fittedm, sterling.fittedeight.fittedfive.fittedzero.fitted,zero.fittedzero.fittedzero.fitted) and
T_h e philosophy of Villa Lucia – the f_i rst by ISHI – an Italian brand which markets spent an extra Euro.fittedfive.fittedm (USdollar.fittedseven.fitted.two.fittedm, sterling.fittedfour.fitted.two.fittedfive.fittedm) on
of Rhodes’ properties to have a spa – is itself as a ‘gourmet skin food line’. authentically Italian f_i xtures, f_i ttings and
based on the research of Roger Corder, au- With this playful approach to spa, Villa furnishings in its refurbishment.
thor of T_h e Wine Diet. “Corder researched Lucia certainly doesn’t seem to take itself Situated in the small village of Vorno,
the diet of communities where the people as seriously as other wellness destinations. the site is made up of three villas set in four.fitted
acres (two.fitted hectares) of walled grounds, en-
circled by Tuscan hills. As a holiday rental
WHY OFFER A YOGA RETREAT? ROBYN SAMPSON business, the villas can be hired together
or separately. Sleeping up to four.fittedzero.fitted people,
Retreats can help spa operators to reach wellness specialists. “We like to keep up the whole property is charged at Euro.fittedtwo.fittedzero.fitted,zero.fittedzero.fittedzero.fitted
new audiences and boost revenue in the with trends and of_f er something dif_f erent (USdollar.fittedtwo.fittedeight.fitted,eight.fittedzero.fittedzero.fitted, sterling.fittedone.fittedseven.fitted,zero.fittedzero.fittedzero.fitted) per week.
shoulder seasons. to guests,” says Anita Foss, spa manager. With projected holiday bookings down
Here are some examples of what other T_h e Spa at the Mandarin Oriental in two.fittedzero.fittedzero.fittedeight.fitted, he turned to his personal interest
international spa operators are up to: Riviera Maya started hosting yoga in anti-ageing and the Red Wine Diet to
COMO Shambhala at Uma Paro in retreats to boost its revenue in low season. boost business outside the peak season of
Bhutan began running yoga retreats to “T_h e retreats certainly give us an edge July, August and late December.
create brand awareness and raise the over a lot of our competitors, in terms of Firstly, he invested Euro.fittedone.fittedm (USdollar.fittedone.fitted.four.fittedfour.fittedm,
prof_i le of yoga in Bhutan. T_h e retreats quality of teaching and facilities,” says spa sterling.fittedeight.fittedfive.fittedzero.fitted,zero.fittedzero.fittedzero.fitted) to convert a former stable block
have been successful in boosting revenue director, Clive McNish. “T_h ey provide an into a spa which opened in late two.fittedzero.fittedzero.fittedeight.fitted. T_h e
in the quieter months. excellent marketing focus and allow for a result is three light, airy treatment rooms,
T_h e Conrad Maldives Rangali Island number of cross promotion opportunities a hammam (which can be used for treat-
of_f ers a range of retreats from dif_f erent in other Mandarin Oriental hotels.” ments), an aromatherapy shower, an ice
shower and relaxation room. T_h ere’s also
6058 Read Spa Business online spabusiness.comm // digital SpSPa BuA BUSINESS 4 2009SineSS 4 2009
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