Te spa has been built in a reconstructed Japanese farmhouse (above); the bathing room boasts a black stone tub (right)


massage was the most popular, I chose the Shibui Relaxer Swedish massage. She asked me for my credit card details and my email address to send a confirmation, however, I never received this.


Location & access


I couldn’t find a sign for the hotel entrance (there was a very small one, but I missed it) and I walked around the block before giving up and asking for directions. When at the hotel front desk, I also had to ask where the spa was as there was no sign. You’d definitely need to know there was a spa, as you would never guess from just passing by: it’s one of the best kept secrets in New York City!


Disabled access


Wheelchair users can access the spa by using the main guest elevator. Te rest of the facil- ities also comply with disability laws.


Design


Te spa is on two different levels, with the locker rooms (which include a small steam- room and a toto toilet) and pool on one level and the treatment rooms one floor down. You access the treatment rooms by walking down a corridor, passing the fitness and reception area, before taking a flight of stairs. Te spa’s decor was rustic and beautiful, but


SPA BUSINESS 1 2011 ©Cybertrek 2011


it felt very disjointed having to walk such a long distance to the treatment rooms.


Cleanliness


Everything was very clean and several times an attendant came into the locker room to tidy.


The staff While my therapist was very attentive to my needs, the reception staff were indifferent.


The experience


When I entered the spa there was an unmanned reception desk. I waited a few minutes and someone finally came out and asked if they could help. In the changing


room, I was told to pick any locker with a key and to ‘take a steam’ by just pressing the button. Te grey metal lockers were different and interesting to look at but not practical – they were narrow and had no hangers. I took a steam in what felt like a very


small space and was almost sitting on the lap of another guest as it was hard to see! It was really a steam shower – although there was no sign to say this – and shouldn’t have been used by more than one guest at a time (unless you are very good friends). I then went to wait by the pool in my lovely, heavy, plush robe for my therapist to collect me. As my slippers were a size too small, how- ever, the long walk to the treatment room was tricky: not helped by the fact they were a little wet from my steam session and that I had to negotiate the stairs.


Read Spa Business online spabusiness.com / digital 45


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84