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INTERVIEW: KATHY VAN NESS


The number of male- only weeks has doubled since the acquisition


being the omission of educational seminars. Instead, Golden Door now offers a series of ‘inspirational’ Friday night speakers including Verdine White, the bassist of Earth, Wind & Fire and filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg. “Our guests are bombarded with self-help articles and when I look at the competition, everything is about diet, pilates, how to be a better partner etc,” reasons Van Ness. “We felt there was a bigger conversation to be had by focusing on powerful people who’ve done something special.”


Different demographics Although Golden Door has only been reopen six months, Van Ness is already noticing a difference in clientele. Guests are younger – more people are in their 40s and are more discerning. “I think the renovation really inspired them,” she says, adding that they’re all up on the latest trends and just have to have an iPhone. Today’s guests aren’t so hung up on


pampering or weightloss either. “They’re executives, they run companies, travel all over the world and want to be able to take care of themselves,” she explains. “The whole topic of ‘go away for a week and lose weight’ is controversial anyway and that’s exactly what we don’t do. You get a dessert at every meal – and oh my gosh the chocolate ganache, that’s made with avocados, is to die for. “Guests want a whole body experience.


To lose a bit of weight so their pants aren’t so tight. To feel a bit stronger and more toned. To have a clearer head and for their


40 spabusiness.com issue 2 2015 ©CYBERTREK 2015


Ninety-fi ve per cent of guests come on a seven- day, all-inclusive package


Golden Door facilities


● Nine treatment rooms ● A bathhouse with a whirlpool, steamroom and sauna


● A watsu water therapy pool ● Two swimming pools ● Seven exercise studios ● A tennis court ● 20 miles of hiking trails ● Two labyrinths


skin to be a little softer. And that’s the Golden Door message: mind, body, spirit.” In addition, this traditional ladies-only


retreat has seen an increased demand from men and is offering even more packages for them. There are now six male-only weeks a year, double the number before the acquisition and another co-ed week has been added, bringing the total to four. “Everybody was afraid that they’d be too boisterous, but I said ‘I think it’s brilliant’,” says Van Ness. “Men have nowhere to go to just be a boy again, but they’re just as stressed as women. Yes we would have been busy with only female


guests, but I think it’s good for business to be speaking to both genders.”


Beam of light On the subject of business, it’s reported that occupancy is around 70 per cent, but Van Ness won’t say how this compares to before and won’t be drawn into numbers. “Has there been an uptake? Absolutely. It’s busier, it’s good busy – really good busy.” What she does say is that, more


importantly, the Golden Door has got its spark back. “It’s more than a spark, it’s a flame. Imagine our globe spinning in the universe and there’s a golden light that comes out of a place that’s really true. A place where people go to get that light back into their eyes, their heart and their soul and to leave feeling healthy. That little beam of light that comes off California’s lower coast comes out of the Golden Door.” ●


Katie Barnes is the managing editor of Spa Business magazine Email: katiebarnes@ leisuremedia.com Twitter: SpaBusinessKB


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