HERSHEY, PA— A major expansion now underway will nearly double the size of The Spa at The Hotel Hershey. The ambitious program began late last year and is slated for completion by Dec. 1, just in time for the 2004 holiday season. “Both our spa and fitness center are extremely popular. We think we have a great expansion plan,” said Brian O’Day, gm, Hotel Hershey. The three-story, 17,000-square-foot spa opened in January 2001. Situated overlooking the hotel’s reflecting pools, the full-service, European-style spa cost $7 million to create. The interior design of the original spa was planned to emulate to some degree High Point Mansion, home of hotel founder Milton Hershey and his wife, Catherine. The reception area of the spa has a replica of a stained glass window in the Hershey’s home and the spa’s walls are light yellow, Mrs. Hershey’s favorite color. The spa’s landings are marble and all massage and facial rooms have hardwood floors. TAG Galyean of the TAG Studio was on the design team of the original spa and will oversee the expansion. Two of the hotel’s 234 guestrooms are being removed from the inventory to accommodate the expansion of the spa to 30,000 square feet. The hotel’s 3,000-square-foot fitness center is not being expanded. “The spa and fitness center are two separate entities. The fitness center and indoor pool are on one level and the spa starts one level up from that,” O’Day said. The expansion project will add a lounge and restaurant for spa guests only. Called The Spa Oasis, it will be designed to convey the image of a sanctuary and feature Marrakesh-inspired tiles and other architectural details; a water wall; multi-colored crystal chandeliers; draped fabrics and overstuffed lounge furniture. An adjacent dining area will offer fresh juices, smoothies and salads. There will also be 23 new treatment areas added during the expansion including seven new massage rooms; three new wet treatment rooms; and four new facial rooms. Additionally, a separate hair and nail salon targeted at teens will be created. It will have four manicure tables; three pedicure thrones; and two hair styling stations. “The new hair and nail salon will allow us to offer mother/daughter packages. Many mothers and daughters like the idea of having their hair styled or a manicure or pedicure together,” O’Day said.