NAPLES, FL— The newly opened Ritz-Carlton Spa, Naples offers a personalized approach to its treatments, and draws inspiration from its seaside location and from its rose garden, located at its entrance. The $25 million, 51,000-square-foot facility spans three separate levels, and features the four essential components of a spa experience: relaxation, body therapies, nutrition and fitness. According to Spa Director Barbara Schultz, the whole philosophy of the spa is to create a customized experience and an atmosphere that allows guests— which include those from the hotel, as well as private members— to truly relax and come away feeling refreshed. “We really try to personalize the treatments,” said Schultz. To further reinforce the spa’s personal-touch philosophy, Schultz said that the spa went the extra mile. “Our staff is all licensed, and we even sent them for additional training over a six-week period at the Bramham Institute on the art of spa,” she noted. Because of that, each guest is able to pick and choose treatments from the 12-page spa menu based on the staff’s expert recommendations for a spa experience that’s geared specifically toward his/her constitution, personal wellness goals and needs at the time. Starting with the initial visit, guest treatment information is then kept on file so that when a guest returns, the staff will know what he/she had the last time, and can assess whether any adjustments in the types of treatments— such as, for example aromatherapy or massage— need to be made. The point, said Schultz, is to have the treatments “have an actual affect. They are not beauty-driven.” Treatments programs generally fall into one of four categories: stress, weight loss, beauty and rejuvenation and athlete. Nature’s Influence The spa’s extensive menu of treatments— which include hair and scalp therapies; skin care enhancements; spa enhancements; workshops; and hydrotherapy— all draw upon the surroundings. “And everything on the menu is a la carte, again for personalized service,” said Schultz. Reflecting its seaside location, the Mediterranean-styled spa offers “sanitas per aqua [health through water]treatments. Our programs, like the sea water and detoxifying seaweed therapy, are inspired by water-based techniques from Ancient Roman spa,” explained Schultz, because “the whole philosophy of spa is based on water.” These treatments are offered at the indoor and outdoor relaxation wet lounges, whirlpool, hot and cold plunge pools, steamroom, sauna and outdoor mineral pool. Among the plethora of water-based treatments is balneotherapy, or water massage, which is done in a special hydrotherapy tub at the spa. The Oligomer bath, according to Schultz, begins with a warm hydro-massage that includes minerals and trace elements of the sea. It’s then followed by a cool-down period that promotes relaxation, which increases the body’s ability to absorb the nutrients. Other menu items include the spa’s “signature” Feast of Flowers treatments, which range from wraps, rubs and baths to facials, manicures and pedicures, said Schultz. “You can layer the treatments, building on each one” to achieve a particular effect, she added, and the same theory applies to the mud, algae and sea water treatments. Nutritional counseling, personal care amenities and fitness evaluations are also available. The spa’s design theme and amenities add to the entire personalized, relaxing experience Schultz and her staff creates. “I think the experience starts before the entrance. Guests enter through a rose garden, which is unusual for south Florida,” said Schultz. According to Rick Watson, project interior architect and Gina Goodin, project designer/project manager with Coral Gables, FL-based RTKL/Snoweiss Design Group, who worked on designing the spa, the interior features subtle hints of those roses as well as seagrass, and it has a very residential feel to promote relaxation. At the core of the spa is a tri-level, coffered a
