Windsor Court in New Orleans Announces Re-opening     Though the Windsor Court in New Orleans isn’t a spa hotel, we at WSR felt it was important to pass on this information from a city that is struggling to recover from catastrophic devastation. We are pleased to report that the hotel will re-open, in stages, starting on November 1st. “As New Orleans starts the challenging process of recovery, we felt it important to open as soon as possible,” said Simon Sherwood, President of Orient-Express Hotels. “The impact of events following the hurricane has been much greater than anybody initially expected, so we are keen to start providing a degree of normalcy to our staff and the community. The hotel has been an integral part of the city for over 25 years.” Over 80% percent of the rooms were undamaged. The hotel was not affected by flooding and was able to evacuate all guests and staff safely shortly after the storm. The hotel has already responded to the initial demand for accommodation from the insurance and engineering industries as well as local corporate clients needing to re-open their businesses. The hotel will also house a number of staff to ensure guest services are maintained at the property. Owned by Orient-Express Hotels, Trains & Cruises, The Windsor Court Hotel is located in the New Orleans business district and is considered the premier hotel in the city.     La Prairie at The Ritz-Carlton Spa: Holiday Spa Packages     During the coming holiday season (and through the end of the year), La Prairie at the Ritz-Carlton Spa in New York City offers a number of packages designed to refresh and re-energize both men and women. The Holiday Luxury for Two package (3 1/2 hours) includes: two 60-minute massages, two 60-minute facials and two manicures and pedicures. A $920 value, it’s priced at $828. The Luxe Indulgences (4 hours) is a head-to-toe package that includes a 90-minute Caviar Firming Facial, a 60-minute Diamond Perfection (a body-polishing and hydrating treatment that uses La Prairie’s Cellular Microdermabrasion Cream, La Prairie’s Cellular Hydrating Serum and La Prairie’s Skin Caviar Luxe Body Cream) and a Perfect Manicure and Pedicure. It’s priced at $540 ($600 value). The Winter Radiance (2 1/2 hours) uses La Prairie’s world-famous remedies to quench the skin’s thirst and to leave it nourished, energized and brighter. It includes: a 60-minute Deep Drenching Facial and a 90-minute Luxe Moisture Indulgence Body Treatment. A $405 value, it’s priced at $365. The Gentlemen’s Quiet Getaway (2 hours) includes a 60-minute Body Massage; a 30-minute Hydrating Facial and a 30-minute Perfect Manicure in a private room. It’s priced at $295 ($325 value). Spa clients may also create their own customized packages; with any three one-hour services, they will receive a complimentary retail size Cellular Hand Cream. La Prairie at The Ritz-Carlton Spa; 50 Central Park South, 2nd Floor; New York, NY; 212-521-6135   The Oaks at Ojai Offers New Fitness DVDs     The Oaks at Ojai is offering a series of four 30-minute fitness DVDs, sold for $19.99 each, plus tax and shipping. It can be purchased by emailing the Oaks at Ojai at info@oaksspa.com, or by calling Holly Jackson at the Oaks at 805.646.5573, ext. 154. Top to Bottom — Randi McAfee and Gloria Morgan team up for a toning class that combines two powerful tools: stability balls and resistance tubes. Mind/Body Awareness — Sheila Cluff leads her popular class just for you! Stretch and tone your core, work on balance and participate in the fitness moves from her book Take 5. Relax and Stretch with Yoga — Nancy Byrd Radding leads this class designed to relax the mind as the body gains flexibility. Feel the Strength — Nancy Byrd Radding draws from the Oaks’ Muscle-Conditioning, Pilates-inspired Mat and Yoga for Strength classes to lead a strength session using hand weights and your own body. The stronger you are, the younger you’ll feel!     Hotel Guanahani’s “Le Meilleur” Package Combines Spa Treatments with Best Available Prices     Time was when sand, sun and sea fulfilled Caribbean vacation expectations. Today guests request sophistication, tennis, dining befitting a sybarite and a splash of spa. St. Barts’ Hotel Guanahani & Spa responds with the “Le Meilleur” package, available through October 31, 2006 (excluding Dec. 21 – Jan. 12). It includes a minimum of three nights, St. Martin / St. Barts round trip air, breakfast, spa treatments and rental car. The package starts at $2,370 for three nights ($533 per extra night). It’s available only through Wimco, which offers the lowest available price and the greatest flexibility for such a package. Wimco’s web site (www.wimco.com) has details of room choices and pricing by the number of nights requested. The hotel’s 5000-square-foot Clarins Spa was introduced in December 2004. Paris-based Clarins specializes in natural beauty care and products. The spa has eight treatment rooms (two for couples, one for Vichy treatments, one with a flotation bed and four with outdoor showers and private patios for massage). Massage, facial / body treatments and hydrotherapy are available.     JW Marriott Buckhead Offers Girls’ Getaway Package Through December     The JW Marriott, located in the heart of Atlanta’s most trendy shopping district and connected to the Lenox Square Mall, is offering a girls’ getaway spa package. The hotel has teamed up with the adjacent Dass Salon & Spa to create the Dass Salon & Spa Package, priced at $299; it includes: deluxe one-night accommodations, a bottle of champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries, breakfast for two, complimentary parking and two one-hour spa treatments, with a choice of the Spa Glow or Herbal Body Treatment; facial; massage;  manicure and pedicure. All 371 guest rooms and suites have marble bathrooms, the new Marriott bedding package, mini-bar, coffee maker, CD player, plush robes and high-speed Internet. Additional features include a heated indoor lap pool, fitness center, saunas, whirlpool, and massage therapy. For information or reservations, call 800-613-2051 or visit: www.jwmarriottbuckhead.com and ask for rate code SIJK for the spa package.     Maximum Tuning For Bodies and Boards at Teton Mountain Lodge     For skiers and snowboarders who need to get themselves and their equipment in shape, the Teton Mountain Lodge offers the Tip Top Tune Package, starting at $690 per person (based on double occupancy) and available from December 3rd to April 2nd, 2006. It includes four nights’ slope-side accommodations, three days of skiing or snowboarding at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, breakfast each day, and a thorough tune-up for both boards and body. While the front desk takes care of getting skis or snowboards in top shape for the next day of riding, guests receive a ski- or snowboard-specific tune-up at the new Mountain Lodge Spa. On the day of choice, schedule a professional ski or board tune (a multi-belt base grind, side-edge bevel and sharpening, a base-edge bevel and hot wax) with the front desk, as well as a visit to the spa for a Skiers'/Riders' Tune-Up Massage, a new treatment developed for winter 2005-2006. The treatment was developed by skiing and snowboarding therapists, who know from both their work and their recreation what works to relax other skiers and snowboarders. Depending on whether the guest is a skier or a snowboarder, therapists tailor the treatment to specific muscle groups with the guidance of collective information developed from the insight that can come only from being skiers or snowboarders themselves. This package is available from Dec. 3, 2005 to April 2, 2006 and does not include tax or resort fee. For more information, visit: www.tetonlodge.com or call 800- 801-6615.     New Spa at Post Hotel in Lake Louise, Alberta     The Post Hotel in Lake Louise has announced the opening (winter 2005) of a new Spa and Wellness Centre. The entrance to the 3200 square foot spa will be located adjacent to the lobby on the hotel's main floor. The Spa reception and retail area will offer Darphin beauty products as well as fitness, exercise and yoga gear and a range of outdoor clothing items. This area will include studios for pedicure, manicure and facials. Downstairs, there will be a lounge area with a stone fireplace and cascading waterfall; seven private rooms for the latest therapeutic and wellness oriented treatments (one of which is a double room designed for those on a romantic getaway or honeymoon) and changing rooms (his and hers) complete with a plunge pool, steam room, showers and other amenities. For more information, visit www.posthotel.com.     Princess Cruises Now Accepts Pre-reservations for Lotus Spas     Following the success of Princess Cruises' groundbreaking debut of advance spa reservations last year aboard Caribbean Princess and Sapphire Princess, the company has expanded the feature fleet-wide. Princess' online Cruise Personalizer is now accepting Lotus Spa pre-reservations for passengers with cruises departing on or after the following start dates: Coral Princess (November 24) and Star Princess (December 11). "When we added online pre-reservations for the Lotus Spas aboard Caribbean Princess and Sapphire Princess it was an industry first and passengers loved the convenience of this new feature," said Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service and sales.  "Thousands of passengers have now successfully booked their massages, facials and other treatments before they boarded, so we're now pleased to expand this capability to more of our ships." The reservations tool operates as part of Princess' Cruise Personalizer on www.princess.com, where Passengers will be able to see available appointment times and prices. Passengers without Internet access can call 1-800-PRINCESS to reserve treatments.     The Coeur d’Alene Resort Creates a More Luxurious Spa     The Coeur d’Alene Resort is undergoing a significant transformation, with a larger and more luxurious spa facility being created for an unveiling in the spring of 2006. Under the direction of Tag Galyean, and the TAG Studio, The Resort is expanding to encompass therapy rooms centrally located on the first and second floors of the 337-room hotel. The expansion will allow for triple the current capacity for treatments, with a total of 21 rooms, eight manicure/pedicure stations overlooking Lake Coeur d’Alene, a state-of-the-art hydrotherapy and massage component, and a couples massage room, all complemented by elegant and fully appointed dressing rooms – separate areas for women and men, and apart from the pool changing area. “All the elements of the spa are designed to enhance the amenities for our guests,” said William T. Reagan, general manager of The Resort. “While it is always a challenge to undertake a project of this magnitude, we are thrilled to have Tag Galyean on our team, and know that the new Resort Spa will further our reputation for pampering our guests beyond their expectations.” A foremost enrichment to the therapy process at The Resort is the installment of state-of-the-art hydrotherapy equipment in the $100,000 SilverTAG showers, which distribute 18 heads as they works simultaneously on six different zones of the body. Complete with a touch-screen, the computer-operated shower gives a precise program of hydrotherapy, specifically tailored for each individual guest. During the renovation process, The Spa will continue service in a temporary, yet fully equipped salon. Lakeside meditation rooms will also remain available. For more details about The Resort and for room availability, call 800-688-5253 or visit www.cdaresort.com.     KSL Resorts Offer Great Getaways     For spa-goers, golfers and sun worshipers who don’t want to see summer end, KSL Resorts and MasterCard have created a selection of Value Getaways and Luxury Escapes, which can be booked at five destinations: the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix; Hotel del Coronado in San Diego; La Quinta Resort & Club and PGA West in La Quinta, Calif.; La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.; and Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa in Maui. These resort packages include luxury accommodations, an assortment of spa treatments, golf on some of the country’s best courses and much more.  To qualify, guest must pay with a valid MasterCard card. Nightly, “Value Getaway,” room rates range from $195 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa to $629 for a two-room package at the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa. The Arizona Biltmore package (www.arizonabiltmore.com/escape) is valid through November 11th; the Grand Wailea getaway (www.grandwailea.com/escape) is valid through December 17th; the Hotel del Coronado package (www.hoteldel.com/escape) is valid through November 16th; the La Costa getaway (www.lacosta.com/escape)  is valid through December 23rd; the La Quinta package (www.laquintaresort.com/escape)  is valid through December 22nd. Advance reservations are recommended for all of the above packages. Golf tee times are based on availability. Taxes, gratuities and resort fees are not included. Rates are not applicable to groups. For more information, call 1-866-KSL-7727 or visit www.kslresorts.com.     La Residence Offers a “Vinotherapy” Getaway Package     La Residence in Napa Valley, California, is offering guests a romantic getaway experience called “Vinotherapy,” which incorporates relaxing grape seed massage treatments and dinner on Napa’s famous Wine Train. The “Vinotherapy” package includes: two nights in a Mansion suite; a five course dinner on Napa’s Wine Train; an in-room massage experience for two featuring grape seed extract. The “Vinotherapy” package costs $995.00 (normally $1200.00), including tax and based on availability. With unique appointments in each of the 25 guest rooms including one-of-a-kind artwork, luxurious French fabrics and antiques, La Residence is set on two beautifully landscaped acres in the heart of wine country. For more information, call 707-253-0337 or visit: www.laresidence.com.     Azzurra Teams with Nerida Joy to Open First Residential Spa in Southern California     Azzurra, a 19-story luxury high rise styled as a fine art gallery with contemporary Pied-à-Mer residences along the harbor in Marina del Rey, also features a hotel-style full-service Nerida Joy Spa. Nerida Joy, a facialist with a 27-year skin care practice that started in Sydney and is now based in Beverly Hills, has opened spas in the five-star Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, Shutters on the Beach and Le Merigot Hotel in Santa Monica. Her international following includes actresses Jennifer Garner, Jennifer Aniston, Charlize Theron, Courteney Cox Arquette and models Claudia Schiffer and Tyra Banks. “Azzurra is the first residential community in Southern California to offer homeowners true skin therapy -- as well as the full spectrum of skin and body care and massage therapy -- that's just an elevator ride from their front door," says Tom Harrison, principal, Colony Capital LLC, the Los Angeles-based developer of Azzurra. "Our residents are busy, well-traveled people who also demand fitness and wellness as part of a luxury lifestyle. Time for them is the ultimate luxury but they also want extremely personalized care and services from a recognized professional," says Harrison. "The Nerida Joy Spa at Azzura was designed for their needs." The full-service Nerida Joy Spa at Azzurra features two body treatment rooms, including one with en suite shower; two facial rooms; manicure and pedicure salon; eyebrow and makeup application area; reception area and kitchen. The spa director and five therapists were personally trained by Nerida Joy. For more information, call 310-577-0101, or visit: www.azzurra-delrey.com.     Aroma, First Pampering Organic Spa, Opens at Riviera Maya’s Esencia     Scheduled to open at Esencia in mid-November, the new Aroma spa will offer an array of face and body treatments and therapeutic baths incorporating pure indigenous ingredients: locally grown plants and flowers; herbs from the spa’s garden; custom-blended essential oils; and banana leaves for body wraps. The exterior of the spa is whitewashed with milk of nopales (a type of cactus), rather than paint. Mayan-style domed steam rooms and a Temazcal (Mayan sauna) complete the authentic experience. Yoga and meditation classes take place in the beachside Wind Pavilion. Organically certified and chemical free ingredients are prepared and custom-mixed while the guest watches. Treatments, which are offered in open-air cabins, begin with a dry brushing with curative herb branches, a ritual used by the Mayans to dispel bad spirits and negative feelings. Among Aroma’s signature offerings: Lime Ritual – Considered a natural purifier, a cooling lime is massaged in circular movements over the body to absorb impurities and internal heat and impart a sensation of peace and vitality. The treatment relieves headaches, body aches, and muscle soreness. Sea Shell Ritual – Mayans considered seashells as transmitters of positive energy. A conch shell is used to blow on the guest’s front and back. The relaxing experience balances the body’s chakras, or energy centers, and concludes with a deep-tissue massage. “The Mayans participated in ceremonies and rituals using natural, sweet scents and herbs,” says Cora Cejudo, Aroma’s Spa Director. “Aroma’s philosophy reflects that ancient culture. With nature as our inspiration, we create a relaxing and spiritual experience – just as our ancestors did under the guidance of the curanderos.” In other treatments, aloe vera cools off the skin in the “Sun Ritual”; and sweet-smelling coco extracts, combined with local herbs chaya and achiote, soften the skin in the “Salt Ritual.” Other spa rituals may incorporate papaya, mint, lemongrass, rosemary, chamomile, or mud to restore wellbeing, relax the muscles and enhance blood circulation and energy. Esencia is a 50-acre boutique resort in Playa Xpu-Ha, 46 miles south of Cancun. For more information, call 877-528-3490 or visit: www.hotelesencia.com.     Beau-Rivage Palace Launches New Cinq Mondes Spa in December, Offers Complimentary Treatments     The Beau -Rivage Place has created a special value-added “Cinq Mondes Debut” promoting the December 1st opening of its 15,000 square-foot, full service Cinq Mondes Spa. The offer, which is valid through February 26, 2006, includes: two nights in a superior lake-view room (double occupancy); daily breakfast; choice of one 90-Minute Cinq Mondes Ritual treatment per person; choice of one 35-minute Cinq Mondes treatment per person. The price is 730 CHF** per person, representing a savings of over 45%; 1 US Dollar = 1.35 CHF The Cinq Mondes Spa combines traditional well-being and beauty rituals drawn from Japanese, Ayurvedic, North African, Taoist and Balinese techniques The Beau-Rivage Palace, one of Europe’s finest hotels, is located on 10 acres on the shores of Lake Geneva in the historic fishing port of Ouchy. For information or reservations, call 800-223-6800 or visit: www.lhw.com.