Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty is a lavish waterfront hotel nestled on the serene Bolgatty Island in Kochi, India.

Discover the epitome of luxury and tranquility at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty, a lavish waterfront hotel nestled on the serene Bolgatty Island in Kochi, India. Spanning across 26 acres of lush greenery, this urban resort offers a unique blend of modern sophistication and Kerala’s rich heritage, with breathtaking views of the Vembanad Lake’s backwaters.

Accommodation at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty comprises 264 luxurious guestrooms, including 38 suites and four villas, each offering spectacular vistas of the lake, the cityscape, or the meticulously landscaped gardens. For an elevated experience, guests staying in Grand Club rooms and suites enjoy exclusive access to the Grand Club lounge, featuring complimentary usage of a boardroom, luxurious breakfast spreads, all-day tea and coffee service, and evening cocktails with hors d’oeuvres.

The hotel boasts an impressive 3000 square meters of meeting and event space, making it an ideal destination for business gatherings and special occasions.

Indulge your palate in a culinary journey at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty with a diverse selection of dining options, including a casual Thai street food, traditional Kerala and South Indian fare, and more sophisticated, global cuisine.

The hotel’s amenities and features include a landscaped outdoor swimming pool, a waterside amphitheater, spice gardens, yoga studio, and 24-hour fitness center equipped with the latest cardio and strength-training equipment, along with expert personal trainers to assist guests in maintaining their fitness routines. Additionally, there’s a lawn and multipurpose court for sports, children’s indoor and outdoor play areas. Guests will enjoy exploring nearby points of interest, including Mattancherry Palace, Santa Cruz Basilica, Lulu Mall, Bolgatty Palace, and the Kerala Kathakali Centre.

Santata Spa Santata Spa at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty

Santata Spa at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty covers more than 1,000 square meters and features seven treatment rooms, an indoor swimming pool, relaxation lounges and a hydrotherapy area.

A refuge of inner peace, harmony and tranquility, treatments and services at Santata Spa combine modern, Western modalities with “centuries-old, time-tested Ayurvedic therapies, to offer customized rejuvenation treatments beneficial for your mind, body & soul.” 

Stand out spa menu items include: 

ABYHANGAM

“Abhyangam in Sanskrit means oil application. This relaxing and refreshing full body massage is a masterpiece of Kerala Ayurveda. It is a massage technique performed by expert therapist using herb infused therapeutic oil. It induces relaxation, imparts softness of the skin, nourishes the body, improves vision and decreases the ill-effects of ageing.”

KATI VASTI

“Kati Vasti is a highly effective treatment for back pain and spinal disorders. Warm medicated oil is retained and massaged over the lower back or other parts of the spine for an extended period. This treatment helps relieve pain and numbness. It also helps increase blood circulation, strengthens muscles and connecting tissues.”

NJAVARAKIZKI

“Njavara rice is known for its life-nourishing qualities. This special rice is cooked in herb-infused milk. This herbal decoction is tied in a cloth and made into a bundle and massaged all over the body. This treatment helps in strengthening the nerves and relieving arthritis. 24-hour advance reservation required for preparation.”

Spa Executive is published by Book4Time, the leader in guest management, revenue and mobile solutions for the most exclusive spas, hotels, and resorts around the globe. Learn more at book4time.com.

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The Spa at The Resort at Squaw Creek radiates with the natural beauty of the outdoors. Guests are invited to choose their relaxation adventure.

The Resort at Squaw Creek is a full-service, luxury California resort in an idyllic mountain setting, sitting at the base of Squaw Valley, just minutes from North Lake Tahoe.

The hotel boasts ski-in/ski-out access to the mountain and 405 luxurious resort rooms and suites that welcome guests with a modern mountain ambiance. More winter activities include cross country skiing and skating. The rest of the year, guests can enjoy a championship golf course, fly fishing center, heated swimming pools, water slide, and scenic hiking and biking trails.

Spa at Squaw Creek

Spa at Squaw Creek radiates with the natural beauty of the outdoors. Guests are invited to choose their relaxation adventure from a list of massages, body treatments, and facials at the luxurious spa facility.

Spa Director, Melissa Ratkovits, says the Spa has a focus on curated wellness for guests.

“Every time we welcome a guest at the Spa at Squaw Creek, we ask them about their wellness focus for that particular day,” she tells Spa Executive. “A wellness journey can be complex with many different intentions – and we like to focus on the here and now, and what makes sense for that particular moment.  For example, how do you feel today? What do you need for balance right now? I love that it creates a sense of present awareness, and adds another layer to their wellness and spa experience.”

Asked about her favorite treatments, Ratkovits says these are “Ayurveda, CBD therapies, HydroFacial, and cupping.”

The Spa at Squaw Creek recently debuted a new treatment menu inspired by the alpine location, according to the Sierra Sun. Added services include a bodywork and massage therapy options, including the “Mountainside Expedition” – a rejuvenating massage paired with a hot oil scalp treatment and invigorating warm stone foot healing ritual – and a 30-minute “Happy Hour Massage,” designed to ease tension in the back, neck, and shoulders.

New body treatments include the “Melt Your Stress Away” – a shea body butter polish followed by the application of a light chocolate souffle mask – and the “After Sun Coconut & Honey Revitalizer,” designed to soothe sunburned skin after a day on the mountain.

Creekside Wellness Membership Program

The Resort at Squaw Creek also recently debuted a Creekside Wellness Membership for local guests, which provides access to exclusive spa experiences, resort amenities, and more.

Members receive their choice of one complimentary 60-minute spa treatment per month and a 25% discount on additional treatments, along with a complimentary add-on enhancement for their experience, which include options ranging from the application of CBD oil to a hydrating hand treatment. Participants also have access to exclusive members-only treatment specials, a 20% discount on any retail products at the spa, as well as 25% off waxing and brow or lash tinting services.

The Creekside Wellness Membership provides unlimited access to the resort’s heated outdoor pools and whirlpools, the state-of-the-art fitness center and locker rooms, and the spa’s “Sanctuary” relaxation room. Members also have access to a variety of discounts at the resort including special rates on hotel rooms, on-site restaurants, golf and recreational activities.

Spa Executive is published by Book4Time, the leader in guest management, revenue and mobile solutions for the most exclusive spas, hotels, and resorts around the globe. Learn more at book4time.com.

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Hyatt’s Vice President Spa & Wellbeing, Simon Marxer, talk about his career trajectory, his job, and changing consumer expectations. 

Simon Marxer was recently promoted to Vice President Spa & Wellbeing at Hyatt and Miraval Resorts after more than two decades in the spa and hospitality industry and several with the Miraval and Hyatt brands. 

A respected industry leader, Mr. Marxer supports 60 spas in the Americas for Hyatt and three Miraval destination spas. He also leads wellbeing operations initiatives at Hyatt in the Americas, “So, it fills my days and is a lot of fun,” he says. 

Mr. Marxer’s career started at “the lowest of levels,” he tells Spa Executive, with a summer job at Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires working as a spa rover.  “This is a notch below locker room attendant,” he explains. “You just pick up the dirty towels.” He later became a locker room attendant, then worked his way up to working with guests and scheduling appointments, and then eventually to assistant director and spa director. He joined Miraval in 2007, leaving briefly and then returning before Hyatt purchased the world-renowned wellness destination brand. 

Mr. Marxer says, “I think the experience of working in many different capacities has provided me with a full appreciation for the contributions of all the people that create an environment for our guests. In the field of wellness or wellbeing, we rely heavily on the experience. When people come and are seeking some nurturing and renewal the environment that provides this is made up of the hard work of a lot of individuals in a lot of different capacities, no one more important than another. Having played roles from the whole column of responsibilities has afforded me a level of appreciation for all the contributions that go into creating that kind of macro experience.” 

We spoke with Simon Marxer about changing consumer expectations, technology, and guest experience. 

Do Hyatt and Miraval have an overarching wellness philosophy and how does that relate to the business? 

I would say not that the philosophy of Miraval would be necessarily divergent from that of Hyatt, but Miraval has had a long and storied approach to wellness, while I see Hyatt’s interest in wellbeing as an extension of their purpose of care. For Miraval there’s a variety of intentions, but it’s really about helping people create a life in balance and that means different things to different people. As for how that relates to business, it represents a more challenging way to meet the needs of our clients because it responds to them as individuals, and those needs are individual. 

A prescriptive approach has never been what we have been about. I believe what has differentiated Miraval and will differentiate Hyatt as its wellbeing programming evolves is that we treat people as individuals and take a personal approach to meeting the needs of our customers and clients because wellbeing is personal. 

Do you find that consumer expectations have recently changed?  

Yes. Things have changed dramatically. One of the things the pandemic did is create a period of forced reflection. As a result, people have begun to prioritize things in which they have found deeper meaning, and self-care and wellbeing have come to the forefront. What Hyatt has astutely done is extend their intention to care for people by expanding our offerings and our focus on wellbeing. 

Miraval is well positioned to provide an experience that helps people explore and inspires their wellbeing intention beyond the walls of Miraval. There really are very few places for people to learn about ways to support their wellbeing, experience those different dimensions of wellbeing, and then be inspired to carry their pursuit of wellbeing forward. In the Miraval settings, we provide a place to discover and explore what will support your wellbeing and inspire a continued pursuit of that. 

The shift has amplified the intentions. So, we’re seeing a lot of different types of folks than we’re used to seeing — more couples and younger people, for example. It’s really broadened the market. 

Have you found yourself relying more on technology lately? 

Absolutely. As the world has changed and our consumers have changed, so have their expectations for technology and convenience. One of the greatest changes is the volume of online booking and the platforms that have afforded us those opportunities becoming instrumental in the growth of our business with efforts to truly understand both the needs of the consumer and the needs of the operator. 

What makes an excellent guest experience? 

I think that’s really individual. One of the things that I have learned about creating guest experiences is that a great guest experience is often about discovery. In a Miraval setting, when we talk about it internally we talk about ensuring that we not only offer what guests want, but also what they need. Oftentimes the initial intention of a guest is what they want, and then they discover that they actually need something quite different. It’s really supporting that guest through their journey and helping them discover what they truly need, beyond what they may think they want. 

Some Hyatt spas are launching membership programs. Can you talk about the benefits of these? 

One of the things that’s important about members and cultivating their business is they help increase occupancy during lower demand or lower utilization hours. When we think about how a member uses our facility, it can be the sort of opposite of our customers who tend to come later in the day and are interested in treatments in the evening. A member helps fill the lower utilization hours during the day. They also provide both a revenue stream and a method of local advertising and word of mouth promotion that is terribly important for cultivating local business. Running a successful spa is about having a number of layers. Local business is important to strengthening your year-round business volumes. The local consumer doesn’t just come once, they come, ideally, on a regular basis. So, cultivating that business is terribly important for sustaining traffic and sustaining the people who are providing those services and depending on us to keep the traffic flowing. 

What’s your favorite part of your job? 

I’ll say two things. One is that there are hard parts of every job, but when, at the end of the day you know that what you’re working for is going to result in at least one individual out there being positively influenced, it makes your days worthwhile. I believe that when we positively impact a single individual, others are impacted by proximity, and it’s a way to help create the world that I hope to see. That is the best part of my job. 

And then, in terms of the day-to-day, I also love the fact that I have an opportunity to help potentiate the success of, of others. When the success of the individual is aligned with the success of the enterprise, we just have magic. When people find their sense of purpose supported, that is something that energizes me and inspires me to continue to push forward and grow as a professional myself. 

Anything exciting happening at Miraval and Hyatt that you want to talk about? 

There is a Miraval Life in Balance spa that will be opening this spring at the park Hyatt Aviara. We’re very excited about that. It will be a compliment to an already exquisite property. 

Spa Executive is published by Book4Time, the leader in guest management, revenue and mobile solutions for the most exclusive spas, hotels, and resorts around the globe. Learn more at book4time.com.

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Na Ho’ola Spa at Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa is an oasis of tranquility, inspiring health and wellness through the practice of Hawaiian culture, values and arts.

Na Ho’ola Spa at Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa was the first resort spa in Waikiki. Located just steps from the azure blue waters and soft sands of Waikiki Beach, Hyatt Regency Waikiki offers personalized service with the spirit of Aloha, modern amenities, cultural activities, a swimming pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean, locally sourced dining, and onsite boutiques. The resort provides the perfect place for those who want to make the most of their island experience and connect with the heart of Hawaii.

The 10,000 square foot spa features fabulous views of Waikiki Beach, 16 treatment rooms, locker rooms, dry saunas and a gift shop. Skilled practitioners rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit with a wide variety of massages, facials, stone treatments, and wraps. An oasis of tranquility, inspiring health and wellness through the practice of Hawaiian culture, values and arts, the spa takes guests on a journey of rediscovery, to a time and place held sacred today and by generations past. 

The Healing Stones of Kapaemahu

The island has a compelling history and mythology.

According to legend, more than 500 years ago, four Tahitian wizards, Kapaemahu, Kahaloa, Kapuni, and Kinohi, journeyed to Hawaii to share their healing practices and traditions with the Hawaiian people. When it was time for the wizards to return home, they asked the Hawaiians to select four symbols that would be erected in their honor to ensure that the healing powers would remain for generations.

The Hawaiians selected four large boulders that were brought to the beach from the Kaimuki area and the wizards transferred their powers into the stones. These stones sit directly across the street from Nā Ho‘ōla Spa near the area they were left hundreds of years ago and are known as the Wizard Stones, or Healing Stones, of Kapaemahu.

For centuries in Hawaii, Waikiki was a royal reserve. Natural land boundaries were formed by a number of streams that flowed to the ocean and one of the most revered land divisions was called Hamohamo. The royal retreat for the Chief Aikanaka and his descendants King Kalakaua, the Princesses Likelike and Ka’iulani, and Hawaii’s last Queen, Lili’uokalani. It was believed that the waters spouting from the ground held healing powers and Hamohamo was reserved for Hawaiian Royalty. This land is now home to Nā Ho‘ōla, which means “many healers.” 

Kalo, Noni, Kukui, Awa

Four traditional Hawaiian healing plants make up the spa logo, Kalo, Noni, Kukui and Awa. These plants were vital to the ancient Hawaiians’ way of life and are found in many of the products that are used in the spa’s treatments. Nā Ho‘ōla prides itself on using the history of Hawaiian traditions and techniques and incorporates signature products made on the islands. In keeping with the traditions of the islands, Nā Ho‘ōla  seeks to promote health and wellness through the practice of Hawaiian culture, its values and its healing arts.

Stand out spa menu items include:

Awapuhi Retreat (Hawaiian Ginger Massage) 

Lomilomi massage with organic sunflower oil infused with Hawaiian healing herbal blend of Kava, Gotu, Kola, Turmeric, Green Papaya, Neem Leaf, Ginger and Noni. Extracts of the four healing plants that make up the spa logo are incorporated into this treatment formulated to boost your immune system, improve circulation and soothe your muscles.

Nanea (HotStone Relaxation Massage) 

This luxurious collaboration of a soothing hot stone massage and essential aroma oil of Rosewood, Clary Sage and Tangerine is designed to rejuvenate, refresh, release tension, balance the body’s energies and promote relaxation.

Hawaiian Memories 

This treatment starts with a hibiscus sugar scrub followed by a hibiscus mineral body wrap. The mineral wrap consists of a proprietary ocean mineral complex containing over 90 marine minerals in a super concentrated and bioavailable form supplying essential nutrients.

Spa Executive is published by Book4Time, the leader in guest management, revenue and mobile solutions for the most exclusive spas, hotels, and resorts around the globe. Learn more at book4time.com.

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Hyatt and Amazon partner to launch the Amazon Halo service, which gives users greater access to fitness programs offered through Hyatt’s wellness brand, Exhale’s, streaming video platform.

Hyatt Hotels Corp. has launched a collaboration between its Exhale spa and fitness company, and Amazon Halo, Amazon’s new wearable band and wellness service. The Amazon Halo service is a membership platform that uses technology to provide personal wellness insights and ways to improve users’ everyday health.

Currently available for early access, the service gives users and Exhale members greater access to fitness programs offered through Exhale’s streaming video platform, Exhale on Demand. It is powered by a mobile app and accompanying wristband.

Hyatt acquired Exhale, which provides a full suite of award-winning boutique fitness classes and spa therapies, three years ago. There are currently 19 Exhale locations in the US and the Caribbean.

“Exhale reinforces Hyatt’s commitment to wellbeing by providing meaningful wellness experiences that support total mind and body through boutique fitness classes, spa therapies and original streaming content,” Julia Sutton, COO of Exhale, said in a statement. 

“We are thrilled to team up with Amazon Halo and provide even more people with the opportunity to easily access fitness- and wellbeing-focused programs. Exhale On Demand allows people to maintain their wellbeing routines when they want, where they want, and the collaboration with Amazon Halo adds a new element of measurement to help people better understand personal health and wellbeing and create a more connected, informed approach to their everyday wellbeing routines.”

The Amazon Halo app and band launched at the end of August with technology that combines a suite of AI-powered health features to provide actionable insights into overall wellness.

Dr. Maulik Majmudar, Principal Medical Officer, Amazon Halo, said in a statement,  “Despite the rise in digital health services and devices over the last decade, we have not seen a corresponding improvement in population health in the U.S. We are using Amazon’s deep expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning to offer customers a new way to discover, adopt, and maintain personalized wellness habits.  

“Health is much more than just the number of steps you take in a day or how many hours you sleep. Amazon Halo combines the latest medical science, highly accurate data via the Halo Band sensors, and cutting-edge artificial intelligence to offer a more comprehensive approach to improving your health and wellness.” 

Amazon Halo service offerings with Exhale on Demand are one-to-four-week programs that include:

• Event Prep Bootcamp: A four-week program that combines strengthening, stretching and sweating to help get users into shape.
• Target Your Midsection: A three-week program to help focus on the core and trim the waistline with six-pack-focused workouts.
• Intermediate Barre: A three-week commitment to complete four Exhale Barre workouts per week.
• No Props, No Problem: Stay fit on the go with bodyweight-only workouts ranging from barre to yoga to cardio.
• Upper Body Program: A three-week lab to build upper body strength with a variety of workouts that will challenge arms, back, shoulders and abs.
• Beginner’s Guide to Barre: A four-week introduction to all the benefits of barre with detailed instructions and step-by-step progressions.
• Intermediate Yoga: A program to energize the body and take yoga practice to next level in three weeks.

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Related reading: Download our guide and learn about five tech trends in the spa and wellness industry and why they deserve your attention.

Spa Executive is published by Book4Time, the leader in guest management, revenue and mobile solutions for the most exclusive spas, hotels, and resorts around the globe. Learn more at book4time.com.

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