As the tourism industry slowly and smartly begins its trek towards recovery, health and wellness will be top of mind for many more of us. Your clients might very well be needing a little more wellness in their lives or may want to learn new ways to launch themselves on the path to better health. They will also want to feel safe, confident and comfortable with their travel choices, and they will be looking to their trusted travel advisors more than ever.
Below, in random order, is a round-up of what some of our Wellness Tourism Association members are doing as they begin to reopen or work on their reopening strategies to help both guests and staff remain safe and healthy:
Red Mountain Resort, Utah
Surrounded by the Red Rock Mountains of Utah, and with its programming inspired by the healing benefits of nature, the 130-room Red Mountain Resort is planning to reopen September 3. General manager, Tracey Welsh says she is continually reviewing both government and tourism industry recommendations on sanitation, PPE and prevention methodology. “What will be most important for our resort,” she says, “is that our guests and team members are comfortable and feel safe.” Red Mountain is offering a 15 percent discount on their all-inclusive Essential Retreat Package to anyone who books by June 30. The typical average stay is four nights.
For more information, visit redmountainresort.com/retreat-packages/red-mountain-essential-retreat.
Skyterra Wellness Retreat, North Carolina
Reopened on May 31 in Lake Toxaway, North Carolina, Skyterra Wellness Retreat is a 23-room property that has implemented a rigorous screening process for every guest and employee. As a boutique retreat that is purposefully small, Skyterra guests can enjoy the wide-open spaces and fresh mountain air without worrying about crowded spaces. Classes including fitness, yoga and health-focused lectures are limited to six people or fewer. To promote a healthy environment and prevent undue exposure to others, Rachael Colacino, Skyterra’s director of marketing and communications says “guests can expect enhanced safety and precautionary measures in this COVID-19 world. For instance, over the phone pre-screening of all guests two days before arrival to ensure the absence of symptoms. For COVID-19 frontline workers, Skyterra is offering a discount of $350 on a one-week stay.
For more information, visit skyterrawellness.com. For those not yet ready to travel there is Skyterra at Home skyterraathome.com.
Eupepsia Wellness Retreat
Located on a 256-acre property, in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, Eupepsia Wellness Resort reopened earlier this month (June) and is offering Immunity-Building Wellness Staycations. The personalized, short or long-stay programs are designed to harness the positive impact of nature on health and wellbeing. With social distancing, contact free and other protocols in place to keep guests protected and healthy, the 26-room resort offers a completely private check-in and room access along with a variety of personalized programs that include yoga in open air yoga studios, plant-based and chef-prepared alfresco meals, therapies in the outdoor spa, plus nature-based fitness activities including guided hikes on one of the seven hiking trails, as well as canoeing, kayaking and pedal boating. “Our Outdoor Wellness Staycations focus on eco-therapy, harnessing nature’s therapeutic effects, which are vital to our immunity and to strengthening our health,” says Shivani Schneider, Eupepsia Wellness Resort co-founder. For more information, visit eupepsia.com.
Spa Eastman, Quebec, Canada
A little over an hour’s drive from Montreal and located on a 326-acre estate looking out to Mount Orford in the heart of the Eastern Townships, the 44-room Spa-Eastman reopened to the public June 4.
The retreat’s unique Tonique Cuisine, which can include both gluten-free and dairy-free options, is available to enjoy picnic style on the expansive property, served in individual guestrooms, or packed up “to go.”
While thermal facilities will remain closed until further notice, the spa will be open with both therapists and clients mandated to wear masks. Outdoor activities, such as walking along the close to 10 miles of nature trails spread across the property where guests can also opt for taking a dip in the pond. A special Health Immersion Week is scheduled for July 10 to 17th.
For more information, visit spa-eastman.com/en.
Carillon Miami Wellness Resort
The beachfront Carillon Miami Wellness Resort will reopen its doors to visitors on July 1 with property amenities including swimming pools, the gym, and spa treatment rooms. The Corner Store Cafe is the only onsite restaurant scheduled to also open on that date. Strict health and sanitation guidelines to ensure guest safety will be in place including a new check-in process with social distancing measures and minimal contact. The property has not yet received directive from Miami-Dade County on reopening its European Inspired Thermal Circuit, and management is still working out the details on how to conduct its daily group fitness classes. Between July 1st and August 31st all guests who stay four nights will receive one night free, and residents of Florida and Georgia on “staycations” will receive complimentary parking for one vehicle plus a 20 percent discount on spa services.
For more information, visit carillonhotel.com/en.
G Adventures
Small group tour operator G Adventures has unveiled a new Travel with Confidence policy, which introduces new safety procedures across all future G Adventures trips including their Wellness Tours. Working with G Adventures’ global supplier network, the new policy encompasses transportation, accommodation and activities, including where travelers consume food. Al fresco dining options and “grab and go” boxes are two new options being introduced as part of increased food safety measures.
Focused on reducing risk, the Travel with Confidence policy enhances the benefits already provided by G Adventures’ small group tours, including staying at smaller hotels with fewer guests and being able to access places often inaccessible to larger groups. “G Adventures has always run small group tours which, by nature, means our travelers have more freedom and space, even before social distancing came into play,” says G Adventures’ founder, Bruce Poon Tip. Travelers who desire their own space will be able to take advantage of increased availability of solo rooms and more affordable ‘My Own Room’ rates.
For more information, visit gadventures.com/travel-styles/wellness.
Canyon Ranch
Surrounded by the tranquil Sonoran Desert, about a 20-minute drive from downtown, Canyon Ranch, Tucson reopens June 28th, while Canyon Ranch Lenox, located in Berkshire County, Western Massachusetts and encompassing with miles of walking trails will reopen its doors on July 9. The wellness teams at both properties have created new three, five and seven-night Pathway programs with curated and integrative experiences, activities and consultations based on individual goals such as reconnecting with joy after a loss or trauma, a lifestyle reset to put one on track to living younger longer, or learning how to deal with existing health concerns and making a practical plan to prevent future health concerns. Molly Anderson, v.p. of experience development says, “Pathways were created to be relevant to what people may be feeling right now—but are also timeless.”
The Tucson property has recently completed a guestroom renovation along with a refreshing of spa and fitness facilities. At Canyon Ranch Lenox, guests will have full access to seasonal outdoor activities including canoeing, kayaking, stand-up-paddle boarding, hiking and cycling. Hygiene protocols at both properties have been elevated and are all clearly outlined here: canyonranch.com/breathe-easy-health-protocols.
Sedona, Arizona
Sedona is slowly and cautiously reopening, while following Executive Orders issued by the governor of Arizona. Jennifer Wesselhoff, president and CEO of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau tells us that the destination’s early start in organizing an aggressive workplace safety campaign is paying off, with hundreds of businesses agreeing to stringent health standards in accordance with the Sedona Safe, Clear, Ready initiative with 20 plus standards implemented to protect the community and its visitors. “The name says it all,” says Wesselhoff. “We wanted to be safe, clean and ready when the time came, and the public is responding.”
Over 250 participating businesses are listed on SedonaSafeCleanReady.com along with the safety standards they agree to follow. The site also contains eight safety practices Sedona asks of visitors, such as staying home if sick and avoiding congregating in large crowds. For more information, visit visitsedona.com/safe-clean-ready.
You’ll find other hotels, resorts and destinations that are reopening here: traveltowellness.com/hotels-resorts-reopening-welcoming-back-guests.
Recommend magazine has partnered with the Wellness Tourism Association (WTA) to bring you monthly columns to help travel advisors sell wellness travel. For more information on the WTA, visit wellnesstourismassociation.org. Anne Dimon is the President/CEO of the Wellness Tourism Association and Founder/Editor of TravelToWellness.com.
