Healthy Meetings: Eco Spa Trends

Author: Julie Keller
October 2007

Departments

As it turns out, Kermit the Frog may have been wrong: It’s actually rather easy to be green, particularly when it comes to providing eco-conscious spa offerings during meetings.

If you are ready to go green, consider them when selecting the site of your next event. In fact, planners who do so may have a leg up in the minds of meeting-goers, particularly those who embrace sustainable living. “It shows that you care about your clients and not just about the account,” says Ted Ning, executive director of the Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) Forum and managing editor of the LOHAS Journal and LOHAS.com. “You are looking after attendees’ personal interests and also demonstrating that you are sensitive to the larger environmental picture.”

Lynne McNees, president of the International Spa Association (ISPA), reports that 75 percent of the spas in the United States currently employ environmentally sustainable practices, and that more and more meeting-goers are expecting green practices when it comes to spa-going. “Just as consumers expect to see a spa at resorts and hotels, they also expect to see sensitivity to sustainability,” she says.
Eco-Spa Meeting Sites

There are a number of spas that keep a respect for the environment at the forefront of their practices, something that your earth-loving attendees will likely appreciate. Here is a sampling of properties that could make an interesting eco-minded site for your next meeting, particularly if you plan to implement a spa element.

• El Monte Sagrado Living Resort and Spa (Taos, N.M.) features a water recycling system that filters wastewater through pools that are rich with fish, plants and other natural filters. The end result is reclaimed water that is used to irrigate gardens that grow herbs, vegetables and fruits used at the property’s restaurant. The spa staff minimizes water and linen usage during all treatments, and uses only products from companies whose business practices reflect sustainability and environmental sensitivity. Additionally, the spa uses natural cleaning supplies, and the linens and therapists’ uniforms are made from natural fibers.

• At the Willow Stream Spa at Fairmont Newport Beach (Calif.), Spa Director Aimee Weber has selected only eco-conscious product partners that use pure, organic ingredients for spa treatments. Additionally, the spa’s fresh Balance Body Scrub is handmade for each spa session using natural, organic ingredients. Also, the Eco-Chic session, which includes a relaxing footbath followed by a mineral body scrub, a full-body massage and a mini face treatment, uses biodegradable, nonpolluting and chemical-free products made from organic ingredients and pure plant essences. Plus, those who partake in the Generosity Massage give back to the earth, as 10 percent of the treatment proceeds are donated to the California Coastal Commission.

• A similar natural bent can be found on the Big Island of Hawaii at The Fairmont Orchid’s Spa Without Walls. There, most of the products used are biodegradable, and treatments use local ingredients to showcase the Big Island's bounty, including Kona coffee, Ka'u oranges, Pauilo vanilla and coconut. “Plus, 80 percent of our treatments are done outdoors in either waterfall hales or oceanside cabanas, so we use our natural surroundings as our setting,” says Spa Manager Farzana Rahman. “Neither electricity nor water is needed.”

• Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary (Freestone, Calif.) is a founding member of the Green Spa Network, a group dedicated to bringing environmentally sustainable operating practices to the spa industry. The spa offers a host of eco-friendly options, including energy-saving heating and cooling systems, as well as a number of face and body treatments using organic products. Its most unique natural option? The cedar enzyme bath, an invigorating healing session in which spa-goers are immersed in a tub of warm cedar, rice bran and plant enzymes.

• Both Rancho la Puerta (Tecate, Mexico) and the Golden Door (Escondido, Calif.) destination spas, which were founded by longtime-environmentalists Deborah and Edward Szekely, have on-site gardens and are leaders in sustainability. Extensive land tracts adjacent to Rancho La Puerta have been donated as a nature reserve, and the nearby Las Piedras Center for Environmental Education, which was started by the Szekelys, educates nearby Mexican school children about nature and ecology. The Ranch uses soaps without phosphates and recycles gray water (dish, shower, sink and laundry water) through a marshland to lessen its impact on the environment.

• Solage Calistoga (Calistoga, Calif.), the first property from Auberge Resorts’ new luxury brand, reflects a philosophy of eco-consciousness that focuses not only on environmental stewardship but also personal health and well being. Public spaces in the brand-new Spa Solage feature bamboo and reclaimed cedar, and spa interiors are finished with nontoxic, low-VOC paints. For cooling on warm days, the spa uses natural ventilation and an efficient evaporative cooler that utilizes water to soak up heat from the air and blow cool air into the space. For a fun take on water conservation, the spa also offers Thai sarongs instead of bulky laundry-intensive terry robes to guests at its communal Mud Lounge, which, incidentally, is an excellent spot for meeting-goers to hang out en masse.

Take Home Benefits and Giveaways

After they partake in an eco-minded spa break, help your attendees keep the green trend going at home with a number of creative giveaways. LOHAS’ Ning suggests offering such environmentally conscious gifts as a staple-less stapler, bamboo chopsticks, hemp bags, soy candles or a solar backpack that charges phones, laptops, iPods and more. David Erlich, regional director of spa operations for Fairmont, suggests purchasing energy-offset credits on your attendees’ behalf along with offering a round-up of practical tips that each participant can do to make a difference.

Another fun giveaway idea can be taken from Spa Kea Lani, Fairmont Kea Lani (Maui). There, all clothes-hanging materials are made with recycled, biodegradable tags that also have forget-me-not flower seeds embedded in them. “The guests can take the hang tag home, plant it, and then each time they look at the beautiful flowers, they will be reminded of growth, re-energizing and renewing,” says Jennifer Buckler, spa director.

     It’s been said that green is the new black. Meeting-goers, whether they are eco-minded or not, like to stay on top of trends, and protecting the environment is most certainly in vogue. Says Ning: “People are becoming more educated on what is available and are more conscious of their impact on the environment.”

 

Julie Keller is editor-in-chief of American Spa, an award-winning magazine that reports on the national and international spa marketplace.