Bonnie Carroll's Life Bites

THE WORLD-RENOWNED DESTINATION SPA, TERME DI SATURNIA, UNVEILS ITS BLACKROSE SUITES, “A BOUTIQUE SPA WITHIN A SPA”

-Famed Tuscan resort continues to set the standard among destination spas with the addition of its ultra-exclusive luxury suites and specialized treatments -

Located in the heart of the Tuscan Maremma region of Italy, Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort is proud to announce the opening of its six new luxury Blackrose Spa Suites, bringing the total number of the resort’s treatment rooms to 54 and allowing the resort to serve as one of the world’s largest destination spas. The private suites are a unique departure from the resort’s standard offerings as they serve as an ultra-exclusive spa within a spa- featuring customized signature treatments and services, as announced by Maria Beatrice Zanchi, Director of Marketing & Spa. The Blackrose Suites, named for the rare flower known as a symbol of elegance and exclusivity, opened in fall 2009 and treatments in the luxury suites range in rates from € 200 to € 300, per treatment.

The Terme di Saturnia Blackrose Spa Suites, which measure up to 33 square meters, were designed by one of

Italy

’s leading architecture firms, Studio Parisotto & Formenton, who specialize in luxury Italian boutiques including Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino and Cruciani Cashmere Lotto Sport. The suites feature black oak paneling with small traces of blue hues and pockets of natural sunlight, which allow guests to enter into inner holistic dimension-making the spa experience ultra-physical. Guests may choose to enjoy Blackrose Spa services on an individual basis or the largest room features two treatment tables and a large Jacuzzi for select twin treatments.

In addition, Terme di Saturnia has expanded its spa menu with new Blackrose signature treatments, which incorporate the use of natural and precious elements such as gold. These treatments mark the evolution of the hot spring traditions such as the sprinkling of oils, massage therapies and dedicated beauty treatments. Each Blackrose treatment concludes in the Relaxation Room, which is an oasis of tranquility where, cradled by music and suffused with light, the body slowly awakens.

“We are thrilled to offer the Blackrose suites and treatments to our guests as they transcend the traditional spa concept,” said Ms. Zanchi. “These offerings serve as true departure from our current world-class facilities and treatments it will only help to re-enforce our commitment to providing the very latest in spa services to our clients.”

A true medical spa with a staff of 33 therapists and five medical doctors, Terme di Saturnia features therapies for beauty, stress management and thermal and hydrotherapy treatments based on the area’s unique thermal waters which date back to the Etruscan period. The 3,000-year-old thermal pool has been flowing continuously into the natural crater nestled at the center of the resort, containing precious minerals and salts which were found to have healing effects on aches and pains of the ancient Romans.

The luxury resort, which is a member of Leading Hotels of the World and the exclusive Virtuoso, offers daily and weekly rates that include use of the resort’s thermal pools, Roman Bath with Sauna and Steam bath, and thermal water falls. The rates also include a guided morning hike, use of the gym, not including classes, and a reserved deck chair and sun umbrella in the pool’s park. In addition, guests are also invited to take advantage of the resort’s newly-opened championship golf course. Daily 18-hole greens fees for hotel guests are €48 or $69* and € 60 or $87* for non-resort guests on weekdays and € 64 or $93* for hotel guests and € 80 or $116* for non-resort guests during weekends and holidays. The Golf Academy also offers half-hour private lessons with a golf trainer for € 33 or $48* for resort guests and € 38 or $55* for non-resort guests.

*Conversion rates to the U.S. Dollar as of December 17, 2009 are subject to changes.

To book a stay at Terme di Saturnia or for more information on the resort please visit www.termedisaturnia.com or call +39 0564 600111.

Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort is an exclusive resort and member of Virtuoso, Leading Hotels of the World and has been certified as a prestigious Leading Spa from the Leading Hotel Brand. Located in the heart of the Tuscan Maremma region of Italy in the medieval village of Saturnia, the four-star hotel consists of 140 rooms, which includes 80 Junior Suites and two Grand Suites, two restaurants, two bars, fitness center, Cruciani shop featuring luxurious cashmere, Art Gallery, the hair salon Aldo Coppola by Terme di Saturnia, a meeting room for up to 250 people, the Spa Boutique at Terme di Saturnia, a state-of-the-art spa with 48 treatment rooms and the 3,000-year-old thermal pool nestled in the center of the resort. The resort also features a new 18-hole championship golf course, practice green and private golf villas. New in 2009, the resort recently introduced its luxury Blackrose Spa Suites which feature ultra-luxe spa facilities and new state-of-the-art treatments. Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort is a leading spa resort dedicated to providing quality spa treatments and to promote complete well being has 48 rooms for beauty, aesthetic medicine, relaxation, massage, thermal treatments and fitness. The spa also offers diet and nutrition programs. For more information, please visit our website at www.termedisaturnia.com.

The Ultimate Self-Healing Getaway: Sacred Rock Villa Healing Suites

Escape from everyday life and spend the night with a new rock star; Sacred Rock Villa Healing Suites, the ultimate stress-relieving and self-healing desert oasis that’s just minutes from Palm Springs. This ultra-private premiere boutique resort in La Quinta, Calif., allows guests to relax, renew and restore their mind, body and spirit with a true 5-star feeling and without 5-star prices.

Each villa suite features impeccable interiors, classic style, the latest technology, and their signature “Sacred Nights” bed. Sacred Rock is the first to bring self-healing to the hotel experience and provides a peaceful and centering atmosphere. Prior to your visit, for a truly sublime and sacred experience, your suite is energetically cleared and enhanced with aromatherapy and Native American blessings, adorned with grounding sacred rocks, healing crystals and beautiful fresh flowers to energetically help you refresh and recharge.
Sacred Rock is a bountiful and spiritual place situated upon sacred and welcoming Native American land that has been honored for centuries for healing and vision quests. The hotel is committed to being environmentally responsible while creating an ultimate eco-luxe environment. 65% of the electricity used at Sacred Rock Villa Healing Suites is generated from green technologies. The suites also feature sustainable products, such as the Ralph Lauren Spa organic linens, bamboo towels, all natural and organic bath products, Wolfgang Puck Organa in-room coffee, as well as all-natural cleaning products that are used to prepare each suite.

A favorite of celebrities, the hotel is gated for the utmost in privacy and is a “paparazzi free” zone. Guests may enjoy the 11 saltwater pools and hot spas, fitness center, meditation and date palm hammock gardens, and adjacent shopping, dining and championship golf. The hotel provides guests with the convenience of streamlined prepaid web-booking, email confirmations, and touchpad keyless room entry to make the entire process a self-customized, stress-free and eco-friendly experience.
For more information on Sacred Rock Villa Healing Suites, visit www.sacredrocksuites.com.

GROOMING FOR MEN IS NO FAD AT
THE SPAS OF THE DROMOLAND COLLECTION

Service and surroundings fit for a king await The Dromoland Collection gentleman

One of the biggest trends of 2010 has long been a tradition at the spas of The Dromoland Collection: bespoke grooming for gentlemen. Before the big celebration…after a challenging 18 holes….in the middle of a long weekend…every man deserves to enjoy the service and surroundings of the world-class retreats at Castlemartyr Resort and Dromoland Castle.

What makes them so special?

The service is peerless. Experts in the time-honored luxuries of men’s grooming, the staff at The Spa at Dromoland and The Spa at Castlemartyr will gladly accommodate any request, whether for a quick trim and straight-razor shave for the man on the go or a relaxing therapeutic facial for the weather-challenged outdoorsman.

Salon services include the following:

Spa services are also personalized using the science-based Anne Sémonin Treatment Collection. The Facial Collection for men includes:

From the Body Therapy Collection, these treatments are tailor-made for today’s active man:

The surroundings are sybaritic. Havens of calm and tranquility, the spas of The Dromoland Collection feature clean-lined décor and warm natural tones that eschew fussiness, while their treatment rooms and dedicated manicure/pedicure areas ensure all the privacy a man could desire.

For guys who can’t get enough of the magical Irish outdoors, Dromoland Castle features a courtyard hydro spa, sheltered by a gazebo and surrounded by a landscaped garden -- the perfect setting for relaxing with mates or loved ones before or after a treatment. At Castlemartyr Resort, the glass-enclosed spa complex and atrium pools welcome the outdoors in with glorious views of the bucolic Irish countryside.

With service and surroundings fit for a king, the spas of Dromoland Castle and Castlemartyr Resort cater to a gentleman’s every whim.

The Dromoland Collection comprises Dromoland Castle and Castlemartyr Resort, two of Ireland’s finest and most celebrated hotels. The hotels in this collection embody the legendary Dromoland tradition of incomparable hospitality complemented by exquisite surroundings, yet each possesses a distinctive style, character and charm all its own.

About Castlemartyr Resort:
Nestled in the unspoiled rolling countryside of East Cork near the ruins of an 800-year-old castle, Castlemartyr Resort’s crowning jewel is a classic 18th century manor house. The Manor has been magnificently restored and elegantly enhanced to offer 109 guest rooms, gourmet dining, an expansive world-class spa and welcoming, impeccably styled interiors. Opportunities for outdoor pursuits abound both on the estate, which includes an inland-links-style golf course designed by the renowned Ron Kirby, and in the surrounding region.

Castlemartyr Resort is located in Castlemartyr, Co. Cork, Ireland. The hotel can be contacted at: 011 353 21 4219000; website: www.castlemartyrresort.ie. Reservations can be made through the hotel (reception.castlemartyrresort.ie) or through The Dromoland Collection at: www.dromolandcollection.ie.

About Dromoland Castle:
Dromoland Castle, located in Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare, was built in the 16th century. Majestically set on the shores of Lough Dromoland, it is surrounded by over 410 acres of breathtaking scenery, including a championship parkland golf course. Lavish interiors, fine food and superb wines complement the deluxe accommodations of the Castle’s 99 guest rooms, while Dromoland Castle Golf and Country Club, an intimate spa and traditional outdoor recreational opportunities ensure a unique guest experience.

Dromoland Castle is located at Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare, Ireland. The hotel can be contacted at: 011 353 61 368144 or 1-800-346-7007; website www.dromoland.ie. Reservations can be made through the hotel (sales@dromoland.ie) or through The Dromoland Collection at: www.dromolandcollection.ie.

Malaysia’s Best Spas, Wellness Centers and Spa Product Brands Were Honored in an Oscar-styled Ceremony

In a star-studded ceremony reminiscent of the Academy Awards, 24 spas, wellness centers and spa product brands were honored with the Malaysia Spa & Wellness Awards 2009 at the Putrajaya Marriott Hotel & Spa.

The much-anticipated annual event, which is dubbed the most prestigious award ceremony for spas and wellness centers in Malaysia, is organized by the Asia Spa & Wellness Promotion Council. The awards were presented by Dato’ Dr. James Dawos Mamit, Deputy Minister of Tourism Malaysia.

The winners were selected from a pool of 163 nominations, and were judged by a panel of independent judges comprising of spa personalities, travel and lifestyle magazine editors and celebrities. The grueling nomination and adjudication process took over three months, and comprised of mystery visits and spa audits. In deciding the winner, the judges took into account both the ‘hardware’ component – ambience, design and equipment; and ‘software’ component – therapist skills and qualifications, treatment menus, and service quality.

Among the big winners of the night were YTL’s Spa Village Group, which took home four awards including the prestigious ‘Best Spa Group.’ Built on a floating spa concept at Avillion Port Dickson, Avi Spa was awarded with ‘Best New Spa’ and ‘Best Traditional Treatment.’ Borneo Spa at Nexus Karambunai and Mandara Spa at Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa were honored as ‘Best Resort Spa’ and ‘Best Hotel Spa’ respectively. Spa Village’s Ayu Murdani and Serenity Spa’s Antony Dalani were named ‘Best Spa Therapists.’

Since the introduction of the Awards in 2006, the industry has rallied behind this momentous annual ceremony, and the Awards have raised the bar for the spa and wellness industry, elevating Malaysia to one of the world’s most splendid spa destinations.

Malaysia Spas and Wellness Award Winners
Best Day Spa: The Asia Spa, Kuala Lumpur

Best Family Spa: Pedas Springs, First World Plaza, Resorts World Genting, Pahang

Best Spa Design (Hotel/Resort): CHI, The Spa at Shangri-la's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Penang

Best Spa Experience: M Spa & Fitness, Maxims Genting, Resorts World Genting, Pahang

Best Customer Service: JoJoBa Spa, Berjaya Times Square Hotel & Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur Sembunyi Spa, Cyberview Lodge Resort & Spa, Selangor

Best Signature Treatment: Suam Suam Panas, Shiok Shiok Sejuk, Spa Village Malacca, Malacca

Best Traditional Treatment: Malay Strength, Avi Spa, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan
Pulau Bayu Retreat, CHI, The Spa at Shangri-la's Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa, Sabah

Best Wellness Treatment: RimBa Royal, RimBa Spa, Royale Bintang Hotel, Kuala Lumpur