Real men are basking in spa holidays Anne Dimon, For the Calgary Herald
Published: Monday, June 05, 2006 Article tools
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Font: * * * * Shake things up this Father's Day. Instead of giving him golf balls, how about a golf massage? Why not forgo the fishing lures for a facial? Or if it's the standard new tie Dad has come to expect, surprise him with a Thai massage.
Spa section
Spa Listings
Spas, once the domain of women, are increasingly becoming a "guy thing." According to a recent survey commissioned by the Canadian Tourism Commission and International Spa Association, roughly 30 per cent of spa-goers are men and, surprisingly, more men take "spa vacations" than women.
Perhaps it's because more men are realizing that in today's competitive workplace, spa visits and vacations can help them manage stress, feel energized and present a well-groomed image.
If Dad remains unconvinced, tell him that a spa treatment might even help improve his golf game. For those dads who spend mucho time thumbing the keyboards of their BlackBerrys and PDAs, tell them that select Hyatt spas (Spa Avania in Scottsdale, Ariz., and the Spa at the Grand Hyatt in San Diego are two) now offer a BlackBerry hand massage that could help prevent repetitive strain injury.
Along with the increasing number of men -- ranging in age from their early 20s to their late 50s -- looking to find their comfort zone in spa robes, cosmetic companies such as Jurlique and MD Skin Care are developing lines of products specifically for men.
These are geared to male skin-care issues such as dry skin from daily shaving, sensitivity from razor burn and wear and tear from exposure to the elements. This means more spas can offer male clients specially designed treatments and packages.
The spas in the spa-centric city of Scottsdale, for instance, tend to be among the innovators in the men's market.
The Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, one of the first to offer a Golf Performance Treatment Massage ($169 US for 60 minutes) has recently introduced an exclusive 90-minute Golf Facial ($ 239 US for 90 minutes) to combat the challenges of sun exposure, dehydration, wrinkles and dull skin.
The facial is combined with a shoulder, hand and foot massage to loosen muscles, release tension and take care of tired hands and feet.
The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North offers a Golfer's Massage ($140 US for 50 minutes) where golf balls are heated in a similar fashion as hot stones, then rolled along the large muscles on either side of the spine and down the neck to enhance relaxation and diminish tension.
In a spa survey by the KSL Resorts Collection, men highlighted their interest in having shorter treatment times, more sports-related and stress-reduction options and a better explanation of spa benefits.
As a result, KSL properties are unveiling treatments such as Spa Primer for the First Timer at La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, Calif., a 19th Hole Package at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Scottsdale and Golflexology Massage treatments at La Quinta Resort and Club in California.
In Toronto, The Men's Power Spa, one of Canada's few day spas for men, is offering The Cool Daddy-O Father's Day package consisting of hand, foot and face care services ($205).
The Spa Bellagio in Las Vegas has a TKO package that comes with a private boxing lesson. Think mano-a-mano with a former professional boxer, followed by a therapeutic massage, a gentleman's manicure and pedicure and a Royal Shave in the wood-panelled Barber Room. (Package costs $365 US).
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental in Miami offers a Men's Holistic Spa Package that includes, along with treatments, a personal training session.
The Ritz-Carlton Spa in South Beach, Miami, is serving up a Draft beer and Pedicure ($60 US) package for Father's Day and throughout the summer. Spa director Ryan Crabbe says 40 per cent of his clientele is male.
"Men are becoming much more spa savvy," he says, "especially as more geared-to-men cosmeceuticals such as MD Skin Care and Hommage are being introduced at spas."
While most men go for massages such as Swedish and sports, the more adventurous types are sampling facials and body treatments such as scrubs and wraps.
When Brian Jump, lead guide with Whistler Outback Adventures, is not leading tours into the Havasupai Canyon, mountain biking in Whistler or trekking the mountains of B.C. or Utah, he takes time out to sooth sore muscles with therapeutic massages. Recently he tried the new men's facial ($130 US) at the Biltmore Resort and Spa in Scottsdale.
"I'm not one to choose a spa treatment simply to look better," says Jump, "and that's what I used to think facials were all about."
Facials may never replace massages as his treatment of choice. But "I no longer see them as for women only," he says. "It was definitely relaxing and it made me feel good. I'm a convert!"
The menu of men's services is new to the Biltmore spa. Along with the customized facial it includes a hand-and-foot treatment, a warm mud-pack back treatment, a sports massage and a body scrub with raw sugar.
Spas are also making male clients feel more comfortable by offering them special "men-only" treatment rooms.
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess has an MVP Room with plasma TV, wireless headset, leather and wood decor, multi-tasking massage bed (so Dad can enjoy the convenience and privacy of having all his treatments in one room), designer robe, shorts and T-shirt, plus the latest issues of sports magazines and business journals.
The newly opened Avania Spa at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa, at Gainey Ranch in Arizona, has a Gentleman's Suite with a stocked mini-bar and flat-screen digital TV.
While spas are the hot new gift for cool, hard-working Dads, remember the words of comedian Bill Cosby. "Fatherhood," he says, "is pretending the present you love the most is soap-on-a-rope."
No matter what you end up getting Dad, he's going to love it (or at least pretend to).
For More Information:
- Fairmont Scottsdale Princess: www.fairmont.com
- Hyatt Spas: www.hyattpure.com
- Spa at Four Seasons Troon: www.fourseasons.com/scottsdale
- Biltmore Resort and Spa:
www.arizonabiltmore.com
- KSL Resorts Collection:
www.kslresorts.com
- Spa at the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach: www.ritzcarlton.com
- Men's Power Spa:
www.themenspowerspa.com
- Spa Bellagio: www.bellagio.com
Published: Monday, June 05, 2006 Article tools
Printer friendly
Font: * * * * Shake things up this Father's Day. Instead of giving him golf balls, how about a golf massage? Why not forgo the fishing lures for a facial? Or if it's the standard new tie Dad has come to expect, surprise him with a Thai massage.
Spa section
Spa Listings
Spas, once the domain of women, are increasingly becoming a "guy thing." According to a recent survey commissioned by the Canadian Tourism Commission and International Spa Association, roughly 30 per cent of spa-goers are men and, surprisingly, more men take "spa vacations" than women.
Perhaps it's because more men are realizing that in today's competitive workplace, spa visits and vacations can help them manage stress, feel energized and present a well-groomed image.
If Dad remains unconvinced, tell him that a spa treatment might even help improve his golf game. For those dads who spend mucho time thumbing the keyboards of their BlackBerrys and PDAs, tell them that select Hyatt spas (Spa Avania in Scottsdale, Ariz., and the Spa at the Grand Hyatt in San Diego are two) now offer a BlackBerry hand massage that could help prevent repetitive strain injury.
Along with the increasing number of men -- ranging in age from their early 20s to their late 50s -- looking to find their comfort zone in spa robes, cosmetic companies such as Jurlique and MD Skin Care are developing lines of products specifically for men.
These are geared to male skin-care issues such as dry skin from daily shaving, sensitivity from razor burn and wear and tear from exposure to the elements. This means more spas can offer male clients specially designed treatments and packages.
The spas in the spa-centric city of Scottsdale, for instance, tend to be among the innovators in the men's market.
The Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, one of the first to offer a Golf Performance Treatment Massage ($169 US for 60 minutes) has recently introduced an exclusive 90-minute Golf Facial ($ 239 US for 90 minutes) to combat the challenges of sun exposure, dehydration, wrinkles and dull skin.
The facial is combined with a shoulder, hand and foot massage to loosen muscles, release tension and take care of tired hands and feet.
The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North offers a Golfer's Massage ($140 US for 50 minutes) where golf balls are heated in a similar fashion as hot stones, then rolled along the large muscles on either side of the spine and down the neck to enhance relaxation and diminish tension.
In a spa survey by the KSL Resorts Collection, men highlighted their interest in having shorter treatment times, more sports-related and stress-reduction options and a better explanation of spa benefits.
As a result, KSL properties are unveiling treatments such as Spa Primer for the First Timer at La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, Calif., a 19th Hole Package at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Scottsdale and Golflexology Massage treatments at La Quinta Resort and Club in California.
In Toronto, The Men's Power Spa, one of Canada's few day spas for men, is offering The Cool Daddy-O Father's Day package consisting of hand, foot and face care services ($205).
The Spa Bellagio in Las Vegas has a TKO package that comes with a private boxing lesson. Think mano-a-mano with a former professional boxer, followed by a therapeutic massage, a gentleman's manicure and pedicure and a Royal Shave in the wood-panelled Barber Room. (Package costs $365 US).
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental in Miami offers a Men's Holistic Spa Package that includes, along with treatments, a personal training session.
The Ritz-Carlton Spa in South Beach, Miami, is serving up a Draft beer and Pedicure ($60 US) package for Father's Day and throughout the summer. Spa director Ryan Crabbe says 40 per cent of his clientele is male.
"Men are becoming much more spa savvy," he says, "especially as more geared-to-men cosmeceuticals such as MD Skin Care and Hommage are being introduced at spas."
While most men go for massages such as Swedish and sports, the more adventurous types are sampling facials and body treatments such as scrubs and wraps.
When Brian Jump, lead guide with Whistler Outback Adventures, is not leading tours into the Havasupai Canyon, mountain biking in Whistler or trekking the mountains of B.C. or Utah, he takes time out to sooth sore muscles with therapeutic massages. Recently he tried the new men's facial ($130 US) at the Biltmore Resort and Spa in Scottsdale.
"I'm not one to choose a spa treatment simply to look better," says Jump, "and that's what I used to think facials were all about."
Facials may never replace massages as his treatment of choice. But "I no longer see them as for women only," he says. "It was definitely relaxing and it made me feel good. I'm a convert!"
The menu of men's services is new to the Biltmore spa. Along with the customized facial it includes a hand-and-foot treatment, a warm mud-pack back treatment, a sports massage and a body scrub with raw sugar.
Spas are also making male clients feel more comfortable by offering them special "men-only" treatment rooms.
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess has an MVP Room with plasma TV, wireless headset, leather and wood decor, multi-tasking massage bed (so Dad can enjoy the convenience and privacy of having all his treatments in one room), designer robe, shorts and T-shirt, plus the latest issues of sports magazines and business journals.
The newly opened Avania Spa at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa, at Gainey Ranch in Arizona, has a Gentleman's Suite with a stocked mini-bar and flat-screen digital TV.
While spas are the hot new gift for cool, hard-working Dads, remember the words of comedian Bill Cosby. "Fatherhood," he says, "is pretending the present you love the most is soap-on-a-rope."
No matter what you end up getting Dad, he's going to love it (or at least pretend to).
For More Information:
- Fairmont Scottsdale Princess: www.fairmont.com
- Hyatt Spas: www.hyattpure.com
- Spa at Four Seasons Troon: www.fourseasons.com/scottsdale
- Biltmore Resort and Spa:
www.arizonabiltmore.com
- KSL Resorts Collection:
www.kslresorts.com
- Spa at the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach: www.ritzcarlton.com
- Men's Power Spa:
www.themenspowerspa.com
- Spa Bellagio: www.bellagio.com
