Five Unique Spa Treatments for Couples

Five spas share the couples services that are tempting twosomes and ramping up revenue.

couples-spa-treatments[Image: amnachphoto/ISTOCK]

Savvy spas are realizing more than ever that couples treatments don’t need to be relegated to a one-off Valentine’s Day package, and are dedicating entire sections of their menus to twosomes year-round. “Spa services have become a regular part of ‘couples weekends,’ and we’ve seen a surge in rebooks from guests who visit with a partner,” says Carolyn Holdsworth, director of Salt Spa at The Reeds at Shelter Haven in Stone Harbor, New Jersey. Indeed, the most recent consumer data from the International SPA Association (ISPA) reports that 26 percent of spa guests visit with a partner, and 37 percent of men are more likely to go with someone else. “Offering a couples massage is a great way to attract new customers who may be less likely to visit alone,” says ISPA president Lynne McNees. But as the following services demonstrate, bodywork is only the beginning when it comes to drawing in duos—and retaining those relationships.

 

Mellow Yellow Vitamin C & CBD Oil Relief & Renewal Seasonal Rendezvous for Two (180 min./$700 Mon.-Thurs.; $800 Fri.-Sun.)
The Chateau Elan Spa at Chateau Elan Winery & Resort in Braselton, Georgia

A fizzing foot bath using nourishing vitamin E and sweet almond oil kicks off this invigorating experience. Next, the couple gets buffed and polished from head to toe with a sea salt scrub loaded with brandy-infused pears. They’re then painted with an antioxidant-packed CoQ10 and chocolate softening mask. After a quick rinse under the double rain shower, a full-body massage ensues using Hi-Bio fast absorbing full spectrum hemp oil with CBD, which has brightening, soothing and skin repairing properties, in addition to offering ongoing pain relief. “It’s truly a sensory journey to fully ‘mellow’ the couple,” says spa director Michelle Ufer.

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Twice as nice: The newly renovated spa offers lavish couples suites featuring a two-person rain shower, intimate dining area and deluxe side-by-side treatment beds—and one has a deep-soak Jacuzzi tub for two. “We also offer romantic add-ons, including rose petal turndowns, a bottle of bubbly, in-room flowers, bubble baths and more,” says Ufer. Expanding its menu from just couples massages to comprehensive experiences has increased the spa’s bookings significantly. “By changing some of these services out seasonally, we keep guests coming back,” adds Ufer. “Couples are looking to reconnect, and spending time together being pampered at the spa really helps reset a relationship.”

 

Spa Romance (130 min./$815)
Allegria Spa at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa in Beaver Creek, Colorado

A truly luxurious experience that takes place in the spa’s Healing Waters Couples Suite, this service begins with warm compresses applied to each guest’s back. Next comes a wildflower scrub for her and a eucalyptus scrub for him, followed by a steam shower and 15-minute lavender hydrotherapy bath for two. Finally, the clients relax with a 75-minute massage, personalized according to their needs and using body butter scented to match the scrubs. “All products are local and custom-made,” says spa director Angie Brown.

Twice as nice: The spa is designed so that most massages and body treatments can be offered to duos. “We have three couples rooms, two of which include either a Swiss or Vichy shower and one that includes a soaking tub for two,” says Brown. “Because of the variety and flexibility, guests come back year after year to share in the experience.” To make the offering even more tantalizing for twosomes, they’re invited to arrive early for a soak in the the co-ed Aqua Sanitas thermal pool, as well as spend some time in the relaxation lounge before or after their treatment. “We offer an extra amenity of chocolates and champagne for them to enjoy during or after the service,” adds Brown.

 

Couples Suite Massage (50 min./$350)
Salt Spa at The Reeds at Shelter Haven in Stone Harbor, New Jersey

Customization is key, so this service starts with a thorough intake to determine each guest’s needs. For instance, the hot stone option includes a choice of heated basalt stones or Himalayan salt stones to provide a deeper therapeutic experience, along with muscle stripping techniques that detoxify in a way that traditional massage may not. After lying down on the spa’s state-of-the-art Gharini massage tables, which heat up or cool down in less than a minute, the couple receives nourishing massages with shea butter cream instead of oil, and they’re encouraged to enter a deep state of relaxation through rhythmic breathing. “The therapists always ensure that the overall experience feels unified within the treatment room, operating in tandem and synchronized throughout the session as much as possible,” says Holdsworth.

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Twice as nice: Salt Spa is particularly appealing to couples “in that we offer not only lovely couples massages, but also a Brine Therapy Lounge where they can relax before or after treatments, and a Turkish Bath for an intimate body treatment experience,” enthuses Holdsworth. “Using a dedicated couples environment can encourage tentative spa-goers to visit, and it absolutely results in rebooking for both individual and couples services.”

 

Signature Couples Nail Experience (180 min./$425)
The Spa at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, California

Having been featured in the beloved romantic comedy Pretty Woman, the Beverly Wilshire certainly knows how to cater to couples, as evidenced by this magnificent side-by-side mani-pedi. It starts with an invigorating exfoliation of the hands, arms, feet and legs using a whipped sugar scrub rich in sweet almond oil. Then, 111SKIN Black Diamond Retinol Oil and Dramatic Healing Oil are thoroughly massaged in, and the service concludes with a collagen boosting Meso Mask and paraffin application, followed by nail polish for her—“all, of course, while sipping champagne,” says director of spa Vivian Henein.

Twice as nice: Hotel guests are invited to relax poolside before or after their treatment and sip the Beverly Wilshire’s signature Pretty Woman cocktail. “They can also enjoy a light lunch in the nail bar during their service while watching Pretty Woman together,” says Henein. “We like to make sure that each experience is better than the last, so if they enjoy this one, we can then introduce them to one of our other signature treatments.”

 

Lucky in Love (180 min./$630)
The Spa at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

A journey to delight the senses, this comprehensive couples offering begins with a personal inhalation ritual using the Zents scent of their choice, then a massage with Zents Anti-Aging Massage Oil, customized according to each client’s areas of concern. Next, the feet are wrapped in warm towels and the pair goes through another series of deep inhalations. A side-by-side G.M. Collin facial follows, starting with PurActive Cleanser applied with a Clarisonic device, and an exfoliating Phytoaromatic Gommage accompanied by a hand and foot massage ensues. Then, a hot towel is used to remove the gommage and extractions are performed. The therapist massages a hydrating mask into the face, and performs a décolleté and shoulder massage as well. A serum and moisturizer are applied, followed by an antiaging eye treatment. It all wraps up with champagne and a Zents Truffle, a relaxing aromatherapy soak in the Jacuzzi tub, and a steam shower.

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Twice as nice: The spa has seen an increase in visits from pairs over the past few years, thanks in large part to the couples suite—a luxury amenity offered only to those who book one of the three options on the Spa For Two menu. “It’s a big draw because they have access to their own private tub, shower, restroom and patio,” says spa director Melissa Deese. “We customize packages so our guests get the exact experience they’re looking for. Special requests might include a bouquet of flowers, chocolate-covered strawberries and a bottle of champagne if the couple is celebrating a special occasion.”

—Carrie Borzillo

This story first appeared in the October issue of DAYSPA Magazine. To receive the magazine, subscribe here.

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