Loma de Vida Spa & Wellness at La Cantera Resort & Spa (San Antonio)

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Texas Hill Country takes center stage at Loma de Vida Spa & Wellness at La Cantera Resort & Spa (San Antonio), which opened this past fall as part of a $50 million renovation of the resort. With a name that means “hill of life,” influences from the beauty of the region can be found throughout the 25,000-square-foot, 15-treatment-room spa’s philosophy, menu, and design. “The building was created with a sense of bringing the outdoors in,” says Maggy Dunphy, executive director of spa & wellness for Destination Hotels. “You’ll see floor-to-ceiling windows, atriums, courtyards, and outdoor treatment areas, and all of the treatment spaces have the option to open windows and allow the fresh air in.”

Also central to the spa is creating a wellness experience that caters to what each guest craves. The Gathering Place, for example, is a communal area featuring a revolving display of artwork and a terrace overlooking Hill Country. The two Sky Lofts, which can be enjoyed alone, as a couple, or as a group, are mini spas that feature massage tables, indoor or outdoor showers, outdoor soaking tubs, and private decks. The Grotto is a private saline pool that can be reserved for solo soaking time, and the Private Garden Cabanas can be booked for up to four people for two hours or longer and offer views of the hills and fridges stocked with fresh fruit. “The spa was designed with intentional spaces to allow guests to experience exactly what they need,” says Dunphy. “Some people need a quiet space to reflect, others may want a place to reconnect with friends, while others just want a tranquil setting to relax and take in the incredible Hill Country views. Loma de Vida has space for all of this to occur without disrupting others.”

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No matter how they choose to spa, guests can be assured the spa team of 30 will work to meet their wellness needs, such as offering them a true Texas experience via services like Absolute Texas ($350, 2 hours). This indigenous offering is performed in a Sky Loft and involves a soak in an outdoor copper tub, a scrub, a wrap, and a massage using local beeswax, honey, and lavender. It is just one of several enticing menu offerings using products that Dunphy says were chosen to “tell the Loma de Vida story, as well as to provide a unique and diverse selection of experiences for the various demographics of guests using the spa.” Along with using natural local ingredients, including honey culled from the property’s onsite bee sanctuary, featured product lines include Aromatherapy Associates, which is used in a variety of facials; Comfort Zone, which is used in a series of facials and body treatments; Dazzle Dry for healthy manicures and pedicures; Sciote for facials; and Zents, which is used for the locker-room amenities and in a number of nail and body treatments.

Guests can also partake in one of the functional fitness experiences, like TRX, spin, and barre, or refuel at Quenche, the spa’s café and juice bar, which offers cold-pressed juices, mood-enhancing Lotus Wei elixirs, and healthy meals featuring fresh and seasonal ingredients. Whether it be hotel guests or locals and non-resort guests who pay a $60 fee for daylong access, the spa was created to be a place where guests can linger and address their relaxation needs. “Loma de Vida is a destination for wellness,” says Dunphy. “Offering space to spend more than just an hour or two, it is a destination to relax, reflect, and renew oneself.” 


Owner

Destination Hotels

Director of Spa & Wellness

Maggy Dunphy

Opened

September 2016

Client Base

74% female

26% male

Space

25,000 square feet; 15 treatment rooms

Products

Aromaflage, Aromatherapy Associates, Circle 21, Comfort Zone, Crane & Lion, Davines, Dazzle Dry, Hayhouse, Ila, LaVande, Lotus Wei, Rishi Tea, Sciote, Sita Couture, Wrap Up by VP, Zents

Equipment

HydraFacial MD, Living Earth Crafts, Nandina, Oka B., Wrap Up by VP

Architect

HKS Architects (Dallas)

Interior Designer

Looney & Associates (Dallas)

Spa Consultant

Cary Collier, BluSpas (Whitefish, MT)