From bath butlers to skincare kits, guests no longer need to leave their rooms to find a host of spa options. Beyond simple in-room massages, spas are bringing a wellness mentality directly to clients in this emerging trend.
Some properties, such as Mirbeau Inn & Spa (Skaneateles, NY), involve a spa staff member. For the Bath Butler program ($52) there, a personal bath butler arrives in the guest’s room equipped with an array of Zents’ ultra-hydrating bodycare products, and the chosen scent is soon after delivered for the bath to be drawn. Available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., the service also includes chilled face towels along with shower and hand wash and detoxifying Epsom bath salts to take home.
Still others make it a do-it-yourself affair. At the Hotel Arista (Naperville, IL), guests can enjoy a luxurious spa experience in the privacy of their guest room through the hotel’s Bath Butler Program ($35 to $65). Green Tea-Marigold and Lavender-Hibiscus Gourmet Mineral Bath blends, which are handmade with organic teas, flowers, exotic salts, and natural oils provided by FarmHouse Fresh, are served to guests in an Arista-logoed tea clip and bag that floats under flowing bathwater, infusing the water with soothing oils and minerals. The guests take home the clips and can use them throughout their stay by visiting the spa and grabbing additional Mineral Bath Blends from the self-scoop bar. The Spa at Windsor Court (New Orleans) also caters to guests in-room with DIY in-suite hydrotherapy sessions ($15). Guests receive enough ingredients for two tea bath bags, including organic herbs like chamomile tea, green tea, hibiscus flower, lavender flower, and milk powder. “Some people, especially those who travel on a regular basis, sometimes prefer to retreat into their own space, making the tea bath a great option to relax and unwind in the comfort of their suite,” says spa director Sharla Martin. “There isn’t anything much more relaxing guests can do in their hotel room than soaking in a hot bath. Why not make these baths therapeutic? Hot baths stimulate blood circulation and leave guests feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, and renewed.”
This in-room experience goes beyond the bath, as well. In addition to services at The Spa at The Setai by THÉMAÉ (Miami), guests can partake in an en-suite amenity called The Spa Bar by THÉMAÉ ($100). Made for in-room use, it includes a Gommage Thé au Népal body scrub, an Infusion O’Furo tea bag for a bath, Cérémonie Jeuness anti-aging cream, and a Brume de Thé body splash.
Beyond the health benefits of these therapies, this thriving trend has additional advantages. “I truly believe that offering in-room services is a crucial extension of the spa itself,” says Laura Lambert, spa director at Arista Spa & Salon. “For some guests who still haven’t opened their minds to spa-ing and prefer the comfort of their rooms, this allows us to introduce the level of relaxation that truly represents who we are. Consider it baby steps that will—fingers crossed—help get the guest to the treatment room for the ultimate luxurious spa experience.” Additionally, these in-room options also open up spa treatment rooms and thus sellable service time, which is certainly a business benefit. “In-room amenity services also provide alternatives during those times when scheduling may be tight,” says Lambert. “We all are painfully familiar with the last-minute pleas for appointments for the forgotten anniversary or birthday. Having such a service allows the spa to offer an option that will be relaxing as well as purposeful when scheduling a spa treatment may not be a possibility at that time.”
Plus, according to Shara Seigel, account supervisor at Middleton & Gendron/Eric Mower + Associates and Mirbeau representative, “Guests will often want to purchase the products used in a bath or treatment to recreate a spa experience at home and enjoy their benefits year-round, not just on special getaways,” one more reason this trend is a win-win for both clients and spas.