Just the mention of Telluride, CO, conjures up images of snow-capped mountains and outdoor adventure. Providing a home base from which to take advantage of all that the legendary town has to offer, Hotel Madeline Telluride can be found at the foot of the world-renowned ski area. With ski-in and ski-out access, it is the place to stay for adventure enthusiasts with a taste for the good life. If the location itself isn’t incent
ive enough, the hotel recently introduced a five-treatment-room spa. Named after a Nordic flower that blossoms in alpine environments, Spa Linnea also caters to guests at its sister property next door, the Inn at Lost Creek.
Conceptualized by Blu Spas, the full-service spa is inspired by its natural surroundings. The menu was created paying special mind to the environmental extremes that characterize the typical Telluride experience. Therapies focus on addressing the dry air, high altitude, and sun exposure most guests are subjected to when they visit. The on-site Oxygen Bar is ideal for those suffering the effects of high altitude. Therapists, known as Altitude Adjusters, also help guests recover from a variety of active pursuits.
According to spa director Loren Kornreich, Spa Linnea caters to both locals who utilize the facility as a day spa and seasoned Telluride visitors
interested in maximizing their time in the great outdoors. “Most spa-goers are looking for time for themselves away from the world and relaxation, as well as exceptional service and memorable experiences,” she says.
Like its name, the spa features a botanical theme throughout its menu. It relies on organic product lines, such as Naturopathica and Zents, and numerous ingredients that can be found in Southwestern Colorado. “Many of the flower essences used in Lotus Wei products are also found in this region, enabling guests to really experience the mood of Telluride,” says Kornreich. Not surprisingly, the spa’s most popular treatment, the Twin Flower Body Renewal ($140, 50 minutes; $200, 80 minutes), also highlights the menu’s botanical theme.
Because many spa-goers’ bodies take a beating from hiking or skiing the surrounding mountains, massage plays an important role at the spa. Spa Linnea offers three specialty massages in addition to five other massages on the menu. They include Hiker’s Heaven ($125, 50 minutes); Mountain Mama ($120, 50 minutes); and Junior Sport Massage ($55, 20 minutes) for young athletes, which can also involve an add-on foot massage ($55, 20 minutes) for accompanying adults. Although massage reigns supreme, Kornreich and her staff encourage guests to be adventurous in their treatment selections. “It’s up to the entire spa team to help educate our guests on other experiences and options that may give them even more profound results,” she says.
In the high season, the team is made up of approximately 14 to 16 employees. They can accommodate from 40 to 70 guests each day, depending on the mix of services selected. According to Kornreich, it is the intimate treatment rooms that make the spa so special and allow the practitioners the opportunity to deliver such highly personalized service. To date, her greatest challenge is finding new and exciting ways to blend holistic wellness and preventative health measures with traditional spa therapies. Yet, that isn’t preventing Kornreich and her staff from planning for the future. “We are looking at exciting new partnerships, capital projects, and education,” she says. “There is definitely more to come.”
Owner: Ektornet, US, LLC
Spa Director: Loren Kornreich
Opened: 2009
CLIENT BASE
70% female
30% male
SPACE
7,000 square feet;
5 treatment rooms
OFFERINGS
aromatherapy, body treatments, couples’ treatments, energy work, eyelash extensions, facials, fitness, hand and foot treatments, hydrotherapy, makeup application, massage, microdermabrasion, nailcare, nutrition consultation, prenatal services, reflexology, salon services,
waxing, yoga
SIGNATURE SERVICE
Base Camp Recovery Ritual ($250, 1 hour 40 minutes)
MOST EXPENSIVE OFFERING
Mountain Love Journey ($650 for two, 2 hours 15 minutes)
PRODUCT LINES
DayNa Decker, La Bella Donna, Lotus Wei, Naturopathica, OKA b., SpaRitual, Tulaa Jewelry, Wei Chocolate, Zents
EQUIPMENT
Living Earth Crafts, SMS, Technogym
ARCHITECT & INTERIOR DESIGNER
Ivins Design Group (Denver)
SPA CONSULTANT
Blu Spas (Whitefish, MT)