We had the chance to speak to Olivia Ashby, spa director at Tower Spa at Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa (Whitefield, NH), to get an inside look at the 12-treatment-room wellness escape located on the top floor of the resort to offer guests stunning views of the surrounding mountain peaks.
Describe the spa’s design.
The spa is located on the top floor of the resort, allowing beautiful views of the 1,700-acre resort. It connects the outside with the inside.
How would you describe your typical clientele?
Most of our clients are from the New England area, as well as Canada and down the East Coast.

Can you tell me a little bit about the creation of the menu?
The menu is created with inspiration from the pristine landscape and majestic beauty of the White Mountains. Nestled within more than 4,000 acres of natural splendor, the spa harnesses the healing properties of the earth’s clay and the nurturing essence of the plants flourishing in our gardens. Every experience is woven from the rich tapestry of Mother Nature’s healing powers.
What are most spa-goers looking for when they visit your spa? What treatments do most spa-goers gravitate toward?
Traditional treatments still are the most popular. Guests come to relax and escape. Guests appreciate our combination of relaxation but also our carefully curated menu.

What treatments are a harder sell? How do you promote them?
Our retreats because they are multi-day. People also gravitate toward what they know, so basic massage and facials. More experienced spa-goers pick our more advanced treatments.
What product lines do you carry at the spa and why did you select them?
We have four main product lines being used in the spa. These lines all represent greener, more sustainable products and packaging, with high standards for their ingredients and results. Active botanicals, natural remedies, and peptides deliver no downtime healing from nature's most valuable resources bringing chemical-free to our guests.
Hydropeptide has been our longest-standing line. We fell in love with this line because of its clean science-based line due to the results and active ingredients, making it perfect for our clients looking for an instant glow while seeing a difference.
CauseMedic piqued our interest when it first hit the spa scene. This fits into our spa brand for a clean product with known results.
Kanya Life Chakra Aromatherapy Products bring balance to life. Meeting with the founder Vernika, you can feel her passion for natural remedies that go beyond superficial skincare. Redefining luxury, these body oils and aromas were well beyond anything we have come across, and knew they filled a hole that we had been searching for but were unsuccessful until that moment.
Yon-Ka is our newest line bringing a botanical aroma experience to an instant glow result, taking skincare back to five essential oils from the Mediterranean region. The therapeutic solutions for challenging skincare are unmatched. These harmonizing powers of aromas fill our halls, filling them with relaxation and an escape. Even our spa staff have fallen in love with the aromas.

How many people are on staff? Full-time? Part-time? Can you tell me a little bit about your staff's experience?
We have 20 team members on our wellness team ranging from fitness instructors, spa desk staff, and spa therapists. We have six full-time, and 14 part-time with our goal of being able to accommodate our guests' preferred days and times. Our staff is highly educated with a wide range of training. Our massage therapist specializes in extreme relaxation, deep tissue, sports, and stretching. Our skincare professionals have the education and knowledge to help you find the results you wish to be your end goal. This team is like no other I have worked with, the dedication, and determination they have for the guest experience and taking care of them beyond their one treatment has blown me away.
What sort of retail offerings do you offer?
We have a wide array of retail offerings from self-care, clothing, forgotten items, and gifts for your loved ones. Any service you receive is only a limited results solution if you do not continue your results at home. We look at your overall wellbeing and will recommend the most important item for you to continue the path to aid in resolving your concerns. We have found that discounting items may not be as important as the guest using the products and having a gift with service.
Are you offering any sort of spa cuisine or healthy dining options?
Our spa menu consists of healthy easy-to-eat foods between services or while receiving a pedicure. We have done catering for bridal parties through the catering team. Some of my favorites are the charcuterie board, chicken caesar wrap, and chocolate-dipped strawberries.

What do you find your biggest challenge to be, and how do you meet that challenge?
Having enough therapists was a problem for many years. We have many staff members that are now cross-trained and carrying multiple licenses has been extremely beneficial in resolving this issue. Desk staff has been this year's current challenge. We have started using our therapist as desk staff to fill in the gaps. This is very eye-opening for the overall team as to how the other side of the spa functions and has increased teamwork among them.
What plans do you have for the future?
I believe that spas and wellness go beyond the walls of a building. Being apart and taking in the fresh air and nature around you are some of the most healing reliefs you can find. With our new wellness retreats, we are bringing both worlds together. I plan on expanding these offerings over the next few years.