ANCIENT ROME HAS GOTTEN A LAS VEGAS-STYLE REDUX WITH Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace. The new 50,000-square-foot desert oasis offers a mix of ancient spa therapies, hip hydrotherapy sessions, and creative treatments designed to make spa-goers feel like contemporary emperors and empresses.
In the days of Julius Caesar, baths were a place to socialize. Today, that tradition continues at Qua. Spa-goers can relax and unwind in the lavish circuit of Roman baths found in the men's and women's areas. Emphasizing an atmosphere of social spa-ing, the baths feature three temperature experiences—a 98-degree tepidarium pool, a 104-degree calidarium pool, and a 72-degree fridgidarium pool, all of which evoke the classic communal bathing traditions of the Romans.
"Water has been used throughout time and across many cultures as a form of renewal," says Jennifer Lynn, director of spa and salon services. "Our Roman Baths and water-related services help guests to renew their minds, bodies, and relationships in this opulent setting."
 Vegas's first Arctic Ice Room allows guests to relax in an invigorating, 55-degree environment. |
Other hydro-focused highlights include the city's first Arctic Ice Room, a cool, invigorating place for spa-goers to chill out pre- and post-treatment using ice chips to exfoliate while they enjoy the crisp 55-degree air. The Laconium Cedar Wood Dry Sauna and the Herbal Steam Room, which is infused with fresh herbs, are two other healing hot spots and are included in all treatments. A $35 all-day spa pass provides guests with full access to the state-of-the-art fitness center, baths, Laconium, Arctic Ice Room, and Herbal Steam Room.
The spa also offers in-depth treatments in its 51 treatment studios, which include three deluxe couples' suites, two hydrotherapy tub rooms, three Vichy shower rooms, seven facial studios, 35 massage rooms, and the Crystal Body Art Room. The Hourglass Treatments can be enjoyed for 60, 120, or 180 minutes and are customized spa sessions that can include facials, body treatments, and more to meet the specific needs of spa-goers. This pampered flexibility makes the session one of the most popular on the menu. Other luxe therapies include the Qua Signature Chakra Balancing ($225 and up, 75 minutes), a harmonizing treatment that uses energy work and warm oils to align the body's energy centers and concludes with the guest selecting a special Energy Muse Chakra-balancing necklace to take home; and the Banana Leaf Body Wrap ($170, 60 minutes), a session that begins with a floral footbath and includes an aromatic wrap in fresh banana leaves. To attain a true Vegas-inspired sparkle, Swarovski crystal tattoos can be applied in the Crystal Body Art Room.
 Left: Couples can enjoy the Banana Leaf Body Wrap. Right: The spa's retail shop features elegant gifts and all of the products used in the treatment rooms. |
"The thing that makes Qua Baths & Spa so unique is that it has the feeling of a destination spa, right in the heart of Las Vegas," says Lynn. "Also, the services offered at Qua are original and tailored to the Vegas clientele."
Spa services for men, couples, and pregnant clients are also available. The Men's Only Zone lets male spa-goers enjoy the straight razor shaving talents of a master barber who is dressed in tuxedo attire. A variety of other just-for-guys options, such as the Poker Face facial ($150, 50 minutes) and the Arabian Knights Facial and Body Treatment ($260, 80 minutes), are offered, and this entire area of the spa is complete with retro jazz music and flat-screen televisions. Couples can enjoy several romantic options, such as the fertility-boosting Couple's Lunaception ($420, 75 minutes), which is only available during certain lunar cycles and includes a massage above Venus fertility idols and a selection of teas and herbs thought to increase fertility, and the Kama Sutra with Shirodhara massage ($420, 75 minutes) set to tantric music and using aphrodisiac massage oils. Additionally, a customized prenatal menu offers pregnant spa-goers a host of relaxation options.
 The Roman baths are an ideal place for communal bathing rituals and group relaxation. |
The diverse menu incorporates a variety of high-end skincare and bodycare products rather than just one or two lines. "It is important that our treatments provide the most effective results through the sense of touch by our skilled artisans and through the use of effective products," says Lynn. "Selecting the best products for specialized areas was intentional. We wanted our clients to achieve the finest results during their brief visits."
Outside of the treatment room and group relaxation areas, men and women alike enjoy a selection of organic teas in the separate men's and women's tea lounges. There, the in-house tea sommelier creates and pairs hot and cold beverages with spa treatments.
 A selection of intricate Swarovski crystal tatoos are applied in the Crystal Body Art Room. |
Since opening, the spa has been averaging around 350 guests per day. But Lynn says she and her team should be able to manage approximately 700 guests per day at maximum capacity. This creates the need for a rather large staff. Currently, the Qua team is made up of more than 100 full-time and part-time members. Therapists and estheticians are referred to as artisans, further emphasizing the artistic era of ancient Rome and creating a high-end ambience in the spa. "I believe there is an art in the work that is performed in a spa treatment room—the idea to call our staff artisans came from this notion," says Lynn. "They are skilled body and facial artists who sculpt the body and the face with their hands. Referring to them as artisans also allows each to create an experience that is one-of-a-kind with each guest encounter."
Lynn also makes the development and education of each staff member a priority. "Our director of education oversees the personal and professional development of our staff to ensure artisans are acquiring new skills and enjoying new learning experiences to bring into the treatment room each day," she says.
 Qua baths & spa at Caesars Palace |
Another important aspect of the spa experience is retail. The therapists complete prescription cards at the end of each service to assist clients with their retail selections. An extensive spa shop provides guests with a selection of products, as well as a host of other creative take-home options. "Retail is an extension of the spa experience, says Lynn. "Guests love the products they sample in the treatment room. They enjoy being able to recreate that experience at home, so retail is a natural way to conclude the services."
Like ancient Rome ruled the Western world, Qua rules the Las Vegas strip with its luxe communal connections, its vast treatment menu, and its team of trained artisans. For today's gods and goddesses, it's a true Roman holiday.