Spa People in the News

Glen Ross is Appointed Spa Director at The Spa at Little Dix Bay

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS (January 2008) Accomplished spa manager and respected consultant Glen Ross has been tapped to oversee the operation of the luxurious Spa at Little Dix Bay. An idyllic retreat, the Spa is perched high on a bluff overlooking the Caribbean Sea and the lush tropical gardens of legendary resort on Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands. Ross was most recently Spa Director at another renowned Caribbean resort, Sandy Lane in Barbados.

Ross’s experience extends well beyond the islands, however. Martein van Wagenberg, Managing Director, calls Ross’s appointment “a perfect match” for Rosewood Little Dix Bay. “Hands-down, spas have emerged as the number-one guest amenity and Glen’s diverse Asian and Caribbean blend of experiences will be invaluable as we establish ourselves among the region’s most sought-after spas,” he says.

With 14 years of experience ranging from spa conceptualization and design to day-to-day operation, Ross is considered one of the industry’s most adept managers. “At Little Dix Bay, we are focusing on treatments that really take guests back to a place of peacefulness and calm. We’ll be adding more indigenous treatments using local products and creating additional spa facilities that take full advantage of the resort’s inspiring oceanside location. With spectacular views of Sir Drake Channel and the islands, sailboats drifting by, and soothing breezes off the ocean, can you imagine a more serene setting?,” Ross says.

Prior to arriving on Caribbean shores, Ross was Group Director of Spas for Langham Hotels International in Hong Kong (2004 – 2006), where he formulated the direction and implementation of the company’s Chuan spa brand, which paired modern Chinese design and architecture with treatments based on traditional Chinese medicine. In this position, Ross was responsible for the overall spa performance across all Langham resorts, as well as the development of new spas in London, Boston, Auckland and Hong Kong.

From 2001 to 2004, he was Resort Director for Mandarin Oriental Hotel’s Macau resort, tasked with the operation of the spa, health club and innovative corporate team-building facility. Prior to this, Ross helped open the five-star Kanuhura Beach & Spa Resort in the Maldives, serving as Director of Spa & Recreation and Acting General Manager (1999 – 2000) charged with development of the spa’s concept, design and philosophy. A spa and leisure consultant both independently and for US-based Collier & Collier Spa Consultancy, Ross’s lifelong interest in Asia inspired his move to Phuket, Thailand in 1994 where, as Group Spa Operations Manager for Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, he opened five Banyan Tree spas over a three-year period.

An avid endurance athlete, Ross recently moved on from triathlons to long distance running. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports and Environmental Studies and a Masters degree in Leisure Management at Sheffield University in Sheffield, England.

The Spa at Little Dix Bay

A postcard Caribbean seaside setting distinguishes the Spa at Little Dix Bay with its 360-degree views of the sea. Charming stone footpaths meander through three acres of lush tropical gardens, guiding the way to the Spa’s separate cliff-side beach, two-tiered infinity pool, and outdoor Yoga platform, and nine treatments cottages (including a couple’s suite) and spa suite which has an ocean-facing terrace. Meditation, Pilates and yoga classes are offered daily.

About Rosewood Little Dix Bay

Located on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, Rosewood Little Dix Bay offers an arms-length respite from day-to-day stress amidst lush foliage, a half-mile crescent-shaped beach, a colorful barrier reef, and beautiful walking trails. Guests can choose from a wealth of elegant villas and guest rooms with recently renovated bathrooms and outdoor rain showers, including hexagonal cottages and two- and three-bedroom villas nestled along gorgeous gardens and shaded footpaths. The resort's three dining venues specialize in fresh Caribbean cuisine: the open-air Pavilion, the intimate Sugar Mill, and the Beach Grill which serves light fare on the white sands. The Spa at Little Dix Bay offers the finest in beauty and recuperative programs in a dramatic setting, with treatments that utilize indigenous botanicals plucked right from the resort grounds. New friends and experiences await kids at the Children's Grove. Complimentary services include a wide array of water sports, use of the on-site fitness center and tennis courts, and more. www.littledixbay.com.

About Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts manages properties worldwide including Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek and Rosewood Crescent Hotel in Dallas; The Carlyle in New York; CordeValle in San Martin, California; Inn of the Anasazi in Santa Fe; Las Ventanas al Paraíso in Los Cabos, Mexico; Hotel Seiyo Ginza in Tokyo, Japan; and a triumvirate of world-class Caribbean properties – Rosewood Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda, Caneel Bay on St. John, and Jumby Bay on Antigua. For more information on Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, please call 888-ROSEWOOD or visit www.rosewoodhotels.com.