Spas in the News

St. Lucia's the BodyHoliday Announces $20 Million Renovation

Highly Anticipated Project Will Add Infinity Pool, Updated Dining Facilities, New Penthouse Suite and More; Set To Debut September 2011

CASTRIES, ST. LUCIA (July 11, 2011) – The BodyHoliday, St. Lucia’s premiere all-inclusive resort dedicated to health and well-being, today begins a $20 million renovation, to be completed in late September 2011.  Between July and September, The BodyHoliday will be closed to guests in order to complete a series of upgrades designed to maintain the level of excellence that the resort is known for.  The extensive renovation will unveil significant updates to the resort’s public spaces and dining venues, a new infinity-edge swimming pool and boardwalk, and an expanded Watersports Center. True to The BodyHoliday’s promise of “Give us your body for a week and we’ll give you back your mind!”, the renovation will upgrade the resort’s offerings to further rejuvenate and revitalize each and every guest. The resort embodies the concept of a vacation for the body––offering relaxation, restorative beauty, exercise and diet.

This project has opened up the resort to its inspiring surroundings while preserving its unique Caribbean style that has made it a favorite of travelers to St. Lucia.  To that end, the resort tapped noted design firm International Design Concepts to shape a setting that relies as much on innovation as tradition.  The renovation will transform the public areas into a stylish haven for socializing, fine dining, and relaxation, and also add on an extraordinary Penthouse Suite to the current guest room options. 

“Our decision to renovate the property was motivated by requests for upgraded and expanded facilities from guests of the resort,” said Craig Barnard, owner of The BodyHoliday.  “We are fortunate to have a large percentage of repeat guests, and we are excited for them to experience the resort after the renovation is complete.  We listened to their feedback and are very proud to invest in maintaining our world-class standards of excellence.  We know they will be delighted with the results.”

AN ENHANCED ARRIVAL EXPERIENCE

One element that has been preserved is the welcoming approach to the resort, complete with several new elements that are tied together with a contemporary design aesthetic. Upon arrival, guests will be welcomed to a soothing atmosphere, immediately transforming the travel experience into a serene moment.  The lobby is designed in a cool and deep blue color palette with driftwood, mahogany, and beige accents. Giacometti-style artistic statues are positioned at the lobby entrance.  In the center of the lobby area, clusters of upholstered seating are centered around a striking crystal chandelier (from the Tzar’s Palace in Russia), making for a convivial environment for socializing with fellow guests.

A prominent 14-foot photograph-on-canvas landscape of tropical waters ushers guests from the lobby to the Cariblue courtyard, immediately putting visitors into relaxation mode.  The color palette includes natural rattan and wicker, lime green, and stark white.

THE CULINARY SPIRIT OF THE CARIBBEAN

Each of The BodyHoliday’s five unique food and beverage venues will also undergo a series of updates, including new design aesthetics, additional seating and more expansive menu offerings.  The Clubhouse, the center of the action at The BodyHoliday, will receive a complete facelift resulting in a modern, full-service facility that can better serve guests’ needs, whether it be planning out their activities for the day or spending a rainy afternoon in the new game room.  The Clubhouse will also increase its food and drink options by serving casual lunch and dinner, and by adding a permanent grill and wood-fired-oven to its patio, ideal for quick beachside bites.

New additions to The Clubhouse area include a Pavilion, Piazza, outdoor dining, infinity-edge pool and boardwalk promenade.  A new 360-degree, 17-foot circular Clubhouse Bar occupies a prominent location looking over the beach and out to sea––a natural meeting spot for cocktails and catching the live entertainment on the performance stage at The Clubhouse.  The new Pavilion structure features a buffet, grill and pizza oven.  The Piazza is a multi-use space complete with pagoda umbrellas and casual bistro seating.  A trickling natural stone fountain with blue glass mosaic tiles, local Soufriere stone wall with niches of orchids, and lantern-lighting glows as a cozy respite from the larger dining spaces.  Outside of The Clubhouse, an oversized 200-year-old chaudière––characteristic of sugar-producing islands––has been creatively transformed over an inviting fire pit in a show of authenticity and local craftsmanship.

Finally, The BodyHoliday’s signature restaurant, Cariblue, will enclose its buffet area and add a classic wood and stone finish wine room to the main dining room––where guests can partake in exclusive tastings or meet one-on-one with the sommelier. 

NEW FITNESS AND WELLNESS OFFERINGS

Blending function and design, The BodyHoliday introduces a sense of luxury, superior amenities and soothing interiors into the resort’s wellness spaces.  The all-new entrance to the property’s wellness centre has been transformed into a magnificent structure with Jerusalem stone and mosaics.  The Skin Clinic has been a success at The BodyHoliday for some time and is being upgraded to reflect this success. A new cool, contemporary, state-of-the art feel will be the signature and it will boast its own reception area and four treatment rooms, one with a private shower. A luxurious couple’s treatment room was fashioned with highlights such as mahogany cabinetry, natural stone finishes and special seating area for foot rituals; the wet area with a shower-for-two rain-head and large soaking tub is accented in curved, glass mosaic surround. Guests will now be able to purchase their favorite specialty skin products in a new retail area.  

The BodyHoliday’s remodeled fitness center will more than double in size.  The new 1,800-square-foot facility features expansive windows that overlook the lush Caribbean hillside, while the interior’s sleek palette is comprised of blacks, grays and stainless steel.  

THE PENTHOUSE SUITE – A NEW LEVEL OF LUXURY

With this all-new feature of The BodyHoliday’s guest suite categories, the Penthouse Suite is the resort’s top option for luxurious accommodations in an idyllic setting.  A private entry staircase leads guests to the suite.  Featuring an open floor-plan with spacious living area, towering 11.5-foot ceilings, cove lighting and a wet-bar, a free-standing wall unit divides the living and bedroom spaces with a 360-degree, rotating flat-screen television for viewing on either side of the suite.  In the bathroom, sliding frosted glass doors reveal a striking bubble chandelier that floats above a soaking tub for two with a view of the sea.  The most striking element of the penthouse is the private Turkish-style hammam, which features a marble-slab heated massage bed, marble benches, and walls of mosaic marble.  A steam room with a mosaic curved bench and rain-head shower offers guests a unique spa experience in the privacy of their room.

EXPANDED RECREATION OPTIONS

One of the most impressive additions to the resort is a new two-level infinity-edge pool, complete with underwater raised stone seating.  The pool, tiled in deep cobalt blue porcelain, will provide guests with additional options for swimming, lounging and water activities such as volleyball and scuba training.  While the upper pool is 20 x 50-foot in diameter and four-feet deep, it falls into 12 x 41-foot shallow waters at boardwalk level.  The effect is an elegant cascade with views of the beaches, and the feeling of being in the ocean at every height of the pool deck.  Intimate cabanas-for-two contour the upper level of the pool, and the boardwalk features oversized specialty cabanas consisting of two day-beds and a center table–perfect for sunset cocktails and private waterside dining.

In order to continue providing guests with a wide range of activities, the resort is expanding its Watersports Center.  It will double in size and relocate to the end of the beach, making it more convenient for guests to take part in water skiing, sailing, tubing, snorkeling and windsurfing. 

The BodyHoliday’s new Dive Shop will have its own dedicated building and training center. In its new location, the Dive Shop will offer guests easy reach to the dive pool and house-reef just off the beach.  A variety of scuba options are available for guests of the resort, led by a team of qualified instructors.

ABOUT THE BODYHOLIDAY

Situated on a private cove in the northwest tip of St. Lucia, The BodyHoliday provides a luxurious and relaxing getaway experience in an idyllic setting.  Owned and managed by the Barnard family, the 154-room all-inclusive wellness resort sits directly on Cariblue’s crescent beach and is surrounded by 42 acres of lush tropical gardens. The BodyHoliday is a five star resort that has become synonymous with health and well-being the world over.

The BodyHoliday offers unparalleled services and amenities including: a 30,000 square-foot wellness centre, five unique food and beverage venues (including the award-winning TAO, named as a Condé Nast Traveler “Hot Table”), scuba school, tennis and golf academies, archery, fencing, T’ai Chi, yoga, pilates, an array of watersports and recreational activities, and personalized “lifestyle consultation” services. 

The BodyHoliday closed in July 2011 to undergo a $20 million makeover and when it reopens in the fall, it will be the leading hotel in St. Lucia to escape the rigors of everyday life. The BodyHoliday will re-open in late-September 2011.  To book a future reservation, or for additional information, please visit www.thebodyholiday.com or call 1-800-544-2883.

The BodyHoliday: “Give us your body for a week and we’ll give you back your mind.”

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