LUX Tourism Awards 2018

LUX - Tourism Awards 2018 9 Established in 1978, New Life Hiking Spa is one of the original wellness retreats and destination spas in North America. The spa is only open for 20 weeks a year when hiking is at its peak in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Kathleen provides us with an overview of the destination spa’s service offering and how it works to ensure excellence for its clients. “Here at New Life Hiking Spa, we provide an all- inclusive retreat that combines a private room with a private bath, three healthy meals a day, guided hikes, yoga, wellness programming, water workouts and one massage service for each of the three nights the guest stays. Our repeat guests are usually at 45%. That is one of the highest return guest ratios in the industry, and highlights the excellent level of service we deliver. Our mission and our well-known spa attracts employees with impressive credentials who live a life of wellness.” “This is achieved thanks to the excellence of our staff. Our 40 employees are hired due to their love of wellness and the nature of Vermont. They live and breathe the Vermont outdoors and love and respect the glorious surroundings of which we have the privilege to work in. Our employees are the best and brightest in the industry and are in the area due to the world-class skiing Killington Mountain provides. When the ski season is over, they work for New Life Hiking Spa. Many of our staff have been with us for decades, providing a familiar atmosphere to our many repeat guests.” The spa is owned by husband and wife team, Kathleen and Jimmy LeSage. Jimmy founded New Life Hiking Spa 40 years ago and has remained the director ever since. Kathleen came on 15 years ago after a marketing and public relations career (with Marriott International Headquarters in Washington, D.C.) and currently serves as the President and handles all administration, marketing and PR for New Life. They have both recently published wellness books. Jimmy’s recently released book, “New Life Hiking Spa’s 40 Years of Authentic Wellness” was just released in November by Balboa Press. Kathleen’s book, “God’s Plan for Wellness” is being published by CrossLink Publishing and is due out in June of 2018. Drawing on this vast experience, Kathleen explores the wellness market and how New Life Hiking Spa has Best All-Inclusive Health Spa Resort - Vermont & LUX Excellence Award for Outdoor Adventure Experiences New Life Hiking Spa is an all-inclusive, destination spa and wellness vacation that provides guests from all over the world healthy retreats in the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont. We spoke to Kathleen LeSage to learn more about this stunning retreat and the services it provides. Best All-Inclusive Health Spa Resort - Vermont & LUX Excellence Award for Outdoor Adventure Experiences worked to create a truly rejuvenating environment, not simply bowing to the latest trends. “Wellness is a huge movement right now. However, when we started in 1978, we were running our programs before they became fashionable or the ‘in thing’ to do on vacation. I guess you could say the trends are catching up to us. As others try to ‘cash in’ on the wellness movement, our aim is to educate consumers on what a real wellness retreat or destination spa vacation really is, and what it is not.” “Just having a yoga class a few times a week, or offering a ‘healthy option’ on the menu is not a wellness vacation. A true destination spa/wellness experience is having a 100% complete program that allows the guest to completely immerse themselves in a healing environment, and learn how to continue on a healthy path once they return home to their normal life. Because we have been doing this for 40 years and we have a consistent stream of guests from opening day to the closing of the season and because we have a robust staff that return year after year, our guests will never find a class, hike or lecture ever cancelled due to lack of enrollment. Our daily schedule is on our website and that is what our guests will get.” “In addition, we take just about 40-50 people at a time, so each guest receives unparalleled service. We hire 40 employees each season. We are large enough to provide what we say we do and small enough to give guests individual attention.” “Ultimately, we are a destination spa which is very different than a day spa. We are about nature and getting outdoors in the beauty of Vermont. Our spa services provide massages and bodywork for healing after a long hike in the mountains. We do not offer cosmetic procedures like hair/nail services or Botox. We provide holistic services, not cosmetic services.” Looking ahead, this increased focus on wellness will lead New Life Hiking Spa to even greater growth. Kathleen is excited for the Spa to celebrate its 40th Anniversary and open for next year’s season, as she proudly concludes. “As we open for our 2018 season, we will be celebrating our 40th Anniversary with a ribbon cutting ceremony to announce our return to the hotel on “We are about nature and getting outdoors in the beauty of Vermont. Our spa services provide massage and bodywork for healing after a long hike in the mountains.” Killington Mountain after a huge renovation. Our 2018 dates are May 17 – October 1st and we are taking reservations for our upcoming season.”