VIDEO
Secrets of a Spa Insider
An interview with Penny Kriel from Salamander Resort & Spa by
INTERVIEW
MARY BEMIS All Photos Courtesy of Salamander Resort and Spa
Few experiences have the ability to transform and renew than an authentic spa experience, which is why savvy travelers know that a luxurious resort without a stellar spa is like a pool without water. Salamander Resort & Spa, the mothership of the luxury brand that now totals five properties, is located on 340 acres in the historic town of Middleburg, Virginia. A sought-after destination, Salamander features integrative and regionalized spa treatments and focuses on holistic, results-driven therapies. To find out how it continues to deliver a superior experience, we spoke with Penny Kriel, Director of Spa.
P OIN T OF V IE W I S A L A M A NDER R ESORT & SPA
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You’ve been with Salamander for six years now, and started out as the pre-opening Spa Director, what did that entail? I assisted in creating all Spa Standard Operating Procedures, Spa Service Standards, and helped develop signature treatments for the Salamander Spa brand. We wanted to do our best to work with as many local vendors as we could to grow our community relationships, and we partnered with Laboratory of Flowers and came up with a wonderful series of body treatments using natural and organic ingredients. We also spent a lot of time working on the guest journey.
What was the most challenging aspect of opening and creating the spa? The biggest challenges I’ve faced are the many times that the architecture and design are done without having a spa operator involved. When that happens, the focus becomes more about aesthetics and not that much on functionality and flow that’s required to provide a relaxing and seamless spa journey.
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