Spa Places in the News
Fern
Tree, The Spa at Half Moon, Jamaica's Premiere Spa, Opens with Ceremonial Ribbon
Cutting - In addition to the Spa, Six Signature Spa Suites make their Debut at
Half Moon, the Caribbean's Most Complete Resort
Rose
Hall, Jamaica-- October 8, 2007- Newly sworn-in Prime Minister of Jamaica, the
Honourable Bruce Golding today cut the ribbon to signal the opening of the new
Fern Tree, the Spa at Half Moon.
The
Oct. 6 event marked the conclusion of a 15-month project that saw the conversion
of the resort's signature villa Fern Tree House into a 68,000 square foot indoor/outdoor
sanctuary for the mind and body.
In addition to the new spa
Half Moon also unveiled six beachfront spa suites, the very first of its kind
in the Caribbean. Each of the state of the art suites has added features that
provide for in-room treatments, yoga, etc. further extending Fern Tree's wellness
experience into guests' accommodations.
Drawing from the local lush landscape
and centuries-old healing traditions as inspiration, Fern Tree, the Spa at Half
Moon melds modern spa techniques with Jamaica's ancient healing remedies of native
herbs, fruits and botanicals. The Fern Tree Spa complex also houses a relaxation
lounge, yoga pavilion, hydrotherapy swimming pool, sculpture garden and several
water features.
"We have spared no expense in creating
the finest spa in the Caribbean," said Richard Whitfield, Half Moon's Managing
Director. "Throughout Half Moon's 50-plus year history, our guests have come
to expect nothing but the best, Fern Tree's world-class treatments and design,
paired with Half Moon's signature hospitality and service will be no exception."
Fern Tree will introduce guests to a Spa Elder, a guide versed
in the art of using Jamaica's natural therapeutic remedies, to guide, create and
counsel clients on a path to wellness with bespoke programmes and regimes. With
more than 35 years of experience, Stella Gray, the Chief Spa Elder has been creating
these treatments for decades. The elder individually meets with guests to develop
treatments for their specific needs. The majority of her therapies come from the
natural herbs and botanicals grown in the on-site garden that she personally tends.
The spa's menu includes signature spa treatments, such as
the Jamaican Bush Bath and the Jamaican Green Coffee Envelopment, as well as personalized
therapies made by the Spa Elder. In addition, options specially created for men,
teenagers and kids are also available.
Borrowing
from Fern Tree House's original colonial design of hardwood floors, grand entryways
and opulent furnishings, treatment rooms are set amidst lush gardens allowing
guests the option of having their room enclosed or open to their own private garden
terrace. Couples can reserve the plantation-style couples massage room, bedecked
with wooden millwork, pitched ceilings and private patio with dipping pool. Families,
wedding parties and groups will enjoy the spa cottage, offering a separate living
room and spa treatment rooms affording the group quality bonding time and private
tranquillity.
The six new signature beachfront spa suites
are adjacent to the spa. The suites provide all the comforts found in a traditional
hotel suite along with added features and services of a personal spa. Each spa
suite features an expansive bedroom with sitting area, an oversized bathroom,
a personal studio that can be used for private en-suite treatments, personal fitness
or yoga and a private patio overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Special features of
the spa suite include an organic spa refreshment bar and spa bath bar.
The
Fern Tree Spa is the third in a series of major refurbishing projects to be undertaken
by Half Moon in the resort's five-year master plan project. Other upgrades included
the rebuilding of the resort's beachfront Hibiscus Suites; the renovation of the
41-year old Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed golf course; refurbishing the Oleander
deluxe suites; the addition of a new children's play area; and upgrading two of
the resort's specialty restaurants.