Spa of the Month

The Spa at Alderbrook Resort

 

Mimicking its surroundings in Washington State, with an evergreen aroma and a soundscape of free flowing water, lies the rejuvenating Spa at Alderbrook Resort. For more than 20 years, since its opening in 2002, the spa has been dedicated to the synergy between mind, body, and soul.

With eight treatment rooms, each focuses on various menu selections: services for couples, skincare offerings, and bathing options. Additionally, there is a pool facility with a hot tub, sauna, and steam room.  The saltwater pool sits right on the bulkhead, giving guests a perfect view of the Hood Canal and Olympic Mountains while they swim. The array of treatments includes massages, body wraps, and facials, with an impressive selection of add-ons.

Nutritional requirements for healthy skin are the same as those for your body. Studies have shown healthy eating and lifestyle will improve skin aging. Eating key whole foods is the safest way to promote entire body health and provide the essential components necessary for maintaining a more youthful appearance. 

For more than 20 years, since its opening in 2002, the spa has been dedicated to the synergy between mind, body, and soul.

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“The component that is the most important to us is creating a space that honors the unique wellness journey for each guest,” explains Spa Director Ashley Shinkle. “Our custom offerings are a wonderful way for us to be able to craft a personalized experience for each of our guests.This helps us tap deeper into our guests’ needs, then we go to work ensuring our physical space is a safe and welcoming environment to house their journey.”

Signature Treatments

The Custom Massage is a guest favorite! By using the intake process, the staff discovers the individual needs of each guest and create a fully custom experience for their time at the spa. Many options of aromatherapy, tools, and massage pressure are available to select from, and guests are delighted with all the extras they may not have experienced before. The Custom Massage is available in either 60 or 90 minute sessions.

Marketing & Promotions

“Social media is a perfect tool for us,” shares Shinkle. “Through photos and videos, we work to capture the guest experience, and tempt incoming guests with hints of luxury wellness.”

In 2023, Alderbrook plans to launch the Overture Spa in an effort to marry the wellness aspect of the property with the food and beverage offerings of the resort. This monthly event will be split into two parts, service offerings and a wellness-centered class, such as Gua Sha instruction, guided meditation, and sound bath.

Exploring the seasons is another popular pastime, through custom services and expanding available add-ons for guests to enjoy. For example, this holiday season, the spa incorporated juniper and fir oils, as well as an organic shea butter with orange oil, perfect for being enveloped into the Winter season!

Training 

“We focus on quarterly team meetings where we discuss seasonal offerings and changes within the industry. We strive for mid-day, that way we are still ‘fresh’ and not burned out after a long day, and also mentally engaged with our craft,” notes Shinkle. “We talk a lot about the guest experience: what’s working (or not working) and where there are areas we need to grow.”

Revenue and Retail 

The spa’s main brand partner is Kerstin Florian, a luxury skincare brand founded and operated by Kerstin herself, with the motto “outer beauty, inner health.” They also try to partner with local brands from the Pacific Northwest, like Tailfeathers, based in Seattle, as well as HydroPeptide, out of Issaquah.

“It’s important to remember that the spa is like a battery, charging you up and getting you moving, but the work done at home holds the charge,” says Shinkle. “For that reason, our Custom Facials have retail credits built into the cost of the service to really encourage our guests to focus on that homecare, and prolong the work done by our master estheticians.”

Guests typically visit the spa as a part of their resort stay, with hour-long day spa guests the second-largest category. The property lends itself well to the day guests; they come to the spa for service, then stay for an afternoon of lunch and trips to the pool. 70 percent of guests identify as female and make up most of the daily visits.

 

RUNDOWN

The Spa at Alderbrook Resort

10 East Alderbrook Drive

Union, WA 98592

360.898.2200

www.alderbrookresort.com/spa

 

SPA DIRECTOR

Ashley Shinkle has been the Spa Director for more than 10 years, focusing on making the spa accessible for everyone as well as exploring wellness techniques that also take place outside of the treatment room. When she’s not practicing facial massages or testing out new products, she can be found snuggled up with her two dogs and husband, watching scary movies and increasing her antioxidant levels with a glass of red wine!

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