The Spa at Sundance Mountain Resort

The Four Winds Massage

The Spa’s most popular treatment is the Four Winds Massage (60 min, $130 and 90 min, $190).

This is a custom massage allowing the therapist to utilize any specialized modalities. Common modalities may include Thai techniques, cranial sacral, and Chi Nei Tsang. “We developed proprietary massage blends with Tara Spa Therapy that correlate to elements you can experience while at Sundance; Sun, Mountain, Wind, and River,” says Spa Director LaChell Talley. The therapist selects the oil’s formula based on the guest’s goals – relaxation, muscle relief, grounding, and energizing.

Elevate Your Beard

A menu that caters to the male clientele, The Spa at Sundance Resort has an Elevate your Beard facial (30 min, $85) to help men take their beards fame to the next level. The facial purifies the skin while invigorating and conditioning the beard. It is ideal for all skin types, and leaves the beard feeling soft, strong, and looking its best.

Marketing

When it comes to marketing, the spa is promoted through the resort’s marketing team strategies. Resort guests receive discounts and booking information in their welcome packets. Social media posts and stories are posted to Instagram and Facebook, and Google and Facebook Ads further promote the resort and it’s spa online.“Our therapists are incredibly gracious, professional, and have extensive experience in their craft. We don’t use promotions or discounts to lure our guests back. We treat them to a very personalized experience from beginning to end and they want to return, often requesting the last therapist that they saw,” says LaChell.

Training

New employees must undergo many hours of training, including the breakdown and execution of each treatment, followed by an approval to be able to work with guests. Continued education training occurs two to four times yearly when representatives of the spa’s product lines are available to visit in person, an online session becomes available, or a new treatment is being integrated. The staff also has a say in which products are used in treatments. LaChell has implemented an open door policy for employees to provide feedback on what improvements can be made to streamline operations.

“We understand the need to accommodate and appreciate employees because their energy flows right to the guest. We incentivize employees by offering a competitive wage, flexible hours, and resort wide discounts and perks,” says LaChell. All employees receive a complimentary year-long season pass, and those with tenure receive an additional pass for a friend or family member.

“There are two staff members on each day that work with our guests in an effort to preserve the meditative nature of our space and to ensure that each guest gets an intimate and tailored experience. Employees are even welcome to go on a hike or enjoy a few turns down the ski mountain in between services,” explains LaChell.

Special Events and Promotions

Every year the resort hosts a Summer Solstice event, in which the spa offers an hour complimentary yoga session separate for adults and children, a Sage Bundling class, and a Full Moon Meditation Zip Tour experience. The experience begins with a mediation on the mountain bathed in the Moon’s light before zip lining down the mountain. Free community yoga classes are offered every Sunday in June leading up to the big event.

Additionally, the spa offers 90-minute meditation and yoga sessions Friday through Sunday to lodging guests. “Traditionally, we offer 2-3 Wellness Retreats every year but am pivoting to offer a build your own adventure rather than have a defined agenda. Some options will include an Herbal or Sacred Nature Walks (nature walks guided by a certified herbalist), Mountain Top Yoga, Drum Making, and Spa services,” explains LaChell.

Revenue and Retail

The Spa at Sundance Resort partners with local vendors as often as possible. We partner with local vendors as often as possible. Mountain Body is a product line that is used in both retail and pro applications (manicures and pedicures), and the Art Studio at Sundance provides hand-made mugs and soaps and Rustico logo leather journals that we carry in our retail offerings,” says LaChell.

Retail items are found through many hours of article and independent research, as well as visiting local shops and farmer’s markets. When selecting a retail line, the spa considers the following factors:

• Organic/wild crafter
• Small batch/ cold pressed
• Local
• Ethically sourced
• Not sold on Amazon
• It fits the aesthetic of the brand

Some of the brands carried at the spa include Moon Bath, Apothecary Muse, Larq, and Soak Bath Co. “Our front desk staff attends numerous trainings on all of our retail products as offered by the company we carry. We provide generous amounts of product to our staff so they can try it for themselves at home and tell guests how much they love it,” explains LaChell.

Rundown

Opening: 2001

Spa & Retail Operations Manager: LaChell Talley

Facilities: Six treatment rooms with dedicated space for manicures and pedicures, changing facilities with relaxing rainfall showers, rustic wood cabin with thoughtfully placed décor, relaxing outdoor patio that transports guests into nature setting the scene for views of indigenous wildlife and Mount Timpanogos, fireplace designed with Robert Redford’s choice of stones and custom art painted by Bylle, wife of Robert Redford, insulation for the cabin is comprised of sunflower seeds, landscaping that features an herb garden.

Spa Director Spotlight

LaChell Talley is the Spa & Retail Operations Manager at Sundance Mountain Resort. LaChell is a licensed Master Aesthetician and has over 23 years of experience in the Spa and Retail industries. Her career began as a Master Aesthetician at destination resorts Red Mountain and Green Valley Spa, later leading to management roles in Spa and Retail at The Grand America Hotel and Montage International. She has held her position at Sundance Mountain Resort for over 2 years.

LaChell was awarded Manager of the Year at Sundance Mountain Resort in 2020, a particularly challenging year for the Resort amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. LaChell received Best of State Awards while overseeing JouJou and La Bonne Vie at The Grand America. Amidst her busy schedule, another notable accomplishment is that LaChell is a trained and professional Sommelier.