By: Shia Kapos Sept. 12, 2008
(Crain’s) — What better way to open a 53-room spa than by honoring 53 women who might use those rooms?
The Trump International Hotel & Tower debuted its spa this week by offering a glimpse at the luxury space. Features include in-room pampering, spa rooms with mini-bars and a “signature bath menu” with Champagne, strawberries and caviar.
“It’s a nice escape if you have to stay in the city,” said attorney Laurel Bellows, among the dozens of executives who attended the spa’s opening earlier this week. Others included auctioneer Leslie Hindman, the Urban League’s Cheryle Jackson and Chicago White Sox and Bulls partner Mickey Norton.
“There were so many nice touches. Service was incredible,” said civic activist Kathy Posner, who hopes the spa service is as grand as the shrimp appetizers.
Not to be outdone, a few other spas in town have spiced up their services, especially for local clients, though not necessarily because of Trump’s big opening.
The International Spa Assn. says spa retreats are becoming an alternative for Americans cutting back in a tough economy. Spas, the organization says, are stepping up their efforts to attract those who might otherwise spend their money traveling.
The Fairmont Hotel earlier this month debuted its new and improved spa, an 11,000-square-foot area with eight treatment rooms and iPod docks for a customized musical experience.
Four Seasons Hotel Chicago is offering a “gridiron getaway” for women “suffering from football fatigue.” The $200 package includes a massage, lunch, fitness pass and a survival kit that includes truffles and spa products.
And the InterContinental Hotel is giving a good-neighbor discount to those who live or work within 2 miles of the club.
“You’re always looking for little things to extend the business and bring in new revenue,” says Tiffani Kim, whose Tiffani Kim Institute & Medical Spa caters to the city’s high-end clientele.
She says incentives don’t always work well for established clients, so the spa instead tries to add new facials and massages.
For new clients, though, incentives can be enticing. “In this economy, people get depressed; they can’t afford to spend much money, so they’re looking for other perks,” she says.
