Jason Harler, founder of American Medicinal Arts and partner for Estrella Spa Credit: Avalon Hotels
The historic 67-bedroom Avalon Palm Springs in California has just opened a new six-room, 2,000sq ft (186sq m) Estrella spa by American Medicinal Arts, complete with moon rituals, build-your-own herbal oils, and Binuaral Sound technology.
While the hotel has had a spa before, American Medicinal Arts has transformed the once traditional spa to an earthy, spiritually themed venue through a redesign of the public spaces as well as an updated spa menu that aims “to fully engage and integrate your body, mind and soul.”
Speaking to
Spa Opportunities, Jason Harler, founder of American Medicinal Arts and partner for Estrella Spa, described the spa as “A refuge and sanctuary for holistic indulgence, play, learning, growth and comfort” and “A public celebration of people coming together to eat, dance, heal and share.”
American Medicinal Arts uses its own blends of herb-infused oils, butters and essential oils, blended by hand during each guest’s treatment based on their personal wellness needs. American Medicinal Arts has also created a line of amenities for Estrella Spa that will be used in both the Avalon Hotel Palm Springs and its sister property in Beverly Hills. The spa also uses the Dr Alkaitis skincare line for some of its facials.
“We believe that the future of luxury is earthy,” said Joshua Katz, creative director for Proper Hospitality, the hotel group that manages Avalon Hotels. “It’s about being healthy and living life to the utmost; conscious play and pleasure; inspired connections; the sovereign right to fresh, organic food as medicine; and thoughtfully sourced, pure, botanical ingredients in all the products we make and use.”
Through a wellness membership programme, the spa hopes to attract local Palm Springs guests as well as hotel guests and residents of nearby Los Angeles.
Moon Magic Rituals at Estrella Spa are designed to align beauty and wellness regimes with the moon’s cycles. A Waning Moon Phase Ritual is focused on cleansing, detoxifying and resetting, while the Waxing Moon Phase Ritual aims to nourish and support. Both treatments feature full-body exfoliation, moisturising, scalp treatments, and facials, but the elements used change with the phase of the moon. For instance: salt, charcoal and sage are used in the waning moon, and fair trade sugar, organic shea butter and jojoba oil are used in the waxing moon.
A three-hour “Get Over Yourself” package includes offerings “designed to help you expand your self-awareness,” including yoga, brainwave entrainment technology, and a life-coach session.
Built in the 1930s, the Avalon Hotel Palm Springs is a sister property to the Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills, a 1949 mid-century design building that was revamped by The Kor Group and Kelly Wearstler Interior Designs in 1999. The Avalon Palm Springs, also designed by Kelly Wearstler, features “an exuberant new take on the Hollywood Regency style,” and its 67 bedrooms include 13 historic one- and two-bedroom villas. In addition to the Estrella Spa, the property also includes three pools and four acres of manicured gardens.
