An Interview with Blake Feeney, Spa Director of the Canyon Ranch SpaClub
at the Venetian in Las Vegas
By Lynda Solien-Wolfe, LMT
I am sure many of you have heard of Canyon Ranch Health Resorts - destinations
dedicated to healthy living, with an emphasis on mind, body and sprit.
Mel and Enid Zuckerman founded the first Canyon Ranch in 1979 in Tucson,
Ariz. In 1989, they opened Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires Health Resort
in Lenox, Mass., then Canyon Ranch SpaClub wellness and fitness facility
at the Venetian in Las Vegas in 1999. The second SpaClub will open this
year in Kissimmee, Fla., at the Gaylord Palms.
I recently had the opportunity to visit Canyon Ranch SpaClub at the Venetian
and meet Blake Feeney, SpaClub's director. Blake and I met at the Canyon
Ranch Cafe while I was enjoying the special smoothie of the day!
I was impressed with Blake's knowledge and willingness to share. You
can tell he loves what he is doing - the sign of a true professional.
Lynda Solien-Wolfe (LSW): How long have you been in the spa industry,
and how long have you been the spa director here?
Blake Feeney (BF): I have been in the spa industry since 1993
and have been the director at SpaClub since November 2001.
LSW: What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of being
the spa director here?
BF: The most challenging part of my job is ensuring the large
volume of guests that come through SpaClub on a weekly basis receive the
Canyon Ranch experience. The most rewarding part of my job is when the
staff at SpaClub makes the above happen every hour of every day.
LSW: What direction do you see the spa industry taking in the
next ten years?
BF: I continue to see growth in the industry; however, not at
the pace that has been reported. I would like to see a governing body
or association develop guidelines and requirements that spas must attain
to be included in the mentioned association. There are too many facilities
that call themselves "spas" when, in reality, they are a salon with a
massage room with a portable table. The industry needs a "AAA/Mobil" kind
of ranking to separate those types of facilities from real spas and wellness
centers.
LSW: What is your favorite treatment to receive?
BF: I love treatments that have more than one modality or sequence
within the protocol like our Deluxe Conditioning Body Scrub; within this
100-minute treatment, there is a scrub, hydrotherapy sequence and a full-body
massage. It doesn't get much better than that!
LSW: How many treatment rooms do you have, and how big is the
spa?
BF: SpaClub has 63 treatment rooms that include massage, body
and skin care. We've got 65,000 square feet with more to come.
LSW: What type of spa is this?
BF: SpaClub is put in a few different categories. We are called
a day spa at times because the resort we operate in, the Venetian, does
not own SpaClub. However, I classify us as a resort spa.
LSW: How does the Canyon Ranch SpaClub differ from other spas
here?
BF: Other spas in Las Vegas differ from us in many ways. First
off, our menu of services and offerings dwarf those of other spas. Secondly,
our fitness facility is second to none in the Las Vegas resort community.
Lastly, the main differentiator is Canyon Ranch's commitment to helping
people change their lives by furnishing guests with tools to make an incremental
change in their lifestyle. Health and wellness is the main focus at Canyon
Ranch SpaClub.
LSW: Do you offer a signature treatment?
BF: Yes, we offer Canyon Ranch signature treatments; one of them
is the Canyon Ranch Mango Sugar Glo.
LSW: Tell me about it.
BF: This is the treatment that you will have today and is my favorite.
The service starts with an exfoliation with a mango sugar mixture. The
full body is exfoliated, followed by a hydrotherapy treatment. The hydrotherapy
sequence lasts up to 15-20 minutes. The treatment then ends with a full
body massage with a mango cream application. It is an incredible treatment.
LSW: Tell me about the water features offered at Canyon Ranch
SpaClub.
BF: Within SpaClub, we have Jacuzzis in both locker rooms; two
hydrotherapy tubs; two hydrotone thermals; Rasul; King's Bath; and soaking
tubs.
LSW: What percent of services are massages, and how important
is massage to your spa business?
BF: Massage is a very important component to our business - nearly
50 percent.
LSW: How many massage therapists do you have on staff? Are they
employees?
BF: We have approximately 105 therapists and growing. We hire
full-time, part-time and on-call massage therapists. Full-time therapists
receive health insurance, dental and vision; 401(k); vacation; sick time;
and many other benefits. We accept applications at any time.
LSW: What do you look for when hiring a massage therapist?
BF: We look for someone who has good guest service skills and,
of course, a confident, therapeutic, professional massage.
LSW: What type of training do massage therapists receive when
they work here?
BF: SpaClub does an enormous amount of training for our therapists.
We schedule in-house training for our signature services and we will bring
in trainers for specific certifications like NMT, reflexology, shiatsu
and the like. Our staff receives monies that can be used towards outside
training as well.
LSW: What do you find is the best method for finding quality massage
therapists?
BF: Developing relationships with our local massage schools have
been very helpful. We will also travel out of Nevada on recruiting trips
to find qualified therapists.
LSW: What is a typical day for a massage therapist?
BF: On a typical day, a therapist would be on the schedule for
6-8 hours with an hour lunch in between.
LSW: Thank you for your time today, Blake.
Time flew by and before I knew it, it was time for my spa appointment.
After I was warmly greeted at check-in, I took a relaxing dip in the Jacuzzi
and spent a few minutes in the steam room.
I met my massage therapist, Luke, who took me to the special wet room,
which had both a wet table and hydrotherapy tub. Luke treated me to the
spa's signature Mango Sugar Glo, a 100-minute treatment ($290, including
gratuity). The mango sugar scrub started on the wet table followed by
a hydrotherapy bath and a delightful moisturizing massage. I was in good
hands, and Luke did a great job taking my jet lag away.
During your next trip to Las Vegas, be sure to visit the Canyon Ranch
SpaClub, located on the fourth floor of the Venetian Hotel.
