This week, Alvadora Spa at Royal Palms Resort and Spa is unveiling a complete interior design refresh that touched all elements of the Mediterranean-inspired retreat and is introducing an in-house herbalist who will offer custom botanical treatments as well as small-batch, hand-formulated products.
Topping the list of best spas in Arizona, Alvadora’s new botanical program and on-site apothecary, led by herbalist Rachel Sloat, will utilize plants, herbs, flowers, roots, berries and citrus foraged locally as well as sourced from the Mediterranean. The program will begin with two new body treatments and will later expand into teas, extracts, masks, exfoliants and oils. Formulated with nutritive remedies that are designed to inspire vitality and naturally support the body, the treatments include:
Coconut Milk & Honey Wrap (50 minutes, $175): Coconut milk and local honey come together in a sweet-subtly spiced aromatic blend of essential oils and mushroom extracts with warming sweet notes of vanilla and cardamom. Guests will experience a deeply hydrating body treatment wrapped in warmth as the benefits of antioxidants, minerals, enzymes, and distinctive fatty acids nourish the skin.
Olive Stone Scrub & Wrap (80 minutes, $240): An herbaceous body treatment to cleanse and remineralize, the Mediterranean Olive Stone Scrub and Wrap is formulated with French green clay, sea salt from Spain, olive stone, infused herbal oils to promote healing and an aromatic fusion of Mediterranean essential oils.
In addition to the new services, Alvadora underwent a three-month design refresh that brings a whole new look and feel to the storied, 11,000 square-foot spa. The enhancements are inspired by the desert’s most calming elements – from the majestic mountains and iconic palms, to the peaceful Arizona sky. Natural textures and intimate courtyards blur the line between inside and out bringing the pure essence of the desert to this harmonious hideaway. All eight of the treatment rooms, as well as the common areas, were redesigned to reflect the charm of a Spanish hacienda. Eclectic furnishings, rich wood cabinets, stylish accents, one-of-a-kind art pieces, draperies, decorative tiles and plush seating areas create a soothing escape that welcomes guests to bask in the desert oasis. Bar Napkin Productions lead the design refresh.
“We are continuing to invest in the enduring legacy of Royal Palms and what we’ve been able to accomplish by redesigning Alvadora is nothing short of impressive,” said Carlos Morales, general manager. “More than 75 percent of our spa guests are locals, so we have taken their feedback into consideration to create a more personalized, intimate and comfortable setting.”
Tucked away at the historic Royal Palms, Alvadora Spa boasts Mediterranean-inspired treatments featuring warm-weather elements like citrus, eucalyptus, juniper and lavender. The spa’s signature scent of neroli, an essential oil distilled from the blossom of the orange tree, is sweet and honeyed. The scent permeates from the adjacent orange grove and throughout the spa with many treatments celebrating the invigorating benefits of citrus.
Intimate and tranquil, many of Alvadora’s treatment rooms, each completely different from the next, have serene, private indoor-outdoor courtyards and patios. The two-story spa’s lavish signature Acqua Dolce Suite has stone walls, side-by-side custom stone heated treatment tables with Vichy showers, an oversized soaking tub fit for two, an outdoor watsu pool, an 8-foot waterfall shower, an outdoor raindrop shower a private garden patio and a fireplace reminiscent of an Italian villa.
As one of the newest additions to The Unbound Collection by Hyatt™, Royal Palms is located on nine breathtaking acres at the foot of the iconic Camelback Mountain. The historic resort combines the graciousness and sophistication of a storied Mediterranean villa with the intimacy and privacy of a secluded retreat, leaving a lasting impression on all who visit. Winding stone paths transport guests past a grove of orange trees, trickling fountains in courtyards, roaring outdoor fireplaces, 100-year-old rustic doorways and hand-painted tiles, and lush gardens filled with magenta bougainvillea, exotic plants and desert flowers. A true destination for lovers, the resort was originally built as a private mansion in 1929 as a grand gesture of love by financier Delos Willard Cooke for his wife Florence. Guests feel right at home while the heritage and heartbeat of the Royal Palms lives on.
To book a spa experience or for more information on Royal Palms Resort and Spa visit RoyalPalmsHotel.com or call 602-883-1234.
