“ At the core of what we do is still nutrition , this will never change ,” says Arjona , pointing back to Rancho La Puerta ’ s ranch beginnings when farming was a major component of the Ranch lifestyle and nutrition was a fundamental part of Szekely ’ s philosophy .
Today , this core belief in nutrition is reinforced through La Cocina Que Canta ( The Kitchen That Sings ), which serves as the heart of its organic six-acre farm and where cooking classes take place .
As far as Arjona is concerned , despite the many changes at the Ranch , there are some things that will remain the same . “ What has not changed for Rancho La Puerta are the values that have held us strong throughout the years . What has changed is our ability to become forward-thinking as to who our guests are today and where we believe they ’ re going to be tomorrow ,” Arjona says . n
Morning walks that culminate at the Ranch ' s organic garden are among its guests ' favorite activities .
For instance , they have successfully introduced a spa concierge within the communal dining hall for guests to conveniently set up a spa appointment . “ We asked ourselves : Is it best for guests to look for us ? Or , is it better for us to look for them ? For them , time is gold . The fundamental idea of the spa concierge is to provide added value , even if that means the gift of a few extra minutes of their time ,” Arjona says .
Responding to guests ’ need for casitas with more privacy and personalization , Rancho La Puerta recently expanded and opened the Villas Cielo , which means Heavenly Villas because they are built on the highest elevations on the Ranch , providing guests “ a little piece of heaven .” All three units — Azul , Terra and Verde — are highly customizable and even come with a sophisticated Technogym wall for an in-room gym .
Trends and Nutrition Arjona has seen a growing trend toward building a sense of community . “ We don ’ t jump on new treatment trends but stay true on evidence-based treatments , such as cranialsacral , Feldenkrais and Watsu . There is a growing interest in these treatments and I ’ m seeing it in the revenue numbers ,” he says . “ As for fitness trends , group exercises are up . The Ranch is responding to this trend by creating more programs and amenities that enhance connection . As an example , the Juice Bar and Bazaar del Sol are community centers .”
But of all the connection-building opportunities , nothing beats its communal dining experience . Here , guests are encouraged to share a table with likeminded strangers over a nutritious serving of meals that use ingredients picked fresh from Rancho La Puerta ’ s organic farm .
ABOUT THE SPA
Spa open date : June 1940
Number of health centers : 3 ( Men ’ s Health Center , Women ’ s Health Center and Villa ’ s Health and Skin Care Center )
Number of gyms : 11 Number of full-time staff : 440
Guest percentage ratio : 25 % male vs . 75 % female
Signature treatments : Energy Treatments that use ingredients from the Mexican region and protocols inspired from natives of Mount Kuchumaa
Area size : 4,000 acres ( 60 acres were utilized to build the casitas )
Spa products : COOLA Suncare , jane iredale and Pino
Corporate address : Rancho La Puerta 5090 Shoreham Place , Suite 207 San Diego , California
Phone number : 1.858.764.5500 Website : rancholapuerta . com Facebook : Rancho La Puerta Instagram : @ rancholapuerta
December 2016 ■ PULSE 19