be wondering what they’re missing; you want them to remain
present in their treatment.
Encouraging Guests to Disconnect
It takes some education and encouragement to ween people off
their phones. Forcing the spa-goer to drop their phone in a
basket at the reception desk is not going to put they're mind at
ease. It’s important to educate each guest on the benefits
they’ll gain from putting their device away.
“When I escort new guests to our communal bathing
experience, I tell them I am giving them the best gift I could for
the next couple of hours: I am allowing them to turn off all
cellular devices and not respond for now,” notes Kathy Nelson,
spa director at Kabuki Springs & Spa in San Francisco,
California. “I try to make it really positive rather than a ‘no cell
phones’ harsh enforcement concept. We also have signs inside
every locker and at the front desk that say, ‘Power down; you
and all electronics. Relaxation in progress.”
Subtle reminders like Nelson’s allow guests to know the
benefits of losing the phone without feeling like their being
Mindful walks throughout the property at Rancho La Puerta allow guests to unwind and reconnect with nature.
“We remind guests that not that long ago, life
existed without constant digital connection. We
encourage our guests to take baby steps by going
one day at a time without digitally connecting to
their devices.”
— BARRY SHINGLE, Group Director of Guest Relations and Programing at Rancho la Puerta
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June 2017