AvantGard Spa a business advantage.
For one, starting without a competitor
means the spa was able to focus on
delivering a truly personalized service
and was able to establish a long-lasting
relationship with local spa guests.
“The community of San Carlos
responded by coming in and referring
their friends,” she says, recalling the
community support despite initially
having to face challenges to secure a
Small Business Administration (SBA)
loan to fund the spa’s construction.
Now an established name in the
community, AvantGard Spa has earned
multiple recognitions including being
voted “Top 10 Favorite Day Spa” by
Spafinder Wellness 360 in 2010. The
spa has also been featured in several
magazines, including DAYSPA
Magazine, for its innovative interior
design, which includes a six-foot
hallway waterfall and a glass fireplace.
Global Influences
In its early years, the spa’s décor influence
was mainly Romanesque. But Blanca, an
interior design graduate, was later inspired
by her travels to Bali, Indonesia and
brought in Asian influences to the spa’s
design.
“I visited Bali in 2006 and came back
with flower detail ideas that we still use
today,” Caballero says. “As a welcoming
ritual, our technicians search for a gift
from nature from our potted planters to
cut and bring to a small tray that is placed
on the bed along with a branded