When construction began on the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, a spa center wasn’t in the plans. But the owners, quickly realizing the need for a wellness option, converted an area planned for hotel rooms into treatment rooms, hired trained staff and opened Agaci Spa and Wellness, named for the “hayat ağacı,” the Tree of Life. For the first year, the spa had a treatment menu of facials and massages but no guest facility area. So this summer, they built one. Now reopened, Spa Director Jocylene Codrington said the space is better suited to provide a place for guests to settle in and fully relax. The new facilities include a co-ed “Sanctuary Lounge” with private areas to rest in reclining chairs with blankets and tea. A dry sauna, the “Ember Oasis,” and “Cascade” 60-degree cold showers are also included, great for contrast therapy, Codrington said. Credit: Photo courtesy of Grand Hyatt Deer Valley Credit: Photo courtesy of Grand Hyatt Deer Valley A cold shower room is part of the expanded Agaci Spa and Wellness, which, paired with a dry sauna, allows guests to experiment with contrast therapy. As a longtime spa industry professional, Codrington said having spa amenities beyond a treatment menu is essential to the mission of a wellness center. “They can now take their time before and after a treatment. They can actually take the time to slow down and just be part of that experience,” she said.  With the expansion, Codrington said she made a few updates to the spa menu, adding new treatments including a lemon verbena hydrating wrap, an espresso mud body scrub and a vitamin C and neroli massage. One of the most popular has been the Nirvana Stress Relief Massage, she said, which has become the spa’s signature massage. Agaci Spa and Wellness Director Jocylene Codrington says her philosophy for the program is to give guests “permission to pause.” Credit: Photo courtesy of Grand Hyatt Deer Valley “It’s a release of tension and then at the same time feeling cared for,” Codrington said. “It’s a lot of elongated movements of massage and also releasing all of the tension, the computer fatigue, the neck tensions, the back tensions, and all of that.” Codrington is also a licensed massage therapist and esthetician, and has worked her way up in the industry from spa attendant to now director and spa consultant. So she works to see all sides: understanding the needs of the provider and the guest. That’s why recovery sessions incorporating oxygen, leg compression and LED to help people stay active for the duration of their time in the mountains were added. “People come to Deer Valley to enjoy the mountains … and that can mean like a full day of skiing, hiking, or simply just traveling until they get here,” she said. “The hotel gives them a place to recover, feel cared for, and then make the most of their stay.” Codrington started in the wellness industry at 19, and has seen plenty of evolution. Now, it’s more than simple relaxation or a service, but an attention to complete health as self-care, starting with the food someone eats.  The philosophy she brings to Agaci is a personalized approach. She trains her staff to recognize each person’s unique needs.  Treatment rooms at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley spa have been recently upgraded. Credit: Photo courtesy of Grand Hyatt Deer ValleyTreatment rooms at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley spa have been recently upgraded. Credit: Photo courtesy of Grand Hyatt Deer Valley “Someone may need muscle recovery, someone may want help with their skin, someone else may simply need an hour of quiet, right? So my team’s job is to listen and to create an experience that feels right for each individual,” she said.  Ideally, that person will be remembered, cared for and given “permission to pause,” making Agaci a welcoming place for visitors and locals alike, Codrington said. Plus the soft sheets, heated blankets and robe warmers can’t hurt. “A lot of times when we go on vacation, I feel like we’re more tired coming home from being on vacation. But we have an opportunity to create a moment where they can settle and let someone (else) take care of them,” she said. “For me, that’s an important part of hospitality.” Agaci Spa and Wellness is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. For more information, like the full menu, visit agacispa.com. The post Agaci spa at Grand Hyatt Deer Valley reopens with a facelift appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less