Grounded in its principles of sustainability, attainability and possibility, the forty million-dollar acquisition and renovation is an adaptive re-use of an existing facility incorporating a natural design palette and materials, while improving energy efficiency and the introduction of solar energy in its new spa building.
CAREFREE, ARIZ. – On March 6, 2018, the wellness industry's highly anticipated launch of the next generation hospitality wellness brand, CIVANA, makes its debut at the location formerly known as the Carefree Resort and Conference Center in Carefree, AZ. Complete with healthy dining, spa, movement and fitness classes and enrichment programs and lectures, CIVANA is the first sustainable wellness resort to open in Greater Phoenix, the 6th largest market.
"We believe most of us are on a personal journey towards health, life balance and wellbeing. Our mission is to bring that complete wellness experience to a larger travel audience at a more affordable price point," states Kevin Kelly, CEO. Kelly continues, "To deliver on this promise, CIVANA has assembled a best-in-class operating team from around the country who seek to be part of an authentic, mission-driven company."
CIVANA focuses on four pillars – Healthy Cuisine, Movement, Healing Arts/Spa and Discovery & Enrichments Arts. Only months after its acquisition, CIVANA Carefree has undergone a multi-phase renovation of its public spaces, 189 rooms, dining outlets, and the conversion of meeting space into state of the art fitness, yoga, energy, movement and enrichment studios. CIVANA Carefree's all-day dining outlet – Terras – is about choice (from healthy to indulgent food) and will offer shared plates and more vegetable forward dishes. Complementing it will be Cafe Meto, which gets its name from the Latin word for harvest/gathering and will open in the latter half of the month featuring menu selections vetted for the calorie and nutrition content, set in a casual outdoor courtyard setting.
The fitness center features top-of-the line cardio, strength, and flexibility equipment. CIVANA Carefree is also among the first resorts to feature Aktiv Virtual®, an on demand digital kiosk that provides personalized workouts and expert level coaching. The Yoga & Energy Center houses a studio with wall yoga and aerial yoga capabilities, a movement/spin room, and two other flexible movement studios. The outside Yoga Lawn provides beautiful mountain vistas for sunrise sand sunset programs. In advance of launching its new 22,000 SF spa, complete with a healing water Terme, Watsu and lap pool, solar energy and water harvesting features, in the fall of 2018, a smaller spa with a full package of treatments will be offered.
Delivering the experience will be a seasoned wellness executive team led by former Canyon Ranch general manager Kyle Treat, CHA whose extensive hospitality experience includes estate management for Microsoft founder, Paul Allen Properties. When asked about his team, Treat beams, "I've had the good fortune to assemble a team with a broad depth of hospitality and wellness experience, in their respective industries." He continued, "I am proud of their work ethic and how we have come together as a team."
On his team are wellness director Sharon Otaguro, recently from the Grand Wailea Resort with spa leadership positions at Golden Door, Starwood and Waldorf properties; sales director Curt Moroney previously with Experience Scottsdale and Westin resorts; director of marketing Maureen Holden involved with Sawgrass Marriott, The Wigwam, and the opening of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos; F & B director Wade Hughes whose previous properties include Golden Door, Boulders, W Hotel, Bonaventure; human resource director Perry Shazier II most recently at Miraval resort; finance director Erin Mickelson who comes from various Starwood hotels; and, director of engineering Adrian Duran, a licensed general contractor who was recently chief engineer of Miraval. Additionally, nutritionist and natural foods chef Kelly Grant O'Brien, formerly with Canyon Ranch and Miraval, oversees the healthier menu development. Spa wellness manager Suzanne Barber who is a nutritionist and 'Artist in Residence', was formerly a spa trainer for Kerstin Florian, and Two Bunch Palms and Montage wellness program specialist.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
