Amway Grand Plaza opens hotel's first spa for guests and walk-ins

Deborah Johnson Wood

Over the years, guests of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel (AGPH) in Grand Rapids have asked for a full service spa. The hotel answered by building the new Vasaio Life Spa and Salon. The spa occupies the former Grand Salon space in the exhibitor's building.

"We are not experts in the spa business, so we wanted to choose someone who has expertise in that. We knew Vasaio from their store (1100 East Paris Ave. SE) and from the experience with them at the J.W. where they operate the spa," says Rick Winn, vice president/managing director of the Amway Hotel Corporation, which owns the AGPH and the J.W. Marriott across the street.

"We thought we could have better amenities for the hotel customer by providing both hair services and spa services," Winn adds. "We knew there was a demand for spa services because of guest requests, and we served them through in-room services or at the J.W."

Besides a menu of relaxing massages and body treatments, the spa offers some decadent choices for the ultimate in pampering:
• a 24K Gold Leaf Facial to reduce lines and replace moisture
• a Diamond Dust Facial to stimulate regeneration of collagen
• and a Royal Blue Tansy Body Wrap, which calms the skin and nervous system and ends with a full body massage

Vasaio is Italian for potter, and keeping with that theme are the spa's warm, earthy colors that induce a calming atmosphere. Guests can enjoy a complete line of hair care services for men and women, manicures, pedicures and makeup application.

"There is demand for this from people downtown, so we see that as a business opportunity," Winn says. "And many convention goers use conventions as a vacation opportunity for their families. The spa rounds us out quite nicely for those people who really want a full service weekend getaway."

Source: Rick Winn, Amway Hotel Corporation; Nicole Ruggiero, Quinn & Co.

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected]. Development News tips can be sent to [email protected].