Blu Spas Spotlight – Alvadora Spa
By Cary Collier | Principal/Founder Blu Spas Inc.
There is the original story of where the name Alvadora came from during the creative graphic and narrative era of the project. It goes something like this.
Delos Cooke, original owner of El Vernadero, the mansion that became Royal Palms Hotel and Casitas, was an ardent world traveler. Intrigued by the Mediterranean region and its people, he learned that for thousands of years, this exotic culture used the therapeutic qualities of the natural environment to rejuvenate the body and spirit and believed each new dawn brings a golden opportunity to naturally improve your well-being.The ancients called it Alvadora.
Kim and I were packing up our family to move to Montana, but we were still living in Carmel when I got the call from Greg Miller, General Manager of Royal Palms Resort & Spa in Phoenix. Not much time had passed since we had to leave Bali when Indonesia was in a revolution.
When I was able to walk the property at Royal Palms, I knew this was going to be a special project. The Resort and Spa remain to be one of my favorite places with its history, architecture and detailed interiors along with gorgeous gardens everywhere.
In 2001, the planning was stopped due to 9/11, but fortunately resumed in 2002 and onwards to complete the spa project. By far, this was one of the best teams of people to work with in my career.
Destination Hotels (DH) – Greg Miller and Shirli Sensenbrenner
Oz Architects (Scottsdale, AZ) – Don Ziebell and Chris Tyler
Vallone Design (Scottsdale, AZ) – Donna Vallone
Spa Concept to Spa Design
The design team took two tennis courts and designed a building, interiors and gardens that looked as if everything had always been there. A hacienda just waiting to have guests, named Alvadora Spa.
ALVADORA SPA, ROYAL PALMS, PHOENIX, ARIZONA
This type of spa was fairly new at the time to the United States. My inspiration from working in Asia was able to work here and the design team thankfully embraced the notions of mixing indoor and outdoor spaces for creating unique guest experiences. It brings back wonderful memories and my thanks to everyone who was involved.
We are somewhat programmed to always look ahead for the next innovation, keep it fresh and strive for what no one else has done.
