Proscenium’s Waldorf=Astoria Sarasota Hotel to Include Guerlain Spa

SARASOTA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lion’s Gate Development, along with The Waldorf=Astoria Collection™ and Spa Chakra, Inc., are pleased to announce that a Guerlain Spa Boutique will be included as part of the plan for the Proscenium’s luxury Waldorf=Astoria Sarasota hotel. Representing the first project between Guerlain and the luxury hotel brand, The Waldorf=Astoria® in Manhattan opened a Guerlain Spa Boutique in the main lobby in December 2007 and will debut its first Guerlain Spa in September of this year, occupying much of the 19^th floor in the iconic New York landmark. Plans are to include them exclusively in other Waldorf=Astoria Collection Hotels. Spa Chakra, Inc. will develop and manage the spa.

“The Guerlain Spa will be in keeping with all of the Waldorf=Astoria amenities: first-class”

“A Guerlain Spa will be the finishing touch to our future landmark hotel,” remarked Gary Moyer, who, along with his partner and wife, Karen Cook, and Zeb Portanova and Allen Ostroff, is developing The Proscenium. “Adding to the hotel’s already impressive list of amenities, the Guerlain Spa will ensure a comprehensive, luxurious experience for every Waldorf guest who chooses to enjoy its services. It will also be available to the public so anyone wanting to be pampered at a world-class spa will now have that opportunity at The Proscenium. We are fortunate that Hilton Hotels Corporation has partnered with Guerlain to create their spa experiences throughout the Waldorf=Astoria Collection hotels. We couldn’t have asked for a more prestigious component.”

Founded in France in 1828, Guerlain has devoted itself to the art of skincare and beauty. Its founder, Pierre-Francois-Pascal-Guerlain, was a renowned chemist who used rare and natural raw materials to create precious beauty potions. Guerlain research continues today and its products reflect its quest for perfection providing a luxurious experience in all areas of its beauty regimes.

The Guerlain Spa at The Proscenium is planned for 12,000 square feet, with almost 7,400 square feet devoted to the treatment rooms, approximately 3,000 for a fitness center, with the remaining reserved primarily for a salon area. Services will includes a roster of experiences for both men and women. There will be exclusive Guerlain massage and skin therapies, facials, body sublimations, hand and foot therapies and makeup artistry. Guerlain spa services will be available at the Waldorf=Astoria Lido Beach location, as well. One can come for an hour, an entire day or a luxurious weekend retreat. Spa packages will be planned in conjunction with the hotel and are expected to draw clientele from Naples and Tampa.

“The Guerlain Spa will be in keeping with all of the Waldorf=Astoria amenities: first-class,” Moyer continued. “We look forward to raising the bar for hotel experiences in Sarasota. With our Proscenium project, Lion’s Gate Development plans to meet and exceed all expectations.”

Mike Canizales, Spa Chakra Chairman and CEO, added, “We are excited to announce the collaboration between Guerlain and Waldorf in The Proscenium project, extending our partnership with Waldorf and Hilton in the world’s great cities and sublime destinations. We look forward to providing an exclusive and totally indulgent spa experience for hotel guests and visitors alike at this idyllic location.”

The Proscenium is an upscale, mixed-use project located within two prime Sarasota city blocks. Plans include an ultra-luxury, five-star Waldorf=Astoria hotel with ballroom/meeting/exhibition space, in addition to 161 hotel-branded residences. Also included is an 800-seat performing arts center managed by Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment, condo and loft residences, office space and retail/restaurant/entertainment space. Projected completion is expected to be late 2010. For more information about The Proscenium, contact Karen Cook, co-developer, at 941-363-3075.

About Lion’s Gate Development:

Lion’s Gate Development was formed in 2006 expressly to develop quality commercial and mixed-use projects. Its sister company, Lion’s Gate Real Estate Group, handles all of the leasing and sales of the development company. Principals Karen Cook and Gary H. Moyer have been selling and developing commercial property in the Sarasota/Manatee area since the early 80s. For more information on Lion’s Gate Development, call 941-363-3075 or email [e-mail].

About The Proscenium:

The Proscenium is an upscale, mixed-use project located within two prime Sarasota city blocks. Plans include an ultra-luxury, five-star Waldorf=Astoria hotel with ballroom/meeting/exhibition space, in addition to 161 hotel-branded residences. Also included is an 800-seat performing arts center managed by Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment, condo and loft residences, office space and retail/restaurant/entertainment space. A 59-unit Waldorf=Astoria Hotel on Sarasota’s Lido Beach will provide the Proscenium guests with use of its luxurious beach amenities. Projected completion is expected to be late 2010. For more information about The Proscenium, contact Karen Cook, co-developer, at 941-363-3075.

About The Waldorf=Astoria Collection:

The Waldorf=Astoria Collection includes some of the most extraordinary properties in spectacular destinations around the globe. Inspired by New York’s legendary Waldorf=Astoria, each hotel in the growing Collection has its own distinct character, timeless architecture and special history. Luxury spas, culinary excellence and world-class golf are featured at The Collection’s current properties: the beautiful Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix, tropical Grand Wailea Resort hotel & Spa on the Isle of Maui, Hawaii, the historic La Quinta Resort & Club in Southern California, New York’s Waldorf=Astoria and the palace hotel Qasr Al Sharq in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Each guest encounter is a discovery of unique experiences designed to last a lifetime. For more information, please visit: www.waldorfastoriacollection.com.

About Hilton Hotels Corporation:

Hilton Hotels Corporation is the leading global hospitality company with more than 3,000 hotels and 500,000 rooms in 74 countries and territories, including 100,000 team members worldwide.

About Guerlain:

A world leader in beauty for nearly 200 years, Guerlain creates makeup, skincare, and fragrances of exquisite quality and refinement. With a reputation for unparalleled devotion to luxury, innovation, and excellence, handed down from generation to generation, each creation from the house of Guerlain is steeped in history — a reflection of elegance, sophistication, and discerning taste worldwide. For further information about Guerlain, visit www.guerlain.com.

About Spa Chakra, Inc.:

Spa Chakra, Inc., manages a worldwide network of luxury spas, including Guerlain Spa, Spa Chakra™, and Blu Mediterraneo SPA — each leveraging unparalleled operational and product development expertise and global partnerships to provide each client with a Transformational Healing™ experience. Each location is developed in partnership with five-star and boutique hotels to provide clients with the definitive sensorial experience — one that is as visually stunning as it is nurturing. While clients enjoy the tranquility of the spa’s facilities, they undergo a systematic analysis of needs to experience personalized treatments that focus on delivering targeted results. For more information about Spa Chakra, Inc., please visit www.spachakra.com.