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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 7:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Hawai'i spas ranked among best in North America

News Release

CHICAGO — Mobil Travel Guide, originator of the Mobil Star ratings program and certifications, today unveiled its fourth annual ratings of North America's top hotel and resort spas. This year, the Spa Montage at Montage Resort, California, and the Spa at Mandarin Oriental, New York, continue their reign as the only elite Mobil Five-Star winners.

Twenty-seven properties are new additions to the Mobil Four- and Three-Star level, bringing this year's total list of award winners to 109 properties.

The complete list of the winners, as well as comprehensive expert reviews of the properties, is available exclusively on Mobil Travel Guide's Web site at www.mobiltravelguide.com.

"The Star-rated properties recognized today exemplify the finest in hotel and resort spa experiences in the United States and Canada," said Shane O'Flaherty, Vice President of Quality Assurance at Mobil Travel Guide. "We congratulate the Spa Montage at Montage Resort and the Spa at Mandarin Oriental, New York on reaching the pinnacle of luxury and service."

Using an evaluation system similar to the one they established for hotels and restaurants in 1958, Mobil Travel Guide's undercover inspectors rated the spas using more than 450 criteria. Mobil Travel Guide updates these criteria annually. Evaluations consider every aspect of the spa, from the reservation process and check-in to the public areas, locker rooms and fitness facilities. Inspectors complete two treatments at each spa to review how procedures are provided and to evaluate consistency. In assessing the "total spa experience," Mobil Travel Guide inspectors examine factors such as courtesy of staff, overall efficiency, guest comfort and convenience, luxury, therapists' technical execution/skill and knowledge, and facility cleanliness/condition. All inspections are conducted without the knowledge of spa management and staff.

Twenty-four spas were brand-new additions to this year's list (15 at the Mobil Four-Star level and nine at the Three-Star level), and three existing spas improved their ratings, bringing the total to 27 spas. Detailed reviews, as well as designations for the best spas in categories like "Urban Renewal," "Romantic Getaways" and "Bachelorette Retreats," are provided by Mobil Travel Guide and published exclusively online by HowStuffWorks at www.mobiltravelguide.com.

ABOUT MOBIL TRAVEL GUIDE:

Mobil Travel Guide, originator of the prestigious Mobil Star ratings and certifications, has been providing the most comprehensive ratings and reviews of hotels, restaurants, and spas in the United States and Canada since 1958. Mobil Travel Guide's team of anonymous, expert inspectors evaluates properties against rigorous and objective proprietary standards, giving consumers the insight to make better-informed travel and leisure decisions. Mobil Travel Guide is published by Publications International, Ltd. under license from Exxon Mobil Corporation. Mobil Travel Guide is headquartered in Lincolnwood, IL. For more information, visit http://www.mobiltravelguide.com/.

ABOUT HOWSTUFFWORKS:

Founded in 1999, HowStuffWorks is an online publishing company that provides objective, credible and useful information for people to learn about the world around them. The company's award-winning Web site attracts millions of unique visitors each month and is source for in-depth, easy-to-understand explanations on hundreds of topics ranging from science and technology to health and electronics. In 2005, HowStuffWorks became the exclusive online publisher for Publications International Ltd. (PIL) and its Consumer Guide and Mobil Travel Guide brands. HowStuffWorks is headquartered in Atlanta, GA, and is a subsidiary of The Convex Group, a media and technology company. For more information, visit http://www.howstuffworks.com/

HowStuffWorks, Mobil Travel Guide, Mobil Five-Star, Mobil Four-Star and Best Spas in America are trademarks used and/or registered by their respective owners.

2007 MOBIL TRAVEL GUIDE STAR-RATED SPA LIST:

Mobil Five-Star Award Winners

Spa Montage at Montage Resort Laguna Beach, CA

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, New York New York, NY

Mobil Four-Star Award Winners

  • Willow Stream, The Spa at The Fairmont Banff Springs Banff, AB

  • The Sanctuary Spa at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Paradise Valley, AZ

  • Alvadora Spa at Royal Palms, Royal Palms Resort & Casitas Phoenix, AZ

  • The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North Scottsdale, AZ

  • The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician Scottsdale, AZ

  • Willow Stream, The Spa at The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Scottsdale, AZ

  • The Spa at Omni Tucson National Tucson, AZ

  • Ancient Cedars Spa, Wickaninnish Inn Tofino, BC

  • The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Whistler Whistler, BC

  • The Peninsula Spa, Beverly Hills, The Peninsula Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, CA

  • The Beverly Hills Hotel Spa by La Prairie Beverly Hills, CA

  • The Spa at Beverly Wilshire Beverly Hills, CA

  • Post Ranch Spa, Post Ranch Inn Big Sur, CA

  • The Bathhouse, Calistoga Ranch Calistoga, CA

  • The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Aviara, North San Diego Carlsbad, CA

  • The Spa at Bernardus, Bernardus Lodge Carmel Valley, CA

  • Spa Gaucin, St Regis Monarch Beach Dana Point, CA

  • The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Laguna Niguel Dana Point, CA

  • The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Half Moon Bay Half Moon Bay, CA

  • The Spa at Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills Jolla, CA

  • The Spa at The Carneros Inn, The Carneros Inn Napa, CA

  • The Spa at the Island Hotel Newport Beach, CA

  • Spa du Sureau, Chateau du Sureau Oakhurst, CA

  • Spa Ojai, Ojai Valley Inn and Spa Ojai, CA

  • The Spa at Pebble Beach, Pebble Beach Resorts Pebble Beach, CA

  • Spa du Soleil, Auberge du Soleil Rutherford, CA

  • Remede Spa, St. Regis San Francisco San Francisco, CA

  • The Spa at CordeValle, The Lodge at CordeValle San Martin, CA

  • Bacara Spa, Bacara Resort and Spa Santa Barbara, CA

  • The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA

  • The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Bachelor Gulch Avon, CO

  • The Spa at the Broadmoor Colorado Springs, CO

  • The Spa at the Brown Palace Denver, CO

  • The Mayflower Spa, The Mayflower Inn Washington, CT

  • The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC Washington, DC

  • Willow Stream, The Spa at The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort Aventura, FL

  • Spa Palazzo at The Boca Raton Resort & Club Boca Raton, FL

  • The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Key Biscayne Key Biscayne, FL

  • Canyon Ranch SpaClub at Gaylord Palms Resort Kissimmee, FL

  • SpaTerre at Little Palm Island Little Torch Key, FL

  • The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Miami Miami, FL

  • The Spa at The Setai Miami Beach, FL

  • The Ritz Carlton Spa, Naples Naples, FL

  • The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Orlando, Grande Lakes Orlando, FL

  • The Spa at The Breakers Palm Beach, FL

  • The Ritz-Carlton Members Spa Club,

    Ritz-Carlton Sarasota Sarasota, FL

  • The Ritz Carlton Spa, South Beach South Beach, FL

  • The Ritz-Carlton Lodge Spa,

    Reynolds Plantation Greensboro, GA

  • Spa at Sea Island, The Cloister Sea Island, GA

  • SpaHalekulani, Halekulani Honolulu, HI

  • Spa Suites at The Kahala Hotel and Resort Honolulu, HI

  • Hualalai Sports Club and Spa, Four Seasons, Resort Hualalai Ka'upulehu-Kona, HI

  • The Spa at Manele Bay, Four Seasons Resort Lanai Lanai, HI

  • Spa Grande at The Grand Wailea Resort Wailea, Maui, HI

  • The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea Wailea, Maui, HI

  • The Peninsula Spa, Peninsula Chicago Chicago, IL

  • The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago Chicago, IL

  • The White Barn Inn Spa, White Barn Inn Kennebunkport, ME

  • The Spa at Pinehurst, The Carolina @ Pinehurst Pinehurst, NC

  • The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Lake Las Vegas Henderson, NV

  • Canyon Ranch SpaClub at The Venetian Resort Hotel Las Vegas, NV

  • Spa Bellagio at Bellagio Las Vegas, NV

  • The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV

  • The Spa at Wynn Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV

  • The Spa at Emerson Place Mount Tremper, NY

  • The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel New York New York, NY

  • The Peninsula Spa, New York, The Peninsula New York New York, NY

  • Stillwater Spa, Park Hyatt Toronto Toronto, ON

  • Woodlands Spa at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort Farmington, PA

  • Spa at the Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Kiawah, SC

  • The Spa and Salon at Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas Irving, TX

  • Trellis, The Spa at The Houstonian Houston, TX

  • The Watermark Spa, Watermark Hotel & Spa San Antonio, TX

  • The Spa at Stein Eriksen Lodge Park City, UT

  • Kohler Waters Spa, The American Club Kohler, WI

  • The Greenbrier Spa White Sulpher Springs, WV

  • The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole Teton Village, WY

    Mobil Three-Star Award Winners

  • Golden Door(R) Spa at The Boulders Carefree, AZ

  • Revive Spa at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort Phoenix, AZ

  • The Spa at Camelback Inn Scottsdale, AZ

  • The Avello Spa at The Westin Resort & Spa Whistler, BC

  • Aqua Star Spa, The Beverly Hilton Beverly Hills, CA

  • The Well Spa, Miramonte Resort & Spa Indian Wells, CA

  • Equinox Spa and Fitness Center, The Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Los Angeles, CA

  • Spa Rancho Valencia, Rancho Valencia Resort Rancho Santa Fe, CA

  • Nob Hill Spa, The Huntington Hotel San Francisco, CA

  • Elemis Spa at Mohegan Sun Uncasville, CT

  • Allegria Spa at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Avon, CO

  • I SPA at the Willard, Willard

    Intercontinental Washington, DC

  • Aquanox Spa, Trump Sonesta Aventura, FL

  • The Spa at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

  • Spa Moana, Hyatt Regency Maui Lahaina, HI

  • Spa Kea Lani at The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui Wailea, Maui, HI

  • The Spa at The Carlton Club, The Ritz-Carlton Chicago Chicago, IL

  • The Ritz-Carlton Spa, New Orleans New Orleans, LA

  • Spa Toccare, Borgata Hotel Atlantic City, NJ

  • The Bathhouse at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas, NV

  • The Spa at Red Rock, Red Rock Resort Las Vegas, NV

  • QUA Baths and Spa, Caesars Palace Las Vegas, NV

  • Spa Mirbeau, Mirbeau Inn & Spa Skaneateles, NY

  • Avalon Spa, The Avalon Hotel Portland, OR

  • The Spa at The Hotel Hershey Hershey, PA

  • The Spa at The Crescent, Hotel Crescent Court Dallas, TX

  • The Homestead Spa, The Homestead Hot Springs, VA

  • Avanyu Spa, The Equinox Manchester Village, VT

  • Spa at Topnotch, Topnotch Resort and Spa Stowe, VT