[ from the ground up ]
continued from page 57
Tulalip Tribes,” says Corriveau. For example, the
Native Stone Ritual for Hands ($75, 50 minutes),
the Native Stone Ritual for Feet ($85, 60 minutes),
and the Mission Beach Hot Stone Massage ($125,
50 minutes; $180, 80 minutes) rely on stones from
the region’s riverbeds. A warm floral infusion
featuring a variety of wild flowers indigenous
to the Tulalip Tribes’s land can be found in the
Wildflowers Pedicure ($85, 60 minutes). Also, the
Deep Tissue Bolus Massage ($120, 50 minutes;
$170, 80 minutes), as well as others on the menu,
uses lavender flowers and juniper berries blended
with marine salt crystals tied into a bundle. “All of
these ingredients are very important to the natural
traditions of the Tulalip Tribes and can be found on
the land surrounding Tulalip Resort Casino,” says
Corriveau. “Treatments that feature these heated
herb bundles are among the most popular.”
In choosing products, Corriveau opted for
Thalgo, because the line relies on plant, herb, and
sea extracts that are ideal for the face and body. She
chose Somme Institute on account of the products’
formulation of alpha and beta hydroxy acids and
molecular dispersion technology 5 (MDT5), which
is a blend of five highly engineered vitamins.
Corriveau also liked Swisscosmet for its use of
bio-integral stabilizing cells that help rejuvenate
damaged cells. The spa also features Aromafloria
organic and aromatherapy body products and
candles. “All of the products were selected because
continued on page 60
Staff Selection
As with any spa, good customer service begins and ends with the staff. According to Hughes, it was
a challenge to hire an experienced team to work the front desk. “Due to our location, about 30 minutes north of Seattle, it was difficult to lure some people out of the city,” says Hughes. “We selected
the best people available and put them through an intensive training process.” The first phase of
hiring began with the screening of applications followed by two rounds of interviews. “Applicants
who moved past the interview stage had an audition with the spa director, human resources director,
and me,” says Corriveau. Of the six massage therapists hired, all had to pass several practicals to join
the team and have a minimum of three years of documented experience. “Our team is composed
of therapists who mostly have a medical massage background, and all specialize in craniosacral
therapy,” says Hughes. “Therapists who had their own specialties outside of craniosacral were also
targeted. This helped bring a broader understanding of services that we can tap into.” Those hired
as estheticians had to be experts in waxing and have three years of experience performing facials
and applying makeup.—H.M.
CLOCKWISE
: From the rain
shower room in the
men’s lounge to the
hallway leading to the
numerous treatment
rooms, the spa was
designed to maximize
its allotted space.
