The First L'OCCITANE Spa in North America to Debut at Club Med Sandpiper Bay, Florida

MIAMI, Oct. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Club Med – the world's leading all-inclusive brand with more than 80 resorts from skiing havens in France to tropical paradises in Indonesia – announces an exclusive partnership with L'OCCITANE to create the first L'OCCITANE-branded spa in North America at its Florida property. The spa will open in December 2011 at Club Med Sandpiper Bay, the only all-inclusive family resort in the U.S., and will mark the completion of a major $28 million renovation project for the resort. With a focus on well being, the resort has added academies in tennis, golf and fitness directed by premier coaches in the industry, from Gabe Jaramillo (who trained tennis stars Monica Seles and Andre Agassi) to 5x Ironman champion Heather Gollnick. Club Med Sandpiper Bay creates a natural environment for guests and is the ideal location for a high-end spa experience.

"We are looking forward to offering our customers the L'OCCITANE spa experience," said Xavier Mufraggi, CEO of Club Med North America. "Well-being is at the core of both the Club Med and L'OCCITANE philosophies which aligns perfectly with what our consumers are looking for – a way to balance their lives through enriching activities, sports and relaxation."

"Each L'OCCITANE product is a multi-sensory spa experience in itself—our partnership with Club Med takes the indulgence one step further with expert treatments," explains David Boynton, L'OCCITANE Group Managing Director North Atlantic and Australia. "We're thrilled to offer L'OCCITANE fans a new way to experience Provence in an elegant setting."

The 5,000 sq. ft. spa will feature seven indoor treatment rooms including one designed for couples massages, a manicure and pedicure area, Zen lounge and a L'OCCITANE boutique featuring more than 80 products. The whole spa experience and interior decor was specifically designed for Club Med Sandpiper Bay to embody the genuine diversity of Florida, the Sunshine State, and the Treasure Coast's protected ecosystem.  

The full-service spa will pamper guests with services from anti-aging facials and massages to wraps, body treatments and much more. The spa will also feature teen and junior treatments for younger guests ages 8-17 including TOEtally About Me pedicures and Cheeks facials. In addition to expert treatments, the spa will feature a new yoga program designed to balance the body and mind through a range of classes from high intensity to recharge/relax options.

Spa goers can also take advantage of Club Med's international elite Tennis, Golf and Fitness Academies, featuring world-class instruction for all levels and ages. Guests can take golf lessons with the Golf Channel's Brad Brewer who was mentored by Arnold Palmer, train for a triathlon or sprint distance run with Ironman champion Heather Gollnick and experience video stroke analysis on their tennis swing with Gabe Jaramillo, coach of eight number one tennis players in the world. Club Med's world-renowned training facilities include 21 tennis courts, a newly renovated 18-hole golf course, a Tom Fazio II designed practice facility including a putting green and a driving range. In addition to classes, the Fitness Academy offers personalized integrated nutrition/fitness plans for guests. Club Med Sandpiper Bay's two restaurants, The Marketplace and Soleil, make it easy for guests to maintain their healthy lifestyle by serving gourmet wholesome dishes prepared by international chefs.

Sandpiper Bay also offers the perfect vacation for families by creating personalized experiences for kids four months* to 17 years old. Facilities for younger guests include a Kidz Village with splash park, the BRITTO Art Center and Latitude 27, an exclusive lounge for 'tweens and teens. Sandpiper Bay is also the home for the Raggs' canine characters from the popular "Raggs TV" series.  

For more information or to make a reservation, visit www.sandpiperbay.clubmed.us or call 1-800-ClubMed. For an insider look at Club Med, follow ClubMedOfficial on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to our YouTube channel at ClubMedNorthAmerica.

About Club Med

Refined, generous and personalized, a Club Med vacation at any of our 80 resorts in more than 25 countries, guarantees life long memories. With attention to every detail, Club Med offers activities from award-winning Children's Clubs and luxurious spa treatments to expert instruction in sports with top of the line equipment. Throughout the experience, guests personalize their vacation with an array of choices including luxury room categories, convenient travel arrangements, international cuisine, flexible dining times and exciting entertainment options. Contact a travel professional, call 1-800-ClubMed, or log on to www.clubmed.us for reservations. Find press information at www.clubmedpress.com.

About L'OCCITANE

Founded by Olivier Baussan over 30 years ago, L'OCCITANE captures the true art de vivre of Provence, offering a sensorial immersion in the natural beauty, fragrance and lifestyle of the South of France. From the texture of L'OCCITANE products to their fragrance, each formula promises pleasure through beauty and well-being—a moment rich in enjoyment and discovery that goes beyond tangible benefits to create a different experience of Provence. With traceable, efficacious ingredients, experiential formulations, and a commitment to social responsibility, L'OCCITANE unites nature and lifestyle to provide peaceful, earthly calm with the benefit of visible, tangible results. L'OCCITANE products are available at usa.loccitane.com and in 160 boutiques throughout the U.S.

SOURCE Club Med