Combining Southern charm with upscale elegance, Montage Palmetto Bluff (www.montagehotels.com/palmettobluff) sits on a 20,000-acre community in Bluffton, South Carolina. This Low Country, Forbes five-star resort is nestled on the May River with stunning views of the water, live oak trees brimming with Spanish moss and wildlife in abundance. Countless activities from Southern-style dining, lounging by the pool, exploring treehouses and wooden swings, or touring the pristine waterways leave guests endlessly entertained.
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Need to Know
Combining Southern charm with upscale elegance, Montage Palmetto Bluff (www.montagehotels.com/palmettobluff) sits on a 20,000-acre community in Bluffton, South Carolina. This Low Country, Forbes five-star resort is nestled on the May River with stunning views of the water, live oak trees brimming with Spanish moss and wildlife in abundance. Countless activities from Southern-style dining, lounging by the pool, exploring treehouses and wooden swings, or touring the pristine waterways leave guests endlessly entertained.
There are plenty of spots to relax and unwind on the quintessential wraparound porches throughout the resort. A variety of accommodations are offered, from the main inn to spacious cottages, guestrooms, suites and village homes. Most guests travel the tree-lined trails via golf cart or bicycle as the major mode of transport.
Keeping with the property’s high standards, Spa Montage Palmetto Bluff embodies a feeling of coastal calm, incorporating the local environment into treatments for grounding experiences. Located on the ground level of the main inn, Spa Montage encompasses a total of 13,000 square feet in the form of 13 treatment rooms, a signature couples suite, a full-service salon, private men’s and women’s relaxation areas, redwood saunas, eucalyptus steam rooms, hot tubs, cold-plunge pools, a yoga and movement studio, fitness center, adults-only lap pool and a spa retail boutique. Complimentary outdoor fitness classes are offered daily, ranging from yoga, HIIT, Boot Camp and Core Fusion for guests to break a sweat, all while taking in serene views of nature.
Business Savvy
A sense of togetherness is a driving force within the Montage Palmetto Bluff spa team. “Taking the time to get to know the individuals on the team, knowing what motivates them and makes them feel valued is critical to both team success and the guest experience,” explains Livia Reddington, director of spa at Montage Palmetto Bluff. Listening, coaching and communicating with empathy are skills Reddington credits to her success, and she continually strives to recognize team members’ strengths and highlight their contribution to the overall goals of the department.
Showing an individualized sense of welcome and hospitality make the mark when it comes to client retention. “It’s the building of family traditions that keeps our guests returning and entices new guests to experience the property for the first time,” explains Reddington. She and the Montage team work with product partners on an ongoing basis to create innovative menu offerings, curated wellness experiences, fitness classes and other events that draw in new clients while welcoming loyal guests back again and again.
Transparency, priority management and organization are values that keep the spa running on a daily and weekly basis. Being able to pivot while still maintaining structure and organization help to strategically run the spa, according to Reddington. She believes sharing the state of the business, including financial details and honest guest feedback, empower the team as a whole and keep the door open for questions. “Staying energized by the vision of the spa and the trends in the industry help engage the team in the overall process,” she adds.
Signature Services
Upon checking into Spa Montage, guests are invited to enjoy the amenities before or after their scheduled service through The Art of Spa Contrast Therapy. This therapy involves alternating between extreme hot and cold temperatures in the pools, and use of the eucalyptus steam and redwood sauna. “After The Art of Spa Contrast Therapy, guests’ muscles feel more relaxed, inflammation and pain are reduced, circulation is stimulated and waste is flushed more easily,” explains Reddington. Approximately 70% of clients take advantage of this while visiting Spa Montage, adding to the wellness benefits of any subsequent services they receive.
Meanwhile, Pure Bliss (90-120 min./$350-$425) is one of the spa’s signature body rituals, a bespoke experience from head to toe. Created especially for Spa Montage by lead therapists in collaboration with Lola’s Apothecary, the treatment begins with a full body exfoliation using natural, vegan aromatic salts. The polish is removed with warm towels, followed by a warm, fragrant body milk application and thermal blanket wrap to encourage skin nourishment. Finally, a stress-relieving massage is performed with a whipped body soufflé made from shea butter, coconut oil and rosehip CO2. Therapists employ slow, rhythmic massage using medium to deep pressure tailored to each guest’s needs.
Clients booking Pure Bliss choose from three varying “scent stories” to customize the olfactory vibe of the service. Delicate Romance is a popular one among guests and spa employees alike. “The combination of rose, geranium, sandalwood, sweet orange and vanilla essential oils is euphoric and comforting, promoting a sense of well-being and tranquility,” notes Reddington. “Pure Bliss is the perfect treatment for guests who are looking for a unique, head-to-toe experience using couture beauty products that provide deep relaxation, transformation and stillness of mind.”
Alisha Racker’s career in the beauty and wellness industry spans well over a decade. As a licensed master esthetican, she worked hands-on in the treatment room prior to embarking into the corporate world of skin care as a marketing, PR, event planning and social media specialist. Currently, Racker reports on spa-goings, beauty, skin and lifestyle topics for a variety of industry publications and blogs.
