GLAMPING!

Where HAVE we been?  Is it possible the GLAMPING trend nearly passed us by? Maybe so, since our first glimpse of glamps occurred in this month’s AARP magazine.  Glamorous camping there was described as combining “the splendor of the great outdoors with the comfort of a top-tier hotel.”

In Google retrospect, we see that USA Today and ABC News both covered this altLuxury style of camping as early as 2007.  And in 2008 New York Times’ Green Traveler described glamping as “camping but not quite.”

Offering a business model perspective, Mark Penn in the Wall Street Journal described this updated and upscale visit to the outdoors in August 2009.  For those wishing to enter the hospitality industry, he opined, start-up costs could be minimal as undeveloped land may be available at low cost and accommodations can be mobilized as necessary.

In fact, we did glamp before we knew glamping was cool.  Our initiation was at Safari West in California’s Sonoma County.  We chose to celebrate a special birthday in one of the resort’s luxurious yurts, where you “wake up with the sounds of Africa echoing in your dreams.”  Really!  From our yurt-pad we looked out at the giraffe family and were only steps away from the tropical bird refuge.  A two-hour safari the day before had introduced us to the many other wild animals usually found in far more remote regions of the world. We had to pinch ourselves to remember that we were in Northern California!

Glamping, aka “Comfy Camping” or “Boutique Camping,” is indeed a worldwide phenomenon.  Vacations may offer kayaking, climbing, hiking or fishing, in sun or snow, sea or mountains, northern or southern hemispheres, for singles or families.  The common threads are the haute cuisine, luxurious linens, superior service offered by those providing the glamping experience.  Many carry coveted ratings from the likes of National Geographic or Conde Nast.

Inherent in most of these wilderness luxury vacations is a certain greenness.  Chefs offer locally grown ingredients in their riverside feasts.  Far and Away Adventures, based in Sun Valley, ID, posits that their river trips with personal concierge service, massages, award-winning wines and organic food are also carbon neutral.

For more information, visit goGlamping.net a complete directory of luxury camping experiences.

Two prototypes are the first of their kind in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park, CA – April 2010 – Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, a popular year-round lodging destination in the heart of Yosemite Village, unveiled today two prototype guest rooms on the cutting edge of environmentally-friendly interior architecture and design. The two rooms at The Lodge are the first of their kind in Yosemite National Park.

Reflective of Delaware North Companies’ award-winning GreenPath® environmental stewardship platform, the two eco-friendly guest rooms were designed with an eye toward an eventual roll-out throughout the Lodge’s 245 rooms. Every design selection, from insulation and paint to textiles and light fixtures, was evaluated based on its proximity, sustainability, recycled content and resilience. The prototypes offer an opportunity for Delaware North Companies and the National Park Service to evaluate the success of the overall design, research the durability of eco-friendly products and gather guest feedback from those who stay in the rooms. An additional goal is the eventual certification of Yosemite Lodge at the Falls as a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and Energy Star property.

“A great deal of research and technology is integrated in these rooms, most of it working quietly just beneath the surface,” said Keith Erikson, General Manager of Yosemite Lodge at the Falls. “Our guests won’t notice many of these elements, but when they cross the threshold and drop their bags, their rooms will be welcoming, comfortable, affordable and, we hope, inspiring.”

In designing the prototype eco-friendly rooms for Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, Richard Kollath and Edward McCann of Kollath McCann Creative Services considered each element of a standard hotel guest room and found a way to make it as eco-friendly as possible. The following outlines every aspect of the guest rooms, and can double as a resource guide for those looking to incorporate green design elements into their home living environment.

Room Entry
A new electronic key card entry system integrates with the room’s energy controls, using a lock that requires 50% fewer batteries than older locks, with the batteries lasting for nearly four years. After unlocking the room, the guest places the key card in a wall slot just inside the door. With a faint click, the key card activates select circuits that power lighting and electronics. When the guest removes the key from the slot upon leaving, the room reverts to its unoccupied, energy-saver state, automatically reducing the demand for power to circuits that feed the television and accessory lights. (Coupled with a wireless sensor, this approach to energy management has been shown in European hotel case studies to reduce demand and energy expenses by upwards of 40%.)

Insulation
The blown-in cellulose now in the walls of the two prototypes at Yosemite Lodge increases heating and cooling efficiency and reduces sounds from adjacent rooms. With an R-value similar to fiberglass but nearly three times as dense, the insulation is made with locally available materials – up to 85% recycled newspaper and 15% boric acid as fire retardant – and has the highest recycled content of any insulation available.

Windows
Inefficient single-pane and jalousie windows have been replaced with double pane windows that will help guests feel warmer – or cooler – while conserving energy. The exterior aluminum cladding has a baked-on, electrostatically applied paint finish, minimizing the need for future maintenance.

Water
Toilets alone account for nearly 30% of indoor water consumption; older, inefficient toilets, faucets and shower heads are responsible for most of the water wasted in American homes and hotels. The new shower and bath fixtures in the Yosemite Lodge prototype rooms are high-performing, water-efficient models that will save nearly 5,000 gallons of water each year, using just 1.28 gallons per flush.

Lighting
Handsome new steel wall sconces, pendants and floor lamps in the guest rooms were manufactured in nearby Washington. All use energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs, which use one-third the energy and last roughly ten times longer than standard incandescent bulbs.

Paint
The rooms are painted using California-based Kelly-Moore paints with low- and zero-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds).

Flooring
With fibers produced in part from recycled plastic bottles and a backing derived from old tires, the carpet tiles in the guest rooms add warmth and comfort underfoot with a small carbon footprint. The 12-inch porcelain tiles used in the vanity and bath areas contain 40% recycled materials and will provide many years of service.

Vanity & Countertop
Produced just outside San Francisco, the countertop is made of 85% glass collected from curbside recycling bins. This striking surface alerts guests that there’s something different and special about their room, especially when paired with drinking glasses made from wine bottles. Additionally, wall-mounted soap and lotion dispensers eliminate clutter and waste.

Furnishings
Richard Kollath designed a line of Old Hickory furnishings unique to the green rooms at Yosemite Lodge at the Falls featuring distinctive, inset bow tie joinery. Like other Old Hickory furnishings and accessories in the Yosemite Valley, this rustic, durable collection is made using mid-western hickory saplings – the hardest wood in North America (30% harder than oak) and a renewable source that continually re-sprouts from the same stump. Produced in a factory employing sustainable practices and water-based glues, Old Hickory furniture has lasted for decades in hospitality settings.

Television
The 40-inch flat-screen SONY Eco Series HDTV selected for the guest rooms features a high-efficiency HCFL backlight that provides optimum brightness and reduces power consumption up to 50 % in comparison to Energy Star requirements, using only 90 watts, which is as little as an incandescent light bulb. The television’s Presence Sensor detects when a guest has stepped away from the TV and turns the picture off. If after 30 minutes the sensor still doesn’t detect movement, the set turns off completely. And, an energy-saving switch reduces power consumption of the TV to zero when the set is turned off.

Recycle Caddies
Kollath McCann’s prototype divided recycling caddies were also made by Old Hickory.

Bedding & Linens
The American-made, 100% organic cotton sheets were produced in a solar-powered factory in Rhode Island. The bed’s blanket cover, throw and window drapery are made from washable cotton matelasse.

About Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, Inc.
The Ahwahnee, Yosemite Lodge at the Falls and Wawona Hotel are operated by Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, an affiliate of Delaware North Companies and an authorized National Park Service concessioner overseeing lodging, dining, guest recreation activities and transportation services in Yosemite.

About Delaware North Companies
Delaware North Companies is one of the world’s leading hospitality and food service providers. Its family of companies includes Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment, Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, Delaware North Companies International and Delaware North Companies Boston, owner of TD Garden. Delaware North Companies is one of the largest privately held companies in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visit www.DelawareNorth.com.
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About GreenPath®
GreenPath®, which began in Yosemite National Park over a decade ago, has since expanded to Delaware North Companies’ 200-plus venues across the world. A sophisticated environmental stewardship program actively engaging employees at every level, GreenPath® ensures environmental considerations are incorporated into all business decisions. The program’s initiatives are showcased in comprehensive recycling, composting and other waste-diversion programs, energy and water conservation, employee and guest interpretation and education, sustainable, local and organic food policies, strategic planning and partnerships, product purchasing and fuel consumption. As a result, Delaware North Companies is one of the first hospitality companies in the United States – and the first operating in a national park – to earn 14001 environmental management registration in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), a worldwide federation of national standards from some 140 countries.

With arguably greater access to financial resources and progressive, environmentally-friendly options, the affluent also own more cars, clothes, houses and travel more often than the rest of us, making them larger consumers, and potentially, polluters.

This begs the question, “How ‘environmentally responsible’ are the affluent?”

Well, to answer this question, Ron Kurtz and the American Affluence Research Center surveyed the wealthiest 10% of US households to reveal the extent of their commitment to a “green” lifestyle.

Today, forty years after the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970,  Ron reveals his findings:

Top 10 findings:

* 90% recycle regularly
* 56% believe they are doing their part to help the environment
* About 3 in 10 feel they should be doing more to help the environment
* 70% report using energy efficient light bulbs and/or other products to reduce energy consumption
* 30% purchase organic foods whenever they are an option. Only 6% buy fashions that use organic materials
* A third of the respondents currently own none of the 7 eco friendly products listed
* Most commonly owned “green” items are compact fluorescent light bulbs (45%), low flow toilets or faucets (44%), and EnergyStar appliances (40%). Green cleaning products (27%) was the only other item owned by more than 10% of the respondents
* Half of the respondents do not expect to buy any of the 7 listed “green” products during the next five years. The most frequently anticipated purchases are a hybrid automobile (24%) and EnergyStar appliances (22%)
* Two-thirds have done none of the 3 listed eco friendly activities during the past 5 years. The most frequently mentioned (31%) activity was the purchase of hormone-free meat, dairy, or produce.
* Almost 8 of 10 respondents do not anticipate doing any of the 3 listed activities during the next 5 years. The most frequently anticipated activity (15%) is an eco friendly vacation or resort.

This is the 17th in [a] series of twice yearly surveys of the wealthiest 10% of US households that account for about 50% of total consumer spending and a third of gross domestic product.

It is not an online survey of people who are compensated for responding to regular and frequent surveys, and it includes only respondents who qualify to be among the wealthiest 10% of US households, based on net worth.

Similar to the Consumer Confidence survey of The Conference Board, [this] survey is conducted by mail and is sent to a randomly selected sample.

Luxury Hotel Group Invites Travelers to Take Home More Than Just a Photo on Their Next Vacation

TORONTO, February 2, 2010 – The need to acquire knowledge, perfect a new skill, or further a particular interest directly influences the choices we make and contributes to a happy and healthy lifestyle. But why let learning stop while on vacation? Travelers seeking inner fulfillment and a little self-improvement can check in with Apprentice-Trips by Fairmont, an innovative collection of experiential packages that help guests acquire a talent, brush up on a favorite hobby or just learn something new.

Consumer research from the Ypartnership, a global marketing communications agency specializing in travel, reveals that almost one out of every three affluent travelers now wants to learn a new skill or activity during a vacation, while a recent focus group of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts’ most frequent guests indicates more than 70% of those surveyed want to get outdoors and participate in programming that includes a learning element.

In light of these findings, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts fashioned the Apprentice-Trips by Fairmont program. Whether it’s learning a second language, following how a governmental bill becomes a law, appreciating how the nose affects the brain, or mastering the ancient art of falconry, Apprentice-Trips by Fairmont provide experiences that can transform that next vacation into a skill for life. Offerings include:

· The iconic Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is the perfect home base to discover the unique character of Quebec City. With the hotel’s “Parlez-vous français?” French Immersion Package, travelers have an opportunity to learn or refine their French language skills while exploring one of North America’s most dynamic and vibrant locales. Package includes seven nights accommodation in a Fairmont room, five private French courses with a local linguist (3 hours/day), daily buffet breakfast, a guided city tour in French, a tour of the historic Chateau in French, and a welcome delivery including a souvenir French book and fruit basket. Rates start from $435 CDN per night.

· Beer lovers can rejoice at The Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston. The hotel has partnered with Samuel Adams to offer an exclusive brewery experience. In addition to overnight accommodation, the Samuel Adams Behind the Scene Boston Brewery Package includes a private tour of the brewery followed by a private tasting of Samuel Adams Boston Lager and limited edition beers in the brewery’s barrel room. Guests then return to the hotel’s celebrated Oak Room for a three-course beer-pairing dinner prepared by Chef Stefan Jarausch and hosted by a Samuel Adams beer expert. The package also includes an in-room Samuel Adams “Bucket of Cheer” amenity. Offered January-May and September-December, rates start at $429 USD per night.

· Admiring the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque across the creek from Fairmont Bab Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi, one can see that this city is overflowing with Arabic tradition and culture. In honor of Emirati heritage and the falcon, the national bird of the UAE, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr’s Heritage Takes Flight package allows guests to learn more about traditional Bedouin beliefs while mastering the skill of Falconry. Package includes four nights of luxurious accommodation, two consecutive half-day falconry demonstrations and a tutorial, hands-on interaction under close supervision of the falconer, and a guided tour of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates. This four-night package starts from AED 9,000 and bookings must be made 10 days in advance of arrival.

· According to the U.S. Constitution, only three steps are necessary for a bill to become law. The Fairmont Washington, D.C. will help you know the players and the process with the hotel’s new How to Pass a Bill In Washington Package. The package includes: pre-arrival tips from a federally-registered lobbyist on how to craft your agenda, a suggested itinerary, overnight accommodation for two adults and two children, a welcome amenity of the U.S. Constitution or the Declaration of Independence and a mini American Flag. The How to Pass a Bill in Washington package starts from $209 USD per night on weekends and $399 USD through the week.

· At The Fairmont Monte Carlo in Monaco, learning “nose” no bounds thanks to the Magic of Aromachology. With this exclusive experience, guests learn the sense behind scents under the expert guidance of a master perfumer. From discovering exotic oils and a wide variety of aromatic techniques to finding out how and why perfumes and other scents affect our emotions and behaviors, fans all of things fragrant will not be disappointed. Full package inclusions consist of two nights accommodation, an aromachology workshop in the Galimard perfumery of Eze Village, a 60-minute aromatherapy massage for two at the Willow Stream spa, and daily buffet breakfast. Available year-round, rates start from €513 per night with a two-night minimum stay and seven-day advance booking required.

· The grass is greener at Fairmont with its new Tees to Greens experience offered at The Fairmont Banff Springs (summer) and Fairmont Scottsdale (winter). Perfect for golfers and green thumbs who’ve always wondered how world-class golf courses keep their grass healthy and ready for play, Tees to Greens provides an in-depth look at innovative landscaping measures such as grass maintenance, turf management, conservation practices, new technology, equipment and other trade secrets. Guests are taught useful on-course techniques such as the proper way to rake a bunker, how to repair ball marks, and how maintenance practices can affect game strategy. Not wanting it to be all work and no play, the package also includes nightly accommodation and one round of golf per person, per day. Available on weekends throughout the summer, rates at The Fairmont Banff Springs start from $799 CDN per person, per night. At Fairmont Scottsdale, pricing starts from $391 per person, per night through April 30, 2010.

· Montreal is not just a great city; it’s an island city and a surfer’s paradise! Adventurous guests looking for their next big challenge should forgo widely known haunts and catch a break riding Big Joe, the world’s tallest standing wave, just minutes from downtown. With Surf’s Up Montreal , Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth lets travelers in on one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Hidden behind Habitat 67, three permanent waves in the St. Lawrence River give awesome thrills to all surfers, beginners and pros alike. Package includes two nights accommodation, one day of surfing lessons with a pro from Kayak Sans Frontières (KSF), where guests learn the basics of river surf at two locations in Montreal, surf equipment rental, daily buffet breakfast and a take-out snack to keep energy levels up. Available from May 31 – September 1, 2010, this two-night experience starts at $379 CDN per night. Valid only on Fridays and Saturdays.

· A visit to The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa should be on the agenda for oenophiles looking to further their appreciation of wine. With the resort’s Sommelier Experiential Package, travelers get hands-on to fully discover the wines and locally inspired cuisine of this famous region, discover an assortment of sommelier secrets, and enjoy some expert tutelage on the next wave of up and coming wines. Package includes a signature wine and cheese amenity upon arrival, two nights accommodation in a suite, daily breakfast, VIP tour to Benziger Family Winery, wine-paired Chef’s Tasting Menu dinner for two in the Michelin-star Santé, and a sommelier-led tour to two local wineries. Available through August 2010, rates for this two-night experience start at $1,235 USD. This package must be booked two weeks in advance of arrival and a deposit of $625 USD is required at the time of booking.

· At Fairmont’s newest hotel in Vancouver, guests with a sweet tooth can bake their cake…and eat it too! At Fairmont Pacific Rim, baker wannabes can enroll in a private desserts class geared exclusively to their culinary level with the hotel’s Sweet Designs Package. Offer includes a consultation call with the hotel’s pastry chef, a tour of the scratch kitchen, four hours of private instruction in the pastry shop or climate-controlled chocolate shop, and a personalized chef’s jacket. The icing on the cake? Guests take along their creations to enjoy at home. Priced at $299 CDN per person, reservations are required and can be made by calling the hotel’s Catering Department at 604-695-5452. Room rates start from $229 CDN per night.

· When it comes to throwing the ultimate spa party, leave it in the hands of the experts at the Willow Stream Spa at The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club in Miami to do it with aplomb. This official girlfriends’ headquarters has introduced a new Gal Pal offering to teach ladies how to create their own B.F.F. – Backrubs, Facials & Foot scrubs – Spa Night with interactive demonstrations from leading therapists. As part of this fun educational experience, guests get hands-on to learn proper massage, facial and exfoliating techniques and receive a take-home gal pal party pack that includes spa and smoothie recipes, a list of suggested BFF Spa Night themes and a box of angel cards. Out-of-town guests can turn their Gal Pal experience into a girlfriends’ getaway with spacious rooms starting at $399 USD through April 14; $299 USD from April 15 through May 31; $179 USD from June 1 through September 30; and $299 USD from October 1 through December 19, 2010.

· Experience the architectural prowess of one of the Middle East’s most dynamic cities with a package that combines the best of hospitality excellence and the soaring feats of the world’s tallest building – Burj Khalifa. With Fairmont Dubai’s new Fairmont City Towers package, guests enjoy a helicopter tour highlighting the newly debuted Burj Khalifa, the Palm Jumeirah and the history-rich Dubai Creek, followed by a lively discussion on the current building phenomena in Dubai with Jeffrey Roberts, editor of Middle East Architect magazine. While discussing the latest trends in the industry, including building sustainability and cultural projects in the region, guests will enjoy a private dinner in one of the hotel’s recently refurbished penthouse suites. Package also includes two nights accommodation in a suite and admission for two to the ‘At the Top’ tour from level 124 of the Burj Khalifa. Priced at AED 5490++ (approximately $1,500 USD), this two-night package is valid through December 30, 2010.

· Environmental consciousness and “malama ‘aina” (taking care of the land) are on the curriculum at The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui. With the hotel’s new Eco-Learning Package, guests start by choosing one of five eco-learning activities helping to preserve Haleakala National Park – discovering the history of this spectacular volcano, maintaining a beautiful oceanside trail, learning all about organic farming in a rainforest by becoming a helping hand, removing invasive species near some of Maui’s remaining sand dunes, or helping preserve Hawaii’s archeological sites by planting native species. Guests also enjoy three nights of suite accommodation, a cultural walking tour of the hotel, a three-course sustainable dinner for two, a tote bag made from recycled materials and a reusable water bottle as a welcome amenity. Guests may also participate in the hotel’s complimentary Hawaiian Canoe Experience and learn not only the basics of outrigger canoe paddling but also the significance of paddling to Hawaiian culture. Available year-round, package rates start at $419 USD per night.

Guests can visit http://www.fairmont.com/promotions/apprenticetrips for a full list of Apprentice-Trips by Fairmont experiences. All Apprentice-Trips by Fairmont packages are subject to availability, priced per room, per night, exclude taxes and are based on double occupancy unless noted otherwise. Prices quoted are in local currency. For reservations, please visit http://www.fairmont.com, call 1-800 441 1414 or contact your local travel professional.

ABOUT FAIRMONT HOTELS & RESORTS

A leader in the global hospitality industry, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is a celebrated collection of 59 distinctive hotels, which includes iconic landmarks like The Fairmont San Francisco, Fairmont The Norfolk, Nairobi and Canada’s Fairmont Banff Springs and more than 20 new properties in development, including London’s The Savoy and the Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai re-opening next year following extensive restoration programs. Fairmont hotels are one-of-a-kind properties where sophisticated travelers can discover culturally rich experiences that are authentic to the destination. Situated in some of the most exclusive and pristine areas in the world, Fairmont is committed to responsible tourism and is an industry leader in sustainable hotel management with its award-winning Green Partnership program.

Fairmont is owned by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, a leading global hotel company with 94 hotels worldwide under the Raffles, Fairmont and Swissôtel brands. The company also manages Fairmont and Raffles branded Residences, Estates and luxury private residence club properties. For more information or reservations, please call 1-800-441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com.

San Francisco’s Modern Cabana is creating an exciting new line of affordable, contemporary, modular buildings. Architect-designer Casper Mork-Ulnes and Salesman-contractor Nick Damner are the brains and brawn behind the operation. Save time, money and the environment by considering their eco-friendly buildings next time you need more space for your home, office or children.

Calistoga Ranch is one of the few seasoned private residence clubs in the California wine country. In keeping with the rich heritage of the area, the club features an on-site vineyard and wine cave where owners and guests can immerse themselves in the wine culture of the area.

Calistoga Ranch architect Scott Lee knew that Calistoga Ranch needed to reflect a well-defined, natural organicity. “Our charge was to create a private retreat, a sanctuary celebrating what Napa Valley is all about – food, wine and nature. We designed and individually placed each of the more than 200 structures on the site not only to avoid cutting down the 100-year-old heritage oak trees but also to integrate them into our design.”

Lee and his team focused on the tradition of outdoor living by creating what he calls the campground legacy. Each guest lodge is its own camp, he says, made up of a cluster of spaces centering on the outdoor living space and fireplace, just as in a campsite. And interior designer Darrell Schmitt used rustic, natural materials to create a connection between the inside and outside, incorporating such elements as handmade tile baths and fabrics like hand-woven chenille and Tibetan wool carpets. There are outdoor and indoor showers, and multiple meditation spaces as well.

Mark Harmon, principal and CEO of Auberge Resorts, the company that owns and operates Calistoga Ranch, says members love the sense of peace the club’s design and surroundings offer. “I have spoken to so many members over the years,” he says. “They say that Calistoga Ranch is their true sanctuary … When they leave here, they are refreshed and calmed.”

I spent some time recently at Calistoga Ranch, the experience was one of true sanctuary, just as Mark Harmon said. Calistoga Ranch is a little off the beaten and crushed wine paths of Napa. It is a high end resort with guest cottages as well as a Private Residence Club with owner’s residences. The owner’s residences are of an exceptional, modular design, with an enclosed interior living area, kitchen, and two master bedroom modules. What ties these together is the exceptional outdoor living space, with deck, fireplace, grill, outdoor dining areas, all with views of California’s live oak bosques, Ponderosa and Cottonwood trees.

The undeniable feeling is that of living in an elite treehouse, with all the spa and dining amenities of living at a large resort, defining the best of both worlds, nature and culture, sanctuary and society, peace and – if you choose – activity.

The Spa at Calistoga Ranch is one that allows an enhanced feel of true sanctuary. It is located in area called The Bathhouse, where you can truly “take the waters” in a multiplicity of ways. The soaking pools overlook one of the ranch’s creeks, or you can take a mud bath in one of the large private outdoor spaces. When I was taking one of the baths, along with my thoughts, a hawk was flying high above me, moving from Live Oak to Live Oak. There was no sound, save of the soughing of the oaks and pines. The scent of cucumber and a slight odor of something vegetable, probably the mud in the bath, were all that I was aware of. When the mud bath and massage session was over, I felt as if my body had been freed from all the stress armor I wear.

The sense of peace, brought on both the complement of external environment and interior design, stays with the guest or the member or the owner. Here, everything else that used to matter, seems so far away.

Perhaps it’s the unmistakable, clean scent of mature Eucalyptus combined with bay laurel, mingled with rosemary. Or, maybe it’s the sense of well-being emitted in the warm, oval Meditation Pool prior to, or immediately following, an organic massage at the Healing Arts Center & Spa at Cavallo Point. Or, it could be doing meditative Yoga in the renovated Army Chapel. Or, simply seeing, from almost every vantage point, the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge. The guest experience at the Cavallo Point Lodge is singular, a sensual organic melding of past and present, topped with a well-deserved, Michelin-star-rated restaurant, Murray Circle.

As for history, the Lodge was established on the grounds of the 100 year-old Fort Baker, just a few miles from the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge. The Fort was built around a natural inlet called Horseshoe Cove, a small protected body of water that has been inhabited for hundreds of years; Before the U.S. Army, there were French and Spanish settlers, and before them were the Miwoc Indians. The little inlet provided a climatic sanctuary from the wind, fog, and turbulent seas, and also afforded a perfect view of the land on the other side. This was a very important security dimension to the Indians, then the settlers, then the Army in the early 1900’s, as it was the only way into (and out of) the San Francisco Bay.

The Officer’s Quarters, constructed in 1900-1902, were originally built in the style of Colonial Revival architecture, and due to the Cavallo Point’s meticulous restoration, the quarters are now 74 new guest residences, situated near groves of ancient Monterey Cypress and California Eucalyptus. Each guest room has unimpeded views of the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge, with the city beyond. On the hills close by are the Lodge’s more contemporary suites and rooms, closer to hiking trails, all leading around the area, and one trail leading to the bridge itself.

A clear sense of history pervades, yet a sense of eco-sensitive contemporaneity does also. On the long veranda of the Lodge, guests can sit in over-sized rocking chairs, and watch the bay and the city beyond. On the Lodge property is The Healing Arts Center and Spa at Cavallo Point which specializes in organic massages, soaks, wraps and facials – as well as in acupuncture, personal fitness training, herbal consultation, nutrition and hypnotherapy, the last applying to addictive behaviors, weight control and anxiety.

The Cavallo Point area lies close to the Marin headlands, with its great abundance of sea life, eel grass and rare blue Mission butterflies. The Lodge is part of the Golden Gate National Parks, and is the newest in the National Park system, having opened in July of last year. As the area abounds in wildlife, fruits and vegetables, it is not surprising that Chef Joseph Humphrey, founder and creator of the great dishes at Murray Circle, showcases the bounty of local and organic produce, seafood, cheeses and wines of Northern California. On the menu, Chef Humphrey lets you know the origin of his dishes – a few examples (not everything!) from the entree menu –

Vegetables:

Heirloom tomatoes, Verdure farms, Healdsburg

.. in a salad with compressed watermelon, steamed brioche, tomato jam

Baby beets, County Line Harvest, Petaluma

…roasted in coals, crisp quinoa, fresh ricotta, sherry vinegar, truffle

Fish & Shellfish:

Baby red abalone, Monterey Abalone company, Monterey

…from the plancha, suckling pig confit, fresh crowder beans, salted plum

Wild day boat Halibut, f/v Midnite Charger, Puget Sound

grilled in fig leaves,sassafras,hazelnut,sea urchin emulsion

prices range from $13.00 – $19.00 each.

Meats:

Quail – Wolfe ranch, Vacaville

….with romesco, swiss chard ravioli, dry cured olive

Peking Duck, Liberty Farms, Penngrove

Slow roasted breast, fennel confit, turnips cooked in caramel, licorice

(prices range from $14-$29.00)

These entrees change regularly, as do the tasting menus. The grand tasting menu has eight tastings with wine pairings to match, and the simpler tasting menu has three entrees and a dessert. In addition, the wine list for Murray Circle is in the process of becoming one of the largest and varied in the state: 13,000 bottles and counting from California, France, Australia and New Zealand.

All the taste dimensions, though diverse, work together to create the most memorable of gustatory experiences. Indeed, the wide variety of flavors at Murray Circle seems to underscore the multiple sensuous threads of guest experiences at the Lodge at Cavallo Point. The area’s colorful history melds into the present as naturally as the day boat Halibut blends with the fig leaves and sassafras emulsion, or the Quail with the chard ravioli.

Maybe the consensus of philosophers and economists were right all along – that it takes anger or sadness to change minds, attitudes, verbiage. And what has changed through seven month’s time is a movement from a recession (small case letters, November 2008) to a Recession (in caps, May 2009) with an accompanying movement from resignation to an irritating resentment that, like the Swine Flu, seems more viral than ever before. The severity of the economy, accentuated by bank bailouts of such horrendous proportion that, it is said, all of our children will be indentured servants for years, and the emergence of the Madoff story, showing how trust and trusts, can be Ponzi-ed into oblivion, have changed attitudes of resignation to attitudes of anger in ways we are just beginning to understand.

Those who work in the luxury field, whether it is in luxury hospitality, hotels, branding or shared residences, have noticed a sea change, a movement from objectifying to personalizing, implying the idea of luxury is neither changeless nor timeless, nor above the fray as once thought, but scalable and adaptive to present cultural norms. The vocabulary, especially the definition of luxury, is moving away from the Wall Street model of conspicuous consumption – cars, watches, diamonds – to a softer version, one that gels more with Main Street – family, authenticity, the scarcity and primacy of time.

“I have strongly recommended to my clients not to even the use the word luxury. It has become so overused. For some projects we have worked on, we actually went through the press releases to soften the word or remove it,” says Linda Bruno, Managing Director for Consultare, a consultancy group for the luxury hotel industry.

Softening and removing might not have been as much of an option a few months ago as it is now. In the Pre- Madoff/TARP world, it could be argued that defining luxury moved along a more objectified BRAND bandwidth, with high end magazines telling us what to buy, where to go and what to wear. But now – how many luxury print publications have ceased? Executive Living, Executive Decision, Ocean Drive, Trump, Trump World, Ascent, Distinction, the list goes on. According to Folio, ad sales in recent months have faltered consistently in many of the high end shelter magazines. What can be inferred here? Only an arguable possibility: that aspirationals may be getting tired of seeing the brand stuff of which the inspirationals lives are made.

In one of the last issues of Portfolio, another magazine that will publish its last issue soon, an article was written by a TARP wife, a woman whose luxurious lifestyle was underscored for years by her wealthy banker husband, whose bank has been given billions in bailout money. Understandably, she prefers to remain anonymous. Her Essay deals with how the meaning of luxury has changed for her: “I haven’t even looked at Spring clothes. Keeping up with fashion seems somehow decadent in this new era, like getting Botox injections or catered dinners.” How does she see her life now? In addition to turning down invitations to gala events where they will be asked for donations they don’t have extra for anymore, eating out less frequently, combined with having to actually cook, staying home and watching TV reruns, this is what defines her life — a life, she says, of relative luxury. This means her house is not in foreclosure, and they can still afford things they need. Of course, she is angry, not only because of this turn of events, but also because of her husband’s turn from good physical health to less so, a man who now apologizes each day for losing so much of their money and making so many mistakes.

Given such a scenario, how do you think they feel when they receive in the mail, glossy, elite lifestyle and home magazines, touting the brands they had last year, and have no longer?

Due to such a nagging irritant, the root systems, definitions and presentations of luxury are changing. What is emerging, due to the shock and awe of the world economic collapse, Madoff, and the bank bailout, is a something, well, positive.

New thinking – with the touch points of authenticity, honesty, transparency, genuineness, mindfulness of brand and product has begun to replace the old words of luxurious, extravagant, lavish, elite, one of a kind, dreamlike.. and the like. The luxury experience used to mean selling the dream, but now it is in process of becoming more an offer – to obtain a transformatory experience of awareness, of eco-sensitivity, of education, perhaps a green experience, or, one of philanthropic substance and consequence – something that changes a person from the inside out, not vice versa.

There are some companies that get this, and have changed their marketing and sales messaging to reflect this growing awareness – one that has done this so well is Exclusive Resorts, the largest and best known Destination Club now in existence, with a $2B Real Estate portfolio and over 3000 members. Their online and print advertising defines luxury through the scarcity of time. Time with children before they grow up, time with grandparents so children will remember and time that can be crafted into significant memories. These ideas are the new definitions of luxury.

Abercrombie & Kent Residence Clubs, a dimension of the famed tour operator Abercrombie & Kent, also has the ability to carry their members to places that will create eco-sensitive, educational memories. Other companies, Exquisite Safaris being the major one, takes their clients to areas in Africa where they can come to know the villagers, and create a strong understanding of their needs, allowing new forms of philanthropy to ensue. In all of these cases, luxury is being redefined not in terms of how much but of how well, not in terms of artifice, but of authenticity, thereby beginning to redress the antagonisms of our ailing systems.