Stein Eriksen Lodge Receives Forbes Five-Star Hotel & Spa Awards

DEER VALLEY, UTAH (November 15, 2011) —Today marks the unveiling of The Forbes Travel Guide’s 54th annual list of hospitality awards. The Spa at Stein Eriksen Lodge is Utah’s first spa to receive the industry’s highest designation—the Forbes Five-Star award— joining an elite group of 29 leading spas in the world.  For the fifth consecutive year, Stein Eriksen Lodge is named Utah’s only Forbes Five-Star Hotel, joining 56 premiere hotels across the globe.  For more than 50 years, Forbes Travel Guide's Five-Star ratings have been the gold standard by which hotels, restaurants and spas are measured.  The hospitality industry respects and reveres the Five-Star rating system, and travelers put their faith in it as they decide where to stay, dine and explore.

“Our annual ratings represent the best of the best in hotels, restaurants and spas. They serve as guideposts for consumers who are looking for exceptional travel experiences,” said Shane O’Flaherty, President, Inspections & Ratings, Forbes Travel Guide.   Approximately 50,000 hotels operate in North America and only 3,000 are Forbes rated. Unlike many online rating systems that place emphasis on amenities, Forbes Travel Guide Five Star determining factors are the quality of service throughout the property.

“It is a significant honor to continually be Utah’s only Forbes Five-Star hotel. To simultaneously become Utah’s first Five-Star Spa within a year of expanding and enhancing our spa, is truly exhilarating.” said Russ Olsen, Chief Executive Officer of Stein Eriksen Lodge. “These accolades illustrate the staff’s unyielding dedication to provide guests uncompromising service of the highest caliber. Without our attentive staff this legacy would never have been realized.”

Purposeful use of copper, water, stone and rich fabrics in the spa’s interior, pay homage to Utah’s Wasatch mountain range and Park City’s rich mining history. Each of the 16 treatment rooms is warmed and detoxified by hand-crafted salt lamps. A full line of locally crafted products feature indigenous cedar, sage, and salts to invigorate the mind and body.  Signature treatments, including The Great Salt Stone Therapy, Pigment Balancing Facial, and Skier Boot Relief treatment are unique to the mountain spa —the creation of Spa Director, Jill VanAusdal .  Every guest may access the fitness facilities and outdoor heated pool and Jacuzzi with breathtaking views of Deer Valley® Resort.

Spa guests receive a holistic approach to wellness and nurturing treatments from skilled therapists.  Winter guests enjoy invigorating pre- and post-ski stretching and mid-morning cardio classes in a new 3,000 square-foot wellness studio.  "The wellness studio is an integral component to our spa’s total body health objective," said Jill VanAusdal, Spa Director.

In addition to the Hotel and Spa’s coveted Five-Star status, the Glitretind Restaurant continues to be one of the two Forbes Four-Star restaurants in the state. To achieve this level of recognition restaurants possess menus which reflect a high degree of creativity and complexity; using imaginative presentations to enhance high-quality, market-fresh ingredients.  

All told, Utah’s own pioneer in luxury hospitality, Stein Eriksen Lodge, is honored to receive 14 of the 30 stars awarded to the state.  “We remain the only place for travelers to experience an authentic alpine vacation modeled after ski legend Stein Eriksen.” said Russ Olsen, Chief Executive Officer of Stein Eriksen Lodge.

For additional information contact Sarah Myers at 435.645.6451or smyers@steinlodge.com.