In this year long series, I’ve enjoyed interviewing professionals from different segments of the travel industry to highlight some of the premier products and services available to travelers. This month, I had the pleasure of speaking with David J. Stevenson from Miraval, a luxury resort and spa oasis in the Arizona desert.

1) Welcome to the Travel Maestro blog, David. Please share with us what is your job at Miraval and what part of it do you enjoy most?
I am the Vice President of Sales. I love walking around the resort and seeing lots of smiling faces and guests walking around in their robes!

2) Why do people choose Miraval? Is it purely a Wellness Spa where guests go for personal growth and to get healthy or is it a Resort where casual spa goers can enjoy some treatments along with other healthy activities – or a mixture of both?
There are many different reasons why our guests come to Miraval. Miraval can be a catalyst for a healthy lifestyle change, support through challenging times, a fun getaway with friends and family or simply somewhere to rest and re-energize. For most of our guests, their Miraval experience is a life-changing moment.

3) Miraval is in a stunning Sonoran Desert setting at the base of the Catalina Mountains. What part does this location play in the resort’s philosophy and activities?
You may find it interesting to know that this location has always been considered a spiritual and healing place.  In everything we do, we embrace our connection to our desert surroundings. The natural environment plays a crucial role in helping guests unwind and get back to themselves.

4) What is included in the room rates and what types of activities or services are a la carte?
We offer more than 90 different complimentary activities and classes a week, and you can apply the nightly credit to more than 175 fee-based experiences.

Our all-inclusive package rates include:

• Transportation to and from Tucson International Airport
• $150 resort credit per person per night, which can be applied to a selection of spa services, private sessions, and activities.
• Overnight accommodations
• Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and all non-alcoholic beverages.
• Participation in hourly activities, including all fitness , yoga and meditation classes, lectures by Miraval  Specialists, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and challenge programs
• Arrival Miraval tote bag & sustainable Miraval water bottle

5) With over 100 different spa treatments available, how does a “beginner” decide which kind of massage, skin care or bodywork to choose?
In order to make sure to select spa services and treatments that meet a guest’s needs, we advise that guests consult directly with a Miraval reservations specialist who can help guide them through the spa menu and make suggestions based on their objectives.

6) What is your personal favorite spa treatment and why?
Our new Naga Thai Massage is a personal favorite of mine. We developed it right here on property. The therapist uses strands of silk suspended from the ceiling as an extension of their body. This is a great type of massage for anyone, and is ideal if you’re looking to target a specific area of the body, or just want to get a great stretch!

7) Miraval has literally hundreds of programming opportunities for hiking and biking, cooking and nutrition, art and photography, yoga and meditation. How many programs can be reasonably scheduled for one day?
Our programming is generally scheduled to give our guests time to go directly from one activity to the next. Depending on what suits each individual, they can pack a schedule of as many as a dozen different spa services/private sessions/activities in one day. That said, we suggest that guests stay mindful to not over schedule especially during the first day. If a guest prefers to simply take it easy and go from lunch, to the spa, to the pool—that works too.

8) I saw, with interest, that you have a Psychic and a Medium on staff. Those are unusual offerings for a spa. Are they popular engagements for guests?
Yes—Miraval is known for offering guests access to the top wellness experts in their fields, from the physical to the metaphysical. The type of experts we offer varies widely, from Exercise Physiologists and Nutritionists; to mediums like Tina Powers and psychics Maggie Garbarini—a world-renowned psychic who guides guests on the metaphysical approach to life -a natural union for those seeking to add a holistic, and spiritual aspect to their lives. 

Thanks, David, for introducing us to Miraval. It looks fabulous and I, for one, have already started talking to my girlfriends about meeting there for next year’s getaway!

Travel Maestro readers interested in finding your own life-changing moments at Miraval, please contact Covington Travel’s spa specialists to arrange your luxury escape.

David J. Stevenson, VP of Sales, joined Miraval in September 2009. Prior to Miraval, Mr. Stevenson served as Vice President of Sales for The Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah, the fifth largest ski resort in North America and the largest in Utah. Other industry experience included serving as National Sales Director for Dolce International, a leading Conference Center operator throughout the US and Europe and as Director of Sales for Skamania Lodge in the Columbia River Gorge. David earned his degree in Tourism and Recreation Management from Central Washington University.

All photos courtesy of Miraval Resort & Spa