Spa Treatment

Attempting to list America’s top ten luxury hotels will always be difficult, since there are many criteria by which to judge hotels - whether they are best for business travellers, holidaymakers, families and so on. That said, here is a list of hotels that should meet the demands of the most discerning luxury traveller.

Four Seasons - Los Angeles

Billed as European grace combined with Beverly Hills style, The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles features a landscaped, rooftop pool and Jacuzzi and a luxurious full-service spa with a steam sauna. The award-winning Gardens Restaurant offers California-Mediterranean cuisine. In every room there is a high-speed Internet connection, and the hotel is ten minutes by car from downtown Hollywood.

Grand America Hotel - Salt Lake City, Utah

In downtown Salt Lake City, the 24-storey Grand America Hotel has 775 luxurious rooms and suites that feature European-style furnishings, with stunning views to the Rocky Mountains. There is a world-class spa and the fitness centre leads to indoor and outdoor pools. The in-house audio-visual systems are state-of-the-art and the popular Garden Café features American seasonal cuisine.

JW Marriott Camelback Inn - Scottsdale, AZ

This well-known Scottsdale resort, set on 125 acres of landscaped desert, includes a 36-hole championship golf course, two heated swimming pools, a luxury spa, and a large conference facility. There are 453 spacious, Pueblo-style ‘casitas’, including 27 suites, some with private pools. Resort restaurants include Golf Grill, Hoppin’ Jacks, and Sprouts.

Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown - Washington, D.C.

Located in Washington DC’s fashionable Georgetown district, with 86 guest rooms and suites, the Ritz-Carlton merges contemporary and historic architecture. Within walking distance of many shopping districts, fine dining choices, trendy nightclubs, and the waterfront, the hotel is also only minutes from the Kennedy Centre. There are meeting facilities for up to 90 people, and a fourteen-screen movie theatre.

Ritz-Carlton - Central Park South, New York

With expansive views of Central Park and extraordinary, personal service, this 261-room and 48-suite hotel is much in demand by celebrities and royalty. Elegant rooms and suites are lavish, with fine furnishings and all amenities. French cuisine is served at the Atelier restaurant, and beauty treatments are available at La Prairie salon.

The American Club - Kohler, Wisconsin

The American Club is less than an hour’s drive north of Milwaukee. Luxuriously appointed rooms are finished to the highest standards and include the latest audio-visual and communications facilities. The award-winning golf courses, Blackwolf Run and Whistling Straits, give preference to hotel guests. The spa packages include rejuvenating services, and their annual cooking and wine demonstrations attract wine and food enthusiasts from far and wide.

The Fairmont Olympic Hotel - Seattle, Washington

Listed on the National Register, The Fairmont has been Seattle’s top luxury hotel since it opened in 1924. Located in the heart of Seattle, The Olympic combines impeccable service with 450 beautifully appointed rooms, and its two award-winning restaurants have a top reputation for fine cuisine. Nearby attractions include the famous Pike Place Market, Seattle Waterfront, and Space Needle, plus many theatres, restaurants, and shops.

The Greenbrier- White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia

Since 1835, a succession of U.S. Presidents has spent their summers here. Accommodation includes estate houses and 803 individual rooms. All accommodations have top-line entertainment systems, refreshment bars, lighted vanity mirrors, individual heating/air conditioning, and access to high-speed, wireless Internet.

The Phoenician - Scottsdale, Arizona

Exceptional service and breathtaking scenery make The Phoenician a top luxury resort. Guests enjoy an $8 million dollar art collection, spa treatments and the Southwest’s most spectacular golf course. The gilded lobby has valley views, and large well-appointed rooms are finished to the highest standards. Guests can also receive massage therapies, skin and body treatments and expert hair and nail services.

Walden Country Inn & Stables - Aurora, Ohio

The Walden, set on 32 acres around a 175-year-old barn and silo, has 25 luxuriously appointed suites that include full audio and televisual facilities. In-room services include massage and a maid service. Popular for relaxing getaways, weddings and executive retreats, visitors enjoy world-class dining, inconspicuous service and a wealth of activities such as an equestrian centre, a spa and a theatre.

Johnsie - spa ct

UPDATED : Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel - Luxury Hotel in Hollywood, CA

So, you finally got your spa delivered and filled with water but there is something missing. That something most likely is a spa enclosure. Not only will a spa enclosure give you added privacy and protection from the elements but it will also protect the spa itself from the elements as well.

The first question you will want to ask yourself, is what type of spa enclosure are you interested in? Are you just interested in one or two short and simple walls that can block the wind and your neighbors view? Or are you interested in a full decorative enclosure that also includes a roof?

After you have made that decision then it is time to decide how you are going to have what you want built. One path to take, is to do it yourself. If you have no previous experience then you may be better of hiring someone. Of course the other option is to go the pre fab route.

For one thing, if you have no prior building experience you are not going to have the tools either. Also, bear in mind that your finished product will definitely not be a professional job. So, these are two top things that you will want to consider before you head down to your local lumber yard.

Today there is an ever increasing selection of pre fabricated spa enclosures to choose from. These are something that you can put together yourself and you can rest assured that the finished results will be just fine.

They come in a wide range of styles to match your homes architectural style and they are available built in a wide range of materials as well. The great thing about these pre fabricated spa enclosures is that the more decorative models all come with all the fine details complete. That is that you won’t have to cut anything.

Cicely - spa langkawi

UPDATED : IPC Team - pool and spa enclosures, snow removal

Typically, designing and deploying radio frequency identification (RFID) applications is a lengthy and detailed process requiring input from specialists in multiple fields. Consequently, many small to medium-sized businesses intrigued by the technology find that they are unable to develop a business justification that will offset the costs of both planning and implementing an RFID solution, despite the falling prices of RFID tags and equipment.

Unfortunately, not all businesses have a choice when it comes to integrating RFID into their business processes. Mandates set forth by the Department of Defense (DoD) and Wal-Mart demand that certain suppliers label their goods with standardized RFID tags. Not surprisingly, suppliers whose only motivation to use RFID technology is to comply with such mandates are interested in meeting the requirements with minimal expenditures of time, effort, and resources. This situation is so prevalent that its solution is now commonly referred to as “slap-and-ship” or “tag-and-ship”.

Slap-and-ship RFID applications are just what they sound like: placing an RFID tag or smart label on the items and shipping them to the customer(s) (e.g., Wal-Mart) who wanted the items tagged. In addition to allowing businesses to avoid making a large capital investment, tag-and-ship solutions require little or no software integration with existing warehouse management applications. (They can, however, be integrated if desired.)

RFID slap and ship usually takes place in a warehouse staging area and consists of two activities: encoding the tags with data and then applying the tags to the cases and pallets to be shipped.

Encoding RFID Tags with RFID Printers

RFID tags can be encoded with data either prior to or following the application of the tags to cases or pallets. The former method is the most common and involves using an RFID-enabled barcode printer to encode the data on the tag. RFID printers automatically test each tag and write the data, in the appropriate standardized format, before it’s printed. Note that it’s important to employ an RFID printer/encoder that uses a communications protocol that is compatible with the tags (e.g., Class 0, 0+, or 1).

The second option for encoding RFID tags is to do so with an RFID reader after the tags have been applied to the cases and/or pallets. This method, however, is generally not used because it takes a lot more time and power to write data to an RFID tag than it does to read data, and the materials in the RF field can adversely affect the reader’s ability to encode the data. Furthermore, the time required to write data may force the conveyor speed to be reduced.

Applying RFID Tags to Cases and Pallets

Tags may be attached to items in one of two ways: manually or automatically. Manual application is ideal for tagging items that are shipped in small quantities, but this approach may not be as effective as it sounds, particularly in situations where the position of the SKU is important. Because a half-inch difference in position can affect the SKU’s performance, warehouse workers applying the tags would need to apply the tags with great precision, which is not a realistic expectation.

Alternatively, RFID-encoded tags may be applied through an automated process, which is perfect for systems that involve high precision and/or high volume. Automatic tag applicators are capable of achieving placement with 1-mm precision. They can also automate the encoding of the tags.

Summary

Tag-and-ship is an adequate solution for small to medium-sized companies that need to comply with RFID mandates but cannot justify an investment in a comprehensive, long-term RFID solution. Companies that choose the slap-and-ship approach need to consider how they will encode and apply the RFID tags to cases and pallets. In the majority of instances, the most sensible solution is to encode the tags prior to their application and automate both processes if possible.

Maryanna - spa langkawi

UPDATED : Brother RFID label printer with integrated reader/writer