October 24, 2023
Mandara Spa at The Cove, Atlantis, has been named the top spa in North America for the second consecutive year by Haute Grandeur.
The award places Mandara Spa in a category with the highest-ranking spas worldwide in top luxury destinations from Australia to Qatar, Hong Kong to UAE.
According to Haute Grandeur, the prestigious initiative which ranks hotels, dining and other hospitality experiences, Mandara’s award is regarded as “the pinnacle of achievement for spas globally.”
“This is such a proud moment for us. Being named top spa in North America for two consecutive years is amazing and is a tribute to our dedicated staff who make every guest experience special,” said Mandara Regional Vice President Youlanda Deveaux.
Executive Vice President of Hotel Operations for Atlantis Russell Miller offered congratulations.
“We at Atlantis applaud Mandara Spa as they celebrate this well-deserved honour. We congratulate Mandara for continuing to maintain the high standard of excellence that creates a great guest experience and keeps Atlantis guests coming back,” Miller said.
According to Deveaux, who reviews guest comment cards daily, it’s the people of Mandara who continue to make the spa at the world-famous Paradise Island resort a winner.
“It’s all about the people of Mandara,” she says. “We have an initiative we call ‘Bring Your Happy to Work’ and they do. Every employee is responsible for creating the environment they work in and making it a happy, welcoming place. Guests tell us repeatedly how much they value their experience at Mandara because of their interaction with the people. It’s the Bahamian personality that shines.”
Curating a winning team does not happen by accident, she notes.
“In addition to recognition and rewards, we sponsor a whole array of self-help and self-improvement initiatives for our staff to feel good about themselves and their well-being. We sponsor fitness classes, dance with an Alvin Ailey dancer, yoga-paddleboard and Ariel, cycling, boot camp and HIIT 45 classes,” she says. Every member of staff is also enrolled in a swimming program and there is no member of staff who is not a swimmer.
“Treating them to be the best they can be is our way of celebrating our employees,” explains Deveaux. “We believe if our employees are happy, they will make our guests happy.”
Deveaux says guests also treasure another secret ingredient.
“One of the most interesting things that sets up apart is something we offer that comes from the very root of our heritage – Bahamian bush tea,” she smiled. “Our ‘tea chefs’ prepare it fresh daily using all-natural herbs and leaves.
“Guests love it so much that the spa is often the last stop they make as they check out, just picking up more to take home and enjoy keeping the memory of The Bahamas alive until their next trip to Paradise.”