First came great golf in 1992. Next, luxury four-diamond hotels were added. Now the latest hospitality advances in Alabama feature world-class spas – five of them – and the creation of the Robert Trent Jones Spa Trail.



“From traditional warm stone massages to caviar facials, the RTJ Spa Trail features five spas across Alabama offering innovative treatments in exquisite settings,” said Steve Solberg, president and CEO of PCH Hotels & Resorts. Owned by the Retirement Systems of Alabama, the RTJ Spa Trail is part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Resort Collection. Spas are in Marriott and Renaissance Hotels in Point Clear, Mobile, Montgomery, Hoover and Florence. All have earned Four Diamond ratings by AAA.

“With 57,000 square feet of space collectively, the Spa Trail locations feature 38 treatment rooms and more than 130 employees dedicated to creating relaxing and rejuvenating experiences for our guests,” said Solberg. “From the shores of Mobile Bay to the edge of the Tennessee River, the Spa Trail features some of the country’s best spas. We currently are tied with Hawaii in the number of quality spas recognized by BestSpasUSA and we still have two more to be reviewed.” Arizona, California and Florida are the top three states, followed by Alabama and Hawaii.

“The RTJ Spa Trail features the two main attributes of the renowned RTJ Golf Trail: quality and value,” said Solberg. “The combination of great golf, hotels and now spas is appealing to both the leisure traveler and business meeting groups. The value of these quality experiences is very important to our guests in this current economic climate. Named as the top value for golf by Golf Digest in 2008, the Trail and its resorts offer affordable meeting and getaway options at a time when we can certainly use one.”

As part of the new Spa Trail, an annual RTJ Spa Trail Card was created to offer discounts on spa services, hotel rooms, dining and retail shopping. A complimentary glass of wine, extended use of the spa facilities and free make-up touch ups are additional values offered to Spa Trail Card members. The RTJ Spa Trail Card costs $40 and comes with a $20 gift card which can be used in any of the five spas. “Guests having spa treatments at each of the RTJ Spa Trail’s five locations will earn a free treatment of their choice at any of the spas,” said Solberg. A $20 gift card to be used in any of the five spas. Other bonuses of the spa card include a 25% discount on spa services, 25% discount on regular room rates, 25% off all spa retail products, 10% discount on food and beverages in the hotel, and complimentary make-up touch up or complimentary paraffin dip for feet or hands (a $25 value). Also, a complimentary glass of wine in the spa after the spa service and complimentary day spa use the day before or the day after a spa service for hotel guests (a $25 value).

How to Purchase: RTJ Spa Trail Cards can be purchased at the five spa location or by calling the spa directly. The Spa Trail card is good for one year from the date of purchase. Discounts are for the cardholder only and don’t apply to other discounts or promotions.

Those who have a spa service at each of the five spas on the Spa Trail and have their RTJ Spa Trail Card stamped will receive a free spa treatment of their choice up to a $100 value.