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Leela’s “Jewel on the Lake” Welcomes India’s First ESPA

One of India’s most renowned luxury hotel groups has partnered with the world’s top spa brand to bring its award-winning spa experience to one of India’s most popular destinations. The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts’ newest property in Udaipur, in India’s Rajasthan, is welcoming the first ESPA in India.

The luxurious Leela Palace Kempinski Udaipur – this historic city’s first five-star property to open in seven years – lies on the banks of beautiful Lake Pichola.

All 80 luxurious rooms and suites – along with the spa’s majestic Rajasthani tents, set in the Leela’s gardens – have captivating views of this romantic heritage city and the surrounding majestic Aravili Mountains.

Debuting last month, the ESPA Spa at The Leela offers all the traditional treatments as well as Ayurvedic therapies in nine spa tents fit for a maharaja.

Guests are welcomed at the Reception Tent at the Lake Spa with a foot cleansing ritual with Rosehip and essential oils of ginger, clove and lime.

Five other tents there include: two Royal Palace Spa Suites with private pool and garden, a couples’ tent, one for yoga and another for manicures and pedicures. The Haveli Spa has three tents with five individual treatment rooms.

Guests may choose the four-hour “Royal Princesses of Rajasthan” treatment, which includes a salt and oil scrub, one-hour aromatherapy massage, facial and firming eye treatment and ends with a conditioning hair and scalp treatment. The three-hour “Ayurvedic Touch” features an Ayurvedic abhyanga massage and Shirodhara or Shirobhyanga.

“Our first palace hotel in Rajasthan is truly a ‘Jewel by the Lake.’ The designers have captured the grandeur of Udaipur’s architectural heritage,” says Vivek Nair, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts. Commenting on the partnership with ESPA, Nair explains, “ESPA’s core beliefs and values make them an ideal partner for The Leela. We both aim to provide our guests with the finest five-star service.”

Susan Harmsworth, CEO and Founder of ESPA says, “Each partnership we undertake is underpinned by similar ideals, beliefs and a mutual commitment to integrity, standards and training. There is a clear synergy between ESPA and The Leela, with both companies’ philosophies very much aligned.”

Renowned architect Bill Bensley and interior designer Jeffrey Wilkes have created a palatial modern showpiece inspired by the art and architecture of Rajasthan. The luxury hotel has two restaurants, a lounge and bar. A fitness center comes equipped with steam rooms, all the latest equipment and personal trainers.

Prices for body treatments and Ayurvedic therapies range from about $43 (INR 1,950) for a firming eye treatment to $172 (7,800 INR) for the Ayurvedic abhyanga massage. The “Royal Princesses of Rajasthan” treatment is priced at $300 and the “Art of Ayurveda” costs $215. Contact: central.reservations@theleela.com

About ESPA

ESPA is the world’s leading total spa company building award winning spas in five continents across the globe. Years of experience covering strategy, operational, conceptual and development elements of spas combined with an in depth knowledge of differing cultures, products and treatments, result in a Company which is well rounded and genuinely committed to inspired natural products, treatments and continual spa development.

Recognised as leaders in spa, ESPA consistently remains at the “cutting edge” of the Spa Industry, continuously adding to its worldwide accolades, with recent awards that include:

Best Spa Brand in Spa Finder’s 2008 Readers Choice Awards and Best Spa Company & Best Educators in 2008 Spa Asia Crystal Awards.

About The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts

The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts has established a global leadership position in the luxury hospitality industry offering hotels in premier locations, elegant facilities and personalized service to the world’s most discerning travelers.

It’s bouquet of award-winning hotels includes:

The Leelas in Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa, Kovalam (Kerala), Gurgaon and Udaipur.

The group is introducing hotels in New Delhi (2010) and Chennai (2011,) with future plans to develop hotels in Agra, Hyderabad and Pune.

The group has marketing alliances with Germany based Kempinski (Hoteliers since 1897); US based Preferred Hotel Group and are members of Global Hotel Alliance based in Geneva, Switzerland.

For further information, please visit www.theleela.com