The gentle purr of the “ahh” response accounts for 8 percent total revenue for the Turf Valley Resort and 10 percent total revenue if you count special hotel packages. It’s not surprising, however, to owner Pete Mangione who predicted a spa addition would increase revenue and awareness for the hotel. Mangione admits the spa attracts mostly locals, but the addition has been great for the hotel’s restaurant, Alexandra’s, where creative and varied spa packages include breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Turf Valley was on the cutting edge when they added the spa in 1998 to the hotel amenity mix, the only one of its kind in Maryland.

Turf Valley Resort is nestled in the rolling hills of central Maryland, in a setting as tranquil and beautiful as the spa treatments are relaxing and rejuvenating. The 75-minute Swedish couples massage is the most popular among the spa services. The Vichy shower, another popular treatment, provides invigorating hydro-therapeutic water massage through several showerheads that fall perfectly over the reflex pathways of the body. I chose the real milk and honey body wrap while my husband opted for the sea glow body polish. We agreed the Vichy rainfall shower was the highlight of all treatments. Spa experiences give the mind and body an overall sense of well-being; suddenly life seems synchronized.

While receiving the smooth-as-silk milk and honey Vichy shower I was reminded of a thought I had when I was GM of a hotel 17 years ago. My mother was a visionary of food and nutrition, and I wanted to adapt her forward thinking ways to the hotel’s morning and afternoon meeting break menu options. Three decades ago, fresh fruit protein-packed smoothies were a breakfast staple in our home. We started the day energetic and alert. I wanted to make sure meeting planners had the option of fruit smoothies for mid-morning and/or mid-afternoon meeting breaks.

Smoothies now can be found on many hotel spa menus and are becoming popular at meeting breaks. They can be served with a spoon and accompanied with rice cakes and sides of almond and/or peanut butter.

In a world where the hustle and bustle of life often take precedence over relaxing or taking care of oneself, adding nutritional selections to the restaurant and banquet menu keeps your hotel in the forefront when future guests decide which hotel to choose for their next weekend getaway, meeting, or vacation.

Kerry Dunnington is the author of This Book Cooks (www.thisbookcooks.com).