Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa has been voted Best Spa/Resort in the 2011 NorthBay biz readers poll.
What do you want in a vacation? Fine dining and wine tasting? Outdoor adventures? World-class golf? Indulgent spa services? Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa has them all.
“Some people come here and want to do everything. Their trip planner is packed with something new every day,” says Michelle Heston, regional director of public relations. “Others just really want to decompress and relax. They can be here several days and never leave the grounds.
“We can accommodate either type of traveler and make their stay exactly what they want. We do both very well. That flexibility makes us a great choice for groups—destination weddings, family reunions, company retreats—because we can make everyone happy.”
Eight years ago, the historic Sonoma Mission Inn (SMI; a resort since 1895, the current facility was built in 1927) became affiliated with the equally historic international luxury hotelier Fairmont and underwent a major restoration. “Since then, we’ve continued to improve our facilities and services,” says Heston. To obvious reward. In 2010 alone, it was singled out for excellence by Michelin Guide, Golf magazine, Spa magazine, Fodor’s Choice, Gayot and the state of California (for green practices; Fairmont has an extensive global initiative).
Michelin-star rated Santé, the Inn’s signature dining experience, offers what Gourmet magazine called “the best of the new Wine Country style.” Big 3 is the longest-standing diner in Sonoma, a spa café offers lighter fare to spa clients and poolside dining is available to guests in summer months. There’s also in-room dining and a lobby bar that serves food.
The spa, likewise, offers something for everyone. Heston says, “To be a spa of this size and magnitude, we rely on the backing of a company like Fairmont. We draw from its expertise to know what trends are globally—both as far as new technologies and what services are in-demand.”
Of course, massages remain the most popular service, “Because they’re what people know,” says Heston. But other, more eclectic offerings include fitness and nutritional assessments, kurs (spa treatments based on natural resources such as mineral water, mud baths, algae, herbs and essential oils), biomagnetism (which returns balance to the body using magnets) and floating treatments (which take place when you’re suspended in a “cocoon-like” flotation bed heated to 120 degrees).
If the great outdoors beckons, take a guided nature hike through the nearby hills or head over to Sam Whiting-designed Sonoma Golf Course, a private club that welcomes SMI guests to the links, practices tees, lessons and onsite grill.
If you’re not sure what you want to do, ask the SMI concierge staff for a suggestion. Says Heston, “They know everything. They’re all well-educated about Sonoma and Napa—not just wineries, but everything and anything you can imagine. It’s hard for me to explain their breadth of knowledge, but they seem to know everything that’s happening locally.
“It’s amazing the things they’ve been asked, and they can always find an answer: wedding dress repair at 2 a.m., best hiking trail, hidden restaurants, eclectic activities, personalized tours—you name it. It’s these types of specialized services that set us apart from a boutique hotel. We have the global backing to really be able to differentiate your stay.
“We’re a comprehensive resort with offerings to fit any guest,” says Heston. “But it’s more than that: You can have a great facility, but without the top level of service, guests won’t have a good stay experience. Our staff is an unbelievable group of people all committed to making sure our guests have exactly the stay they want.”
It’s a dedication to excellence that’s paid off once again, this time with a Best Of nod. “It makes us both proud and humble,” Heston says. “NorthBay biz readers are a community of ambassadors who continue to tout both us and the Sonoma Valley as an extraordinary destination. Thank you.”
