Head To Hill Country

Mokara Spa debuts at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in the heart of Texas.

- Marlene Goldman

STARING FACE DOWN at a white chrysanthemum, a flower Confucius once suggested be used as an object of meditation, my mind began to reset after a stressful few weeks.

The spider mum set the tone for the next hour of bliss as I sampled a normally 75-minute Mokara Spa signature massage replete with hot and cold stones for loosening stiff joints and treating inflammation, detoxifying ginger oil and a magical set of hands that knew how to untie more than a few knots.

I was on a venture to the Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin’s Hill Country, promoting its May debut of an expansive resort renovation, including the introduction of the 13,000-square-foot Mokara, the biggest spa in the Mokara brand with 20 treatment rooms, including three couple’s rooms.

Having the three couple’s rooms proves a benefit according to spa director Jackie Flory, who previously served as spa director for the Mokara Spa at the Omni San Antonio.

“At a lot of spas, the couple rooms book up immediately. In San Antonio, they are booked on a busy weekend, so having more will be really nice,” Flory said. “One will have a hydrotherapy room. We’ll be able to offer couple’s body treatments as well.”

Flory is introducing similar amenities that helped make the Mokara Spa at the Omni San Antonio part of a Forbes-rated property. The key is attention to detail and level of service.