Steps from Rodeo Drive, the grand dame Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, cannot shed its Pretty Woman allure. Frankly, why would it? The film, about a woman who is given a chance to feed and illuminate her inner light, is a reflection of what this luxurious hotel does best. That’s especially evident in its Spa at Beverly Wilshire, a newly renovated sanctum of transformation that enkindles guests’ souls like no other nook in the whole legendary haven.
In that spa, Gillian Garcia stands at the helm—a kind of spa sorceress with an intuitive sense of what her clients need. She is the sort of person who radiates light at a glimpse, let alone when she’s working on you. In chaotic times, she instills calm. In better times, she fortifies and informs. She is a magic wand amongst spa therapists. We asked her a few questions, and here’s what she said . . .
Gillian Garcia
Insider’s Guide to Spas: Not only do your clients (many of them well known glitterati) call you a “skin angel,” nearly everyone who has felt your ministrations (including me) refer to you as a healer. Tell us about yourself and describe your journey to the Spa at Beverly Wilshire.
Gillian Garcia: I graduated with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. When I moved to LA in 2000, I initially thought I would pursue my career as a pastry chef, but I fell in love with the spa world when I joined the Beverly Wilshire. I understood that to be a successful spa director, I would need to learn the ‘ropes’ of the industry. I then went to massage school and esthetics school right after. After gaining experience working as a spa coordinator/supervisor at The Spa at Beverly Wilshire, and a part-time massage therapist in a renowned day spa for a few years, I realized I wanted to focus on the ‘healing’ part of the business and create innovative treatments. My spa director at that time opened a position for me when we remodeled the spa in 2005, and I’ve been part of the spa’s growth ever since.
IGTS: Beverly Wilshire is a storied hotel, full of legends, perhaps with some ghosts, but brandishing a palpable good energy. You surely feel it as you convey it, build on it and enwrap your clients with it. How would you describe this hotel, this spa ,and your calling to be here?
GG: The Spa at Beverly Wilshire is the ‘jewelry box’ of Beverly Hills. I feel that, just like any precious gem, there are no two alike. Every guest, every treatment, every therapist is unique and we embrace the differences that make us all feel special in our own ways. This spa has given me a platform to discover products and create treatments that are one-of-a-kind and specifically tailored to our guests.
IGTS: You’ve pointed out that each client is unique and that treatments are always customizable. Can you tell us about that?
GG: I believe that there are no two guests alike and no two therapists alike. I want to honor that diversity in ensuring we are fully present in making our guests’ spa treatment as effective and memorable as possible.
This hotel knows who it is, and it doesn’t want to be anyone else—and that’s refreshing in today’s world of generic luxury.
The spa reception area.
IGTS: As the Lead Spa Therapist, you’ve spent a tremendous amount of time noting what works and creating treatments that have meaning, rituals that are both relaxing but effective (which is, obviously very important in Hollywood and for all of your guests). You offer a mind-blowing Signature Facial that incorporates a range of layers, steps, stages, and techniques. The results last days, if not longer. Can you tell us about it?
GG: The Beverly Wilshire Signature Facial is a combination of touch and technology using the most advanced products for immediate results without downtime. I created this treatment for our guests who would like to have their skin ‘Red Carpet Ready’ but who also feel like they have gone on vacation by calming their nervous system’s ‘fight or flight’ response.
IGTS: Some of your signature treatments evoke sense of place, and you mentioned that they came to you as a sort of vision. They’re a metaphor of the Southern California, sun-dappled goodness that defines Beverly Hills and its environs. Two come to mind: California Radiance and Beverly Hills Journey. Can you briefly speak to their inspiration and what they’re like?
GG: I created both the California Radiance and Beverly Hills Journey so our guests can experience our ‘sense of place’ in treatment versions by using products and techniques that are distinctive to Beverly Hills, California. I wanted tourists to have a glimpse of what a local Beverly Hills lifestyle is in a spa setting.
IGTS: The spa imparts a glamorous Art Deco tranquility. Its centerpiece is the massively hypnotic purple amethyst in the aromatherapy room. Somehow this truly feels like heyday Hollywood chic to me, as if it were the sparkling gemstone of a silver screen siren’s dinner ring. But it’s also an earthy crystal full of healing powers. What qualities do you think it brings to the spa?
GG: The amethyst is a stone of tranquility, known to promote calmness and inner peace. Its protective energy can also ward off negativity and stress. The benefits of this beautiful gemstone are a parallel to what we offer in our spa treatments.
IGTS: What is your personal view of what a spa should offer today in our frenetic world?
The ethereal relaxation room.
GG: This spa is a true haven. What do you notice about guests when they leave? What gifts does it give? I believe that a spa should offer a place of healing, escape, and restoration. The treatments should be a combination of effective yet nurturing modalities that are fully customizable depending on how one feels in that moment.
IGTS: You were among the first to put 111Skin in a spa. Tell us why you love it.
GG: I’ve always believed in product lines that are untapped, backed with clinical studies, feel luxurious, and look amazing on your vanity. 111Skin embraces all of this, and both Dr. Yannis and Eva (founders) have been amazing trailblazers both in the medical and skin industry. It was a perfect partnership that has been successful with our guests.
IGTS: Anything else to add?
GG: The Spa at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, is a true sanctum of transformation. It is among the top spas in Los Angeles known for its exemplary customer service, hand-tailored treatments, wellness technology, and best-in-class team of therapists.
Becca Hensley
Becca Hensley is Editor at Large for Insider's Guide to Spas. Based in Austin, she writes regularly about travel and spas. She believes a good story draws you in like laughter in a crowded room, and challenges you to do it justice. She has written for scores of magazines and newspapers, including Houston Chronicle, Esquire, Harpers Bazaar, and Texas Monthly.