EDELWEISS PENTHOUSE
Why We Love It: The immense natural beauty of Canada’s Lake Okanagan saturates this handsome,dark-wood abode thanks to wide “window walls”that slide open, trans- forming your suite into a terrace.
Swarovski crystal accent pieces add a touch of sparkle throughout, especially above the free- standing soaking tub that occupies prime, window-side real estate—the perfect perch come sunset.
- Square Footage: 1,200
- Rate: From $1,000
SPARKLING HILL RESORT
The site of unparalleled natural beauty and award-winning architectural magnificence, Sparkling Hill Resort is a one-of-a-kind $122 million masterpiece—the only resort in the world to incorporate Swarovski crystal elements into every aspect of its design,amounting to more than 3.5 million crystals worth over $10 million.
Sparkling Hill is named for the dramatic light reflections from Lake Okanagan that inspired the resort’s hallmark “crystal architecture” design.Behind the magic is principal owner Gernot Langes-Swarovski, patriarch of the Swarovski family and former head of the legendary crystal empire that bears his family name. As much a destination as the spellbinding location it inhabits, Sparkling Hill Resort is the only public place outside of the Swarovski crystal showroom in Wattens, Austria where all of the design, technology and ingenuity of Swarovski can be viewed and experienced in one location.
Located between Vancouver and the Canadian Rockies,this spectacular hideaway is carved into a granite rock face high on a ridge.The resort’s elegant, European-inspired design juxtaposes a decidedly urban vibe with the raw honest beauty of the landscape. Arrive by limo from the closest airport, just 20 minutes away,or take a six-minute helicopter transfer from Kelowna International Airport, where private jets land around the clock.
All 146 rooms at the resort are open concept with unforgettable panoramic views. Rooms literally transform into an outdoor patio by means of a sliding glass window wall. Freestanding tubs hold prime window-side real estate, and beautiful Swarovski crystal elements are woven into the décor.
Sparkling Hill’s crowning jewel is the 40,000-square-foot KurSpa, Canada’s largest spa oasis.Its signature Cryotherapy Cold Sauna (a frigid, though very invigorating-110 degrees Celsius/-166 degrees Fahrenheit) is North America’s first. A vast array of pampering treatments,acres upon acres of gorgeous private walking trails and seasonal cuisine cater to guests’ health and wellness goals.
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For execs looking to temper their leisure and relaxation with a little work, Sparkling Hill—home to10,000 square feet of meeting space, including a private eight-room executive wing with boardroom and lounge—is the perfect host for destination meetings and corporate retreats. Here the meeting environment is designed to be naturally relaxing, inspiring and energizing.
MIKE WEIR | PROFESSIONAL GOLFER, Sparkling Hill Resort
While playing on the PGA tour, I stay at many world-class hotels and Sparkling Hill Resort is among the very best I have visited. For the ultimate Canadian escape, you can’t beat the European-inspired Kur Spa, breathtaking views of Lake Okanagan,golf at award-winning Predator Ridge and wine tasting in Canada’s‘ Napa-North. See you there.
CEO Hans-Peter Mayr
888 Sparkling Place,Vernon, British Columbia, Canada
(250) 275-1556
TOP SUITES: EDELWEISS PENTHOUSE, ENZIAN PENTHOUSE, ARNIKA PENTHOUSE
Number of rooms in suite: Two
Number of entrances to suite: Two
Number of baths: One and one half-bath; the sleek,spacious masterbath showcases views of the 84-mile Lake Okanagan, endless mountains and stunning sunsets from floor-to-ceiling walls of glass,while the natural setting ensures perfect privacy. Luxuriate in a freestanding soaking tub with Swarovski crystal sky, separate walk-in shower for two,solid granite dual sinks and private sauna/steamroom.
Suite style: Refined, Swarovski crystal-inspired elegance by Swarovski crystal and interior design created by Seeton Shinkewski Design Group of Vancouver, B.C.; glass walls bring the outdoors in,while inside,handsome hardwood floors,Swarovski crystal works of art and European flair set the tone for a rich, yet laid-back abode.
Key selling points: Each of the resort’s three sumptuous corner penthouses features a bedroom with gas fireplace and separate living and dining room.Nature saturates the space thanks to floor-to-ceiling glass walls,while a sliding window wall transforms your room into an outdoor patio.Views are mesmerizing, and you’ll be witness to the most amazing sunsets night after night.The Enzian Penthouse also offers guests an outdoor patio perfectly positioned to catch the sun by day, and host enchanting romantic dinners by night.
Number of suites in hotel: Three penthouses
- Square footage: 1,200
- Nightly rate: From $1,000
SPA & FITNESS
Merging the German word for healing, “kur” and the Latin word for health by water,“spa,” KurSpa offers 40,000 square feet of therapeutic paradise, where flowing water soothes, re- juvenates,invigorates and cleanses.
Designed by an Austria-based industry leader, KurSpa boasts 48 treatment rooms and over 100 transformative treatments and therapies that utilize pure thermal water, Dead Sea salts,volcanic dust and essential oils of plants and flowers.Guests seeking a comprehensive detox program meet with the resident naturopathic physician who will tailor-make a treatment and nutrition plan for the length of their stay. Among the spa’s many features are experience showers,seven unique steams and saunas, an indoor pool with underwater music and light, Kneippwater therapy and specialized aromatherapy and themed couple’s treatment rooms. Open,airy and flooded with natural light, the spa is both uplifting and soothing,an oasis of calm and tranquility.
Signature treatments: KurSpa touts North America’s first Cryotherapy Cold Sauna (-110 degrees Celsius/-166degrees Fahrenheit),offering a treatment popular in Europe and widely used by Olympic athletes and sports clubs to enhance performance and recovery. Although hard to believe, three minutes’ exposure to extreme cold helps to heal those suffering from an array of ailments,including inflammation,arthritis and joint pain.
The spa’s Integrative MedicalClinic enhances traditional spa services with naturopathic and homeopathic medicine including a healthy seven-day weight loss program and more.Guests can partake in a customized detox program for one to three weeks,complete with a private dining room and anti-aging program designed to impart greater vitality and optimal health.
TOP RESTAURANTS
PeakFine: Sparkling Hill’s signature dining room offers stunning sunset views over Lake Okanagan with private sections for a more intimate dining experience.
Sample a delicious blend of European culinary practices and West Coast gastronomy with a focus on local and seasonal fare sourced from the heart of the Okanagan Valley and the shores of British Columbia.
Barrique & Java: This European pastry and coffee lounge serves small plates throughout the day,and in the evening transforms into a comfortable retreat in which to sip intoxicating cocktails and drink in the view. The wine bar features some of the Okanagan’s finest wines alongside a wide selection from across the globe.
Private dining at Gernot’s: Rustic chic is the name of the game at Gernot’s,a private space decked with 100-year-old barn wood reclaimed from nearby, as well as rich leather furniture, a glittering Swarovski crystal chandelier and glowing fireplace.Serving as private club room to Gernot Langes- Swarovski when he’s at the resort, Gernot’s can accommodate parties of up to 50.
TOP GOLF
Predator Ridge Golf Resort, just two minutes from Sparkling Hill, is one of North America’s best golf resorts, offering 36 championship holes.
The Doug Carrick-designed Ridge Course opened in 2010,sports breathtaking views that give way to dramatic elevation changes and is regarded as one of Canada’s best.The Predator Course, designed by legendary architect Les Furber, is a true links-style course with rolling hills,long grasses and undulating greens.For those looking to hone their game, The Predator Ridge Academy—led by former two-time winner PGA pro Richard Zokol, former LPGA pro AJ Eathorne and CPGA pro Mike Soergel—has an instruction level unmatched in Canada.
SPECIAL EXPERIENCES
Half- or full-day heli-wine tours: This breathtaking lake country is also home to Canada’s Napa Valley (200 plus wineries); hop a helicopter from the resort’s helipad for a heli-wine tour that soars through canyon sand over glaciered mountaintops, and takes in the renowned Mission Hill Family Estate and Ex Nihilo wineries to name a few.
Sample wines,and opt between a gourmet picnic lunch atop a mountain or a three-course lunch at the Mission Hill Family Estate Terrace Restaurant.
Heli-skiing packages: Adrenaline junkies love the resort’s small group heli-ski packages,complete with muscle-soothing treatments at KurSpa after a day spent tearing up the famed Monashee Mountains’ wide open bowls,long unbroken chutes and naturally spaced forests.With expert guides leading the way, experience some of the best untrodden powder on the planet. For the less adventurous,Sun Peaks,Silver Star and Big White ski resorts tout top downhill trails and light dry powder.
Heli-fly fishing: Accessible from the resort are BritishColumbia’s best private alpine lakes—heaven for fans of flyfishing. Journey to cowboy country nearby Stoney Lake via helicopter for a full day’s fly fishing for trophy-sized rainbow trout with Prude’s Fly Fishing Adventures.
AWARDS & RATINGS
• World’s Best Spa Resort in the Mountain Category, SENSES Wellness Awards, Berlin, 2011 • Best Spa or Pool in the 150+ room category, EnRoute Hotel Design Awards
• AAA Four Diamond Property
