An Escape To Paradise

Clear Essence Wellness and Spa Resort reveals its quintessential services during a media tour

Behind the bland high wall simply marked 13 on Alexandra Road, Ikoyi, Lagos lies an exotic world of lush garden and soothing waterfalls which have music seeping from loudspeakers embedded in broken rocks. Welcome to Clear Essence California Wellness and Spa Resort, CECWSR, a leader in the health hospitality industry. Opened in 2008, the subsidiary of California, United States-based Bluefield Incorporated, makers of renowned Clear Essence cosmetics products, is a multi-faceted hospitality provider. The resort comprises 18 accommodation rooms, a cutting-edge spa equipped with a fitness gym, restaurant, conference room and a banquet hall, among other amenities. Leading journalists on a tour of facilities, the CECWSR management revealed that its garden has become an inspiring habitat for writers, art enthusiasts and nature lovers.

The accommodation, which comes in four categories – Comfort, Opulence, Vista and Luxury – consists of luxury suites, three private cottages and two private villas, all well-scented and stocked with customised robes and slippers for guests use and, naturally, Clear Essence beauty products. The lowest priced Comfort class is for single occupancy. It is equipped with free wi fi, double mattresses with goose-feather pillows, mini bar and multi-jet shower. The Opulence rooms are more spacious, with small reading table, mini sitting area, mini bar, Jacuzzi, double mattresses and goose pillows. The Vista rooms are even bigger, have king size beds, bigger reading table, Jaccuzzi and multi-jet shower.

Luxury rooms, otherwise called Beverly Hills, are the biggest and costliest. Each has a large sitting area, two television sets, two large wardrobes, a coffee section, a bedroom with a king size bed and reading table, both Jacuzzi and multi-jet shower, and a beautiful  garden view.

On entry, the feel-good essence of the resort is felt right from the large sitting arena adorned with cool artworks, called the Hollywood Lounge, into which guests are ushered. The lounge is adjacent the Vineyard restaurant, which sits up to 40 diners. Leading to the restaurant is a large, neatly arranged cellar stocked with choice American wines. From the main building, one is led through the garden area to another building housing the spa and event halls. The spa comprises 10 treatment rooms, a dipping pool, scented room showers, sauna, yoga studio and fitness gym. It offers over 50 types of treatments, done by Balinese therapists, and has fitness and wellness advisers. It also runs consultancy services for members; outside clients have to book in advance.

The resort’s event centre features a 200-capacity Banquet Hall, known as Pasedena, and a boardroom facility for 15 people. CECSWR offers exclusive membership programmes, ranging from one, three, six and 12 months duration, entitling guests to various concessions.

CECSWR’s Sales and Marketing Manager, Omolade Olatawura, said that, based on the different world class services it offers, the resort could aptly be described as “Nigeria’s only luxury destination spa”.

“Our unique services once prompted a guest to describe CECSWR as ‘Lagos’ best kept secret’, because she was surprised she could get here in Nigeria what obtains in advanced countries.

“Our services are essential life-altering because we focus on the general well-being of our clients, while offering them an escape from the chaos and stress of Lagos life,” she said.

To clients, it is a California experience in Nigeria.

 —Fola Ademosu