Norwich Inn to give spa at Foxwoods a makeover

Mashantucket - The Spa at Norwich Inn will make over the spa at Foxwoods Resort Casino in March, the casino has announced. Both properties are owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe.

"We're thrilled to welcome The Spa at Norwich Inn - a true leader in the spa industry - to the Foxwoods family," Michael Speller, president of Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprises, said in a statement. "We're confident that our guests will enjoy the quality and services for which the spa is renowned."

Foxwoods' existing spa, the Grand Salon & Spa, located on the ninth floor of the casino's Grand Pequot Tower, will close March 15 for renovations, staff training and "brand conversion," and will reopen March 29, according to a Foxwoods spokeswoman. The casino has yet to settle on a new name for the spa.

The Mashantucket Pequots acquired the Norwich Inn and Spa in 1994, and in 2000 completed a $15 million renovation that doubled the size of the spa, according to the spa's Web site.

The Grand Salon & Spa's 70 employees will remain Foxwoods employees with no change in their benefits, the spokeswoman said. The transition will not affect employees at the Spa at Norwich Inn, she said.

The Spa at Norwich Inn, a member of the National Trust Historic Hotels of America, has received numerous awards and accolades, including "Best Destination Spa in New England" in 2005's 70th anniversary issue of Yankee Magazine; "Best Resort in Connecticut" in the 2006 edition of New England Travel & Life; and, for 10 consecutive years, was voted "Best Day Spa in Connecticut" by readers of Connecticut Magazine.

"Our new relationship with Foxwoods will no doubt create another venue at which our loyal clientele can enjoy the quality experience they're accustomed to in a completely new environment," John O'Shaughnessy, general manager of The Spa at Norwich Inn, said.

The tribally owned MGM Grand at Foxwoods also offers a luxury spa, the 21,000-square-foot G Spa owned by style mogul Gretta Monahan.

b.hallenbeck@theday.com