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| Grand Spa Thermal Resort |
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| La
Fortuna - Costa Rica |
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Society -
Extraordanary
June - 2008 |
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6
Stars & 5 Stripes
Overall - 'Resort & Service' |
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The Ultimate Award:
Seven Stars and Stripes® |
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| Our destination was the famous Tabacón Grand
Spa Thermal Resort in Fortuna, Costa Rica located near the base of the majestic
Arenal Volcano and the Arenal National Park. We expected an exotic paradise and
we were not to be disappointed. We flew Business with British Airways from
London Heathrow to the US East Coast and continued after a break on Long Island
with Intercontinental Business to Juan Santamaría Airport, Costa Rica.
Almost all air traffic to and from Costa Rica is handled through the Juan
Santamaría Airport, located thirty minutes from San José, in the
city of Alajuela. |
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| One of the staff members quickly opened a basket of
moist towels, which he had pulled from the accompanying hospitality bus, then
he reached with a serving tool into the basket and we gladly freshened up.
The
crew was well prepared for the two and a half hour ride on the Pan American
Highway from the airport to our destination resort. We were still in relatively
good shape after a long flight and an even more tiresome three hours delay at
our departure airport Newark, New York. Soon we were on the way and whenever we
looked out of the windows of the comfortable, solidly manufactured SUV this
beautiful Latin American country never failed to amaze us. A famous section of
the Pan-American Highway includes the Alaska Highway and the Inter-American
Highway, which is the section between the United States and the Panama Canal,
and since the highway passes through many countries, including the USA, it has
been non-conforming. |
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“…a system so vast, so incomplete, and so
incomprehensible it is not so much a road as
it is the idea of
Pan-Americanism itself…” ~ wrote Jake Silverstein of Harpers Bazar in
2006. |
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| The
Tabacón
Grand Spa Thermal Resort is located circa one hundred miles from San Jose,
Costa Rica's capital. During our pleasant ride to the resort we were offered
exquisite specialties in form of delicious hours d'oeuvres. We arrived at the
unique, inviting main-entrance of the resort, decorated, or rather 'naturally
surrounded' by the luscious, wild and diverse flora and the sounds of the
tropical rainforest. As we emerged from the perfectly AC'd SUV, we were
pleasantly surprised by the comfortable level of humidity still in the early
rain season. Costa Rica has only two seasons, which are called 'dry' and
'green', affording a mild climate and nice weather pretty much year-round.
Besides, we got very little rain during our stay. We received a grand arrival
ceremony at the main entrance, looked into open honest smiling faces of people
who love what they do, graciously offering us the exotic specialty drink of the
land. At the front desk we were welcomed first in Spanish and then in English.
The official language spoken in Costa Rica is Spanish, differentiating itself
from other Spanish speaking countries by the slower pace at which it is spoken
and its clear pronunciation. Within a couple of minutes the official part of
the check-in was done and we were guided to our accommodations. |
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The name Tabacón
originates back to a local hot spring pool and restaurant in the 1980s known as
Balneario Tabacón. Inspired by the natural assets of the location, a
team of Costa Rican investors had gotten together in the early 90th and hired
Architect Jaime Mikowski to design a world-class hot springs complex. Mikowski
was inspired to design a resort that makes its rain forest setting the focal
point featuring a natural thermal river with twelve hot spring pools, semi
secret lagoons, lush waterfalls, exotic gardens, wondrous trails, an amazing
spa and over a hundred luxurious accommodations. The Tabacón Grand Spa
Thermal Resort, which opened it doors to the public in early '93, has since
then become one of the 'Do Not Miss' tourist destinations of Costa Rica. The
resort has essentially contributed to the growth of La Fortuna and the Arenal
region, which is the second most visited region by international travelers
today. |
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| My accommodations were in one word 'handsome'
featuring cool earthy floor tiles, dark wooden doors and trimmings. It was so
uniquely laid-out that the suite appeared more spacious then it actually was.
The bellman familiarized me in decent English with my accommodations and
withdrew himself without expectations. The dark wooden furniture and natural
fabrics challenged the relaxed colors of the suite. The open air bath
facilities and the sapphire blue bath tub created the overall feeling of
stylish, comfortably, serenely designed luxury. I dropped my laptop on the desk
and here in the jungle of Costa Rica I was within seconds by WiFi connected
with the world. Trust me, my Skype conversation with Europe didn't last long, I
was too tired. Besides the melodious sounds and oblivious smells of the tropics
were demanding my undivided attention. I poured a glass of
superbly
chilled champagne, nipped on some of the freshly sliced luscious fruits,
gazed through the open fine-screened panorama window right into the rain forest
and yawned. But I could not resist
the
tub, filled with warm, rose-peddle scented mineral water and surrounded by
pretty, solid candle holders and large enough for three people, I stepped in.
This was the ultimate relaxation after the long trip. Soon thereafter I slipped
between the luxurious linens of my lonely bed until I woke up the next morning
from the sounds of the birds of this paradise. |
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| “How do you like the view?', team member Edmund
asked me later at breakfast at the Los Tucanes restaurant. We had a table
overlooking one of the pools with a waterfall adjoining the rain forest. He had
knocked at my door since I was running late. I had ordered orange juice and
coffee immediately after I woke up and to my surprise I was offered over a
dozen different coffees to choose from. Within minutes a careful knocking
indicated that room service had arrived after which I got lost as usual with my
Mac-book Pro and a cup of one of Costa Rica's finest. Edmund had already called
the service desk for a golf cart with a driver that was expecting us at the
entrance. Within two minutes we arrived at our destination, and a fabulous
breakfast feast was expecting us. Since coffee is big in Costa Rica, we had
been presented with a coffee menu and plenty of roasts to choose. Our waiter
was attentive and we were able to concentrate on this enticing, delicious,
artsy display. All on white, the smoked salmon, the prosciutto de Parma and all
the other colorful delicacies popped. The hot station chef prepared omelets and
waffles fresh from the griddle. A wonderful start for a promising
day. |
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| We were scheduled for a
Sky
Tram & Trek Tour that promises to become a truly exciting adventure! We
took the Tram up to one of the many mid-Costa Rican jungle mountains. While we
were gliding up the hill with ease we couldn't believe the multitude of monkeys
sitting and jumping around in the trees below us. I never thought of myself as
adventurous, little did I know that I was scheduled for one of the most
exciting experience-exercises of my live.
We
arrived at a Sky Tram platform from where we were able to observe the ever
moving, intense fauna of the jungle and then we tried a short ride in a
harness. It was interesting but that's all I wanted to risk, and given the
option… |
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| - after all, I am thirty-five. Our senior VP, who is
in his late sixties, didn't think twice. He zapped like Tarzan from plateau to
plateau and I so felt obliged to follow. I definitely felt my adrenaline
pumping, as
I
zipped hanging high on cables over the treetops. Our wonderful guides had
assured us before hand that their first concern was our safety; at no point
would we be ever in any danger and that we would at all times be connected to a
safety point. But this was something else. It was breathtaking, by any means,
and now I am glad that I didn't miss this. Other tours in the region include
white water rafting, waterfall rappelling, kayaking and ecological
tours. |
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| After that adventure I was kind of relieved to get
back to the
Grand
Spa, where we experienced the utmost level of serenity involving most of
ones senses. Re-discovering the balance of body and soul, supported by the
sounds, aromas, tastes and sides of this enchanted forest, under the guidance
of expertly trained therapists, was the goal this afternoon. I was glad. In the
middle of this Garden of Eden we received exclusive spa treatments in open-air
bungalows with private Jacuzzis and within close view of the
volcano. |
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By the way, Volcanoes!
We don't necessarily want to get to close to them, because they fall into the
category of unpredictability. Still, hundreds of thousands of tourists every
year taking the small risk; seeing an active volcano is exciting.
This
Volcano is alive and erupted the last time forty years ago. And on a clear
night you might be able to see thin orange lava streams running down from the
peak. I did, and I will return to see them again. This volcano is heating the
mineral river that is in its early 'spring' state still relatively hot.
The
mineral stream cools down passing through several of the natural and
man-made falls and pools while loosing temperature slowly as it winds down to
the valley. |
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| GM
Uwe Wagner had the natural Tabacon mineral waters analyzed in Taunusstein,
Germany where they were found to have an extremely high content of minerals and
other healing elements. There is no doubt that there is a direct effect on the
body, as the hot mineral waters open the pores almost instantly and allow the
healing elements easy access. The mineral pools and falls show very little
evidence that some man-made features were added, to keep the natural vision
intact. It was a natural spectacular that we had the great pleasure of
experiencing before we were scheduled for our first treatments at the
spa. |
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| First I was treated to foot reflexology, this one
should not be missed. The bowl for the feet as well as the chair was of solid
wood and smelled like the wild forest around me. I cannot get over the
Avocado-pit massage increasing circulation as well as detoxification. My
wonderful therapist rolled the pit of a large Avocado with light, but targeted
pressure along the soles of my feet. |
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| I did not want her to
stop. Foot reflexology was practiced as an ancient form of pressure treatment
(first noted in China and Egypt five thousand years ago) by using the
application of focused pressure on known reflex points. The various points
correspond to areas on and within the body and reflexology supports the release
of toxins.
A
final splash with warm mineral water made this unique treatment
complete. |
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| Later I followed my massage therapist Lorena on a
meandering, private path through wondrous gardens to a private hut that was
exposed on all sides to the rainforest. Here I received a combination of deep
tissue and Swedish massage that allowed my jetlagged body to relax and get
stretched. My therapist also concentrated on the deeper muscle and was able to
loosen them up. This kind of massage is said to increase the mobility of the
joints and improve the circulation of oxygen and blood flow. Completely in tune
with my world, I showered in a tub that was filled with warm mineral water that
was continuously fed by mineral water running through bamboo pipes. Exposure to
these thermal mineral springs has been associated with health benefits ranging
from weight loss to pain and cellulite reduction. Suddenly a natural light mist
came from nowhere and closed my pores instantly. |
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| Nothing I can write will do any justice to the
afternoon at the Tabacon's Grand Spa. It isn't normally that easy for me to get
lost in the moment and forget about the stresses of traveling around the world.
Though it was only a few hundred feet between the spa and the actual resort, I
hopped on the resort's courtesy bus. Here a half dozen other spa guests in
bathrobes, like myself, accompanied me, with the same relaxed look on their
faces; I was back in my suite within three minutes. Since it was almost time
for dinner, I answered quickly a couple of e-mails and got dressed. When I
entered Edmund's suite after I had knocked on his door, I was not surprised at
all to find the already familiar relaxed look on his face as well. But now were
both were hungry and good and ready for dinner … |
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| La
Fortuna - Costa Rica |
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|
Extraordinary - Society
June - 2008 |
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5
Stars & 6 Stripes
Overall - 'Cuisine & Service' |
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The
Ultimate Award:
Seven Stars and
Stripes® |
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| The night air was semi-tropical but pleasant because
of a steady breeze coming off the Tilarán range of mountains
looming 1500 meters high and leading to Arenal, a stratovolcano that can
clearly be seen from the restaurant. The darkness was illuminated by subtle
indirect lighting in and around the restaurant and adjacent pool area but our
eyes were drawn decisively toward the
pyroclastic
display of fire and magma being systematically tossed out of the top of
Arenal’s crater. We were told that the boulders being ejected on that
night were ‘only’ the size of Volkswagen ‘Beetles’ causing
me to reflect on the incredible global reach of German engineering. Behind us
and artfully arranged were glorious Bird of Paradise plants resplendent in
tropical color with finger-like petals reaching up and out as if it were an
unfurled Chinese fan. The incredible sounds of the rainforest at dusk gave us
the feeling of splendid isolation in an enclave of luxury and comfort buoyed by
the anticipation of world-class cuisine in a neo-tropical environment. We had
been offered some good advice before we came here for our visit. “Be sure
to bring loose fitting comfortable clothes, you have to be relaxed and at ease
in this tropical environment”. Suggestion noted, we were well prepared and
fit in nicely with the other guests in this casually elegant atmosphere.
Executive
Chef Leopoldo Cortés, a gifted master of his trade who studied under
the tutelage of Spain’s Jean Marie Arzak and Great Britain’s Anton
Mosimann, directed our cuisine event for the evening. |
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| The mood at dinner was
one of profound relaxation punctuated by the rhythmic resonance of a live Latin
guitarra. Chef Cortés promised to dazzle us with his gastronomic
interpretations of his own culinary dreams. He began with a feathery-light
Fresh White Sea Bass Tartar perfumed with Cilantro as the opening act,
in which he demonstrated his keen natural sense of being able to work with the
tantalizingly delicate texture of sushi-grade fresh fish. The formula was
further enhanced with the addition of pungent and spicy cilantro oil to
accentuate and emphasize the Sea Bass. |
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| Los
Tucanes - Cuisine |
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| A Moët et Chandon Brut Imperial paired the
elegant appetizer well. The dry but classic mousse rolled over the palate all
the while preparing the taste buds for the subtle flavor of the Sea Bass and at
the same time working well to cut through the heady cilantro. A second course
of Warm Salad of Seawater Mussels with Saffron Aioli appeared shortly
thereafter as super-fresh mussel morsels sandwiched between thin crispy potato
wafers and topped with a crown of tender greens and sprouts. In order to
challenge the understated flavor profile of the mussels, Chef Cortés
suggested a white Bordeaux blend called Chateau de Rougerie “Entre Deux
Mer”. It proved to offer the right amount of round citrus to somehow
shore up this sublime combination. |
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| Los
Tucanes - Cuisine |
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Next, in keeping with
the theme of fresh local seafood in petite tapas-like portions, Chef
Cortés presented us with his Saltwater Shrimps and Salmon
Timbale. It was designed to be approachable and attractive with a dollop of
Sevruga caviar capping the sleek construction while being surrounded by pale
pinkish-orange dots of salmon roe. We relished the silky texture and the rich
clean taste of the salmon while carefully adding a few grains of roe with each
bite. Our tasting menu now included a well-designed pause in the form of
Sorbet of Golden Mango, to efficiently yet tastefully clean the palate
for the main course. The freshness of just picked, low-hanging fruit was
evident in the cool, extremely smooth sorbet. |
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| Our cuisine event had reached its apogee now with the
advent of the first main course of Finesse of Canadian Wild Duck on Mushroom
Risotto, a rather contrary menu choice since we were sitting in the middle
of a Costa Rican rainforest. Although this item obviously had to be imported,
that fact didn’t take away from the incredible fresh taste and expert
preparation seemingly engineered by a master of his trade. The entire
evening’s service was intentionally low profile and relaxed although we
were certain that a wealth of knowledge and experience was present during every
course in the personalized service of waiter Diego Kooper. Dining under these
circumstances was supported by top-notch table settings comprised of
Villeroy & Boch’s “New Wave Premium” dinnerware and
stemware as well as Bohéme silver-plated flatware from the
Italian manufacturer Mepra. |
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| A second entrée
was presented as Lamb Filet and Chop with a sweetened fresh Rosemary
Sauce, reminding us of the exquisite preparation and care needed to keep
the gamey flavor of lamb under control. Each of the two entrées was
offered with a wine pairing of a superb Grand Cru Classé of Chateau
Berliquet 2001, decantered in a graceful crystal bottle. It offered a
timeless and stylish combination of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet
franc in the perfect proportions leading to an opulent, rich structure with a
decidedly black current and vanilla nose. I couldn’t help savoring this
elegant wine even long after the entrées were finished. |
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Tucanes - Cuisine |
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| Our gastronomic journey had reached its finale with
the advent of Dessert Symphony, an assemblage of petit four-sized treats
surrounding a volcanic centerpiece that actively spewed colorful foam and smoke
over the rim of a martini glass ‘crater’. As we relished the
spectacle of a live ‘lava’ flow in front of our eyes tableside, a
bottle of Tabali Late Harvest Muscat, Limari Valley Chile 2005 was
offered as a pairing for this delicate dessert. We observed its delicate gold,
yellow color with a slight pink hint from the Pink Muscat grapes. It had an
intense aroma of fresh papaya, honey and floral hints while at the same time
sweet, luscious and very drinkable. At dinner’s end we commended
Executive
Chef Leopoldo Cortés and his team of professionals. My thoughts were
positive and confident that Los Tucanes can continue to live up to the
stringent criteria and regimen of a top-notch fine dining establishment in this
tropical outpost. |
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| Chef Cortés spent years developing his own
unique style loosely modeled after the alta cocina approach putting together
international ingredients with ingenuity and panache.
Chef
Cortés sees himself as a sort of guarantor of utilizing the
abundance of fresh local ingredients while applying Old World techniques. In
his own words he revealed to us the secret to his incredible love for what he
does: “To travel around the world, being in contact with other cultures,
is the key for the creation of new recipes,” he said. |
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“The food itself which was prepared with such
precision and parsimony while
presented so exquisitely that you could not
have asked for more.” ~ TB |
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| For the next day we were on for another unforgettable
adventure,
a
safari float trip on the lower part of the Peñas Blancas River. A
courtesy bus had picked us up at the hotel, fully loaded with what one might
need for a long afternoon on the river. On the way to Peñas Blancas our
guides had stopped to load a partially inflated air raft securely on a hanger.
We arrived after twenty minutes at the steep entrance to the adventure river.
The crew gave the float a final boost of air and then carried the boat down to
the edge of the river. We were all given life-vests, received a quick lesson in
safety and paddling and finally took on our seats in the small, but sturdy
light blue boat, which would carry us now for a couple of hours through
otherwise inaccessible jungle. |
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We had been promised
that an excursion of the silent air raft would grant us the opportunity to
experience the jungle at its best and with a little luck we might even be able
to see
crocodiles,
toucans, iguanas and other animals and we sure did. It became obvious that our
guides were experienced naturalists; they gave us a brief introduction into the
natural history of this beautiful part of their country, besides pointing out
and explaining the vast array of life surrounding the deep-olive
river. |
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| The
trees above our heads were at times almost connected through their branches
and monkeys were jumping back and forth, never respecting each other and always
screaming accordingly. We paddled slowly toward the spot where a couple of
crocodiles were laying quietly in the sun. We estimated that there were about
six to seven foot long and possibly two hundred fifty pounds or more, with a
broad head and a rather pointy nose. They looked like they had taking a mud
bath and were all dry now and since they first didn't move we weren't even sure
that they were alive. |
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| There weren't really interested in us and moved little
but just enough to give one the chills. Crocodile watching from the middle of
the Peñas Blancas River is a great tourist attraction. One of the guides
suggested that we have our photo taken next one of the crocs, to which we
laughingly declined. The abundance of countless, colorful, tropical birds and
listening to their different sounds was fantastic. Then
we
were asked to look up into on old tree and got to watch a sleepy family of
bats roosting together. |
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| There are more myths
about bats than any other animal. Some people think bats are blind bloodsuckers
that try to land on our heads. In fact, this flying mammal is extremely useful
to humans. About seventy percent of all bats eat insects: flies, mosquitoes and
the like. It has been reported that a colony of bats somewhere in Texas are
consuming half a million lbs (226,796 kilograms) of mosquitoes nightly!
Bats
roost upside down, usually in larger social (the boss hangs above all)
groups, in caves, trees, or man-made structures. In retrospect, they were not
only interesting but rather cute creatures. Our guides educated while allowing
us to connect with the jungle on an intimate personal level in the most
peaceful way. The incomprehensible colors of the flora and fauna have left
memories with me for a lifetime. |
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| Another of the ultimate Costa Rican adventure sports
involves hiking into one of the deep rainforest canyons to rappel on a series
of tropical waterfalls while using various climbing techniques; but we decided
to save that for our next visit. It is a fact that the Tabacon Grand Spa
Thermal Resort is today one of the world's finest, best known hot springs
destination spas. Designed with exceptional environmental preservation
features, the luring outdoor spa facilities are decorated through a natural
rainforest that produces steadily vigorous, rich, young growth. The 'natural
sound system' is the combination of serenading tropical birds, chattering
monkeys and other creatures, a lullaby always-changing, never still, and at the
same time amazingly relaxing. Destination as well as Day-Spa guests have access
to the hot springs from early morning until late at night. |
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| Always seeking new innovations,
The
Grand Spa introduced the 'Huey Temazcal Aahuatlan', an exclusive therapy
based on ancient Mesoamerican rituals, the first of its kind in Costa Rica. It
is offered to the public and supposedly it is the only one in the world
embedded in the energy of an active volcanic environment. Temazcal is a
pre-Hispanic steam bath ritual that is widely used in Mesoamerican cultures,
intended as both a spiritual and physical cleansing experience. The experience
takes place in a womblike well rounded structure, where energy from the center
of the earth and from all four winds is summoned and flows in circular motion
in direct relation to the natural elements, which make up this magical place:
Earth, Water, Fire and Air. |
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| But for now we were on to experience one of Mother
Nature's most aromatic editions, coffee in an entirely different way. The
'Aroma' exfoliation we experienced first hand is partially made of real
'coffee' grind. A brown, aromatic paste is applied to the body with the
intention to remove excess of accumulated fat in the cells. Other benefits are
reduction in the appearance of cellulite while restoring smoothness and glow.
The actual exfoliation process was performed with dry, peeled cornstalks,
Mother Nature through and though. Invigorating? Indeed. |
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| The Tabacón thermal mineral spa, directed by
Miss
Rosa Paulina Pèrez, earned the Seven Star Spa Award of Global
Distinction with full accolades for: Exceptional customer service, genuine and
unpretentious personal care that guests receive from the entire spa staff, and
especially from Mr. Victor. The exquisitely maintained, natural and
eco-friendly facilities. Innovation in development of new therapies and
treatments and its one of a kind location. |
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| Lets
face it, our job of traveling around the world comes also with a lot of work
and sacrifices. All our teams are practically jetlagged most of the time; sure
we try to schedule the reviews geographically as close as possible, but that
seldom works out. My Mac Book Pro and a couple of other gadgets are essential
to do my job; we take notes all the time. Here you see me at one of the pools
after a massage and yes,
typing
on the computer in paradise in definitely nicer then in an office
environment. GM Uwe Wagner is presently working on enhancing Tabacon's meeting
and conference facilities to accommodate larger executive groups. |
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| Honestly, after three days of an adrenalin
rollercoaster, including jungle adventures and then again spa plentiful, we
were not really up to par for a private open-air dinner with the GM. Little did
we know. A private dinner in one of the Tabacon's rain forest kitchens is a
showcase
dining experience. The table setting was outstanding and the chef's
culinary preparation and demonstration of a 'soup to nuts' gourmet meal was
one-of-a-kind. |
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| This is definitely the romantic setting that
honeymooners or people in love will adore and even for us four hospitality
guys, it will stay as an evening to remember. Tabacón's Managing
Director and
GM
Uwe Wagner is a pro, there is little that he hasn't done himself or is
working on. The high-powered 'Jack of all Trades' of German descent has a rock
solid track record of over thirty years in highly successful management
positions in Europe, South America, Asia and Middle East. |
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He studied at Cornell
and Hong Kong University and completed over forty additional senior management
programs.
But
back to dinner, the exquisite, artfully formed, white china by Villeroy
& Boch could not have been a more stunning choice for a delicate dinner
served in a hut with a roof that was covered with palm leaves and open on three
sites. The service was unobtrusive and 'eficiente'. |
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| After a dinner in the rainforest and a trip into the
jungles of Costa Rica one would never expect to find a
tiny
Swiss village just a half hour ride from the Tabacon resort. We had left
the Pan-American Hwy and took a relatively newly paved county road up to the
Swiss Alps, just kidding. But to be honest, we really couldn't believe our
eyes; this is a place where a Swiss enthusiast could get crazy. It was as if we
had entered a time and space tunnel! The buildings and the little church on the
hill all featured the Swiss Chalet A-frame building style. The houses had all
red-shingled roofs and only the chapel roof stood out in a light grey. It might
be interesting to note that nearly all Catholic churches in the country face
west. |
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| This place overlooked an amazing lake could have been
cut and pasted from a Swiss Alp travel brochure. The 'Lady of the House'
welcomed us in English and in Swiss-German. In the late 80's a Swiss family
started the resort village with a genuine Swiss cow stable after which a hotel,
restaurant, another cow stable,
a
little chapel, apartment homes and a small bus station followed. After they
had collected in Switzerland all the material that is needed to build
a
two-mile long authentic railroad they launched their train station behind
their hotel. The locomotive and the trains still runs today over bridges and
even through manmade tunnels, reminding us a little of a certain James Bond
movie. |
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train 'Tren Turistico Arenal' reaches an impressive 600 ft. altitude and
grants a smashing 360° view over the whole Arenal Valley surrounded by
mountains, volcanoes and the rain forests. At the end of the tracks they build
a real underground station with a museum allowing visitors to understand its
pre-Columbine habitants and their way of living. As we stepped out of the
underground station we saw a terrace and on top of that building a
revolving
restaurant. |
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| These chefs here are cooking authentic Swiss
specialties; the restaurant is decorated with cowbells and red &
white-checkered tablecloths and chairs with little hearts and everything else
that one might think belong in a real Swiss home. We had ice-cold, freshly
drawn imported beers, with lots of foam on top, and served in original
beer-steins. I had some mind-blowing Zuricher Geschnetzeltes with some Roestis,
trust me it was the real thing. Their Hotel Los Heroes is a Swiss Chalet with
balconies and old-fashioned window shutters combining two cultures under one
red roof. |
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| Costa Ricans, like the Swiss, are very proud of their
national identity. While on the surface they may seem similar to other Latin
cultures, through the large European population influx, there is very little
indigenous cultural influence. Costa Rica is famous for its natural beauty and
friendly people, rather than its culture. The paintings of Arnold von
Winkelried (1386, seven hundred years since the founding of Switzerland) and
Juan Santamaria (1856, one hundred years of Costa Rican democracy) at the Swiss
inn represent part of those historic events and shall remind of each of their
heroic battles. |
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| GM Uwe Wagner founded the Tabacon Resort Matching
Grants Program last year to help children in the area that are in need with
school uniforms and educational toys or tools. He implemented a three-dollar
local 'donation' fee that is added to each resort guest's bill, but can be
removed at his or her request. The resort then matches the total and buys the
items that the schools or other public institutions are in need of. Last year
students received uniforms and school supplies worth seventy five thousand
dollars. This year
a
certificate worth almost one hundred and fifty thousand dollars was
presented during the Seven Stars and Stripes Award ceremony. Wagner hopes
that his 'Vacation - Donation' concept will catch on worldwide. |
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After the official Seven
Stars and Stripes award handout ceremony one of
Costa
Rica's national TV stations, which had covered the event, congratulated GM
Uwe Wagner and his team and the charming reporter interviewed me in English and
translated my answers thereafter in Spanish for their viewers. Costa Rican
television transmission began in the 1950s. However today there are still only
a dozen commercial stations and one government-run station. |
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| Radio is still extremely popular in Costa Rica and is
especially important for 'Ticos' who live outside of the capital city. At 7am
every morning, all Costa Rican radio stations play the national anthem. Costa
Rica is a nation of almost four million people that boasts a long history of
democracy, no army, a relatively peaceful political development and is often
been referred to as the Switzerland of Central America. |
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| We can honestly say that we were plain astounded to
find such a global, fully compatible upscale resort and spa in the middle of
the rainforest of Costa Rica.
The
management and staff had a clear vision of where they intended to go. Team
play is big in the kitchens as well as in the spa and the resort and with more
empowerment on the GMs agenda, they are well on the way to reach the next
level. Congratulations to the investing company that had the great fortune of
hiring Uwe Wagner. |
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by Edmund Buehrmann & Thorsten Buehrmann
Editor: Ingrid
Lemme
Editor-in-Chief: John Lomitola |
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| © 2008 ~ Seven Stars and Stripes,
Inc. |
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