Best Western Hotels Bestows Prestigious 2004 Best of the Best Design to the Senator Inn & Spa of Augusta Maine
(Augusta, ME) Best Western Motels’ announced today that the Senator Inn & Spa has received 2004 Best of the Best Design Award for their newly renovated and expanded spa and fitness facility. The Best of the Best Design Awards recognize Best Western affiliated worldwide hotels that have undergone renovation or new construction within the past two years. The Senator Inn & Spa received the highest score in their geographic district based on the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) criteria. Hundreds of properties were judged by a panel of professional members from ASID and the American Institute of Architects and included such specifications as scale and proportion, color and composition, creative use of space, effective use of lighting, custom design and architectural design. Furthermore, the competition considered unique design challenges and issues that were overcome by the entrants.
“We are so proud of this recognition by the Best Western Hotel, the world’s largest hotel chain. It is a nice culmination to our recent efforts in spa and service expansion,” says Betsy Cook, co-owner of the Best Western Senator Inn & Spa with her husband, Vern. “It is my understanding that we were judged primarily on our dramatic 5,000 square foot addition to our spa and fitness facility. This build-out reinforces the growing trend, and our personal commitment and leadership in the area of guest and member services.” The Senator Inn & Spa now possesses the largest full service spa and fitness experience in Maine’s hospitality industry.
Best Western Hotel judges noted the Senator’s design use of Italian tiles in various colors and sizes, along with a consistently impressive Mediterranean look and feel to the entire area. “This was particularly interesting,” notes Vern Cook, “because the spa expansion is the story of the spa that almost wasn't”
“What he means by that,” clarifies Betsy, “is that our initial vision for the spa expansion incorporated the same tiles we used for our pool expansion several years earlier. Much to our disappointment, the tile line was discontinued. So, we had to go back to the drawing board. It was really discouraging.”
This initial disappointment sent the Cooks back to the drawing board and to the eventual discovery of a whole new set of Italian tiles in 6 colors and 12 sizes, which served as the design inspiration expansion and renovation. Judges were impressed by the Senator’s creative design and problem solving process that resulted in a strong, seamless solution.
The Cooks feel that Best Western Hotels’ premier award designation, from a wide array of national entrants, is symbolic of a mission accomplished. “We set out to create an experience here in little old Augusta, that was on par with national spa resorts, even Europe,” says Vern. “But most of all, we just want our guests to feel special, because they are, without it being out of reach, geographically or financially. What Best Western Hotel is telling us through this award is, well, we did it, which is almost as comforting as one of our stone massage therapies!”
The Best Western Senator Inn & Spa is a full-service hotel located on Western Avenue, just off exit 109A from I-95 in Augusta. The property features Augusta’s favorite restaurant – Cloud 9 – a state-of-the-art spa and fitness facility, a beautiful, indoor mineral pool and romantic spa suites for its hotel guests.
