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Local architecture company
creates relaxation worldwide

CORRECTION Thursday, April 7, 2005 » The last name of Suzan Kushiyama, marketing and public relations coordinator for Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo, was misspelled as Kunishima in "TheBuzz" column on Page C1 in Tuesday's morning edition. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at corrections@starbulletin.com.

READERS of Conde Nast magazine have chosen their 35 favorite spa destinations around the world, and Hawaii's nine spots on the list outweigh all other locales for resort spas. Eight of the top 25 around the world were designed by Honolulu-based architectural, planning and interior design company Wimberly, Allison Tong & Goo Inc.

At the top of the list was the WATG-designed One&Only Ocean Club Spa in the Bahamas. The firm also designed the No. 6 Apuana Spa at Four Seasons Resort in Punta Mita, Mexico; No. 9 Four Seasons Resort's Aviara Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.; the No. 12 Ritz-Carlton Spa in Naples, Fla.; the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea spa at No. 13; the No. 19 Ritz-Carlton Spa at Amelia Island, Fla.; No. 21 Boulders Resort and Golden Door Spa in Carefree, Ariz.; and the No. 25 Anara Spa at the Hyatt Regency Kauai.

Conde Nast readers won't necessarily know the top-ranked spas were designed by Wimberly, Allison, Tong & Goo, but national spa industry publications that may report on the honors could attract the attention of potential new clients.

WATG already counts top spa companies among its clients, including the Bahamas-based parent company of Mandara Spa LLC, Calif.-based Golden Door LLC, Hyatt Corp.'s Anara Spa brand and Arizona-based Miraval Life In Balance, which recently announced plans for a health and wellness development in partnership with Kapalua Land Co. (Miraval is owned by Hawaii-born Steve Case, who also is major shareholder of Maui Land & Pineapple Co., Kapalua's parent.)

One reason several of WATG's spas are on the list is that it jumped early into the hospitality industry's interest in developing upscale spas for guests.

"We hire designers with that background and have designers who have developed that specialty," said Suzan Kunishima, marketing and public relations coordinator.

The company has long been known for designing luxury resorts, and has done so in 130 countries and territories.

Colors for troops

Insurance company AIG Hawaii will give out locally designed "Freedom" stickers to Hawaii troops starting Saturday at its location within Wal-Mart Mililani to mark national Military Appreciation Day.

The 2-inch-by-4-inch stickers, in red, white, blue and gold, are patterned after the ribbon on the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and bear the word "Freedom" underneath the colors.

The stickers are not part of a nationwide AIG promotion, but were conceived locally.

"We really did it as a way to recognize our troops here locally who have given so much to our community in the war effort," said Lisa Halvorson, assistant vice president. The initial printing of 5,000 stickers will be distributed first at the Mililani location. Starting Monday, the Restaurant Row, Kunia and Pearl City AIG offices also will be giving the stickers away.

Longest worker contest On the job a long time? Enter the Star-Bulletin's Longest Worker Contest to find the Hawaii resident who has worked at the same place for the longest time. Please send a brief profile including name, age, place and length of employment, phone number, the best time to be reached and an e-mail address, if desired. The winner will receive $100 in dining at Ruth's Chris Steak House. Entries must be received by April 11. Send your information via mail to Longest Worker Contest, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana, No. 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813; or e-mail to longestworker@starbulletin.com .