Michael Tompkins, former CEO and president of Miraval Resort and Spa, is taking the reins at Hilton Head Health in South Carolina, US, having been bowled over by the business.

Hilton Head Health has been a popular wellness destination since it opened in 1976, but until now, it hasn't featured a spa. An expansion to the resort is planned, including a spa, 30-bedroom inn and a newly renovated restaurant and outdoor dining area, according to insidersguidetospas.com.

After losing nine pounds at the resort’s week-long weight loss programme, Tompkins signed on as CEO and general manager – having retired from Miraval in June. “I came to seriously look at Hilton Head Health in July. I went through the programme and found that from the fitness and nutrition perspective, it was the best I had ever experienced,” said Tompkins.

The combination of his weight loss experience and the expansions planned for the property were key factors in helping Tompkins decide to lead the brand. “Hilton Head Health is a brand I can lead because I really believe in it,” Tompkins continued. “It honestly provides me with an opportunity to build a wellness revolution.”

The concept, rebranding, new programming and reworking of the interior design plans for the new spa and salon have all been overseen by Tompkins. The spa will be called the Indigo Spa & Pilates Center. The name Indigo is derived from the indigenous Indigofera plants that grow in the area.

While Tompkins says there is no need to mess with the resort’s concept of wellness, he is adding three separate health-conscious programmes to the menu. First, Lose Well will be an intense weight-loss course that lasts four weeks for people wanting to lose 40 pounds or more.

Second programme Live Well lasts one week and is for those seeking to initiate a healthier lifestyle.

Play Well is the third branded initiative, and focuses on fun recreational outdoor activities on offer at Hilton Head, including parasailing, paddle-boarding, kayaking and walking tours.

After meeting with the resort’s 60 staff members, Tompkins was inspired to create a philanthropic calendar called “Look Well from Hilton Head” – the proceeds of which will fund trips to the resort for people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford the programmes.

“Somewhere in the late Seventies, early Eighties, people got off track and the obesity trend began,” Tompkins said. “Electronics enabled people to become more and more unhealthy. The unfortunate thing is that convenience replaced wellbeing. I think that now people are making the shift in the other direction – toward health and wellness – but now they’re saying ‘Oh, and by the way, I want convenience with it.’”

Tompkins’ previous role provided him with extensive experience. “I had the opportunity, at Miraval, to create ways that helped the culture of the organisation become innovative,” Tompkins added. “I learned from people like Philippe Bourguignon and Steve Case of Exclusive Resorts, who really supported that cutting-edge sort of mentality – leading the pack in an authentic way.”

KSL Capital, a leisure investment firm that acquired joint ownership of Miraval Resort & Spa in June, has revealed its plans for the brand, which include an expansion from the resort’s current Tucson, US, location to new destinations in the States, Europe and further afield.

Revolution Places, a Washington DC-based real estate and hospitality investment firm, agreed to jointly own the Miraval resort with KSL Capital.

“For many years, we have been working to grow Miraval, to bring it to new locations and new people. Partnering with KSL – one of the most accomplished resort and spa investors in the world – allows us to accelerate these efforts and build on our successes in Tucson," said Steve Case, chair of Revolution.

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