Gary Virden Named Director of Spa and Recreation, Rosen Shingle Creek
ORLANDO FL, July 18, 2006. Dan Giordano, General Manager of Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, announced today that Gary Virden will be the new Director of Spa and Recreation at the 1,500-room resort, set to open in less than two months on Sept. 9.
"It's an honor to welcome Gary to the Rosen family," says Giordano. "Rosen Hotels have a reputation for impeccable service and quality that Gary exudes. He brings a joy and professionalism to our new full service Spa at Shingle Creek and the other recreational amenities that will create a warm and inviting environment that we know will exceed guest expectations."
As Director of Spa and Recreation, Virden will be responsible for overseeing all operations of the Spa and Recreation outlets, including the 13,000 sq. ft, nine-room spa and the full service salon, as well as the 3,000 sq. ft. fitness center, four swimming pools, two tennis courts, beach volleyball court, basketball and nature trail. Virden will also be designing spa packages and signature services that are indigenous to the area and bring to life the resort's unique setting on Shingle Creek, headwaters of the Florida Everglades.
"Moving forward, The Spa at Shingle Creek will be an oasis," explains Virden. "The warm atmosphere and genuine care will immediately transport guests into a calm, relaxed state. I see this spa being a new hit in Orlando simply because of its intimate size and the personal attention that each guest will receive while in our care. It's my goal to make the Spa at Shingle Creek the first choice for all travelers, as well as Central Florida residents."
Virden's career began at the Ritz-Carlton Spa, Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Georgia where he excelled as a leader in their award-winning AAA Four-Star Spa while studying advertising and marketing at Georgia College & State University. He then became involved in establishing vital operational procedures in the Ritz-Carlton, Bachelors Gulch as well as the Ritz-Carlton, Orlando, Grande Lakes, both AAA Four-Star Spas. Virden was also directly involved in benchmarking several spa standard operating procedures that reached company- wide within the Ritz-Carlton family.
Most recently before joining the Rosen team, Virden served as the Spa Director at the Wyndham Palace Resort and Spa in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Virden is a graduate of the Holistic Institute of Massage Therapy where is holds a degree in massage therapy and is a Licensed Massage Therapist in the state of Florida. He is currently a member of the International Spa Association, the Florida State Massage Therapy Association and the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.
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