Downtown New Orleans

February 15th, 2012 2:21PM

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Nearly 20 years ago, Daphne Johnson had a vision of opening a spa that targeted couples seeking healthier relationships and stress relief. As a psychology major, she was determined to combine her knowledge of counseling with healthy living techniques. Today, you can find just that at Serenity Spa at 614 Canal Street, inside of the J.W. Marriott hotel. After starting out with her first spa at the New Orleans Center in 2000, Johnson opened a second spa in the Hyatt, where she learned that the hospitality industry was her niche. When Hurricane Katrina unfortunately closed down the Hyatt, Johnson relocated to Le Cirque and eventually settled into the J.W. Marriott in 2009, where Serenity Spa remains to this day.

As Johnson sits in a lounge area on the first floor of the Marriott, she waves to nearly every Marriott employee that passes by. "It's great to be a part of the Marriott family," she says. "It's a blessing." Though she's a busy business owner, entrepreneur, aesthetician and mother, Johnson is always present at Serenity Spa – she finds it very important that she and her staff form relationships with their clients as opposed to simply treating them as paying customers. "We're more personable with our clients," she says, which is so important when your business offers such personal experiences as massages and facials.

While it's easy to balk at the prices of hotel spas in hot tourist destinations, Serenity Spa's services are affordable and plentiful. In fact, in a recent episode of The Ellen Show, Ellen DeGeneres surprised her entire audience with a trip to New Orleans, during which guests would stay at the J.W. Marriott and be treated to spa treatments at Serenity Spa. Johnson didn't even know about the giveaway until her phone started ringing off the hook after the episode aired!

The most popular and well-known service that Serenity Spa provides is the Aqua Jet massage, which was the foundation of Johnson's spa business when she first started out. "It set us apart," she explains. For just $15, a client can experience a ten minute full-body massage in the Aqua Jet spa without even getting undressed or wet. 15 and 20 minute Aqua Jet massages are also available for $20 and $25, respectively.

In addition to Serenity Spa, Johnson also manages the Marriott's first floor boutique, an extension off of Serenity Spa. Unlike a typical hotel gift shop, the boutique sells chic yet affordable clothing, accessories and seasonal gift items. Johnson also has her own chocolate company, NOLA Chocolates, which offers personalized chocolates and party favors.

Other hotels in the Downtown area advertise Serenity Spa, which Johnson appreciates immensely, but she would love to see more locals come in. While her prominent Canal Street location does draw people in, especially out-of-towners, many locals often don't think to visit a spa located in a hotel. One major appeal of Serenity Spa that locals tend not to know is that there's parking. Anyone who lives or works in Downtown NOLA knows that parking can be difficult, but Serenity Spa validates parking for clients.

Johnson and her employees love working in Downtown and have noticed many positive changes since the first Serenity Spa opened over a decade ago. The new retailers at Canal Place have been great for all business owners in the Downtown area and Johnson hopes to see other higher end stores pop up in the near future. "They're just going to enhance what I have," she notes. The renovations and developments along Canal Street give her a "sense of hope for our city." She says excitedly, "It makes me feel like we can compete with other cities – we are growing with other cities." Johnson admits that she is aggressively seeking more real estate in the area to not only help stimulate the city's economy, but to also build her ever-growing brand. Though she wouldn't let it slip what her next exciting venture is, one can only imagine what new and innovative concept Johnson has up her sleeve!

Special Promotion: Last Day to Purchase Serenity Spa/Travelzoo Deal!
Treat yourself and a loved one to an hour long couples massage at Serenity Spa. This romantic experience, which includes sparkling wine, chocolates and valet parking, is only $95 (regularly $220) with this exclusive Local Deal. Vouchers can be redeemed starting Wednesday, Feb. 22, through May 16, 2012.
Read more details here: $95 – JW Marriott: Couples Massage w/Wine & Chocolate

For more information on Serenity Spa services, boutique, gifts and promotions, visit the website here: Serenity Spa New Orleans

For more about NOLA Chocolates and the company's "Chocolography Technology," visit the website here: NOLA Chocolates

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