Beauty Boss: Nicholas Clayton, President of GOCO America for GOCO Hospitality
Diipa Büller Khosla.
Our latest Beauty Boss is Nicholas Clayton, President of GOCO America for GOCO Hospitality—a pioneering consultancy, development, and management company that specializes in wellness communities, wellness resorts, resort spas, urban spas, and lifestyle centers. Founded in 2008 by Ingo Schweder, GOCO Hospitality creates, innovates, and operates the future of wellness hospitality, offering a variety of services including concept and brand development, management, pre-opening services and training, market research and feasibility, and design and technical services.
Spa Profile: Glen Ivy Hot Springs
GOCO Hospitality’s brands include Glen Ivy Hot Springs, a renowned wellness destination in Corona, CA that is recognized around the world for its healing waters. Spanning more than 20 acres, Glen Ivy Hot Springs is home to 19 pools and mineral baths that offer healing and relaxation benefits. The spa destination also offers therapeutic spa and beauty services, beautiful amenities, clean cuisine, and fun activities for guests to enjoy.
A globally-respected senior executive in the hospitality industry with over 40 years experience leading business and teams, Clayton is a world-renowned hotelier with international experience throughout the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. An accomplished business leader with a record of success in high-profile international arenas, Clayton has demonstrated a proven track record of delivering unprecedented results in high-profile, luxury, and lifestyle sectors.
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Additionally, he has completed numerous projects worldwide in the hospitality industry, particularly in the leisure segment, that integrate a holistic approach to health and well-being. We chatted with Clayton who discussed his journey in the industry, what makes Glen Ivy Hot Springs a unique wellness destination, the latest spa trends, and much more.
Tell us about your journey in the hospitality and wellness industry.
My industry journey began a few decades ago with early tenures at Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton Hotel Groups. This is where I learned the timeless principles of luxury hospitality. From there I joined Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in my first corporate role and worked closely with GOCO Hospitality’s founder and CEO, Ingo Schweder to develop the company’s extraordinary spa and wellness capabilities.
This was about the time Luxury Hospitality operators realized that a well-executed wellness offering was an important factor for the capture of high-end leisure travelers. In addition to my career in luxury hospitality, I continue my lifelong pursuit of wellness and longevity, trying to remain true to the basic principles of a healthy lifestyle: extensive movement (cardio), daily yoga and meditation practice, self-care, hydration, balanced diet, and quality of sleep.
What is truly rewarding is to have such a strong connection to wellness in both my personal and professional lives.
What inspired you to join GOCO Hospitality?
I was inspired to join GOCO Hospitality for the opportunity to work in a sector of the industry which is dynamic and growing at such an amazing pace. Ingo Schweder also inspired me to join GOCO Hospitality. His vision, creativity, and passion are powerful drivers of the company’s success. I feel proud to support our guests who are seeking to improve the quality of their mental and physical health.
Among GOCO Hospitality’s brands is Glen Ivy Hot Springs, an iconic wellness destination in Southern California.
What sets Glen Ivy Hot Springs apart from other wellness destinations? Why have water-focused experiences become more popular?
Glen Ivy Hot Springs is a unique wellness destination due to several factors including a rich history dating back to the 1860s, the extraordinary setting and backdrop of the Santa Ana Mountains, a mix of interesting service experiences including our core offering of mineral bathing and, of course, our talented Glen Ivy team, dedicated to ensuring the continued success of the resort.
Water-focused treatments and experiences have become more popular as the U.S. market becomes more familiar with bathing experiences in regions such as Asia and Europe. In addition to the wonderful health benefits of mineral bathing, it also offers an interesting social environment for individuals to de-stress and do good things for themselves while having a lot of fun.
What are the benefits of the hydrotherapy experiences at Glen Ivy? How can one get the most out of their visit?
The overall health benefits of geothermal bathing experiences are the relaxation of muscles, which, in turn, can reduce pain and lead to a more relaxed state. Each hot springs destination will have their own water composition and mineral make-up which will dictate the healing potential of an individual hot spring destination.
Glen Ivy’s water composition is rich with calcium and sulfate which aid in reducing blood pressure, enhancing cardiovascular health, and relieving skin conditions. At Glen Ivy Hot Springs we recommend the following regenerative bathing circuit to optimize the healing benefits of thermal spring water:
A warm shower to cleanse the body and open the pores.
A 15-minute soak in the mineral baths followed by a 15-minute cooling off period.
A 15-minute soak in the Saline Pool.
Five cycles of contrast hydrotherapy as the guest transfers between our hot pool and cold plunge.
Glen Ivy Hot Springs offers a unique wellness experience with 19 pools and mineral baths that offer healing and relaxation benefits.
What’s your ideal day of self-care at Glen Ivy?
An ideal day of self-care at Glen Ivy Hot Springs would begin with our Regenerative Bathing Circuit. This would be followed by a trip to Club Mud, where local red clay is blended with our mineral water to create a highly detoxifying self-guided exfoliation treatment.
After Club Mud, the guest might enjoy a massage on our unique Quartz Table and conclude their day with a trip to the Grotto, where a full-body hydrating masque is applied to the body to rehydrate the skin after a day in the California sun.
Of course, at some point during the day, the guest would stop for a nutritious lunch in the beautiful Ivy Kitchen.
Future plans for Glen Ivy in terms of spa and well-being?
At Glen Ivy we will be furthering our adoption of new spa technology that facilitate both physical therapy and massage services. Future expansion will include the development of a boutique hotel, Japanese-inspired Onsen bathing experiences, as well as treatment spaces for diagnostics and preventative healing modalities.
The property gives visitors the chance to enjoy a spa day in the company of friends and also offers beautiful amenities, spa and beauty treatments, clean cuisine, and fun activities.
Who inspires you?
All the people I meet that have an admirable quality about their character. I am particularly fond of attributes such as integrity, confidence, humility, and passion for life.
Secret to success?
Stay true to who you are by practicing a profession that stimulates the mind yet nourishes your soul.
Beauty secrets?
Stay active all your life, eat a healthy diet, drink lots of water, and ensure good sleep.
Wellness tips?
Make sure you develop a yoga or meditation commitment over your lifetime. The consistency of this practice will provide physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Best advice?
Wellness is a journey. Make it rewarding and fun so that you can stay on track for the rest of your life.
Favorite way to relax?
Early morning hike to watch the sun rise, yoga/meditation practice, soaking in mineral baths, a massage followed by a facial—a total spa day.
For more information about GOCO Hospitality, visit their website and follow on Instagram: @goco_hospitality. For more information about Glen Ivy Hot Springs and to book your next visit, click here. Follow @glenivy_spa on Instagram.
[Photos courtesy of GOCO Hospitality/Glen Ivy Hot Springs]
Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk