New wellness hospitality brand Civana has made its debut with the opening of its flagship resort, the Carefree Resort and Conference Center in Carefree, Arizona, US.

The resort features a combination of healthy dining, spa, movement and fitness classes, enrichment programmes and lectures, and is an adaptive re-use of an existing facility. The US$40m renovation incorporates a natural design palette and materials, and energy efficiency has been improved, including the introduction of solar energy in its new spa building.

Civana is led by Kevin Kelly – who was former Canyon Ranch president and chief branding officer, and most recently was CEO and co-owner of California’s Two Bunch Palms.

Joining Kelly is Larry Lamy, former VP of finance for Miraval and Canyon Ranch; and spa and wellness brand executive Rianna Riego, who assisted Kelly in the re-branding of Two Bunch Palms. Peter Smith, former COO of Canyon Ranch, is an advisor and senior board member of Civana.

The company announced its formation and plans to transform Carefree in September 2017.

“We believe most of us are on a personal journey towards health, life balance and wellbeing,” said Kelly. “Our mission is to bring that complete wellness experience to a larger travel audience at a more affordable price point. To deliver on this promise, CIVANA has assembled a best-in-class operating team from around the country who seek to be part of an authentic, mission-driven company.”

Civana focuses on four pillars – healthy cuisine, movement, healing arts/spa, and discovery & enrichments arts.

Civana’s Carefree renovation has included a multi-phase renovation of its public spaces, 189 bedrooms, dining outlets, and the conversion of meeting space into state-of-the-art fitness, yoga, energy, movement and enrichment studios.

Civana Carefree’s all-day dining outlet – Terras - is about choice (from healthy to indulgent food) and will offer shared plates and more vegetable-forward dishes. Complementing it will be Café Meto, which gets its name from the Latin word for harvest/gathering and will open in the latter half of the month featuring menu selections vetted for the calorie and nutrition content, set in a casual outdoor courtyard setting.

The fitness centre features cardio, strength, and flexibility equipment. CIVANA Carefree

is also among the first resorts to feature Aktiv Virtual®, an on-demand digital kiosk that providespersonalised workouts and coaching.

The Yoga & Energy Center houses a studio with wall yoga and aerial yoga capabilities, a movement/spin room, and two other flexible movement studios. The outside Yoga Lawn provides mountain vistas for sunrise and sunset programmes.

Prior to the launch of its new 22,000sq ft spa later this year – which will include a healing water terme, Watsu and lap pool, solar energy and water harvesting features – a smaller spa with a full package of treatments is being offered.

Delivering the experience will be a seasoned wellness executive team led by former Canyon Ranch general manager Kyle Treat, whose hospitality experience includes estate management for Microsoft founder Paul Allen Properties.

“I’ve had the good fortune to assemble a team with a broad depth of hospitality and wellness experience, in their respective industries,” said Treat. “I’m proud of their work ethic and how we have come together as a team.”

On his team are wellness director Sharon Otaguro, who most recently worked for the Grand Wailea Resort and has also had spa leadership positions at Golden Door, Starwood and Waldorf properties.

Additionally, nutritionist and natural foods chef Kelly Grant O’Brien, formerly with Canyon Ranch and Miraval, oversees the healthier menu development.

Spa wellness manager Suzanne Barber who is a nutritionist and ‘Artist in Residence’, was formerly a spa trainer for Kerstin Florian, and a wellness programme specialist for Two Bunch Palms and Montage.