SAN DIEGO, Calif. (August 19, 2010) � Jim Croghan, a veteran of Southern California�s spa industry, has been named the director of spa and recreation at The Grand Del Mar, overseeing programming, budgeting and operations at the resort�s 21,000-square-foot luxury spa, as well as spearheading select fitness and recreational programs.
 
In his new position, Croghan directs all operations for the resort�s highly acclaimed, state-of-the-art spa, which features 11 treatment rooms for facials, hydrotherapy and massage; a full-service beauty salon; outdoor spa pool; a fitness room, movement studio and a spa boutique. 
 
�We are very pleased to have Jim on board,� said Thomas Voss, president of The Grand Del Mar. �With his exceptional knowledge and expertise, we will continue to position The Spa at The Grand Del Mar as one of the premier facilities in the region.�
 
With more than 10 years of spa industry experience and a wealth of expertise in programming and training for some of the region�s finest spa properties, Croghan was most recently the director of spa and recreation for Island Hotel Newport Beach, an AAA Five Diamond urban hotel owned and operated by the Irvine Company. In this capacity, he also assisted with pre-opening activities for The Spa at The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach.
 
Additionally, Croghan was director of spa and recreation for the Four Seasons Newport Beach (which later transitioned to Island Hotel); and also worked for two years as a spa consultant for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. He was also director of spa for The Balboa Bay Club & Resort, a waterfront resort that includes a private membership Club in Newport Beach, as well as director of operations for the Spa at South Coast Plaza. 
 
A resident of Carlsbad, Calif., Croghan is president of the Southern California Spa Directors Association, and is an advisory member and instructor for UC Irvine�s Spa and Hospitality Management Program. 
 
About The Spa at The Grand Del Mar
Embracing the creative and rejuvenating spirit of the Renaissance, The Spa at The Grand Del Mar symbolizes that bygone era with its emphasis on renewal and rebirth. The 21,000-square-foot facility also gleans resources from the nearby Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, a natural wonderland replete with an abundance of flora and fauna.
 
Created to deliver a sublime experience of relaxed, renewed and restorative wellness, The Spa�s comprehensive programs and a la carte services are designed to reconnect guests with enriching elements of the earth: warm mineral muds and clays, native herbs, soothing stones and calming botanicals.  Services offered encompass a full slate of natural therapies, including cleansing facials and invigorating hydrotherapy body treatments, plus fitness consultation and classes ranging from yoga to weight training, and nature walks and hikes in the adjacent preserve. For more information, visit  or call 858-314-2020.
 
About The Grand Del Mar
Situated amid a private preserve in Coastal North San Diego County, The Grand Del Mar opened its doors in October 2007 and features: 249 elegantly appointed guestrooms and suites; San Diego�s only Tom Fazio-designed championship golf course; two outdoor tennis courts; a 21,000-square-foot Renaissance-inspired spa; four swimming pools; regional dining, including Addison, the award-winning restaurant; an enclave of residential Villas; and more than 20,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting space. For reservations, please call, toll-free, 1-888-314-2030; or book online at www.TheGrandDelMar.com.