The Post Oak Hotel’s Daisy Tepper On Creating Texas’s Best Spa

Houston isn’t really known for luxury as, say, Dallas is, but the Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston set out to change all of that when it opened in 2018. The property is spread across 10 acres with many of its restaurants located outside of the walls that contain its 250 accommodations. Inside, you’ll find sumptuous details like a glittering chandelier laced with Swarovski crystals in the lobby; a stunning black and white pool deck with cabanas and a fire pit; and even a multi-level Rolls-Royce showroom. And once you step foot into your room there are small touches that go a long way, such as a hidden smart TV, electronically controlled drapes, expansive marble bathrooms with a standalone soaking tub, Acqua di Parma toiletries, and even a Technogym weight kit tucked under the desk, which, even if they do get unused by majority of guests, was certainly no small cost on behalf of owner Tilman Fertitta’s part. So perhaps it comes as no surprise that the spa matches the grandeur of everything else, but that wasn’t quite always the plan.

When Daisy Tepper was brought on for the project the initial plan was that the spa would be by the pool and that it would be “very, very tiny.” So, “I went to Mr. Fertitta and said, ‘when you look at how grand the hotel is, to have such a tiny spa, it doesn’t make sense,’ ” she recollected during an interview. A few months later he called her into his office and said he’d give her the entire fifth floor. Despite already having the bones in place, everything was scrapped and they started over from the beginning.

Tepper is no stranger to luxury hospitality given her impressive resume. She began her spa career in Los Angeles where she started at the Peninsula Beverly Hills and stayed for nearly nine years before opening the oases at both the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills and Beverly Wilshire, where she worked for just over 11 years. Following a short stint at Montage Beverly Hills, she went out on her own and consulted for various clients. When it came to the Post Oak she saw it as a refreshing change from what she had done in the past. “I was really intrigued by it because it was an opportunity to do a project on a larger scale that’s a one-off and not work for a chain of hotels.” So she accepted the challenge.

While Tepper initially thought this was going to be a one-and-done deal, the offer to oversee the spas at Fertitta’s collection of hotels in the area was irresistible. But her first task at hand was the Post Oak Hotel’s serene hideaway and to make it a spectacular one. Houston is the most culturally diverse city in the country and Tepper wanted to reflect that in the menu. So she decided to partner up with French brand Cinq Mondes, which is owned by Jean-Louis Poiroux, the founder of L’Oreal’s Garnier Fructis line, and who, Tepper says, “traveled the world to work with masters and gurus and spent time learning about techniques and ingredients” when he was devising the brand. “When you look at their products and the history behind them, it made sense for what we were trying to do here.” The result is an extensive menu that goes well beyond the typical offerings of any regular spa, especially when it comes to Texas. With the massages there’s of course your typical Swedish option, but there are also Balinese, Ayurvedic, and Polynesian lomilomi offerings as well. Other treatments include a body wrap with Moroccan rhassoul clay; a facial using the latest Swiss biotechnology; and indulgent, 90-minute or two-hour-long rituals that were custom designed by Cinq Mondes exclusively for the hotel.

In addition to the well-thought-out menu, the 20,000 square foot oasis has all of the desirable amenities you’d want out of a lavish spa. Make sure to arrive early and make use of the aroma steam room, sauna, vitality pool, and heated stone loungers. The co-ed relaxation lounge is no slouch, either. Scented with Culti Milano diffusers, the quiet space is furnished with plenty of seating that includes zero-gravity massage chairs, which can be curtained off for privacy. Before or after your treatment feel free to settle in and nosh on some healthful snacks like dried fruit and granola while sipping on tea, rosé, or prosecco.

And while the facilities are truly incredible, one facet that makes the spa at Post Oak Hotel the best in Texas is the adaptability to their clientele’s needs and the current climate. For instance, according to Tepper, their guests love to come in groups or with their significant others. Noticing this key aspect she quickly asked that a yoga studio be converted into a third couple’s suite to accommodate the demand and was able to do so in just five weeks’ time. In the face of COVID-19 and all of the challenges that come with it, buyouts are certainly possible and immune-boosting treatments were added to the menu. Even for those who aren’t completely comfortable with spending time at the spa can unwind at home with one of the therapy to-go kits. Complete with a mix of Aromatherapy Associates essential oils, mists, a diffuser (an item that Tepper heavily encourages everyone to own), and massage oil along with instructions on how to use each item, they’re designed to help with mental health, stress, and anxiety.

But the one thing that really sets the property’s oasis apart from everyone else, making it the only recipient of Forbes Travel Guide’s five-star rating in Texas? The people, according to Tepper. When searching for the right staff she implemented an extensive interview process that measured qualities that went well beyond what you see on paper. Passion and genuine care for the guests were the top attributes she kept an eye out for, two things that she rightly stated couldn’t be taught. “The other thing, too, is that I always feel as a therapist they’re either in it because they want to help people and they want to be a healer or they’re just in it for the money, and you can tell the difference with their mentality, their techniques, and when you lay on a table and they work on you. It’s very different,” Tepper remarked. And once you’ve had a chance to experience the spa’s superb level of customer service and the deft hands of their experts, you’ll quickly understand what Tepper means.