KELOWNA, B.C. – A young receptionist welcomes me to Sparkling Hill Resort and makes it crystal clear that Canada’s “best new” hotel property with the country’s “best new” spa was designed for the purpose of helping guests “relax and rejuvenate” during their stay.

As I wait for her to return with my room key, I scan the elaborate lobby where massive chandeliers made up of thousands of delicate Swarovski crystals hang from cathedral-high ceilings and watch as an army of white-robed guests disappears behind a glass door on the opposite side.

Intrigued, I push open the smoky glass door leading to the resort’s highly touted KurSpa and see dozens of people arranging treatment appointments.

“You can come back to the spa later, but first I want to escort you to your room,” says the receptionist who has tracked me down.

There has been much talk of this Sparkling Hill Resort since it opened in 2010. And much of the attention is because of who owns it — GernotLanges-Swarovski, pattriach of the $2 billion a year Swarovski crystal empire.

The Austrian jewelery king spared no expense in creating his crystal palace, which sits perched like a crown jewel on a hillside overlooking the natural majesty that dominates British Columbia’s splendid Okanagan Valley.

Major national and international publications have written glowing reviews of the 149-room resort, which features more than 3.5 million crystals and took two years to build at a cost of more than $120 million.

As we make our way through hallways and public areas dominated by crystal inlays and displays, the receptionist fills me in on how GernotLanges-Swarovski made his way to this remote part of Canada.

Left: The resort’s reception area dazzles guests upon arrival. Middle: Crystals hang over your head in the resort’s fine dining restaurant. Right: The entrance to the resort’s KurSpa takes your breath away.

“Mr. Mayr (Sparkling Hill’s President and CEO Hans-Peter Mayr) and Mr. Swarovski are longtime friends and when Mr. Mayr discovered this piece of land, he invited Mr. Swarovski over to see it.

“Mr. Swarovski loved the property right away, but what he really liked is the fact that it’s surrounded by pastures and farmland — he really appreciates farmers and farming,” the young woman tells me. Not long after Swarovski’s first visit, Sparkling Hill Resort began being carved out of the granite rock that rises high above idyllic pastures where Black Angus cattle dot the hilly farmland and mounted cowboys patrol the endless land that disappears into the horizon.

As the receptionist pushes open the door to my room bathed in natural light, I’m taken aback by a glowing “Welcome” crystal at the entrance — one of the many unique features in these European-style rooms that also come with crystal fireplaces and soaking tubs positioned in front of floor-to-ceiling glass windows that look out on either a stunning lake or mountaain view, depending on which side of the resort your room is located.

The romantic setting makes you want to curl up with a good book, admire the jawdropping surroundings or spend some intimate time with someone special. But the 40,000-square-foot KurSpa and its state-of-the-art amenities beckons.

KurSpa stays true to its European roots by allowing guests to walk around naked between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. daily — how European!

This remarkable spa facility is quickly gaining a reputation for the unique treatments and specialty equipment it offers serious spa goers. Chief among those is the Ice Lab, where, if you can stand sitting in minus 110-degree Celsius conditions for a few minutes — any longer and you’re flesh will begin to freeze — you can rid yourself of depression and many other disorders.

Word of this unique sub-zero treatment has hit the streets of Hollywood and in recent months some marquee names have been seen parading around KurSpa.

KurSpa comes with 48 specially-designed treatment rooms, each staffed by exceptionally trained therapists — among the best we’ve ever experienced in North America.

Another highlight are seven themed steam and sauna rooms that offer different healing aspects. Darting between each of the rooms — one toasty hot; another icy cold — stimulates in ways we could never have imagined.

Above: The guest rooms at Sparkling Hill some with crystal fireplaces and a million dollar view.

The spa’s swimming pool area features a tunnel that allows bathers to swim indoors or out. Most prefer the outdoor pool where they can soak up the natural beauty and watch deer dance in the fairways of neighbouring Predator Ridge Golf Course. Canada’s best new golf facility isn’t affiliated with Sparkling Hill, but works closely with the resort to arrange rounds for guests.

Wellness holidays are promoted heavily at this resort, which sits in western Canada’s most vibrant wine region.

Because people tend to stay exclusively at the resort, GernotLanges-Swarovski hired the best European-trained chefs to staff his kitchens.

Because people tend to stay exclusively at the resort, GernotLanges-Swarovski hired the best European-trained chefs to staff his kitchens.

The romantic ambience of this resort even extands to the main dining rooms where guests are bathed in the soft light of a cozy fireplace and entartained by the sultry sounds of Melanie Moore, a former New York opera singer who came to Kelowna on holiday and never left.

Wherever you look at Sparkling Hill, crystal pieces look back. In the main dining room, every one of the delicate chandeliers is shaped like a Maple Leaf — the owner’s tribute to Canada — and when the sun rises, the crystal entrance glows like a diamond.

As you can imagine, wildlife abounds on the grounds of this 178-acre resort and guests are cautioned to drive slowly while navigating the narrow roadway leading to the main highway.

From the oversized bedroom windows, I sat and admired bald eagles diving into Lake Okanagon and coming up with their fish dinners, and I watched beavers build a dam on the lake’s edge.

There’s much to like about Sparkling Hill — the crystal decor, the amazing KurSpa, the natural surroundings, the light-filled rooms and the fine dining experience. Sparkling Hill truly is a diamond in the B.C. wilderness.