the knowledge of how to create an effective treatment package using all aspects of the Spa environment Essays

the knowledge of how to create an effective treatment package using all aspects of the Spa environment Essays the knowledge of how to create an effective treatment package using all aspects of the Spa environment Essay the knowledge of how to create an effective treatment package using all aspects of the Spa environment Essay Spa the Millennium buzzword for health, beauty and relaxation; it is hip in holiday speak and a mantra for the growing band of worshippers at the altar of self- preservation. Yet despite its current popularity in the lives of trendsetters, jet setters and health fanatics everywhere, the spa is not a new stop in the road to wellbeing. It is a concept as old as the hills it springs from, rewritten for the contemporary scene. (Benge 1999 p. 9) A destination Spa, providing guests with accommodation, dedicated in several days of pure pampering with a whole range of spa therapies, spa cuisine and fitness for the sole purpose of a healthier lifestyle (Spa Stay 2005 p. 1). Spas in Thailand are very popular in the 21st century with overseas clients coming to take time out from their hectic day to day lives. Between June 2001 and June 2002, 230 spa operators attracted a total of 3. 3 million customers, of which 2. 5 million or 79 percent were overseas clients (Japan Times 2006 p. 3). This illustrates that Thailand is a good environment to open a high quality destination spa for a range of clientele including honeymoons and holidays. Health tourism, meaning to travel to increase general health problems for example stress, has become very popular around the world, especially in Thailand due to the culture, food, lifestyle and change in nature (Vajirakachorn 2004 p. 1). 1997-1999 the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) launched a new scheme to focus on foreign tourists, by promoting traditional health care including massage, herbs and authentic Thai food (Vajirakachorn 2004). This is why Thailand would be a good place to set up a traditional, authentic destination spa to attract clients with lifestyle problems, who want to be educated as well as pampered in the warm climate and exquisite surroundings. Clientele retreating to Thailand for a holiday or break from day to day life, will want to stay in a spa which has captured the traditional Thai culture, if not they would have spent less money and stayed within a destination spa within the UK. Therefore it is important to make sure that research has been carried out in all aspects of the spa, including which core therapies will be provided. Water is one of the most important core therapies in any spa around the world; Thailand has many natural hot springs for example Bor Khlueng, which have been said to relieve muscle aches and pains (Thailand. com 2008). As a result these springs should be taken advantage of for the use of relaxation and their therapeutic benefits along with other core therapies with in the spa industry (see Appendix 1). Such therapies that could be used within the water therapy are Watsu, Kneipp Baths, Hydrotherapy, Flotation Tank, Al Chi and Balneotherapy. One of the most common core therapies within any spa around the world is heat, this includes: Caldarium, Hamman Rasul Baths, and Shiro Dhara. Heat treatments will help to relax and calm the body and prepare the client for further touch treatments. Such touch therapies includes traditional Thai massage, along with Lanna Massage and Royal Thai massage (see appendix 2). Most Thai Spas will also include Swedish massage, Reflexology and Aromatherapy. A destination spa should also include the core therapies Relaxation and Exercise, as part of a destination spa the client has come purely for the spa experience and nothing else, so it is important to think about what the client will be doing when they are not in the spa. For example yoga, nutrition classes and relaxing gardens to walk through; this will help the client to relax as well as having an educational purpose. Within a warm climate such as Thailand it can become very hot so another type of core therapy which would be important in this destination is cold therapy, such treatments as ice fountains can help to cool down the skin and regulate normal body temperature (ISPA 1999). People need to understand that whatever is applied to the human body seeps through skin pores and into the bloodstream. According to Aubrey Hampton, founder of Aubrey Organics and author of The Take-Charge Beauty Book, people absorb 60 percent of whatever formulations they put on their skin. Montgomery (2004 p. 31) In todays society people are becoming more aware of the importance of using natural products. Therefore it is important when opening a new spa anywhere around the world to keep up with the new tends to become successful. For example Elemis has proven that the combination of natural active ingredients with cutting-edge technology has produced a high quality, yet natural product that actually works (Elemis 2008). This does not just include products used with in the destination spa for treatments; the use of many natural products can be used from source, in this case Thailand, for example cuisine and even the stone or wood which the spa could be made from. By doing so the spa will have an advantage compared too many others in Thailand. Clients would much rather come to a spa which is known for being natural and organic, more than a spa which uses chemicals and preservatives in their products and food. To maintain a professional spa concept it is essential to sustain an efficient team of staff to run the business. Without these people the spa would not be able to run successfully and would be worthless. To run a successful destination spa it is important to have employees of different positions within the spa which will work with total quality management skills. This means that each employee within the spa understands their position in the service and sticks to what they need to do. A spa manager will drive and lead the main operational aspects of the Spa, setting goals and targets for the rest of the team; they will have a good understanding of marketing and financial skills as well as being able communicate with other staff including other aspects of the spa, for example the cuisine and fitness team (ESPA 2008). The next position down from the manager is the director; this person will help the manager to run the spa and should have good customer skills as well as being driven to motivate the therapists. It is important to understand the various job roles within the destination spa due to the shear size, a head therapist should have experience working as a therapist within a spa or salon in the past, their job role will be to organise the therapists with treatments and sort out any minor problems within the day. One of the most important groups of people working in the spa is the therapist, without these the spa would not exist. They must be a team player and have the suitable qualifications for the job. A good knowledge of products must be attained for retail and an understanding of the core therapies they will be working with (ESPA 2008). All members of staff working within a destination spa should follow the code of ethics. Honesty, all customers that enter the spa must be told the truth about any treatments and not be lead into false expectation. The therapist must understand that the client may not feel comfortable with treatment so should show respect to build the clients confidence. People will pay a lot of money to visit a destination spa in Thailand so it is highly important that clients are never left waiting at any time and appearance must be kept to a high quality. Therapists will have to work long hours and are expected to work late nights and weekends so must sustain physical and mental stamina to keep up the quality of the treatments. As a spa manager duties must be made clear if the spa is quiet, for example cleaning and promoting the spa. To keep the spa professional conversation should be restricted and only about the client, as they have paid for your time. Rapport is very important, if the therapist feels uncomfortable about treating a client they do not have to do so; however this should be done tactfully and professionally (Turner et al. 2004 pp. -5). In conclusion, through thorough research, a destination spa within Thailand would be a profitable, successful business to manage with the correct knowledge and understanding of the culture and what is expected. To manage such a thriving industry it is important to make sure all aspects of the concept have been taken into consideration such as the core therapies along with the staff and training needed to be a success. It is essential to study the type clientele which would visit the spa and their needs and expectations of the whole experience, including fitness, nutrition and relaxation.