Testament to the success
of The Setai Spa’s over- all design was the way in which low inset lighting, warm Brazilian walnut and hues of red, gold and choc- olate have been harnessed from the lobby onwards to slow guests down. Tere was an Asian sensuousness to the
THE SCORE
Facilities: 10/10 Staff: 10/10 Treatment: 9/10 Cleanliness: 10/10 Value for money: 8/10 Overall: 9.5/10
interiors but elements such as vertical slat- ted ladders in the lobby evoked Manhattan too. In the changing rooms, generous-sized lockers included plenty of hangers, a jew- ellery bag and two types of slipper, while even workout clothing and disposable bath- ing suits were available. As with every part of the journey, a mem-
ber of staff was on hand to escort guests to the next step, in this case the tea lounge where drinks, truffles and macaroons were served pre- and post-treatment. I was then collected for my signature facial by a genu- inely warm therapist who directed me to a treatment room with a noticeably large and comfortable Oakworks table and a dropped ceiling panel which added a feeling of inti- macy to the elegantly designed space. Te comprehensive facial was enhanced by an eyebrow pluck and thermal wax treatments for the hands and feet. Although my thera- pist mentioned products that may improve my skin, she explained that she would leave a small selection at reception for me to view or leave as I chose.
SPA BUSINESS 3 2010 ©Cybertrek 2010
Te five-star spa’s amenities include two couples’ suites (above) and a separate male and female AquaGrotto (right)
THE BUSINESS STRATEGY
Spa manager April Tidey says the menu is pared down to avoid
confusion, but that therapists are trained to customise treatments with a variety of techniques. June Jacobs, Dayna Decker and Hommage are some of the brands used and retailed at the spa, but private-label products have been sourced for signature therapies. Such a big spa will require constant mar-
keting and Tidey says different programmes are in place with the building’s concierge and companies operating in the area. Having a sought-aſter restaurant in the same com- plex also helps generate traffic, and there are external signs at street level highlight- ing the public facilities. O’Neal points out the location is a highly visited tourist spot, which also benefits from “an interesting mix of trendy urban professionals, banking exec- utives and high-net worth individuals that make up the condominium residents.” While members of the public can book
treatments, automatically gaining access to the AquaGrotto, there is the option of a us$100 (€79, £66) day-fee for the Fitness Studio, half of which is redeemable against a spa service if booked for the same day. A dual-tiered monthly membership ranging
from us$230-480 (€180-380, £150-315) is available with benefits including access to the fitness facilities and classes, AquaGrotto and complimentary spa services. O’Neal says projected return on invest-
ment for the spa is three to four years. During my visit, on a Saturday, the facil- ity seemed very quiet with just one drop-in and two ladies who’d heard about Te Setai through word-of-mouth. While business clearly needs time to build up, the spa has an appropriately high level of design, service and attention to detail that should appeal to the discerning clientele it is targeting.
Read Spa Business online
spabusiness.com / digital 51
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