OPINION
JANE CREBBIN-BAILEY Partner, HCB Associates
I
T ere are seven major Indian spa training institutes including ASI (above)
ndia’s spa industry is committed to ensur- ing guests receive the highest quality,
authentic spa experiences. But, currently, the lack of professionally-certifi ed staff is a challenge; spas are leſt to poach good therapists, and employ unqual- ifi ed staff who may be good masseurs, but lack formal training and knowledge of anat- omy, physiology and best hygiene practice. India will require 20,000 new spa thera-
pists by 2012; it’s an ambitious number. But a lot of new training institutes are opening. Many off er short beauty courses and claim they’re a spa training school, but there are currently seven major spa training institutes off ering certifi cations around the country— including the fi rst institute designed and built for spa training in India, the Ananda Spa Institute (ASI), owned by renowned brand Ananda (see SB08/3 p36). Spas and ayurveda go hand in hand, so a lot of the ayurvedic schools, mostly origi-
nating from Kerala, are now turning into spa schools, or adding courses in services or Oriental therapies. Interestingly, the recently-opened Oriental Spa Academy, owned by India’s Cambay Resort, has linked up with the Lanna T ai Spa Acad- emy in Bangkok: it’s important to
off er students a global perspective. At ASI, [which I consulted on] we’re try-
ing to promote longer courses [typically nine months to three years] but off er short courses as well [typically two weeks to six months] to attract people. To encourage national students, ASI and
many other institutes off er a two-tier price system – one for international students, and one for nationals with reduced fees. T ere are also programmes set up by hotel groups to recruit and provide accommodation and training for those in poorer communities. It’s important for India not to rely on recruiting from overseas but rather develop its own tal- ent or encourage those working overseas to return with their international expertise.
By 2012, India will require 20,000 new spa therapists and that’s an ambitious number... however, it’s important for India to develop its own talent rather than rely on recruiting from overseas
K
nowledge of day spas has increased recently among the people of India;
this market is blossoming due to a burgeoning middle class with incredible disposable income, and there are opportunities for operators to tap in. T ough recent eco- nomic pressures have aff ected the country, the desire to enjoy experiential treatments does encourage locals to experiment with locations in their vicinity. Bangalore was probably the fi rst city to
see day spa development geared towards attracting a domestic audience, with Aroma Garden, a day spa founded in 2000. It was a pioneer in introducing western-style treat- ments in a day spa setting to India. Spas
CARINA CHATLANI Chief executive, Spa and Wellness Association of India
located at hill stations (hilltop towns popular with vacation- ers) are also attracting locals. T ese spas are generally geared
towards western-type treatments with some infl uence from ayurveda, though it’s challenging to honour the authenticity of ayurveda in a day spa format. Other existing regions with potential for
developers include Delhi and Mumbai, with their vast numbers of tourists and residents; Kerala, known for its traditional ayurvedic therapies; the northern Himalayan region, which draws locals and foreigners and Goa, a highly-visited state with numerous wildlife
Tier III cities – small, booming cities near major metropolises – show the most promise for spa development, as saturation in tier I and rising property prices in tier II cities drive investors away
28 Read Spa Business online
spabusiness.com / digital
sanctuaries and protected, government-run forests, which make it an easy choice for development of ayurvedic and resort spas. Emerging tier III cities – a collection of
about 30 small, booming cities located near major Indian metropolises – show the most promise for spa development, as saturation in tier I and rising property prices in tier II cities are driving investors away. One of these, Nashik, located in a burgeoning wine region, off ers tremendous potential for resort development, with its spiritual herit- age and location near the Godavari River. T ere’s great potential to utilise India’s
own natural creations – yoga, ayurveda, vastu, pranayama – in spa concepts. And while the world has seen these cre-
ations originating from the indigenous healers, Indians feel compelled to explore as well as ensure their own traditional phe- nomena are honoured.
SPA BUSINESS 4 2010 ©Cybertrek 2010
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