MOVERS & SHAKERS Bina Patel VICE-PRESIDENT – SPA OPERATIONS & DEVELOPMENT, TAJ HOTELS, RESORTS & PALACES
With a passion for, and great knowledge of, traditional and scriptural Indian holistic wellness, Bina Patel co-created the Jiva Spa concept for the Taj Group – owned by the Tata conglomerate – with her husband Samir Patel in 2003. Since Samir left to join Six Senses in 2009, she alone has headed up the spa division, which currently comprises 22 facilities and a pipeline of 23 more.
Do you feel as if your life is on track? Yes because I am completely in sync with my life plan and because I have an opportunity to learn and grow daily.
What drives you? T e opportunity to innovate and create at work and the prospects for inner change that present itself through this.
How would you describe yourself? I think I am a very happy, positive, straight- forward and honest being.
What’s the best business decision you’ve ever made? Accepting the off er to conceptualise and cre- ate an Indian spa brand [Jiva].
Exotica in the Maldives features just one of over 22 Jiva Spas currently open in India and abroad, with a further 23 in the pipeline
www.spahandbook.com
What has been the biggest challenge of your career? Establishing Jiva – an entrepreneurial, innovative and holistic spa concept – in a 100- year-old company steeped in a thick corporate culture. It was by sheer hard work, support from an extremely encouraging boss and the amazing grace of god that Jiva has become an asset to the company.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing? Setting up my own unique spa brand.
What makes Jiva Spa stand out from the crowd? It is the only Indian spa brand in the world with unique signature spa therapies and experiences. We off er meditation, yoga and rare Indian and ayurvedic therapies, such as Pelhwan Malish: a deep tissue massage tra- ditionally performed on ancient Pelhwan wrestlers. We have also created our own nat- ural Indian herb product line and therapies inspired by our country’s royal heritage, such as elaborate ceremonial bathing rituals. We are one of the fastest growing spa brands
in Asia and the largest in India. T e commend- able eff ort Taj has put into promoting Jiva has brought credibility to the Indian spa industry and the success of our spa brand – a lifestyle awareness that is internal and external.
What’s your favourite spa treatment? Manda Snana – one of our signature treatments at Jiva Spa, Taj Tashi, Bhutan – features a hot stone bath, an invigorating scrub with our sig- nature oils and local herbs, and a massage.
spa business handbook 2011 59
BINA PATEL
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