MOVERS & SHAKERS
How did you get into the spa business? Since my teenage years, I’ve had a love for natural home beauty remedies. I studied cor- porate law, but when I graduated I worked for T e Body Shop and that’s where my passion and skill for beauty, skin and natural, indige- nous products developed and grew. While outsiders see India as a mystical des-
tination full of healing sages and saints, the only true healing and recuperation is off ered in ashrams and yoga schools. So, I spent four years with a spiritual master at a yoga ashram in India, which underpins my understanding of a holistic and integrated approach to life, goals and experiences. Recognising my passion for the wellness
industry, the Taj group head hunted me in order to create a unique Indian spa concept for its hotels, resort and palaces. My experience and background enabled me
to fashion contemporary off erings from the ancient traditions without compromising on the authenticity and global expectation.
How has your career progressed? In the last seven years, we have created, designed and developed more than 22 Jiva Spas in India and abroad. I am currently working on 23 new spas in
various international locations as well as in India. T ree of these ventures are actually scheduled to open by March 2011. We have also developed over 300 bespoke products for operations and retail.
What have been your biggest achievements in the last 12 months? Positioning the Jiva Spa brand as a leader in the domestic market and among the top spa service providers in the international arena.
What’s your vision for Jiva Spas? To develop in line with Taj’s expansion plans – it has 108 hotels and 42 in the pipeline. We
60 spa business handbook 2011
One of my biggest challenges has been establishing Jiva – an innovative, holistic spa concept – in a 100-year-
old company steeped in a thick corporate culture
have been receiving many business proposals from outside the Taj group and I wish us to eventually become a separate entity and take on more spa management contracts. Our beauty range and oils have received
phenomenal response and we will soon also retail our products outside of our spas. Most of all, I see us welcoming more guests
and leaving an invaluable Jiva Spa impression on everyone’s heart and mind.
What do you want to achieve in the next 12 months? We have many big spa openings in the pipeline and will be entering the US and UK market.
What trends do you see emerging in the spa industry? Trends emerging in the spa sector are focused on less pampering and more wellness-oriented spa experiences. Guests who have tried mas- sages across the globe, now want more tailored experiences and also treatments which have a longer aff ect on their wellbeing aſt er they have leſt the spa. We are seeing tired and exhausted guests
looking for a spa experience to recover from a lack of sleep. We are also seeing a huge increase in couples who want to experience the spa together on special occasions.
What will be the biggest issues for the industry in coming years? Finding certifi ed staff – we need more quali- fi ed and recognised training schools; hygiene standards – there is no regulatory body for hygiene standards or insurance for therapists or guests; and the word ’spa’ being misused – we need a regulatory body to control this.
What are the opportunities for growth in the industry? Operators who create new experiences that work will stay ahead of the game.
What’s the diff erence between a good spa and a great spa? A great spa will constantly improve by seek- ing guests comments and will take action immediately on them. It will maintain impec- cable health standards, upgrading quality and hygiene as required. It will also have consist- ency in its treatments and uphold the highest possible operating standards.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? T ere was a time when I was very tired with people politics and ready to quit. When I told my boss, all he said was “look at the sky”. It was beautiful and bright blue, which instantly liſt ed my spirits. He then said: “Remember your dreams, what you want to achieve and where you want to go... the clouds will always pass”. I think of this whenever I feel low.
What advice would you give to someone coming into the industry now? T e spa industry is about making a diff erence in people’s lives – it is not about the glamour or pseudo psycho babble. If it is truly in your heart to assist people, then you are in the right industry. But if it is not, you will fi nd your job a chore. So you must be clear on what it is that you truly like doing.
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