- Category
Green Awareness Grows in Spa Products
Category: Spa Product Date: March 2008
A fully qualified aesthetician in face and body treatments, Maggie has also coached both the practical and theoretical side of spa related treatments and acted as international examiner for the Confederation of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology.
How important is a “good” spa product to a successful spa? It must be safe and effective and not awash with marketing/product descriptive hype. It is essential for spas to provide good spa products as the therapist will have more confidence in using them and can advise guests on the most suitable homecare if they believe in the philosophy of what the product can do for their skin and body. We all know in this industry, at the middle and top end of the scale spa, guests are becoming more educated about what to expect of a quality spa and product. As spa professionals, we need to aim to fulfill that expectation where guests thoroughly enjoy their spa experience and tell friends how great it was.
What do you think of the spa industry in mainland China?China is catching up rapidly with the rest of the world when it comes to building great spas. Due to the wonderful cross section of geographical environments and the distinct seasons there is an opportunity to create some beautiful spa destinations. There are plenty of Chinese investors teaming up with international hotel groups as they have the expertise to run these types of facilities and can attract international/regional as well as the domestic market because these guests recognize and trust that hotel/spa brand.
What kind of spas and spa products do you expect to become popular in the China market, and also, in the global market?It is clear that inexpensive but clean well run day spas in cities are becoming popular in China and the rest of the world. A good example is Dragonfly (www.dragonfly.net.cn). It offers quality massage treatments as well as express treatments for time starved people who need to get the essentials such as hair, nails and foot/shoulder massage done fast.
It will take time, but I do believe wellness destinations will become popular over time in China but right now guests are looking for a pampering spa experience. True wellness destinations are beginning to take hold in the rest of the world. We could be seeing a shift over the next few years where consumers will take 7-10 days out per year to have a full body screening, detox and enable them to have some time to relax and refresh. An ideal time to do this is towards the end of the year in preparation for a new beginning for the coming year.
In the short term, product wise China is similar to other Asian countries in that women will go for premium brands that offer the elixir to beautiful, youthful even toned skin. Long term as consumers become more educated about human and environmental issues there will be shift towards companies that offer products with quality ingredients as well embracing the social responsibility aspects. You just have to look at the food and clothing issue to get a sense of where the spa industry is going because consumers will drive this change.
What is your favorite treatment?I like to go to spas where you can enjoy the natural landscape and if warm enough have the treatment outside with a gentle fan or warm breeze passing over you. In fact, my last spa experience was at the Royal Le Mirage, Dubai. I had an authentic hamam treatment which is my absolute favorite spa treatment because it is such a luxurious ritual where you skin feels like silk for days afterwards. Hamam treatments have been around for hundreds of years and are enjoying a revival in spas. I would recommend everyone try it at least once.
