Holistic experience beyond pampering: Director, R The Spa

Wellness India talks to Alka Katar, Spa Director, R The Spa, Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi to unveil more unique features of the spa.

Tell us about your spa since its inception. What is the USP of R The Spa?

R The spa is created to reposition the hotel a notch higher through high quality spa. Our hotel’s client profile is largely business traveller and spa is devised as a product to provide value to the business traveller, and deliver a level of opulence that would delight the most discerning connoisseur of the finest things of life. With its strategic location close to international airport and commercial hubs of Gurgaon and NCR, R The Spa is undoubtedly the best offering for people in transit and corporate traveller.

Moreover, the spa offers with other hi-tech services like experience shower, dry floatation bed, elaborately themed suites with private secluded areas designed for couples, right amalgamation of carefully selected therapies from East and West catering to diverse segments, service excellence through personalised attention in providing tailor made packages and high credibility of product aesthetics, are some of the differentiators.

List the services and therapies offered by R the Spa that differentiates it from the other hotel spas existing in the country?

The three level spa with separate floors is meant to provide Rejuvenation, Relaxation and Replenishment. Theme based private spa suites with distinguishing equipments like vichy shower, hamam table, dry floatation bed, experience showers etc. Other luxury services include spa bar facility, relaxation lounge, foot spa zones, fitness and yoga studio. These things make the spa experience unique on top of it; therapies like sabai stone, synergy signature, Indian Marma Massage, aquatherapy with green coffee wrap and caviar face therapy are some of the key differentiators, which are not available in other hotel spas.

Where do you position R The Spa in terms of pricing of its services and footfall in the current spa business?

Spa’s sustainability lies in the value proposition to key market - corporate and business traveller, leisure traveller in transit, lends value to people in jetlag. Being the first National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare (NABH) accredited spa in India, the spa adds further to its product credibility.

Your NABH accreditation is expiring in the month of April next year, how you gear up to renewed it?

There are no special preparations required for renewal as we are complying with the quality standards enlisted in NABH guidebook.

From where do you source your products including essential oils and creams, bathrobes, towels, equipments etc?

We procure branded products from exclusive distributors, manufacturers, and we comply with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) regarding product procurement.

On what basis do you judge the quality of a particular brand’s product?

We often conduct vendor evaluation and vendor audits. Also, regular market research and consumer’s feedback are the deciding factors.

Scale the present market position of R The Spa in terms of growth in the last quarter. Where do you position it in the next quarter?

We are among the top three luxury hotel spas in Delhi/NCR in line with the growth in last quarter and we shall maintain our position among the top notch spas.

Various hotel spas are using social media for promotion, what is your marketing strategy to promote your brand?

We also actively promote our spa through social media campaigns on Facebook, Twitter and print media.

Which other hotel spa do you consider as your biggest competitor and why?

Lavanya Spa, The Leela Gurgaon, Heavenly Spa, The Westin Hotel and Quan Spa and J W Marriott are some of the major competition spas. However, our guest retention ratio is 100 per cent due to our quality service delivery which gives us the lead.

Share your views about the wellness industry in India.

Wellness has become an integral part of lifestyle. Consumer today is better-educated and more aware about spas through personal experience and extensive travel. They seek wellness and want a holistic experience beyond pampering. It does not limit to occasional indulgence, but provides more quality services with high level of hygiene standards.

How do you see 2015 in terms of spa industry’s growth? What innovative strategies you are planning to adopt to increase footfall?

The spa industry is growing at 30 per cent. Bespoke spa and salon packages – tailor made to meet the personalised requirements of a spa goer, F&B offerings for expats and diplomatic community, weekend packages, fitness programs, etc would be a part of our elaborate New Year strategy.