Zaara Spa is an oasis of health and wellness that offers holistic treatments through a blend of unique therapies. Officially launched in August 2010, Zaara Spa at Resort Rio, Goa is spread in an elaborate area of around 7000 sq ft.
The wellness space is equipped with two Ayurvedic rooms, one Thai massage room, three couple spa rooms, two single massage rooms, two steam rooms, one relaxation area and a dedicated consultation room.
Complete with a beauty salon, spa pool and a foot massage lounge, Zaara Spa and Wellness is a retreat for complete mind and body rejuvenation. It also has a state-of-the-art gym with a qualified fitness instructor and it also offers Yoga and Taichi.
The spa also houses an Ayurvedic beauty products shop, well stocked with variety of Ayurvedic Beauty and body care products.
In an exclusive conversation with WI Bureau, Suvidha Nanodkar, Spa Manager, Zaara Spa, Resort Rio, Goa, suggested some implausible ideas for wellness business in the city. Here is the edited excerpts:
Room for experiment
Firstly, Goa being a holiday destination with relaxation being the key element, I think the spa business has tremendous potential here. It’s a market that aspires to turn Thailand of India where you will find a spa or at the very least a foot massage parlour in every corner and I do believe that Goa can learn from Thailand. Secondly, India is well known for alternative medicines like homeopathy and of course ancient practices of Yoga and Ayurveda. I think Goa can capitalize on this wellness practices. Thirdly, fitness, wellness, relaxation and also meditation are becoming key priorities in our daily lives. And, even spas offer all these, that too in a much luxurious manner. We have identified these trending practices and hence, at Resort Rio, we have some incredible chefs at our many restaurants who create wellness inspired menus or healthy food options tailored specifically for individual guest’s requirements. We will also be launching an Ayurveda menu for the health conscious guests soon.
Competitive market
The market is somewhat competitive in a sense that there are day spas offering therapies at much low cost. However, these do not offer the same level of privacy, service or the luxurious ambience as Zaara Spa does. Our focus is to extend the best experience to our guests from the moment a guest walks in. Our view is that guests are willing to splurge on incredible experience and of course we provide incredible value for money. We focus on offering a complete healing experience and have a host of programmes to offer at Zaara Wellness as well.
Strategy to woo local tourist
To be honest, our strategy is to woo customers, be it our guest staying at the Resort Rio or the locals travelers who over time swear by our offerings and ensure re-visits frequently. We generally rely on providing a fantastic experience. And, of course value for money, which our guests talk about often. We believe in the power of Word of Mouth marketing. Customer recommendation is better than any other form of advertising or marketing.
Expected ROI
Our return on investment is 30 per cent per annum which is gradually rising.
Pricing strategy
Ranging between Rs 3,000 to Rs 16,000, our focus is to provide best rejuvenation experience and quality products, rather than under-cutting the prices. Ultimately, the guests need to feel what they receive and feel value for money.
Staff selection & training
We ensure to select qualified staff with efficient spa skills. Moreover, after recruiting them, we provide regular in-house training programs to the staff to hone their skills. Furthermore, our in-house doctors are readily available to provide expert advice regarding any product or practice. We also have an in-house globally acclaimed self defense trainer, Reiki Healer and Astrologer.
Future roadmap
Our focus at Zaara Spa and Wellness is to deliver a complete healing experience for body, mind and soul. In our endeavour to offer customers best services and treatments, we constantly introduce new services. For instance, we now have a resident Acupuncturist, Wing Chun/ Kung Fu master, Reiki Healer and Astrologer. We will soon be introducing some innovative massages. We also be launching Chakra Balancing programmes at Zaara Wellness.
