Frequently Asked Questions

STRATEGIC PLANNING/OPERATIONS

1. HOW DO I KNOW THE SQUARE FOOTAGE NEEDED FOR THE SPA AT MY PROPERTY?
The size of the spa is based primarily on guest room count, hotel occupancy, guest demand, spa concept and property rating. As interior designers who specialize in spa development globally, we can quickly identify and recommend a spa size that is best for your property.
2. HOW MANY TREATMENT ROOMS SHOULD MY SPA HAVE?
Treatment room inventory is primarily based on hotel size, occupancy and guest demand for spa services at your property type. Our experience in programming profitable spas without overbuilding is a key factor in how we build our long term relationships with owners and asset managers.
3. DO I NEED A SEPARATE/DIFFERENT BRAND FOR MY HOTEL SPA?
This depends on your hotel positioning. We have created concepts and designs for spas that can work either way.
4. SHOULD MY SPA HAVE A RETAIL SECTION/PROGRAM?
No doubt one of the most poorly executed areas in spa programming, the retail component has left a lot of money on the table for many spas operating today. Our goal in spa retail programming is to raise the average ticket by creating easy to navigate, well-designed spaces that support both guest experience at the spa and hotel retail programming.
5. SHOULD MY SPA BE OPEN TO DAY VISITORS?
Depending on your location, hotel positioning and size of spa, the answer to this question varies with a wider range of solutions. For example, it would not be prudent for a luxury resort property to open the spa arbitrarily to non-hotel guests if your hotel positioning has been created to provide exclusivity and privacy to your hotel guests. Our goal is to evaluate what the best course of action would be particularly if you are looking to offset monthly expenses, fill slower periods or keep good staff employed during these tougher economic times.
6. DOES THE SPA NEED A SEPARATE MARKETING AND ADVERTISING PLAN FROM THE HOTEL?
Because our goal is to drive rate and occupancy to the hotel, we recommend that your spa’s marketing and advertising plan concur with the hotel’s plan. We also recommend that your marketing department work closely with the spa director so that a seamless approach is taken to reach your property’s objectives.
7. WHY SHOULD A HOTEL HAVE A SPA?
Smith Travel Research has shown a direct and positive impact on rate for properties with a spa. This is not to say that all hotels should have a spa. The bigger question to ask here is: If I add a spa to my property, will the space that I can realistically allocate meet expected demand and guest expectations for my property type?

Yes they are. We love to think about promotions as special events that are customized not only to each property but further articulated to speak to a specific group that is coming in for a onetime event.