Spa experts speaking to Hotelier Middle East have revealed that some of the most common mistakes in spa design include a lack of relaxation areas, backof house space and laundry logistics.
According to Neville Brownhill, managing director of Atlam Design Worldwide, “Some mistakes are so glaringly obvious and are as simple incorrect spatial planning, too small treatment rooms and not enough relaxation areas for peak times, almost non-existent offerings of product sales areas and oversized pool hall areas or the wet and dry mix is completely out of balance.”
Beauty Leaders LLC director of operations Liane Bakaou believed lack of planning in the back of house area was a key issue for most spas.
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“Some spas are more designed as a showcase and turn out not to be practical for daily use. Laundry and storage logistics are often not thought through or correctly calculated, which can seriously hamper the smooth operation of a spa.
WTS International senior operations director Asia Pacific Jodie Chin commented: “Common mistakes are BOH entries and availability for laundry, product and other deliveries. These should not be through common areas. There is often no thought for traffic flow and the crossover of guests and staff.”
“Lack of relaxation space, and retail space are also common mistakes. Inadequate lounge space for peak times or days is also often a problem,” added Chin.
Energy efficiency is also a key area spas need to concentrate on, according to Schletterer regional director MENA Mohammed Ibrahim.
“If spas don’t tackle energy costs, they won’t survive in the long term. In the past, spas were designed and built without any thought to the costs of running them. This has changed and cutting energy costs has become vital,” he said.
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