Chiva Som's creator Ana Maria Tavares explains why her new destination spa development for Six Senses will redefine the holistic concept for the twenty-first century.
Ana Maria Tavares is well known among spa aficionados for her role in establishing one of Asia's original destinations spas, Chiva Som in Hua Hin, in 1995. As well as launching Tavares' career in the spa industry, having previously worked in hotels, Chiva Som stepped away from the traditional fat farms dominating the sector. For Tavares, it also developed a genuine dedication to destination spas and the healthy lifestyle they promote.
"What fascinated me about the spa industry was the perception that it was too serious, too boring and too restricted and it's really not. I've benefited a lot from my experience in destination spas in the past 10 years and I don't think I live a boring life. It's all to do with moderation," says Tavares.
"I love contributing to that and I can't possibly think of doing anything else. I don't think I'll ever go back to mainstream hotels."
The opportunity to join Six Senses Spas and develop a new destination spa brand for the company - its first foray into this niche sector - was one, therefore, that she couldn't turn down. That was just under two years ago and since then Tavares has already completed the company's first destination spa on an island in Phuket and been promoted from brand director to managing director for Six Senses Destination Spas.
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The creation of the new brand drew on Six Senses' spa expertise, Tavares' own experience of destination spas and global research in order to achieve the company's mission - that of creating a destination spa for the twenty-first century.
Tavares explains: "Six Senses Destination Spa, Phuket - an Erawan property is truly going to be a twenty-first century spa. It's a very strong statement but it's a statement we're prepared to take head-on because we know what we are doing, we know what services we are providing and we also are committed to the education process - educating and helping our guests is crucial and we have the facilities to do it. These facilities at most destination spas are quite outdated."
Designing appropriate accommodation was also vital to creating a unique selling point for the property.
"When we researched destination spas around the world we found that while they offered excellent services, there was certain things that they were not offering, particularly space and privacy," says Tavares.
"The perception is that destination spa guests don't spend time in their rooms because they are doing activities and having spa treatments, so when they come to sleep they just need a bed and a small space. This is completely wrong," she continues.
"We need to respect the client and give the client a lot of space - that's why we've created villas that are absolutely next to none in the world," claims Tavares.
The 61 villas are each approximately 455m2, but only 55m2 of that is indoor space. The majority of the accommodation is outdoors, built around a private swimming pool and fruit, vegetable and herb gardens.
"You can ask the butler to prepare a lemongrass tea with organic herbs from your garden. That's very unique and people want that contact with nature," explains Tavares.
"Then what we've done is taken this edible landscaping concept and applied it throughout the whole resort, so along the pathways we have tomatoes, watermelons, spinach, lettuce and aubergines, plus two mushroom huts that produce approximately 10 kilos of mushrooms a day," she continues.
"The property is fishertarian - that means we don't sell meat. We support the local fishermen and the local products so if a food is not in season, it's not on the menus," explains Tavares.
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