Six Senses Doha expands its offering

Stand-alone facility at Al Sharq Village increases fitness programme in response to demand

Six Senses Spa at Sharq Village & Spa, Doha, has expanded its facilities, activities and programmes in a bid to respond to local demand for its services.

Spa director Francisca Antunes said the number of visitors to the gym had doubled since January — from 41 to 120 daily — and memberships have increased so steadily that she is considering putting a hold on the signing up of further members.

“Our members are becoming more health conscious,” said Antunes, who has upped the number of yoga, kick-boxing and spinning classes during the busy 5-9pm period to ensure the gym doesn’t get too packed.

“I’ve also bought three more treadmills and in the winter, we are going to run outdoor Tai Chi sessions,” she said.

Antunes, who has a hotel management background and focuses on strategy and running the spa as a bonafide business unit, has appointed a spa manager, Brazilian national Patrick Taffin, who focuses on spa operations, as well as a wellness coordinator who is “the link between the spa and the guest”.

“If you don’t know what you want to do and what type of treatments you need, you sit down with our wellness coordinator and create a programme — it takes away the mystique of a spa.”

The spa is also developing corporate menus whereby the wellness coordinator and fitness director spend a day with corporates and teach staff how to sit in their chair properly, how to stretch, etc.

“We also give short 30-minute massages,” said Antunes. “ We are trying to get companies to think more about the welfare of their employees and suggest that rather than just giving them money as a reward, give them a massage or spa treatment too.”

And from November, Six Senses Spa at Sharq Village & Spa is also offering a 30-day weight management, coordinated by the wellness, fitness and F&B managers, the first four days of which are a detox.

“The guests stay here for the first four days but for the entire month, they have breakfast, lunch and dinner here,” said Antunes.

The package is priced QR 30,000 (US $8247) and includes two consultations per week, one to two spa treatments per week, six meals per day (three main meals plus three snacks), an initial medical check-up plus you become a spa member from then on with special privileges.

Antunes is also looking to develop four- and eight-day detox programmes.