Professional Beauty talks to Andrea Nestle, general manager of Voyages/Sails in the Dessert about refurbishment and spa expansion.
What is Red Ochre Spa and when was it established?
Red Ochre Spa (Ayers Rock) opened its doors in July 2008 with the goal of pampering and total indulgence in mind. Its signature therapies reflect the balanced beauty of Uluru by combining nature’s intelligence and the power of touch. We achieve this using leading skincare products from Elemis.
What motivated your recent expansion?
The biggest motivation was the increasing demand from guests to add two more double treatment rooms. As visitor numbers went up, we needed to rethink our facilities to cater to that. We developed a more spacious and private reception area to create a more welcoming space. It helps the guest to start relaxation right after entering the door.
Tell us about the process.
Planning was a very interesting and challenging part of the process because we had to consider so many different areas of focus and combine them with a new approach to things. Having just completed the refurbishment of the entire hotel it was a smooth progression to update the spa. There were many discussions between design, technical and operations teams – designers wanted to go for the perfect look, technicians wanted ease and accessibility while the spa team wanted what was practical for them. The finance team occasionally had to get involved to keep the cost at a level but we always somehow reached agreement.
The biggest hurdle at this time was not having facilities available to guests – we managed to offer some in-room treatments. The spa relocated to two guest rooms, we had to recreate a customised menu and atmosphere for that time frame.
What was the response from customers?
Customers love that we have more treatment rooms now! It means that we can be more flexible with treatment times. We’ve also had positive feedback about the redeveloped reception area. They feel that there is a sense of arrival and helps them transition into ‘treatment-mode’.
What advice would you give to others considering this?
Every spa or salon is unique and different. There’s no magic formula when it comes to expanding a business but I do suggest the involvement of experts in the respective fields. We had our design company involved to ensure the refurbishment was in line with the hotel in look and feel. The spa team also provided input with the spa manager, recommending changes and improvement reflecting previous guest feedback as well as making sure a good work flow would be provided.
It’s also crucial to conduct thorough market research before making decisions. Day spas and destination spas are a growing industry that needs to be constantly reviewed and reinvented. In today’s hectic world and stressful living, spas are often the oasis we all look for once it a while – there it’s definitely worth giving it constant attention.
For more information visit www.ayersrockresort.com.au/red-ochre-spa