Quietness is key in a Spa experience

 

Guillaume Lefevre, co-founder of THÉMAÉ shares his advice on how to improve your spa guest experience by controlling harmful sounds that can compromise the well-being of your client.

The secret to a successful spa treatment experience is a combination of fundamental factors, and the satisfaction of your clients will depend on your ability to strike the correct balance between these different factors. The experience will often vary depending on the expertise of the professionals you employ. Employing spa staff who want to progress and strive to provide an excellent level of service can significantly improve the experience for the client. I am not going to attempt to tackle all of these factors here but rather focus on one aspect I consider very important, namely ridding your spa of noise.

The multi-sensory experience you get at a spa is strongly influenced by all kinds of sound, which can generally be divided into two categories. The first of these is 'pleasant' sound, which notably includes silence and certain types of music, the second being 'harmful' sound, also known as noise.

I am only going to deal with the second category here, since this is the type of sound that can very quickly irritate your clients and even counteract the effectiveness of any pleasant sounds such as music. We are going to look at noises that can reasonably be improved, to the exclusion of external parasitic noise (construction/maintenance work, public transport, etc.), which is very difficult to control.

Take the time to really think about the journey your clients will be taking during their time at the spa. Although they may not realise it, the clients will automatically focus on any noises that might disturb them during their spa experience. It's a seemingly small detail which becomes a real source of annoyance, and can leave the client with bad memories of the place.

The good news is that you can change things if you really want to. I am suggesting that you rid your spa of noise to help improve the experience for your clients.

From the moment the client enters the spa, the opening and closing of a door, the banging of the drawers in the reception desk, the way you tap away at your keyboard, the hangers clanking together in the locker room, the rhythm of a therapist's footsteps or the sound of an object being placed on the table all contribute to this harmful source of unwanted noise that jeopardizes the well-being of your clients.

Therapists should endeavour to create an environment that makes it clear to the clients that they are now entering an area of peace and tranquillity. It is very rare for us to experience complete silence, that is the absence of any noise whatsoever. In a way, it can be considered a form of luxury. At THÉMAÉ, we call it, quite simply, 'Silent Ceremony', to refer to this time when we get to relax and enjoy a tea…in silence.

It goes without saying, of course, that the interior design of the spa also contributes greatly to the creation of an atmosphere that is conducive to both silence and serenity.

Therapists should also ensure that no doors are allowed to slam, that they move around the spa in a way that does not interfere with the client's relaxation and that they condition the client's mind so that they feel they are entering a universe of the utmost well-being.

The choice of uniform, fabric and shoes is very important so as not to amplify any natural noise (such as rustling, rubbing, impact, etc.). It is also important to take the time you need, both during and after the treatment, to identify any and all noises that you can eliminate.

This particular attention to detail helps us to work with our partners to develop the notion of complete well-being. Managing noise levels is certainly a skill. I would invite you to experience the power of complete and utter silence for the greatest well-being of both your clients and yourself.

Discover more by visiting THÉMAÉ on stand U44 at Professional Beauty London, taking place at London’s ExCel on 24-25 February 2013. Register here for your free ticket. Click here to book a meeting with THÉMAÉ.