Our modern lifestyles are hectic and filled with frenzy on a daily basis. Many couples are looking for ways that they can reconnect, put stresses to rest and relax together. Many spas now offer “spa packages“ that cater specifically to couples who want to enjoy spa treatments with one another. This is the perfect way for guests to spend time with someone they love whilst decompressing, repairing and rejuvenating as a couple.
Most spas have treatment rooms or VIP lounges that can accommodate various couples treatments and ensure complete privacy. It is designed for ultimate comfort and creating a multi-sensory experience that is unforgettable. In addition, most spas offer a gourmet lunch served in a private setting. Generally, couples can also use spa facilities such as saunas, whirlpools or fitness classes.
Resort and hotel spas have settings for couples treatments set aside in a special room. This can be a large beachside suite, an area outside under the stars or even something in the couple’s guest room. For an extra special touch, rooms for couples treatments may have luxuries such as fireplaces, intimate dining areas, meditation sessions, hot tubs, or steam/rain showers, and offer indulgent, delectable treats such as champagne and chocolate covered strawberries.
When your clients book a couples treatment, encourage them to educate their significant other on spa etiquette. For many, it might be their first visit to a spa! This experience should be relaxing for them, but if they do not know what to expect, it can be anything but. It is important that they have an idea of what to expect with each treatment and service.
Besides the standard Couples Massage, Couple Pedicure, Couples Spa Soaks, a new wellness trend is the Post Relaxation Trend, allowing guest to take the spa experience home.
Post-relaxation Concepts
Many spas now offer couples massage lessons in addition to the spa treatment. Here couples can learn how to give each other a massage-not only a relaxing element, but a nice skill to acquire before they head home to the stresses of life. In addition to massages, couples can create their own spa experience by setting aside time every once in awhile to treat each other to a relaxing foot rub, apply a body scrub before a shower or draw a hot bath to enjoy together.
This trend of couples experiencing spa treatments together will likely continue to increase. If your business is not currently providing these services, this is a great opportunity to update and change some treatment options for your guests. Create excitement in your business and get your therapists trained and prepared for the new revolution in couples and tandem treatments.
Start off with a promotion. Use marketing language such as, “Surprise a loved one with a special gift of retreat created especially for the two of you.” With Valentine’s Day around the corner, what are you waiting for?
Consider the tactics used by the following spa principles to create romance and luxury.
Angela Padgett, President of Skin Sense, Raleigh, NC
At Skin Sense, we recognize that the spa experience lends itself well to a romantic and rejuvenating way to connect. We have designed and developed our facilities and treatments to ensure that couples feel relaxed and rejuvenated, whether they have spent an hour or a day with us. Among our award-winning treatments, we offers couples massages in our Suite, including a romantic couples bath designed especially for twosomes to enjoy time together while sharing the experience of deep relaxation. Our signature “muditation” treatment is another perfect romantic retreat for couples, in which they enjoy the wellness benefits of muds filled with vitamins and minerals that aid in hydration, toning, slimming and exfoliation. Our muds are self-applied, set to dry with our sauna or heat lamps, then showered off, leaving the skin soft, smooth and toned.
Offering couples treatments has evolved to the comfort level that men have in coming to the spa, leading to a substantially growing number of men who make spa visits an important part of their healthy lifestyle, in harmony with other wellness rituals such as a healthy diet and exercise.
Michelle Ufer-Herold, Spa Director at Chateau Élan, Braselton
Over the years that I have been at Chateau Élan, we have seen an increase in the demand for couples treatments! This includes everything from one-hour massages to overnight packages focused on helping couples reconnect. During our last renovation, we added two more couples suites to our treatment room inventory to meet the growing demand! We have our deluxe, which includes a double rain shower experience and a two-person hot tub, as well as dining space. We have developed several options for couples to “spa” together for the day, and we also have a couple of overnight options if the time allows.
The Spa at Regent Palms at Grace Bay, Turks & Caicos
The Spa at Regent Palms is a 26,000 square foot facility that spreads out over an acre that includes 18 treatment rooms. Guests can relax in stand-alone treatment rooms, each accented with a water feature by day and fire feature by night, or in the garden where tented cabanas provide an alternative setting for island-inspired treatments.
Two extraordinary spa suites are available for couples. These suites include their own private shower, patio with a fountain and a dining table. Since relaunching in the spring of 2012, the spa has seen a 25 percent increase in couples services. The new menu of offerings includes à la carte couples services or full packages, including an intimate lunch and quiet time. The beauty and quiet pace of Turks and Caicos makes The Spa at Regent Palms a favorite for honeymooners, babymooners and romantic getaways.
Goldie Bonnell has more than 20 years of experience in the skin care and wellness industries. She has designed programs and client treatments for many spas. Bonnell has been involved in the building of training centers for The International Dermal Institute and Dermalogica.
