Forget your preconceived notions!
The Spa has become an imperative for 4- and 5-star hotels and a means of differentiation for the 3-stars. One point that is common to these investors, whatever the hotel category, the enormous number of questions and deliberations on the Spa industry: The cost of realizing it, profitability, who will manage it, etc.. To try to make it clearer, I questioned two companies that are experts in the sector to provide you with some answers.
The first: Archi-Line Spa - managed by Daniel Carras and Joël Leveque – a company that designs Spas, among which are the Hostellerie Bérard at the Cadière d’Azur, and more recently the Spa Relaxeo in Poitiers. The second: CJL, Wellness Partners, headed by Christel Corneau and Jose Guerreiro, manages Spas on behalf of hoteliers, among them the 4-star Château d’Artigny, the Domaine des Thomeaux, and the Bains Douches at Loches in Tourraine.

In matters of design, what would be the investment for a Spa?
Daniel Carras and Joël Levêque: for Archi Line Spa, architectural design is conceived in two main phases. The first is a preliminary design which allows us, after visiting the site, to soak up the spirit of the place, identify the expectations and requirements of the project head, and define the specifications of its future activity. The work on the project is then carried out in our office, in the form of a roundtable with the Archi Line team. Once the blueprints have been rescaled, they will be carefully analyzed, and every option for laying out the space reviewed and analyzed; only the first one or two «roughs» are retained. At this stage, the spirit and image of the place is already reflected, the general atmosphere of the sketches will help in a broad visualization of the project; a global budget approach will allow the project promoter to plan his investment. This preliminary draft will be presented to the decision makers, with an explanation and justification of the choices proposed. The project file, in the second phase, will be much more elaborate and complete. The plans will modified where necessary, the colour mock-ups, a study of the lighting, preliminary options for the colour codes (colours and materials), and even a 3D animation will add to this presentation, together with a estimated description, section by section, of all the work that will be carried out for the future layout of the Spa. At this stage, the project promoter would already be able to present a project file that is perfectly clear and defined, with a detailed budget. This 2nd phase will be finalized once the equipment, materials and colours have been chosen in order to launch the 3rd phase «work schedule». The cost of architectural design, for us, is not in any way related to the volume of labour involved. Investment in design is therefore proportional to the amount of creative work, and not to the amount of labour. Let me explain, the conception of a 400m² Spa does not take twice as long as that of a 200m² Spa. We therefore establish a project contract that is very detailed, which can be validated, a bit like a menu card. The calculation of the fee cost is thus based on the project and the estimated work schedule for each phase; this is a fixed sum. For example, to design a 200m² Spa, the cost of the first phase would be 3,500 Euros, ex VAT, and 10,000 Euros, ex VAT, for the second other than travel costs. For a Spa of 1,000m2, one would have to reckon on 11,200 Euros, and 36 000 Euros, ex VAT, respectively. These are average rates that may change depending on the complexity of the case.

A Spa - is it profitable?
Christel Corneau: this is a fundamental issue that unfortunately and too often fades as the designing of the Spa advances. Carried away by the pleasure of seeing an eagerly-awaited space materialize, many project promoters forget that the Spa can also be a centre of profit. CJL Consultants - Wellness Partner, has built its expertise on self-operation and on the profitable development of space dedicated to wellbeing. For all the consultants at CJL -Wellness Partner, the question of profitability is the backbone that guides us at each stage. The Business Plan is one of the strategic references once the phases of validating the size of the Spa, the programme, the choice of equipment, materials and investment returns have been completed. Which areas for which treatment programmes. There cannot be a dichotomy between the options of treatments proposed and the type of equipment. The accommodation facilities of the Spa will have to correspond to Hotel requirements.
This phase of the design is crucial to ensure the success of Spa, in terms of attendance, customer satisfaction and its economic development. The issues of management methods must also be addressed right from the design phase. It is preferable to involve the operator in the design. We can also assume its management on behalf of the Hotelier. One should not forget to also analyze the profitability generated by the Spa. By this I mean that the Spa will also improve the occupation rates of the Hotel. By increasing the duration of customer visits and smoothing out attendance over the year. As they are not subject to the vagaries of weather and season, the wellbeing stays at the Spa have good future prospects. In a fast-paced living environment and the pressure caused by increased competition, the pursuit of wellbeing has become a priority for everyone. It is a social issue and a winning development priority for the hotelier to attract leisure, cultural and business clients.

I often hear: ‘‘Calling in an architect specializing in the Spa is of no use.’’ What more can you offer than a generalist architect?
Daniel Carras and Joel Levêque: we touch there on the difference between a specialist and a generalist. It would never occur to anyone to be operated by a general practitioner – it is the same for a Spa. It does not only consists of the overall ergonomics of the future centre, but also the choice of equipment and services offered to customers, the combination of technologies related to water and air, given the imperatives of comfort for each area of the Spa. Believe me, for the novice, there are myriad sources of error, and given the cost of equipment and facilities, any error will have to be paid «cash», with very often, and unfortunately, no means of turning back. It is therefore a job for specialists : making use of the skills and advantages of the long experience of Archi Line Spa together with the major brands of cosmetics, will be a guarantee for the promoter of the project.