Post-Treatment Noshes for Success.
How to Surprise Your Spa Savvy Guests with Creative and Authentic Refreshment Offerings ?
I am always excited to go to relaxation rooms and discover what is there that I could 'nosh'. A little snack that accompanies my wellness journey and time at a Spa. I must admit I want to get surprised and seek inspiration with my professional eyes. But today, I want to look at it from a guest's point of view.
During the opening of a recent Spa, we had discussions on how to name the ‘snack’ bar or station in our relaxation room. I’m not too fond of the word station, then instead bar. And snacks, probably through my kids, I had recently too many snacks which were not always healthy! So, after much brainstorming, we landed on the fancy word ‘Nosh Bar,’ which we used to refer to our refreshment buffet. Now, what is a Nosh Bar, you wonder?
Our Nosh Bar was nothing else than a refreshment station with some snacks and drinks. But, we aimed to provide an offering of quality, innovation, and creativity combined with nutritional aspects.
When you look now at your refreshments, I don't want you to be frustrated; the opposite is the case. I would like you to put yourself in your guests' shoes before and after a treatment, in the location and climate you are in, and dream of what would be fantastic to taste.
I believe, as a Spa leader, you can improve your guests' Spa experience with an enhanced offering of snacks and beverages. Cucumber-infused water and chamomile tea are certain beverages that are a standard part of one's spa experience. But you aim to truly stand out within your city, island, location, or industry. You have the chance here to stand out by being on top of the latest beauty and wellness trends.
In one of the Forbes inspections, our Spa lost a point as there were few varieties, no savory option. We were so proud of what we had put in place, but the Forbes inspector was right: everything was instead on the sweet side. This allowed us to continually evolve our offering and change sweet options for savory options like smoked almonds or cashew nuts.
Spa guests are savvier and savvier, and they want to get surprised with an offer of refreshments that reflects the standing of your Spa and that is wellness tailored. More than ever, nutritious choices are critical here. Especially younger guests feel connected to such offerings. According to a 2016 survey from the International SPA Association (ISPA), millennials shared that the central amenity that would enhance their spa experience was refreshments. Ultimately an attractive refreshment offer contributes to guest satisfaction and retention.
What about sparkling wine, mimosa, or champagne, you may ask? Nutritionally it does not make sense to offer alcool after a massage, but our guests and Forbes inspectors love it. - As we know, massages release toxins from the muscles into the bloodstream, which can heighten the negative effects of alcohol. Therefore, water or tea is the best hydration to help eliminate those toxins. Have we served alcohol in the Spas I have managed? Yes, we did! Many Spas guests come to Spas to celebrate, celebrate a birthday, or live and feel a glass of some bubbles is part of it. Where we landed with our team is that we offer water and tea first, explaining the importance of hydrating their body following a massage. And we mention that we also have sparkling wine available. Should a guest only go for the alcool, we then served a glass of water with it, explaining the importance of hydrating the body again.
One additional thought: Many Spas have been starting to retail some of their offerings in their relaxation lounge. This is absolutely the way to go when it comes to beauty drinks or teas. In addition, guests love to continue their newly acquired wellness habits at home.
I mentioned earlier that the selection of noshes must make sense based on the location, and I have two examples from my travel through the world which had close to 0 costs and were highly authentic and just beautiful. In Marrakech, the therapists invited their guests to the Spa’s aromatic garden after the treatment to let the guests harvest the fresh ingredients for their post-treatment herbal infusion. Our guests loved this experience!
In the Seychelles, we offered hibiscus ice tea which our attendant team had brewed freshly in the morning. The therapists harvested hibiscus flowers on their way to work. Just a delight. And as another option, we offered fresh coconut water in a dispenser blended with a good squeeze of lime - delicious and highly nutritious for the body. d
Let us know what exciting refreshments you have come across recently and what your guests have appreciated the most.