Spas in operation require to unlock their true potential by optimizing their financial performance, improving their service delivery or auditing their health & safety policy.
Spas are able to achieve this in one of two ways:

1. Subscribe to the security of our on-going support program via Spa Management Consultancy, or
2. Allow Howard Consulting to audit the operation, identify and implement specific improvement strategies on a case by case basis - Improving Spa Operations

Spa Management Consultancy

Assisting the hotel operator deliver premier spa service, the product and the profit

Our two key consultants each possess over 24 years of experience in the operation of 5 star hotel spas. Our Management Consultancy service is tailored to the specific needs of the Spa & Hotel. Often this service is taken by our Project clients wishing to maintain a qualitative seamless service transforming the project into a premier spa operation – this also ensures that the Spa concept is correctly interpreted & implemented in operation. The objective of the association is to develop and expand an already unique product to a very high standard and in complete synergy with the hotel working very closely with the hotel departments. We aim to greatly enhance the guest’s experience hroughout their stay.
Support consists of:

• Management Support & Direction – via visits, telephone conference calls, modem link, and audits
• Business Reviews & Support – via visits, analysis &  reports that consider financial information with PR, Promotional, Sales & Marketing initiatives
• PR & Marketing – working closely with the hotel’s relevant departments and agencies imparting specific knowledge & direction of spa promotions
• Training & Development – instigating & monitoring spa specific appraisal, training, certification & development programs for all spa personnel
• Recruitment – Assisting with appropriate recruitment to enrich service delivery
• Training Manuals – Create & update the 5 key manuals designed to establish qualitative spa procedures, the highest spa standards, efficient spa procedures and maintain tight budgetary control – all focused on maximizing the business.
• Finance – Howard Consulting shall react to live on line modem links concerning reservations, revenues & staff rotas assisting with optimizing income, as well as submit monthly reports and implementation programs addressing the areas requiring improvement.  Monthly actual versus budget figures are also analyzed and actions suggested. .
• Health & Safety – Howard Consulting shall establish H&S procedures,, constantly reviewing and maintaining standards.

Improving Spa Operations

Allow Howard Consulting to audit your Spa operation, identify and implement specific improvement strategies

Choose from one of the 3 following Key Services

Mystery Guest Audits

One of the most effective ways to test your hotel’s current spa performance is via professionally conducted Mystery Guest Audits. Often Spas & Hotels will use ‘invited guests’ to perform such tasks, however this method is relatively amateurish compared with employing professional specialists that  also understand the potential of a Spa operation and know what to look for from the operator’s point of view – not just the surface deep overly opinionated perspective of an invited guest.
A mystery guest audit will also benchmark your Spa against the vast exposure to Spas in the international and national market that Howard Consulting is very familiar with.

Hotels classically believe they have this service already covered by the AA, RAC or GAP, however the level of information and feedback provided by these organizations focuses on the hotels traditional services of rooms, reception and F&B with relatively scanty information/feedback provided on the Spa operation – the Spa is a specialist and separate business in it’s own right and the only way to judge the performance is by respecting all that is involved in a Spa operation. We believe we judge a Spa’s performance on a vastly wider and deeper basis through the eyes of our key consultants, not through Spa non specialists of other organizations.

Health & Safety Audit - - assisting the operator comply with Health & Safety law, creating a safe working environment

Howard Consulting possesses specific operational expertise in the management of Health & Safety within Spa's, holding a recognized qualification enabling the assessment of current operations and the set up of new operations and premises. We can assess the Spa’s Health & Safety status and devise an action plan ensuring compliance with Health & Safety law and local authority legislation. We will, at the point of opening a new operation or premises assist and advise with the implementation of Health & Safety statements, risk assessment, policies and procedures and subsequent training as required, providing manuals to provide a comprehensive approach mindful of the needs of the business.

Support can include:

• Assessment of Health and Safety status, physical product and paperwork
• Preparation of an Action Plan to ensure compliance with the law and best practice
• Identifying recognized H&S training requirements for key personnel
• Preparation of a H&S Statement
• Assistance with Risk Assessment
• Assistance with Hazard Spotting
• Creating H&S policies & procedures and subsequent training

 

Spa Improvement Programs

Firstly, a Spa operation must identify their specific training need. This can be achieved through Mystery Guest Audits or overt Operational Audits. Ideally, there should be an on-going Appraisal, Training & Development Program in place that regularly self-checks performance of the Spa and individuals. If not, Howard Consulting will assist in establishing this program, or can supply any of the following popular training modules:

• Understanding Spa Financials
• Spa Sales & Marketing Plans
• Financial Reviews & Implementation of Improvement – for the benefit of the Hotel & Spa
• Introduction & Implementation of a Spa Personnel Appraisal, Training & Development Program
• Improving Retail Sales
• Improving Treatment Delivery
• Improving & Enhancing the Spa Journey