SELLING A MINORITY SHARE TO A DUBAI-BASED COMPANY HAS OPENED UP NEW MARKETS FOR ESPA.  ANNETTE HANFORD REPORTS

Following the recent sale of a 40% stake in Espa to Dubai-based Istithmar World Capital, you'd be forgiven for thinking Susan Harmsworth would be relinquishing some of her responsibilities as chief executive, and taking a step back from the spa product, treatment and design company she founded.

However, this could not be further from the truth, as she's now working harder than ever. The company's globalisation might mean there are more people employed, but Susan (left) - who is still very involved in spa design and product development - says they still continue to need leadership and teaching.

Until now, Susan regularly declined offers from companies wanting to buy or invest in her business. "Running at double-digit growth, we felt we could have run another couple of years without taking investment. However, we felt if we were to take outside investment, it would be because we wanted to get bigger and expand globally."

There is a huge boom in the spa sector, with many more players coming into the market, but many, she says, don't have the experience to succeed. "There is a lot of damage being done to the industry, huge mistakes with capital spend and white elephants being built.

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One such person who has adopted this philosophy is Eve Toole, owner of the Bromsgrove-based Chessgrove Day Spa. 

Eve's environmental approach began when the price of oil started to rise. Concerned over the costs of heating the spa, she looked at alternatives before settling on a wood chip biomass-fuelled boiler. Not only would this cut energy bills, but it would add a green theme to the spa and set Eve on a path to evolve Chessgrove's eco element.

Eve explains that the initial cost of installing the system was high, but it promised good cost savings, along with heating the pools to a higher temperature of 32˚C - ideal as the spa also runs a swim school. The pool also benefits from a UV filter to help reduce the amount of chlorine needed, while the roof benefits from an expandable foam insulation to help reduce heat loss.

Eco chic is now at the forefront of a developing luxury market and Chessgrove's premium offering fits this new demand perfectly.

MORE FOLLOWS

Set among sophisticated Parisian boutiques and cafes, The Anne Semonin Spa at the five-star Hotel Le Bristol is the perfect urban day spa retreat.

Laura Kelly is spa manager at Spa 6 at the Cotwold Waterpark Four Pillars Hotel in South Cerney, Gloucestershire. 

Spa 6 opened in August last year and follows the true philosophy of a spa, with an extensive heat and water therapy suite, and a full range of beauty treatments.

Calcot Spa has been named as the UK's top hotel spa retreat by readers of Condé Nast Traveller. And with high service levels and a wide treatment menu, it's no surprise. Annette Hanford reports

Readers of Conde Naste Traveller magazine are clearly consistent in their opinion as, having voted Calcot Spa into the top slot in the UK Hotel Spa category of its 10th Annual Readers' Travel Awards last October, they have also just named it the UK's top spa retreat.

BATHED IN HISTORY
Restored to their former Victorian glory, Harrogate's Turkish Baths are enjoying a new lease of life. Sasha Lill reports

HUDDERSFIELD’S TITANIC SPA’S AWARD-WINNING MARKETING STRATEGY BRINGS IN THE CLIENTS AND KEEPS IT IN THE NEWS. SASHA LILL REPORTS

SPA VISION
From a derelict textile mill in North Yorkshire, 14 months of renovation and an investment of £3 million, Titanic Spa opened in March 2006. The UK’s first eco spa (it has solar panels and its own bore-hole to supply water), it is located on the ground floor of the mill – above it sit 130 privately-owned apartments.

The spa vision was commissioned, and an interior designer appointed to encompass a world-class spa product incorporating state-of-the-art features while maintaining the history of the mill. Key design elements incorporated environmental features, such as local granite and slate, to create a stunning visual aspect.

Sam Pearce is partner, alongside her parents, at Eastthorpe Hall the Health and Beauty Spa in Mirfield, West Yorkshire -- winner of Day Spa of The Year at the British Beauty & Spa Awards 2007.

SenSpa is as close as you can get to experiencing an authentic Thai-style spa without a gruelling flight. You don’t even need your passport as it’s located in Hampshire. With an international staff – including Thai-trained therapists – SenSpa combines Eastern and Western spa cultures and techniques to create a haven of tranquillity and an award-winning destination spa.

DEEP IN THE HEART OF BERKSHIRE, DONNINGTON VALLEY HOTEL SPA HAS SPECIAL LINKS TO CALIFORNIA. ANNETTE HANFORD CHECKS IN

There were balloons, cards, and even a birthday cake to celebrate the first year of Darren Dixon’s new “baby”.

Darren is spa director at Donnington Valley Hotel, and his pride and joy – shared by a loyal staff – is the hotel’s £6.5m health club and spa development.

Incorporating an extensive range of spa, health and fitness facilities, it forms part of Donnington Valley Hotel’s £14m renovation project, which also included the addition of 58 new bedrooms, and bringing all the existing accommodation up to the same high standard.

Quality of staff is an issue for the spa industryand it must be rectified through education. Jane Crebbin-Bailey considers the concept

I was privileged to be one of the first visitors to Spa London, the UK's first public sector day spa, located in the heart of London's East End.

A joint venture between Tower Hamlets Council and Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) -- a non profit society, it aims to offer a first-rate spa package at an affordable price.