Setting a benchmark for the spa industry

Stejarii Country Club will open in November, after a total investment of EUR 18 million. The project was developed by businessman Ion Tiriac and financed through Regional Operational Programme 2007-2013. BR talked to Helen Coulon, managing director of Soul House, the company in charge of developing the country club’s spa concept.

By Oana Vasiliu

A 22,000-sqm area with a gym, driving range, kinesis, areas for spin and aerobics, an indoor and outdoor jogging track, martial arts area, swimming pool, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, climbing walls, squash and padel tennis will be open in north Bucharest for those interested in wellness. The three-floor complex will also contain a Japanese spa and a generous area for events. There will be a space for children, with different rooms for each age group, as well as a specially arranged outdoor playground, with everything according to the highest international standards, from design to personnel.

Can we speak of a spa industry in Romania?

Unfortunately, here in Romania you don’t have a spa industry, but there are certain facilities related to the domain. For example, there are many beauty salons, gyms and medical care companies, and all of them can be accessed from 6am to 11pm. These types of services aren’t available at these hours in other countries, which gives Romania a big advantage. But when it comes to complete services, Romania must understand that the spa industry is going to happen here too, although there is a lack of communication between spa owners, who should come together, to set a benchmark for this business in order to get to the next step.

What is your experience in the spa industry?

I have been in this industry for 25 years now, in both Europe and Asia, starting from being a Pilates instructor to all aspects of spa management and operations before embarking on starting my own business, which includes spa and wellness consultancy. I have set up and managed spas for hotel groups, Hyatt, Starwood and Marriott, and I was also part of the original pre-opening team of Chiva Som, Thailand. Furthermore, I was the “driving spirit” behind the buddha-bar spas that are part of the George V Eatertainment group Paris.

How do you recruit the personnel for a local spa?

Firstly, I would like to point out that many of the people I recruited as therapists for several spas around the world are now the managers of those places. This is what happened to me: someone trusted me so much that he let me run his spa.

Regarding Stejarii Country Club, we have already recruited the whole team, after a long process that was done in partnership with one of the biggest recruitment companies specialized in the wellness business. There will be an international team, although most of them are Romanians, who are gifted in doing this kind of job. From my perspective, I have found the right specialists who have the right touch in their hand, the right education, a certain amount of linguistic ability and obviously those who can adapt to rigorous training in order to serve our clients and their demands.

Why did you choose a Japanese style for the Stejarii Country Club spa?

Firstly, the spa was designed for the client’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions with an extensive menu of Japanese treatments, but also traditional European therapies. Japanese culture is very connected to nature, like this place, which is surrounded by forest. Moreover, everyone relates to Asian experiences in terms of the

spa, which is why the place is completed with therapy suites, an energy pool, chill-relax spaces, Hammam, sauna and steam rooms, green tea terrace bar, intimate sundeck, hair and beauty salon, art gallery and also the Pilates and yoga studio. Of course, many of the visitors will probably expect to find something more European, as Roman baths were well-known worldwide, but Asian therapies are synonymous with luxury.

Helen Coulon’s detox spa schedule

10.00: consultation – to find out the client’s needs

10.30: wet foot area – sit with your feet in water to relax the body

11.00: Hamman stone massage – a hot stone massage that uses smooth, heated stones which are often basalt, a black volcanic rock that absorbs and retains heat well

12.00: detox lunch – based on juices to help the colon eliminate toxins

13.00: signature treatment – full-body scrub with natural ingredients and hot-cold water treatment similar to hydrotherapy

15.00: Pilates – to become aware of your body

16.00: Relaxing massage – to help your body rest