Typology Of Spas Interior In 5-Star City Hotels In Peninsular Malaysia
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Date
2012-06
Authors
Wee, Seiw Wai
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
The original meaning of spa, sanus per aquam (SPA) is Latin for “health through or by water”. Spa provides various traditional treatment practices hereditary including steam bath, massages and all the treatments using essence of flowers and plants for healing purpose. The spa industry is experiencing very fast growth in Malaysia but there are still many people that may not really understand the spa types and definitions. This research examined the typology of interior design of spas in 5-star city hotels in Peninsular Malaysia. The problem statements attempted to identify the existing designs in the spa do not meet the design criteria and elements that should exist in the spa. Besides that, the local spa practices are less exposed in the current spa treatments and designs. The objective of this study was to identify the different types of spa including day spa, hotel spa, resort spa, destination spa and medical spa. At the same time, this research also aimed to study the spa practices and to define the design elements in different types of spa. Methodology used in this research was based on the qualitative method. The data collections were obtained from observations, visual data collections of the case study and interviews. The case studies were done in selected spas in 5-star city hotels which are Vila Manja Spa (Melaka), Spa Village (The Ritz Calrton Kuala Lumpur), Angsana Spa (Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur), Mandara Spa (Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa, Petaling Jaya) and The Suites Spa (The Northam All Suites, Penang). Fifteen respondents included five spa managers, five spa practitioners and five customers from each spa participated in the interviews. The study found that the types of spa can be identified by its specific design and practices as day spa offers spa treatments exclusively on a
day-use basis which provides a day or half day pampering include single services like facial, massage, manicures and pedicures that is separated from the noisier salon environment. This study provided the useful information of spa types and spa practices that are reflects the spa interior design in 5-star city hotels in Peninsular Malaysia.
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Keywords
Typology of Spas interior in 5-star , city hotels in Peninsular Malaysia