Pulse Legacy Archive December 2012 | Page 16

December_Pulse12 11/14/12 4:16 PM Page 14 member profile B LO O M S PA TOYA Meeting the Japanese Market’s Need for Customized Treatments BY CHRISTINE SCHILLING L ocated at The Windsor Hotel TOYA in Hokkaido, Japan, Bloom SPA Toya primarily caters to an upscale and demanding market—high-end local Japanese guests between the ages of 45 to 60. “Local Japanese guests mostly go for treatments that involve a customized course that would suit their body’s condition,” says Bloom SPA Toya Director of Marketing & Human Resources Development Michiko Honda. According to Honda, this specific market is driven by two reasons in their decision to go to a spa: comfort and relaxation. Honda’s observation aligns with data from the ISPA 2008 Global Consumer Study wherein 71 percent of Japanese spa-goers said “reducing stress and relaxation” are their primary reasons for visiting a spa. To meet their clients’ demands, the spa team ensures that t hey look into every single detail of the spa experience, from their customization protocols to the treatments in their menu and the benefits of the products they choose. 14 PULSE ■ December 2012