instance, create a private area for the
bridal party to relax and socialize as they
wait for their individual treatments.
Timing is essential too. “With large
groups, it’s always important to know
their timing needs so that treatments
may be planned accordingly. It’s also
important to know if treatments are
being done on the day of the wedding
or if it’s immediately before the ceremony,” says MGM Grand Director of
Recreational Service Pooneh Melton.
Work Together
Many resort/hotels offer full wedding
services with in-house wedding planners. They handle the food, venue, guest
rooms and work with the spa to plan a
relaxing escape to get the bridal party
ready for the big day.
At the MGM Grand, professional
wedding planners are a one-stop shop.
“Our wedding planners and catering
staff will plan every aspect from custom
floral, timeless photography and decadent cuisine, showcasing the charm and
style of each client,” Sherwood says.
The same holds true at Four Seasons
George V. “We help the bride and
groom through local religious and civil
requirements and put together all their
needs including entertainment, accommodations, spa treatments and flower
decoration. Trial tests for menus, décor
and lighting are also done [by our
team],” says Lasvigne-Fox.
Promoting the spa in the other areas
of the hotel is a great way to drive brides
to book an appointment. In the wedding
planner showroom at Elbow Beach, retail
items from the spa and special packages
are on display. Spa amenities are also
used in the turndown service.
The main thing to remember is to
keep your in-house wedding planner or
designated contact informed of all the
spa packages available to wedding
parties. “I meet with the wedding plan-
46 PULSE
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March/April 2011
DAY SPA TIP: Create your own
mobile spa by providing services at
home for the bride and her bridesmaids. This will make everything
more convenient for the wedding
party and guarantee that she’s in a
relaxed environment.
ners to go over all the details. Once I
have the couple’s information, I send
out a friendly introduction offering my
assistance to make reservations and
design a customized spa journey,” says
Kruk.
If you don’t have an in-house
planner, reach out to local wedding
planners so they can refer their clients to
your spa. This will help drive local traffic
into your spa and create a great word-ofmouth buzz.
Keep Calm and Carry On
Once the wedding party has arrived,
your mission is to help the bride relax, it
is her day after all. It’s inevitable that
you’ll eventually run into an unsatisfied
bride. A proactive approach is essential
for Kruk. “We try to make sure they
have enough time with us in order to
fully relax and for us to be prepared for
the unexpected. For example, we try to
extend 30 minutes of additional time in
case a touch-up needs to be done or a
guest needs to wind down.”
Lasvigne-Fox reiterated the importance of time. “Plan enough time for the
staff with your bride so there is no rush.
The most important thing is to do a test
makeup and hairstyling to allow the
bride to arrive confident and at ease.”
If your guest turns into “bridezilla,”
try to accommodate the request and
take time to personally talk with her to
find out exactly why she’s unsatisfied.
Kruk makes sure to leave a positive final
impression by “following up in the
evening with a personalized handwritten
card and candle thanking the guest for
their feedback and honesty.” Another
appropria te response is to offer the guest
a complimentary or add-on service.
After the Wedding
Just because the wedding is done doesn’t
mean you can’t continue to indulge the
bride and groom. Honeymoon packages
are a popular offering at many resort/hotel
spas. Romantic couples massages are not
the only option for newlyweds, adventurous pairs can depend on resorts to offer
unique packages like helicopter rides at
the MGM Grand.
Take advantage of knowing your new
client’s anniversary by offering them
special discounts or vouchers to celebrate
on their special day. “We send a spa card
for client’s anniversaries with a special
value incentive to book a service.
Sometimes we offer a couples treatment
with a complimentary lunch and an hour
in the private suite, or it may be as simple
as bringing a friend for free,” Kruk says.
This will help build loyalty among guests
even if they aren’t local. ■