B D Narayankar
Pune: With the sizeable increase of neo-rich population and young professionals in metropolitan cities, spa is evolving into an ideal destination of relaxation. Though, a few years ago, spas were the choice of the rich and the famous, they are no longer restricted to them.
"Apart from companies like Hindustan Lever Ltd (HLL) and VLCC, entrepreneurial ventures like The Four Fountains Spa set up by IIT, IIM and S.P. Jain graduates are opening spas at strategic locations in cities to cash in on the new trend. The Four Fountains Spa has come up with a new idea of a day spa where a person can visit a spa and let up the strain in few hours at surprisingly affordable prices."
Sunil Rao, Director of The Four Fountains Spa, says: "With the hectic city life people are finding it difficult to take a two-day leave to relax. In this scenario, a day spa is the best option, where you can reduce fatigue, enhance your mood and detoxify your body within a day at surprisingly affordable prices."
Suhrid Barua, Times of India principal sports correspondent, says: “Spa, for me, is a place for rediscovering self. A place where I can relax and forget everything about the world.” The trend of upper middle class visiting day spas is attributed to the changing life style and increase in the stress level among young professionals. “Through affordable prices, convenient locations and simplification of the spa experience, The Four Fountains Spa fancies making spas accessible to common people. There is a stark change in the upper middle class people’s thinking. They are visiting day spas frequently, even during weekdays.”
Day spa culture in US and Europe is still in its nascent stage, but is a rage in India. “Spa industry in India is a Rs 100-crore business and will grow into a Rs 4,000-crore business a few years from now. The Four Fountains Spa wants to avail this opportunity to make a mark in the day spa market,” Sunil Rao said.
