Meet Andrew Keating, general manager and owners representative for the Villas Bali Hotel & Spa Prana Spa Seminyak and Chill Reflexology. Andrew takes us on a journey through the sacred traditions of Eastern Prana Health and Beauty Spa.
What led you to live in Bali
my first visit to Bali ago 30 years and loved it - the people, the culture, lifestyle and even then the variety of warung and restaurants. I saw him when he was an island with fewer amenities yet so rich in natural beauty, culture and traditions. From a distance I watched Bali rapid progress and change over the years. Prior to this position, I am the CEO of Daydream Island Resort and Spa, The Whitsundays in Queensland, Australia - A 296 room resort with four restaurants, six bars, five meeting rooms and one of the largest day spas of 'Australia. When I left that position in the Whitsundays, I had planned to continue working in Australia, but as fate would have it, I was offered a job in Bali to work for The Villas Bali Hotel and Spa, a enterprise multi-level, and have been here since July 2010.
Prana Spa has a unique architecture and ambiance. Can you describe how this eclectic elegance was achieved
Prana Spa, Reflexology Chill and The Villas Bali Hotel & Spa has been designed and built by the owner ?; Australian artist and painter Jim Elliot several years ago. Prana Spa, inspired by the legendary Moguls of Rajasthan, is an Indian palace complex mixture with Moroccan rustic simplicity. Balinese culture is similarly influenced by Indian culture, and has since ancient times been introduced from the Middle East and the knowledge of the Moors and design by trade. Aesthetic designed treatment rooms offer the perfect atmosphere to relax and take time to achieve happiness and well-being.
What facilities does Prana Spa offers its clients?
Prana Spa features 32 unique spa experiences, relaxing and memorable to choose from. Treatment rooms consists of fifteen single massage rooms, five double rooms of massage, four Thai massage rooms, hot and cold pools, two saunas, three steam rooms, four Vichy shower / rain showers, and lounge for bath hair cream. The newest addition to the Spa's private suite.
What are the challenges you face here after managing a large complex in Australia?
Hotels, resorts and spas around the world have many similarities, the main thing is that these are international companies and should assimilate into the environment and local culture, which is making them unique to this region. As a manager here, it is important to conceptualize, implement and put procedures in place and follow them closely throughout the year. Our team is efficient and effective to ensure our customers feel safe at all times and are served with professionalism and friendliness. This involves understanding how and where the company fits into Balinese life and all managers must learn to work with the beauty of the culture and all that it entails, in particular ceremonies.
Our customers come here to enjoy Bali, culture and people. I love working with our team - they are a wonderful award winning group - many were here at The Villas for a long time and we hope to all be together for many years to come. We have many objectives within our companies and two of them are always focus on increasing revenue and not to cut labor or service levels; it is a delicate balance. We also focus on increasing the team's skill and has opened opportunities for future growth opportunities and promotion.
how the growing number of spas affect you?
As we are an iconic spa in Bali and have been operating for the past 15 years, we are well established with fully trained international team, so we can and hold our own. There are many spas open to all levels of the market, but if guests are looking for an experience and not just a spa, award-winning Prana Spa, Seminyak is the place to go. Any institution that deals with the public must recognize that a happy team makes for happy customers. The experience and accessibility are important factors. We received awards for the three companies; these awards are recognition of the quality of the team and the company is not only one or the other.
What is beauty?
The beauty is natural. Beauty is simple. Beauty is simple and pure.
How do you see Bali and Indonesia to move forward?
The future of Bali and Indonesia is bright. Some people want to focus on the negative when discussing growth, but growth is about positively address the negative aspects as well as the implementation of new ideas. Bali will always be a major destination for its unique culture and the limited size. We must appreciate and refine the cultural aspects of Bali, as tourists will always keep looking for the experience of exotic Bali. We must embrace and help feed the great beauty and the innocent purity of Bali.
Thank you, Andrew. To contact, please email: gm@thevillas.net