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56 DAYSPA | JULY 2014 GLOBAL SPEAK gracious foundation to guest service. This focus on the guest is one of the hallmarks of an Indian spa treatment. Services almost always begin with a footbath ritual, and may end with a scalp massage. Massage is the most popular spa service in India, al- though skincare-related treatments and products are catching on, notes Rajesh Sharma, CEO of Spas India, a consultancy company. "Facials are becoming more popu- lar, for both men and women," Sharma says. "In India we have some of the major global professional skincare brands, but we also have some Indian-made products for use in both back bar and retail." In keeping with the "harmony with nature" approach ingrained in ayurveda, an Indian spa treatment is likely to be rich in tropical fruits, fl owers, herbs and botanicals, including hibiscus, lotus, rose, jasmine, sandalwood, eucalyptus, cloves, cin- namon bark and papaya. As in many developing countries, most of the spas in India currently are within hotel or resort properties, or are destination spas or ayurvedic retreats (although simple day spas with three or four treatment rooms are beginning to multiply). Highly acclaimed Oberoi Hotels boasts 11 luxury properties in India, and its Gurgaon location, in a business suburb of Delhi, offers spa treat- ments 24 hours a day, for hotel guests only. The spa at the Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, recently won the Most Luxurious Hotel Spa Award given by AsiaSpa Maga- zine for India. Taj Hotels operates dozens of spas in its hotel properties, including its proprietary, award-win- ning brand Jiva, with 21 locations in India. The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts operates eight sumptuous hotels in India, with spas by ESPA, including the gor- geously situated Leela Palace Hotel in Udaipur. The most acclaimed destination spa in India—and also spectacularly located—is Ananda in the Himalayas. The property's 78 rooms and 24,000-square-foot spa draw international visitors and celebrities, who come to enjoy spa treatments, fi ne dining, cooking classes, lec- tures, nature walks and other excursions. The recently opened Vana, Malsi Estate, on 21 acres in the Himala- yan foothills, aims to attract a similar following. LABOR INTENSIVE Although labor in India is inexpensive by Western stan- dards, operating a luxury hospitality business here is quite a pricey proposition. Due to the unreliability of resources such as utilities, high-end properties have their own back- up electrical and water systems. They also provide schools for their staffs for training on customer care and quality standards. Oberoi alone has more than 10,000 applicants per year for positions with the company. India requires no licensing for therapists or facilities, Ananda's unique offerings include a music pavilion and a stunning valley view. G l o b a l S p e a k . i n d d 5 6 Global Speak.indd 56 6 / 3 / 1 4 1 1 : 3 7 A M 6/3/14 11:37 AM