One look at Hayley Louise Dack and you realise why she was picked by the management of the Imperial Hotel in Delhi to head the Spa section. Serene to look at and armed with a wealth of experience in the business of wellness, Dack packs in a powerful punch. Excerpts from the interview follow:
Education
Dack has over 30 years experience in five star operations with 22 years in the Spa and Wellness industry. In 1992, she studied Spa and Wellness at the Natural Therapies School in Australia and is also a CIDESCO-trained aesthetician. She has done severa lcourses covering Beauty Therapy Aesthetic, Medi Spa Advanced Training, Nutrition, Skin Analysis, Face Mapping, Mesotherapy Advanced, Hair Therapies, Water/ Hydrotherapies, Crystal Healing, Chromatherapy, Mineral make up, Bridal Packages/ preparation for the Bride/Groom and Wedding Party – Wellness and Skin lead up to the Wedding, spa cuisine, among several others. Designing, Implementing, Training Teams on Spa Menus, Training, Product Implementation, techniques and Anti Ageing. The use of food and natural therapies for wellbeing and longevity.
Professional background
Having worked with Four Seasons in Tokyo, Brilliant Hotel Group in China, Lifehouse Wellness Destination Spa, London UK, UK Medi Spa, The Mulia, Luxury Beach Resort, Hotel and Villas in Bali, Dack has managed large teams, operated multi site spas and wellness operations and also handled pre-openings.
Views on the wellness and beauty industry of India
The spa industry is picking up in India. People are becoming aware of the concept of wellness and are willing to spend a lot on it. The younger generation is more conscious of their looks and health and are visiting spas to get their dose of wellness on a regular basis. Spas, too, are offering a variety of services whether they are based on the traditional Indian massages or western ones. The future appears to be bright!
The Imperial experience
Dack is keen to offer 360° wellness solutions to the guest that will put the Spa at The Imperial on the map. Her idea is to create a wellness retreat in the middle of the city, that offers authentic spiritual traditions such as Chakra Balancing, crystal therapy, Balinese, Ayurvedic practices, dosha readings, diet, yoga and meditation and hydrotherapy, to maintain wellness and peace of mind. She wants to combine local therapies with international ones and have some amazing therapies that go a long way in wellness. She has plans to offer healthy spa cuisine matched with personalised spa treatment plans that enable a guest to escape for a few days to help them bring their body, mind and soul back into balance. She is also enthusiastic about working closely with the Ayurvedic doctors to educate the guests on the benefits of this age old traditional therapy.
