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Because of constant manpower shortage situation, it’s an excellent time for those who want to serve in the spa industry, top entrepreneur and spa owner Ms Siti Ong reveals |
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“Do
not go into a service-based
industry if you do not
have a passion to serve
others. Your personality
traits are just as important
as your skill traits,”
warns Ms. Siti Ong who,
in her 20s, has already
made an impressive mark
in the hospitality
industry with her
Wayan Retreat Balinese
Spa in Kampong Glam.
It was for this that
she received the Women
Enterpreneur of the
Year (2006) Award from
the Singapore Malay
Chamber of Commerce
and Industry.
“My education
background is in accountancy,
which has nothing to
do with the spa business,”
she candidly tells JobsDB.
“I spent several
years in both audit
and commercial accounting
before deciding to set
up my own business.”
She has since gathered enough knowledge about the industry — which she believes is beginning to mature.
“I’m sure
everyone has noticed
that many spas
have mushroomed all
over Singapore in the
past two to three years.
It is starting to mirror
a ‘Bubble Tea’
syndrome… I think
the medium- to long-term
macro landscape of the
spa
industry in Singapore
is a bright one. With
the upcoming Integrated
Resorts and the doubling
of tourist arrivals
in the near future,
the spa industry, in
general, would experience
an enlargement of the
existing pie, which
presently stands at
over $150-million a
year,” she explains.
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She
also notes a
Straits
Times
report early
this year on
the country’s
Top 10 most
in-demand jobs.
Spa therapist
is one of them.
“The industry
is faced with
a constant manpower
shortage situation,”
she warns. “Many
spa operators
are forced to
take in unskilled
and unqualified
staff just to
meet their short
term needs.”
And so, for those who are thinking of entering into the spa industry, this is indeed an excellent time.
What does it take to be a spa therapist?
“In general,
equipping yourself
with a recognised
spa qualification
would suffice,”
says Ms Ong.
Some of the
commonly accepted
qualifications
include CISDESCO,
ITEC, NSRS and
World Masters.
“However,
to truly excel
in the spa
industry,
it is not just
solely about
the paper qualification.”
Natural
touch.
“To be
very honest,
an excellent
spa
therapist
must have a
very good pair
of hands. His/her
hands must be
warm, firm and
have great control
of his/her strength.”
Pleasing personality. “Additionally, it is important to have a nice personality with a [patience] to serve. Sometimes, I feel that Singaporeans are brought up in a culture preferring to be served than to serve — resulting in many service establishments preferring to hire foreign workers who are incredibly polite and proud to serve.”
Ability to smile. “You must enjoy meeting different people from all walks of life and be able to smile even if the customer is not nice — it happens!”
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WHAT IS WAYAN RETREAT BALINESE SPA?
“I decided to set up Wayan Retreat Balinese Spa (http://www.wayanretreat.com) when I realised that despite the growing affluence of the Malay community, there was no upmarket spa targeting the modern Malay women,” explains Ms Ong.
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| Being a Malay herself, she was aware of the health and beauty traditions of her forefathers. “During the course of my market research, I realised there was no spa in Singapore strictly dedicated to the traditional health and beauty methods richly found in the Malay archipelago. |
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Hence, I decided to [focus on] the revival of these age-old traditional healing methods as the focal point for my spa,” she adds. “A Balinese concept also appeals strongly to both the old and young, and goes beyond the confinement of the Malay community.”
Wayan Retreat Balinese Spa is located on 61 Bussorah Street with telephone number 63920035. |
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