Faheem Ebrahim, Spa Director of the Altira Spa Macau

Yes, beautiful interiors and fabulous products impress us, but the heart and soul of spas are the people. It is them that create the atmosphere and lead us into deep relaxation of revitalisation depending on our requests. We love to know what is going on 'backstage' at the best spas so we interviewed Faheem Ebrahim, Spa Director of the Altira Spa Macau - recently awarded 95 Kelly England Points^TM. Lets find out what makes him, the spa and Macau tick...

What was the first spa treatment you enjoyed and why?

At the beginning, treatments were never seen as enjoyment. I used to play professional tennis, and in my late teens was always training for this, so I used to undergo a lot of myotherapy and massage with myofascia and trigger point release, just to maintain my body so I could perform. This was always a painful exercise as it was a ‘no pain no gain’ situation. However I think the first spa I went to for enjoyment was a tiny little shack in Phuket when I was 21 on a dive trip. I had a scrub that was homemade and a thai massage. I really liked the authenticity of it, and anything that shows results is a tick in my book!

What was your path to spa director at the Altira Macau?

I got a job as the Spa & Recreation Manager at Hyatt Regency Saipan, when I was 22. I didn’t have any experience and I just had a really great interview and I think it was just pure luck that I got picked up. Its an old property, but so beautiful, and I really loved what I did, cause it was always busy. We organized a lot of community sporting events, spa programmes and had a membership of 500 people. I was there for 3 years, when I moved to China to help pre-open Hyatt Regency Dongguan. It was a tough location, and I went a little stir crazy, but definitely learnt a lot. Gorgeous hotel, though remote. We called it a deluxe Alcatraz :)

Thereafter I moved to the Maldives with an independent property as the Sports, Entertainment and Activities Director for Meeru Island Resort. We had a really great excursions business, 3 overnight yachts with 6-8 cabins each, and 2 spas (one on land, and one over the water). The hotel ran full every single day of the year. It was phenomenal (and bloody tiring). I am a sun and surf person through and through, so I loved it. After almost a year in the Maldives, I was recruited to Crown Macau (now Altira Macau).

Which is your favourite treatment today?

We have a signature massage called Restore at the spa that is awesome. It was created by Stephen Kirwin, who is a neuro-muscular physical therapist and worked with several Ironman champions. Its hardcore, and has made even some real hard-asses come out in tears! Any treatment I like has to be result based, and I tend to get the most out of a great massage. I think its quite important to me lifestyle.

How do you select your therapists? What are the most imp things that you look for?

Primarily on character. It's the quality we look for before even thinking about a trade test. I’d rather groom a therapist that works well within the team, than have a great therapist who doesn’t enjoy the environment. Thereafter we look at their treatment skills, diversity and initiative to grow.

What is the best part about working in the spa industry?

I guess the typical answer is ‘free treatments’ hehe.. Actually for me, the lifestyle industry is my passion. I love leisure based activities from sports to spa to entertainment and more. So the best part is that I get to work with what I enjoy everyday.

And the worst?

I sometimes spend too much time working in the industry and not enough time enjoying it. Its hard to find a good balance – but I’m working on it.

What do you do in your spare time?

I’m starting to compete in triathlons. I’m still very ordinary at it, so I need to work hard to become a smarter triathlete, so training is taking up a lot of time. I’m trying to do the 2010 Ironman in Perth, WA. Other than that I study close-up magic, so I work on shows or work with my magic teacher to get better. And of course, every now and then I like to paint the town red :)

What is happening to the hotel and spa industry in Macau at the moment?

This is a tough question. At the moment Macau struggles with consistency for both hotels and spas. Specifically for spa, the key is awareness. Macau has some unreal facilities around and coming up in the next year. I truly believe the more competition around, the better at the moment. The industry needs to grow into its own, as it currently gets compared with a not so wholesome image at present. I’m really looking forward to other properties open, so we can start firing it up and competing with each other, and people will start noticing.

Lets go through your typical day...

Up at 5-5:30am – head out for an hour run or a bike, in the office by 7am. Between 9am – 7pm there really is not typical schedule as in hotels anything goes. But we do have standard divisional and departmental briefings and get to hear the horror stories from the previous night/day. I try spend a lot of time with members and hotel guests where possible, because this is really one of the most enjoyable parts of the job. Once a week I will try to be involved with some training with the team, and then there is of course the explosion of things on my office desk to get through. At night, I’ll either meet a friend or cook at home for dinner. Then a couple of times a week I head out for a 10pm bike ride where we do some super fun speed work around the Cotai strip.

Comments to date: 1. This is page 1 of 1.


Alice	Posted at 4:08pm on Sunday, January 24th, 2010
This guy sounds so nice.If I go to the spa will I get to meet him?