Custom Cool at SpaQ Gold Coast

An all-natural, all-nurturing sanctuary from everyday life, spaQ’s underlying philosophy is a belief that, just like your mind, your body isn’t static. As Ashleigh Sharman discovered at QT Gold Coast.

Holiday destination for thousands each year, Queensland’s Gold Coast is a welcome relaxation pit stop for tourists who recharge amongst the sun, sand and sea. Servicing QT Gold Coast hotel guests and local residents, spaQ differs to the norm to ensure the treatment guests receive is the best suited for them upon their arrival at the spa.

Guests are invited to book a time and decide upon a treatment on the day through a personal consultation process. SpaQ believe this helps to ensure guests get exactly what they need on the day — what they have coined as a “freshly-picked spa experience”. Playing further on the bespoke spa-treatment concept, an ‘accessories’ section is included in the menu which, combined with spaQ’s signature consultative and personalised approach, delivers a fresh and exciting spa experience.

The spaQ Gold Coast experience differs however from other spaQ locations as a result of a uniquely tailored menu to suit the local market as well as the property’s beach house look and feel. A very open, light and visual space, the spa has been cleverly designed to deliver a hip, five-star take on the Gold Coast’s vivacious, surf-chic personality.

SpaQ Gold Coast has a total of six treatment rooms — two of which have been designed to flexibly combine to create a nurturing couple’s space. There is also a birds-eye-view nail bar, Hammam-inspired steam and ice room and a soothing relaxation lounge for guests to enjoy post-treatment.

“Guests visit spaQ for a number of reasons. Some guests visit us as part of their holiday schedule for much-needed unwinding and relaxation whereas others visit to gain advice and support on their skin care regime or simply to keep up with maintenance treatments such as monthly waxing/tinting or fortnightly tans. We also have a following from lovers of great design keen to experience a treatment in our designed spaces that sees vibrant colour fused with quirky features,” says Spa Manager, Suzanne Dodd who manages a team of seven.

Staff are recruited not only for their qualifications and experience but also for their intuitive ability. This ensures spaQ can deliver on its guest commitment to provide spa experiences that best suit an individual’s needs at that time — the Freshly Picked Experience. To deliver this concept, staff undergo intensive ‘spaQ’ training to ensure they are able to deliver all treatments on offer using Uspa products for face and body, and OPI for nail services.

“SpaQ clientele is predominantly female with an approximate 80:20 female-to-male ratio. Whilst we experience strong demand from in-house hotel and conference guests, we are also fortunate to enjoy a strong demand from Gold Coast locals. This could be attributed to our special ‘Neighbourly Love’ programmes targeted at making spaQ experiences more attainable to the local market,” Suzanne explains.

Encouraged to take ownership of their treatments, by adding individual flare and specialised skills, spaQ staff are clearly its number one asset: The spa’s own Rebecca McMurtie was recently named ASPA Australasia’s Spa Therapist of the Year for 2013 and spaQ is currently a finalist in the ASIA Spa Awards for 2013 for the category Best Hotel Day Spa.

Supported by a unique concept, this is a spa that has a strong sense of self and an even stronger sense of guest satisfaction and relaxation. It questions what your body really needs and delivers an answer you knew all along.

SIGNATURE TREATMENT – Freshly Picked Experience
The guest’s treatment is especially designed by spa staff on the day to ensure they get exactly what they need. The session ideally starts with time in the Hammam-inspired steam room and concludes over a cup of spaQ’s signature La Gaia tea in the relaxation space.