Feb 2023

Spa of the Month

December 1, 2022 | by Kimberly Bobson Feldman

Elaia Spa at Hyatt at Olive 8

Elaia Spa is an eco-friendly gem, named for the Greek word for olive, symbolic of peace, wisdom and resilience. If you find yourself in the Pacific Northwest, you must make time to visit this harmonious space dedicated to wellness, which has charmed both locals and visitors since its opening in 2009.

“We are really THE spa in Seattle where you can spend the whole day,” shares Spa Director Trina Wood. “With any 60-minute service, you gain access to the pool, hot tub, steam, sauna, fitness center, and relaxation room. We believe that a spa service is about so much more than just the time in the treatment. Relaxation can start as early as 9:00 a.m. and last as late as 6:00 p.m. for day guests.”

Elaia features12 treatment rooms, one including a shower, as well as a couple’s room with a shower and large two-person soaking tub. The nail salon has pedicure and manicure stations, and the men’s and women’s locker rooms both have steam and sauna areas. A 65-foot saline lap pool, complete with underwater music, plus a hot tub and fitness center round out the amenities

“Elaia Spa is an eco-friendly gem, named for the Greek word for olive, symbolic of peace, wisdom and resilience.”

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Here we share how the Elaia Spa has cultivated the ultimate relaxing atmosphere.

Signature Treatment

Elaia’s signature treatment is the 90-minute Coffee Scrub & Massage. A therapist begins this service with an invigorating house made scrub featuring cane sugar, locally roasted Victrola coffee, and organic cocoa powder. The scrub is then rinsed off in a multi-jetted shower. The treatment finished with a 60-minute massage using ultra-hydrating shea butter.

Marketing

“We focus on social media mostly, inviting local influencers to come in and experience the spa and hotel,” notes Wood. The hotel also cross-promotes with the two other hotels in the collection, The Hyatt Regency Seattle, and The Grand Hyatt Seattle, both located within one block. “We also offer the option to purchase a series of services – buy five, get the sixth free.”

Elaia also has quarterly specials, featuring a massage or body treatment, facial service, and nail treatment. The lead therapist chooses a theme and custom blends products to use.

Training

Elaia holds quarterly trainings that are put on by vendors or cover relevant procedures. Monthly meetings review any hotel-wide updates, with the majority of the meeting spent going “around the room” to allow each employee to share general concerns, maintenance needs, and positive things they have to share. Previous meeting notes are revisited to ensure appropriate follow-up.

“I like follow up on performance, good or bad, as it happens. We have overall goals of great guest experiences, as well as hotel-wide goals for guest satisfaction, shares Wood. “Staff is incentivized for retail sales, but we purposefully do not have sales goals, so our spa remains a no-pressure sales environment.”

Revenue and Retail

“We really look for lines to be organic, clean, not tested on animals, and something that will fit in well with our spa. For retail, my main focus is local. I want guests coming to our spa find something unique, and memorable, details Wood. “As far as the process for choosing, it could be anything from finding a product that looks interesting on social media, or a team member tells me about a product that they are loving. I also really love using faire.com, it’s such a great tool for retail boutiques.”

Elaia dedicates a whole retail section to local artisans, featuring candles, water bottles, earrings, necklaces all from local Seattle artists. It also carries product lines including Eminence, Luzern, Kush Queen, Massage Cannabyss, Essence One, Tweezerman, Sparitual, and Harper & Ari

Elaia is a hometown favorite, with 70 percent local guests, 25 percent hotel guests, and five percent condo residents. Revenue breaks down to 50 percent massage, 20 percent skincare, 15 percent nails, and 15 percent retail.

Rundown

1635 8th Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98101
206.676.4500
www.hyatt.com/en-US/spas/Elaia-Spa/home

Spa Director

Born and raised 30 minutes outside of Seattle, Trina Wood decided at age 13 that the beauty industry was her chosen career path. She has experience in all aspects of the industry, with a focus on high end spas. As a total product junkie, Trina’s favorite hobbies are trying and buying spa products, visiting different spas, crafts, and any family activity with her husband and four children.

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