1. Description and analysis of aktia lounge hotel & spa

1.1. General Overview, Mission, Vision and Strategic Aims

Aktia Lounge Hotel & Spa is a modern complex on the northern coast of the island of Crete located directly on the long sandy beach of Stalis. Stalis (also named Stalida) belongs to Heraklion prefecture, distanced 33 km from Heraklion City which is largest city, the administrative capital of the island of Crete and the place where one of the two Cretan airports is. Aktia Lounge Hotel & Spa is an independently-owned hotel which is not part of a big chain and run as a family business. The hotel offers comfortable furnishing and excellent service. It features a large sun terrace with breathtaking views of the sea. The hotel does not operate all year round; it is open from 12^th April - 31^st October. In winter 2013 the hotel has been reconstructed: hotel rooms have been renovated; massage and treatment rooms have been renewed.

To provide a reader with general overview of the hotel the author gives information about accommodation facilities and additional features of the hotel along with the mission, vision and strategic aims of the hotel. Continuing further, the author focuses on the spa and fitness services and amenities and some organizational elements which are more specific than for the hotel in general.

The hotel has 220 rooms in two waterfront and two land view annex buildings that are subdivided into two categories - standard and deluxe. Generally standard rooms overlook the land while deluxe are always located on the waterfront with magnificent views to the endless blue sea. All types of rooms feature elegant decoration and provide customer with modern facilitates such as air-conditioning, satellite TV with radio, Wi-Fi Internet, telephone, safe, mini-bar, tea &coffee making facilities, balcony or patio, bathroom with large bath tub or douche and hair dryer.

Guest rooms services included in the price of the stay are welcome fruit basket, bathrobe and slippers, as well as daily afternoon maid service. For extra charge guests can use laundry, dry cleaning service and room service.

In addition to accommodation facilities the hotel boasts:

• 1.300 m² of hotel-owned sandy beach with sun beds & umbrellas

• 4 Salt water pools (2 adult outdoor pools, 1 adult indoor pool, 1 children outdoor pool) with sun beds & umbrellas

• 3 restaurants (indoor buffet style, outdoor à la carte and seaside restaurant)

• 2 bars & 1 tea/coffee bar

• Spa & Fitness Area featuring indoor Jacuzzi

• Meeting rooms for 50, 16 or 8 persons

• Kids Club and Play Room

• Internet Corner

• Tennis court

• Parking

The Aktia Lounge Hotel & Spa mission statement is presented on the hotel website and is as follows: “The hotel’s mission is to go beyond the requirements of our customers through provision for all their possible needs. With the natural beauty of this magnificent location and the carefully designed indoor and outdoor spaces, Aktia Lounge Hotel & Spa strikes the perfect balance between pleasant stay, pure relaxation and total rejuvenation of body and mind.” 

The hotel’s vision statement is also found on the hotel’s website and is expressed in the following: “In an atmosphere of high aesthetics, luxury, hospitality, relaxation and with respect for the environment and society we are aimed at providing high quality facilities and exceptional service for the ultimate customer comfort. Through our passion, integrity and customer focus our enchanting beach hotel of Stalis strives to create the conditions for dreamy holidays in the Minoan island. We want to be the most outstanding Spa Hotel in Crete with a warm and friendly team dedicated to memorable personalized service thus providing the true Greek Hospitality.”

The author communicated with the hotel owner regarding his strategic aims for the hotel development in the upcoming year. He commented that she has many goals for the entity, but he defined some of the as following:

• Development of new services and skills required to supply them

• Selection and development of employees

• Increase share of the present and new markets

• Increase of 20% in sales and revenue

• To raise its hotel prices by five to 10 percent next year

• Expanding on equipment and facilities and their use

• Achievement of measurable financial wellbeing and growth

• Generation more revenue from spa packages by raising the productivity of the spa and fitness center

• Strengthening the position of the hotel in Russia, Italy and Germany

• Extension of the tourist season.

The spa amenities include a reception area, an area for spa treatments, fitness area and the sauna spa complex. The spa treatment area comprises a relaxation room with 4 reclining lounge chairs, a room for feet and hand treatments, 2 double spa suits for tandem treatments and 1 single treatment room. The sauna spa complex comprises indoor sea water pool (also called infinity pool), relaxation room with 2 reclining lounge chairs, steam room, sauna with showers next to it, men’s & women’s changing rooms with lockers, showers and WC.  The spa working hours are from 10:00 to 18:00 every day except Sundays.

Fitness Area is located in front of the outdoor pool, with a great view of the sea, featuring state of the art equipment for cardio and strength training workout. The ‘Easy Line’ equipment by Technogym® includes machines for the workout of all parts of the body, easily and safely, with no injuries, for all age groups regardless of their fitness status. Fitness Amenities include abdominal/back, biceps/triceps, chest/back, exercise bike, hip adductor/abductor, leg extension / leg curl, leg press, pec dec/fly, shoulder Press/ lat Pull, squat, stepper, treadmill.

Body and Mind Spa can be referred to a wellness day spa that has designed a spa menu including massages, facial treatments, scrubs, wraps, body therapies, waxing and feet & hand treatments. Spa packages offered are actually a combination of body and face treatments from different sections. For example, “Luxury day” package consisted of a facial treatment, body scrub, full body massage, body wrap and warm experience.

The hotel portrays the spa as a wellness paradise or serene haven with high-quality amenities. The SPA mission as it is presented on the hotel website goes as follows: “The mission of Body & Mind SPA is taking you on a magical journey of wellness and revitalizing, offering a unique relaxing experience that will rejuvenate your body and mind. Either you prefer body sublimation for inner renewal or harmonizing massages for peace of mind and tranquility, our spa will satisfy even your greater expectations!”

The Body and Mind Spa vision is to provide the guests with spiritual renewal, physical wellbeing as well as image refresh because they believe that a healthy mind should be in total harmony with a healthy body.