Sophie Demaret  manages the spa of one of the jewels of the Constance hotel group in the heart of the Indian Ocean, the Prince Maurice. A vigilant front-runner and expert in the market, she participates in SPAMEETINGs and scans the turquoise horizon for the latest trends in well-being.  Among them, the medispa, which will be one of the main themes for the next SPAMEETING in Istanbul. She shares her views with us.

• What is your view of spa trends today?

Wanting to feel better about one’s body is a common desire.  We are in search of an inner happiness that is simple, an art de vivre, a desire to live longer with better health through prevention.

For me there are several trends, one of them being centred on medical spas and the other on organic – sometimes paradoxically veering towards both at the same time.

What really matters is aging well and, of course, choosing what is best.

In spas in general, when it comes to face treatments, customers look for results that are visible and long-term, and also a reassuring dialogue.

In terms of body care, the trend is for relaxing massages, combined with other activities, pilates, healthy food, spa, cuisine …

The customer is also sensitive to the experience itself, originality, the feeling of pleasure, that makes one feel unique. This translates into the emergence of itinerant or temporary Spas, which are also innovative, or spas for children.

If I had to develop the medispa, I would choose to organize well-being weeks, and including aesthetic medicine, the best coaches, dieticians, the stars among makeup artists,  star hairdressers … a real programme.

• What are your plans for the Prince Maurice?

At Prince Maurice we have a high-end clientele, people focused more on the pleasures of the table than on the spa …

However, we are looking to become a destination spa. For this we are working on a signature for the group with a brand that will be the common thread for all our spas in the Indian Ocean for body care (massages, scrubs and pleasure wraps).

We want a coherent image, a strong identity, so that our spas are recognized worldwide.

• What interests you during the SPAMEETINGs?

I was interested in meeting brands that could turn out to be this common thread that we are looking for and also to see whether we could create our own brand.

It is an occasion for exchanging ideas. In fact, we come with preconceived ideas, then meet players in the market that change them completely!

Interviewed by Kristel Milet