Orla Gallagher Dip in Naturopathy & Spa Management
Name:
Orla Gallagher
Age:
29
College:
Correspondence Courses
Course:
Degree Social Studies, Diploma in Herbal Medicine, Diploma in Naturopathy and Diploma in Spa Management
Sector:
Leisure Activities
Overview:
Orla had her own holistic clinic but wanted to quickly progress through the ranks of management. Doing a Spa Management course has enabled her to get her current position as Spa Manager of the Sirana Spa in the 4* Sheraton Hotel in Athlone
Full Details:
I was interested in the course as I had my own holistic clinic and wanted to get a qualification that would bring me into the Spa field. I found that unless you are a therapist and work your way up through the ranks it is very difficult to gain a spa management position without showing that you are skilled in all areas of business and have a sound knowledge and understanding of the sector. Anyone with a specific qualification in this area has a distinct advantage when applying for the role of Spa Manager.
The reason why I chose to take The Spa Management course was because it combined all my interests: management, holistic therapies, sales & marketing and human resource management. Spa Management is a very diverse role and a spa is a very relaxing and pleasant working environment. As most hotels now have a spa there are job openings all over the world.
I particularly liked studying various case studies which involved analysing a client’s health form and then suggesting therapies which would benefit that individual. I also found retailing very interesting as it highlighted the psychology behind purchasing and what motivates a customer to buy.
I had searched for a Spa Management Course in Ireland and could find none so I decided to do a correspondence course instead. Doing a correspondence course can offer you the flexibility of doing work at the time of your choosing meaning you can often keep your day job and study at night etc. The negative side of courses like this is the lack of support from lecturers and you miss out on all the fun side of going to college and meeting new people.
However since my appointment as Spa Manager in the Sirana Spa Sheraton Hotel in Athlone I have been working in conjunction with Athlone Institute of Technology to fill this void. This is a course which was very much needed by the industry and we are very excited about this being available to prospective students.
When you graduate you can be considered for management roles in various areas of the hospitality industry such as spa and leisure facilities. As a course like this involves learning about customer service you may also consider going into the retail sector. The best aspect of my job for me is that you get to meet people who are looking for a relaxing and therapeutic experience – this makes my job a tough job but also a pleasurable one!" Further information on the Degree in Spa Management click here.
