Global spa company ESPA to open Dubai office

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The chief executive and founder of international spa design, management and product company ESPA has revealed plans to open an office in Dubai later this year.

"The time's right for us," said chief executive Susan Harmsworth.

"We have had our products and training in Burj Al Arab for eight years and have been working with Ritz-Carlton in Bahrain for many years, but we've now got about 20 projects in the Middle East under construction, in Dubai, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia - all over really," she continued.

Harmwsorth explained that the company had waited until the spa market in Dubai had grown to a level that was more compatible with ESPA's high brand standards.

"Without in any way knocking the industry in Dubai, which is obviously huge, I think the spas have been a little bit behind. We have very high brand standards on space, budgets and training, so for us its perfect timing and the rollout will start probably in 2009," she said.

"All our spas in the Middle East will be operated by ESPA," added Harmsworth.

"We don't do design and development anymore unless we're operating," she said.

Harmsworth revealed that the company was working with One&Only, Trump and Ritz-Carlton.

"There are some really stunning projects that we're working on and I think they'll be real market leaders out there," she said.

ESPA currently has 300 spas globally, manages 50 spas, has 50 branded spas and 80 under construction worldwide.

The business is head-quartered in the UK and has offices in Hong and Miami.

"Manufacturing is carried out in the UK, but we have distribution out of Atlanta and will have Singapore and Dubai later this year as well," added Harmsworth.

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