Discovering Quan Spas: A Transformative Massage in Izmir, Turkey
OVERVIEW
Spa: Quan Spa at Izmir Marriott
Location: Akdeniz Mahalles Gazi Bulvari NO 1 Alsancak, Konak, Izmir, Turkey, 35220
Visit: July 2024
Recommend : Arriving early to experience the spa amenities before your session and staying late to savor the feeling of relaxation. When possible, schedule a session at a Quan Spa in other countries to experience the regional treatments.
Izmir, with a population of over four million people, is the third largest city in Turkey. Sitting on the Aegean coast, Izmir hosts ancient ruins among modern skylines.
Marriott hotels often have an onsite spa for guests. Two earlier blog posts gave reviews on Marriott’s spas in Vienna, Austria (Signature Experience at The Ritz-Carlton Spa and How a Massage in Vienna Might Compare to a Washington, DC Offering).
This review focuses on one of Marriott’s many luxurious Quan Spas. 'Quan' means "a source of pure water" and is derived from the Chinese character for 'white' (Bai) and 'water' (Shui). The Quan Spas provide onsite services for guests and locals. They’re more likely to be found outside of North American and Europe; look for them in China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Qatar, Vietnam.
Rhett Pickering, Director of spa operations and development for Marriott's Asia-Pacific Region, developed the concept of Quan Spas. Marriott systematically placed them in specific properties/locations based on results from spa feasibility studies. The following basis of the Quan Spa concept, as written in the online journal, Arabian Business, inspired me to visit the Quan Spa in Izmir in search of ideas for enhancing the sessions offered at fibre: A Homespun Spa:
“offer treatments that work …not all treatments and therapies can be backed by scientific evidence, but techniques for body scrubbing, body wrapping, massaging, bathing and steaming have been handed down in all cultures across the world, and this is where we draw inspiration from.
A guest will leave our spa feeling … a positive change in either the way they look, the way they feel, or the way they respond to everyday situations.
Our treatments support the quest that all people have, which is to feel alive and vital and to present their very best self to the world.
Our spas appeal to both men and women. We have made a deliberate choice to “de-feminize” our spas.”
The Quan Spa brochure proclaims the spa “provide[s] a transformative experience that restores through the tranquility and purity of water.” At fibre: A Homespun Spa, we use the sound of water during the foot bath before each session to help with the transition from a previous activity to a state of relaxation. I had high hopes of finding ways to further enhance services.
Each Quan Spa features authentic wellness traditions found in a specific region. For example, the Quan Spa at the Izmir Marriott in Turkey offers seven different types of Turkish Hammams (Baths), while on the spa menu for the Quan Spa in Bangkok, Thailand, you’ll find treatments like Thai Herbal Poultice Harmony and Peaceful Head Massage but no Turkish Hammam. For the Quan Spa in Izmir, these two treatments (Thai Herbal Poultice Harmony and Peaceful Head Massage) aren’t options. Another example is the use of Ayurveda treatments in India but not in Turkey.
Facilities
Quan Spa has been designed to help you begin to relax when stepping into the spa area. The dimly lit areas, the warm tones and the welcoming reception from the attendants helped make me feel relaxed. The types of amenities available before and after the session added to the overall value and made the visit feel transformative.
This review includes four tips which may make your visit to Quan Spa even more relaxing. It also describes the service I received and how this visit helped to validate/inform services offered at fibre.
The Quan Spa offers a wide variety of services/treatments including Turkish Hammams and Reflexology. I chose the Quan Massage because it uses three massage techniques (Indian Head massage, reflexology and medical massage) in one session. I arrived 30 minutes early to enjoy access to the various facilities in the spa.
A recent Marriott study of luxury travel, identified “refined craftsmanship and exquisite design” as the “most valued luxury experience.” As the receptionist gave me a tour of the space, I noticed the women’s lounge with a wall of lockers, a narrow bench and a shower seemed small for such a large hotel. The two sinks faced each other and formed the opening corridor to the lounge. One frosted door opened to the toilet. The Women’s Lounge is very practical and effective, not exquisite.
As several ladies with young children used all available space in the women’s lounge, the receptionist suggested I change in my assigned massage room. We walked down the hall to the massage room which had two massage tables, a closet that contained linens yet had space for my clothes too, a walk-in shower and a sink. On the massage table, a towel, robe and slippers had been neatly arranged.
The receptionist also showed me the steam room, the dry sauna and an area for relaxing after stepping out of either room. It also had a huge bowl for collecting ice as it slid from a “ceiling-mounted ice machine” (my term for the device). It is very similar to the style used in the Thermal Oasis Room at The Serenity Spa, a Marriott property in Portugal (see “How do Services at fibre Compare to those at an Award Wining European Spa?”).
After our walkthrough of the space, the women and children had vacated the lounge. I returned there and put my stuff in the lockers. I prefer to secure valuables than to leave them unattended while in the sauna. If you have time to leave items (e.g., jewelry gets very hot when worn in the dry sauna) in your room, then the locker might not be needed.
QuaN Massage
Although this is called the Quan Massage, I’m not certain if it is the same given at all Quan Spas throughout the world. The massage started with the reflexology on my feet. Very relaxing. It seemed to follow some of the protocols I’ve learned and use for foot reflexology. I fell asleep so I do not recall every area addressed.
The therapist used the “medical massage” techniques on my shoulders and neck muscles to address concerns I mentioned before the session. I had severely strained a deltoid muscle about two weeks before this massage. The inflamed muscle impacted my radial nerve. It was causing numbness in my left hand and forearm. The medical massage reminded me of deep tissue and trigger point massage techniques.
The session ended with an “Indian Head massage” which was more gentle than I expected it to be. It also did not require an excessive use of warm oil as I had expected. Instead, it was very similar to Thai massage techniques for the head massage with additional Swedish massage along the forehead and temples. The massage was deeply relaxing.
As with all massage sessions, the massage therapist makes a huge impact on the session. This session was excellent. My arm felt better, my mind seemed calmer. The therapist who provided my session told me about being trained in Bali; I would love to go to Bali for training. Overall, the entire experience was very relaxing.
TIPS FOR YOUR VISIT TO Quan Spa in Izmir
1. After traveling across time zones, schedule a massage for the evening of your arrival. Massage helps reduce the impact of prolonged sitting in a cramped position and may help you sleep at night. Research on athletes has shown how careful timing of light exposure and avoidance results in the greatest adjustment to jet lag.
2. Schedule a hammam for a time when you aren’t concerned about having a specific, dry hairstyle.
3. Ask for an explanation of the controls used in the steam room and the dry sauna.
4. The Women’s Lounge becomes somewhat crowded when more than four people are in the room. Opt for changing in the massage room, if available.
RESULTS: Changes at FIBRE
The approaches used at fibre hopefully support clients in feeling “alive and ….[ready] to present their very best self to the world” after a session. We will continue asking for feedback to see how we can improve.
Installing an infrared sauna or a steam cubicle may be an option in the future. Currently, access to the Reception Room will continue to be available 15 minutes before the scheduled session to help clients begin to feel relaxed before the session.
To thank you for reading this far, please use the code
QUAN for a 15% discount on your next session at fibre. Code expires 30 August 2024.