Pampered perfection – Women in Business

At Ballarat’s Sanctuary Day Spa you can relax, unwind and enjoy the luxurious therapies and treatments on offer in this award-winning business.

2019 was the year Ballarat’s Sanctuary Day Spa cemented its place on the world map for luxury spas when it was awarded Australia’s Best Luxury Spa at the World Luxury Spa Awards in St Petersburg, Russia.

For spa owner Sarah Emmanuel, it was her greatest professional achievement in a 19-year career in the spa and beauty industry, and the icing on the cake after successfully rebranding and moving the business into a brand new facility only 14 months earlier.

Prior to setting up home in Ballarat, Sarah worked as a professional spa therapist both internationally and within destination hotels and resorts around Australia.

During this time, she had seen the spa and wellness industries grow rapidly. She drew from her experiences and vast knowledge throughout the planning and development of the new spa facility.

“The planning process started in about 2014, whilst heavily pregnant,” Sarah said. “It was my dream to create something a little bit special and unique for Ballarat.

“Prior to our opening in May 2018, clients had to travel a little bit further to experience a spa of this calibre. We’ve now made wellness extremely accessible for Ballarat locals, as well as giving people from out of town another reason to visit Ballarat.”

Ballarat’s Sanctuary Day Spa is about more than just the treatment.

“We believe the spa experience is something that starts from the moment you turn off Main Road and navigate the beautiful gardens before entering the spa, changing into a robe and leaving your mobile phone in your locker, to the very end of the treatment when you retreat into the beautiful lounge and relax with a herbal tea and other refreshments,” Sarah said.

“It is not uncommon for people to stay two to three hours when their actual treatment may have only been an hour in duration.

“We are grateful that we can provide that escape from life’s stresses for clients.”

Over the past decade, Ballarat’s Sanctuary Day Spa has grown from three staff to 11 and with most days booked to capacity, it’s no surprise we hear Sarah is already looking to expand!