Last year in November I got an unexpected 40th birthday present from my partner back then – a trip to New York (of course he bought only the flight and left it to me paying for the hotel!). Oh my god a trip to New York. I had never been to the USA and New York was surely very high on my list. So we did go over there in April 2008 (and again in June 2008 to discuss my massage and beauty business with a few hotels, Quintessentially which is a private members' club with a 24-hour global concierge service and part of the world's leading luxury lifestyle group, the Luxury Marketing Council New York as well as some other companies and massage schools). So during my first trip we stayed at the fabulous Bowery Hotel located in downtown New York. Simply one of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed, their staff being extremely friendly and helpful and the bed was just out of this world. They also upgraded us to a larger room with a terrace larger than the size of my living room (ok not the largest but a pretty damn good size). Once when we didn’t have a very good dinner experience in a restaurant in New York’s West Village the receptionist organised us a dessert free of charge. What a fabulous gesture! My research over there regarding mobile massage services including home and hotel visits did let me lead to the conclusion that there isn’t a company like Body Tissue Service. This was actually originally indicated by New Yorkers who frequently visit London and have been using my services for many years. Unbelievable! At first I didn’t pay any attention to what my clients were saying because I thought this is New York we’re talking about and a visiting massage service must exist over there? It doesn’t or at least didn’t back then! So my massage experience: The first therapist I tried was a male therapist who really looked absolutely dreadful. He was very scruffy, wearing some kind of old-fashioned cardigan and some old track suit bottoms. Ok some therapists like to look alternative but again I expected better grooming and general appearance given we were in New York and I stayed in a top New York hotel. Then the massage started. Now my therapist said he has been massaging for the last 11 years so that’s surely enough time to get to a reasonable standard. Well how wrong was I! It was one of the worst massages I’ve ever had in my life and I actually terminated the treatment after 30 or so minutes. I thought it was a one-off but my partner’s massage treatment wasn’t that much better either. We thought how unlucky we were and tried another 2 therapists the following day. So the next 2 massages were much better and the one I had – deep tissue massage - was actually quite good. My partner opted for a Swedish massage but again the treatment was pretty average and the therapist’s appearance was pretty dreadful. Later on that evening I saw a female therapist entering one of the other hotel rooms not looking too healthy at all. When I revisited New York in June I stayed at the Hudson Hotel but had the same negative experiences! So really it wasn’t a one-off I’m afraid to say!
I’m not quite sure I get it yet but it seems that mobile massage therapy services in New York are well behind London’s standard. Truly unbelievable but here we go. Maybe those two beauty and massage companies that failed didn’t recruit the right therapists and didn’t pay enough attention to general appearance and client expectations. Certainly, there is a market for a professional company offering complementary therapies over there. I spoke with many people, and numerous hotels and certain luxury companies all confirming my opinion that there is a massive market (except they didn’t like the name BTS or Body Tissue Service, and they thought I should approach New York with a different trading name. Ok New Yorkers I might do that for you if I decide to open over there in the future, although you should go for quality treatments instead of some kind of fancy name but then I see your point too). Oh dear something simply has to be done over there in New York as far as massages are concerned! However, looking at these New Yorkers at least their facials, manicures and pedicures appear to be of a really high standard - so many good-looking girls and boys! I think I need to move to New York.
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