GUEST ROOM AS MEDICINE
Example experiential design check-list depicting poor and best attributes contributing to a Healing Guest Room.
The teacher (healer) can recommend a particular accommodation when considering its healing properties and the sojourner’s healing objectives, coordinating the adjustable elements were necessary. The healer may also prescribe meals, served in the accommodations other venues.
VIDEO: Multiple healing modality location choices — Video examples range of options at Gibb’s Farm, Tanzania.
The Harmony Project destination is not a “Destination Spa or Resort” driven by all-inclusive packages. Instead, the experience should be viewed as a 24/7 “healthful journey” rather than, say, individual 50 minute (massage) treatments ordered off a spa menu, or say, a 4-day package to achieve a singular objective. All elements are calibrated and oriented to healing encompassing the tenor, spirit, and compassion of the staff; food and beverage as medicine; the healing guest rooms and soothing properties of the entire estate and environment; integrated health clinic’s healers and guides; visual and performing art — all authenticity projected.
Pre-arrival communication with sojourners occurs to determine their Sense of Purpose for travel. The principal aim is to establish a personalized connection with each arrival, and to determine basic expectation: Curious, Engaged, Immersive, Evolving. Packages are not “sold”, rather sets of programs and events are organized to progress the stages, for example from curious to engaged.
Five principles drive the guest room experience:
1) View of exterior biospheres coordinated with interior biosphere (consider room rates by person rather than view and size), video at right example emotional outcomes of various biospheres;
2) healing properties such as Feng Shui / Vastu Shastra, color, tactile, adjustable illumination hues, and program space;
3) adjustable elements such as arrival amenities, mini-bar contents, toiletries choices, music/sound scape, clothing, bedding, and extent of meal and therapeutic venue options. Some or all may be recommended to each sojourner by the teacher (healer) upon in-take consultation according to the Sense of Purpose in travel and highlighted on-line to profile accommodation choices;
4) Art In Life emotions are a result of curated commissioned fine art (see slide show below) and documented on the website sharing the story, emotion and aesthetics of the space via commissioned fine specific to each guest room (see chart below), and;
5) experiential design evokes feelings of pleasure, excitement, control, and results in flexible spaces that allow the occupant to attain the planned operational and emotional outcomes. Views and sight-lines are considered, dining and sitting areas options available. Example check-list presented in slide show at top. The table below examples the role Art In Life plays in the Experiential Design mode.
