Since Antony and Cleopatra, couples have indulged and shared in the experience of head-to-toe bliss to relax and unwind together. Not wanting to miss out on this potential growth opportunity, Canada’s spa owners and managers have tapped into the purchasing power of this market segment, offering services and treatments that meet the unique needs of couples, and men – who are gradually warming up to the idea of solo spa visits.

Among them, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts has partnered with several outstanding spas in Quebec, a province where male spa-goers outnumber those in other parts of Canada. The Fairmont owns the Fairmont Le Château Montebello Spa and partnered with Amerispa’s Moment Spa in its other four Quebec-based properties: Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu, Fairmont Tremblant and the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Spa.

In addition to eight treatment rooms and three manicure and pedicure stations, Le Château Montebello Spa boasts a very popular couple’s suite, Salon La Source, a private spa retreat featuring a fireplace, a Japanese sunken tub for two, rain shower and side-by-side treatment tables. Making the decision to include couples and men’s treatments at the spa was largely driven by consumer demand, says Montebello’s Spa Director, Sylvie Legault, who has been with the award-winning establishment since 2006.

“We see an increase every year,” she explains, adding that managing demand means juggling available resources. “But the problem is that right now, we don’t have the facility to accommodate these growing numbers.” For example, currently there’s only one space to accommodate a 60-minute couple’s massage; to serve more guests, treatment times occasionally have been shortened. Legault says that plans are underway to add three more couple’s treatment facilities, something she anticipates will boost service demand by around 15 percent.

The couple’s suite gives clients time to spend together after a busy week, with a glass of sparkling wine and treatments that can be customized to meet their individual needs, Legault explains. “In our suite you can upgrade your massage from relaxation and gentle pressure to deep tissue. We also offer aromatherapy massage, reflexology and a range of other treatments.”