Spa owner a man of many talents

He plays flamenco gypsy guitar music and is a former chef. He has produced educational movies about how to administer massage, created his own line of beauty products that have been used at Aqua Sulis Spa at the JW Marriott and the Rio. He also has a business degree. The mixture of all of these eclectic abilities has yielded a well-rounded individual who is ready to provide luxury to locals. The multifaceted man known simply as Djanel has opened his own spa oasis in the desert, also called Djanel because it incorporates every talent he possesses.

Djanel's life has led him around the world, from the Mediterranean to Africa and South America where he learned many massage techniques and aesthetician tricks.

Five years ago, he landed in Las Vegas and found the spa industry to be lacking what his vision of relaxation tries to fulfill. Now, at 5150 S. Pecos Road at Casey, Djanel has transformed a former bachelor pad into an all-inclusive retreat. To start, he changed the decor of the house to reflect a Mediterranean influence.

"I did consulting for the interior designs for spas around the world," he said. "There are separate women's and men's locker areas and a bistro-style kitchen where I will serve continental breakfast and truffles."

Djanel said the key to keeping customers is to give them an all-day getaway in which they never have to leave his establishment.

"I'm doing cooking demonstrations twice a month in here. I also have what I like to call a meditation room," he said. "Most spas in the industry capitalize on a space like this by adding retail. I am not doing that here. I'm going to be giving a couples' massage seminar, I call it Massage 101, so people can learn how to massage their partners at home."

In addition to the meditation room, which features a full wall of bay windows overlooking a courtyard and lounge chairs that Djanel designed himself, he added an outdoor scene for further meditation, which can be converted to corporate retreat rental space.

For intimate gatherings, Djanel said he might be coaxed into playing his guitar, which he has been playing since the age of 10.

"The goal is when it starts to cool off, we would like to have yoga out there," he said. "There are cabanas outside for couples, and we want to offer corporate packages."

Djanel Spa & Salon offers the option to buy treatments one at a time or establish a spa membership. For $995 a year, clients can receive 12 treatments and two rides in the company limousine, to and from the spa. They also get preferred booking with his employees, their own robes, which are dry-cleaned after each visit, and 20 percent off on products.

"The best thing about this place is there is a very good feel in here. It's serene. I produced my video on massage and developed a skin care line so that people can create the spa experience at home. All the products we use here are Djanel. The next step was to find a good location for the spa. This spot is not too far from most locals in the area. I want to offer them an environment where they can leave all their troubles behind. It's a showplace for skin care, body care, wellness and getaway," Djanel said.

As if the array of treatments ranging from the typical manicure/pedicure weren't enough, some treatments are held in a shower area with a rainforest shower head sprinkling water over the body during a scrub. Most upscale spas offer this treatment for around $140, but Djanel offers it for $70.

"I've done a tremendous amount of treatments when I worked for cruise lines," he said. "I believe I do some of the best work in the world. I really want to take care of the local people. I'm all about them."


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