Lee David Stephens, general manager of MSpa International – the spa operations arm of the Thailand-based Minor Hotel Group – has said that Africa is one of the most exciting markets with the biggest potential in the spa sector.

Speaking in the Q3 edition of Spa Business Magazine, Stephens said: “We talk about the BRIC nations, but Africa has huge potential. It has an abundance of natural beauty and although you need to fix the infrastructure and make it accessible, African properties are absolutely waiting to happen.”

Although MSpa currently only has three spas in Africa – two in Tanzania and one in Egypt – of the 30 potential future projects on its books, 10 are planned to be opened on the continent in countries such as Morocco, Mozambique and in East Africa.

“We’re growing very rapidly,” he continued. “As we do, our strength and expertise grow so we become even more appealing to owners.”

Stephens went on to say that because of the MSpa brand, Minor has been able to expand its portfolio into new destinations across the world.

He said: “Minor has opened in new markets through spas. We first launched the Anantara brand in China by introducing an Anantara Spa at the PuLi Hotel in Shanghai in 2009. Now we have two resorts in the country with another five in the pipeline. The same thing has happened in the UAE. We opened the Anantara Spa at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi in 2006 and now there are five more Anantara properties there, the most recent opening in Dubai in September.”

For more on MSpa and what to expect in the future from the company, read the Q3 edition of Spa Business magazine.