The Ananda Spa Institute will have a soft opening on 15 July before a full launch in September. It is situated in the grounds of the Hotel Istra in India’s sixth largest city, Hyderabad.

Covering 22,000sq ft (2,100sq m) across three floors, the facility is the brainchild of the company behind destination spa Ananda In The Himalayas. it will be owned and operated by IHHR, which also owns the Ananda spas.

With three student intakes a year, in full operation, there will be 120 students on campus.

Training will be offered in a variety of sectors including beauty, yoga and ayurvedic therapy.

The institute is intended to support the rollout of the Ananda spa brand, which is set for a possible expansion to three more wellness sites by 2010.

Ashok Khanna, managing director of IHHR, said: “There was a real need for an international curriculum because there is nothing of the kind in India. Most therapists are non-certified. We plan to produce 50 to 100 therapists a year at the institute and anyone, not just Ananda, can hire them.”