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Pampering air travelers - how I did it - Passport Travel Spa

Tracy L. Nixon

Passengers waiting at the Indianapolis International Airport can relieve stress by treating themselves to a manicure, pedicure, shampoo and even a massage at the Passport Travel Spa. Opened last year by Tracy L. Nixon, president and CEO of the New York-based King Cross Corp., the 834-square-foot full-service spa boasts a staff of 14, composed of cosmetologists, nail technicians and massage therapists. The spa provides a range of personal services not available at most airports.

A frequent business traveler and former vice-president at Goldman, Sachs & Co., the former St. Croix, Virgin Islands, resident left the investment company three years ago to start her own business. With an undergraduate degree from Princeton University and an M.B.A. from Columbia University, Nixon first planned to launch an airport nail-care kiosk but had difficulty getting it off the ground. Here's how she finally cleared the runway.

STARTING OUT: "I attended airport-concessions conferences and completed a nail-technician course while I was still employed. I sent introductory letters to concession managers at the 50 largest airports and hired a reputable architectural firm to design the prototype."

MASSAGING THE CONCEPT: "The Indianapolis retail manager liked my idea but wanted more than nail care. I reconfigured the concept into a full-service spa with nail and hair care, massage and retail products, and used $300,000 of my personal savings to fund the business.'

DEALING WITH TURBULENCE: "Working within the new airport-security regulations is difficult. For example, there are strict hours of operation as well as for getting deliveries. After furniture and equipment snafus caused delays, we had a hurried six-week construction period before opening."

HEADING FOR SUCCESS: "Travelers are more tense than ever and are spending much more time in airports because of layovers. They want a diversion, and we offer a unique alternative to sitting in a bar. I have an on-site manager, but I go there every other week to oversee things. Otherwise, I'm steadily building more of an infrastructure in my New York office that will support the spa in Indianapolis and those on the drawing board."

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