Spa Related Highlights from a Hospitality Forum: Through my Spa Eyes
by Susie Ellis

A few things got my attention at yesterday’s 2008 Leadership in Hospitality & Leisure Executive Forum (an Argyle Executive Forum) which was held here in New York. Some of us “spa-types” were in attendance - Judy Singer, Patti Monteson, and Jeff Kohl – but most were either hotel executives from companies such as Ritz-Carlton, Starwood, Marriott, Loews, Jumeirah, Wyndham, and Disney or financial/investor folks. From my notes, here are a few spa and hotel related highlights. I will elaborate as I have time in future blogs.

• Theatrical hospitality is a new buzzword (I like that)
• Walt Disney is expanding their brand and getting more into hotels and spas (for families, no doubt)
• Hotels need to keep up with consumer expectations – this can often be costly. Currently the big “must have” is the flat screen TV. Next will be the curved shower curtain. (Yep, love those curved shower curtain rods where I don’t have to have my body come in contact with the curtain!)
• Highest growth potential for hotels/resorts/spas currently is in Russia, Turkey, China, Thailand, and Malaysia. (Turkey was the surprise for me on this list)
• A new growth area for hotels and spas which is not yet on people’s radar, is the northern part of Africa (Interesting)

• Blue Harmony “Renew you inner Rhythm” is the spa and fitness program that Wyndham is going to be rolling out. The blue is for water and the name kind of fits with their Gen X positioning. (Wonder if they can execute…)
• Aber and Kent is getting into the Exclusive Resorts arena…interesting idea to have this new product category with a recognized brand name. (Clever)
• Jumeirah wants to help people not feel guilty while enjoying their luxury. (at least they admit it…am sure they aren’t the only ones)
• High touch and good architecture is not so easy for Asia to duplicate quickly. (It’s the high touch part that’s tough with a language barrier)
• Residences are becoming more and more a part of the hotel/resort formula. In fact, I am now seeing brands say they are in the hotel/resort/residence business. (Pardon me while I revert to third grade antics: “I told you so” – hmmm that felt good)
• People are really starting to talk about Gen X. (Makes me think we are right on trend with our switch to the new SpaFinder Interactive Magazine in 6 different languages.)
• Even the people in emerging markets know “what is in.” (The Internet and TV make what’s “in” instantly known)
• The other shoe has dropped in Las Vegas. There were ten projects under construction and now it appears as if the Fountainbleu will be the only one to make it to the finish line at the end of this year. It will cost more than $4 billion, be the tallest hotel on the strip (63 stories), will not have a “theme,” and their 50,000-square-foot spa will be in the sky. (With all that investment, I hope they get the spa right…but time and time again, I see people miss the opportunity to do something extraordinary. Fingers crossed.)

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Sleep Health at Vacation Spas May be more Important than Massages, Facials, Manicures/Pedicures, Diet, or even Exercise!

by Susie Ellis

The importance of sleep is something that has been on our SpaFinder top 10 spa trends list for the past two years. In 2007 the focus was on adding sleep health to diet and exercise as an equally (if not more) important pillar of health in spas. In 2008, because of the growing research which shows sleep deprivation is linked to obesity, emphasizing sleep health in weight-loss programs at spas was the focus.

Tonight's piece on CBS's 60 Minutes made these points clearer through video than I ever could in writing. I hope everyone who didn't see it would watch it. Here is the link. A new thing I learned is that it appears we can add diabetes to the long list of consequences of sleep deprivation.

Sometimes I think that sleep health is my mantra. And for this upcoming week - it is no exception. Here is why....

I was thinking this morning about the volatile financial market situation we witnessed last Friday and how this might affect the spa industry. And what advice I might give.

I remember the October 1997 stock market plunge (which was later called Black Monday) and ever since have been aware that bad news at the end of a week might result in even worse news on Mondays. It just makes sense to me that after a weekend when people kind of regroup, they begin thinking about their personal financial situation and start taking steps toward self preservation. Too many people making financial moves all at once on a Monday can spell disaster.

Of course, I hope that I am wrong. My advice, however, for both spa consumers as well as the spa industry would be the same - be extra careful to get enough sleep. Dealing with challenges wisely necessitates clear thinking and emotional balance. Eating well is a good idea, exercising helps, however getting healthy and adequate amounts of sleep is possibly even more important. If you aren't convinced, please do me (and yourself) a favor, and watch The Science of Sleep Part 1 and Part 2 from last night's 60 Minutes.

Well...am off to bed.


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Power Plate Fitness Equipment in Spas and Clubs. Hype or Hot?
By Susie Ellis

During my vacation I got to spend a bit more time at the gym and decided to try out a new piece of equipment they just added - the Power Plate!

I have seen the Power Plate at many trade shows recently and in several gyms in Europe. I have also read that celebrities like Madonna, Sting, and several professional sports teams were using it with great enthusiasm. I have to admit I was a bit dubious when I first started seeing and reading about the Power Plate and its vibration technology. It reminded me of another piece of vibrating equipment I had witnessed many years ago when I first started my career in the spa industry. It was the mid-70’s at the Golden Door in California and, yes, there were vibrating belts in the gym. They were popular with the female guests - including the Gabor sisters who would spend what seemed like hours with the belt around their hips and thighs jiggling away while chatting or even reading a book. When vibrator belts went out of style due to unsubstantiated weight loss claims, it was certainly fine with me.

But positive talk about vibration surfaced again when mini-trampolines emerged onto the scene (often used in fitness classes) in the 1980’s and today we are hearing about the vibration technology of the Power Plate – or similar products with different names. Their story seems pretty compelling. Apparently this technology was developed by a Russian scientist for cosmonauts as whole-vibration training and was used to prevent muscles and bones from wasting away while in space. Later it was used by Russian ballet dances and their elite Olympic athletes with very positive results. Research showed that regular use can improve bone density.

For those who aren’t familiar with the Power Plate, there is a photo to the right. The device has a large plate that vibrates in a specific motion 30 to 50 times per second. The idea is that the vibration forces muscle contractions – kind of like dynamic tension exercise. Your body feels the instability and strives to stabilize by tensing the muscles. It takes very little concentration on your part and is in actuality a fairly pleasant sensation. You are supposed to spend between 10 and 30 minutes on the equipment, alternating between various exercise positions and resting in between.

So I decided to ask for a session with Stephanie, a personal trainer and the gym’s director, who had fortunately just taken a very thorough training program. She was able to demonstrate a myriad of exercises, explain some of the science, and help me do a short workout.

I have to say that I was impressed. Not only did I learn about the vast amount of muscle groups that can be worked through the exercises, but I have to admit that I was actually tired at the end of the few minutes of my vibration workout. During one exercise – push-ups with my feet on the floor and arms on the plate to work the arms and chest – I was positively convinced that this was doing much more than my regular push-ups do for me.

We will of course all learn more as time goes on….but if I had to predict whether this Power Plate equipment is here to stay, I would have to say yes. Not as a substitute, but as an addition to a well rounded exercise program that includes strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance. I think that the aging baby boomer concerned about bone density will want to add this to their exercise routine.

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SpaFinder’s Hot Spa Trends for 2008!
By Susie Ellis

Buzz Words: New Spa Gyms, Star Therapists, Wellness, Luxury Detox, Spa Real Estate, Sleep, Spa and Weight-loss, Fertility and Spa, Hydro and Thermal Spa Experiences, Urban Ethnic Spas, Spa and Technology.

This week is Trend Week at SpaFinder! We released the findings of our year-long studies on emerging trends for the spa industry. The links below will take you to the SpaFinder Insider, which was emailed to industry professionals who have signed up to receive this email newsletter. In it, I outlined each of the top 10 Spa Trends for 2008.

SpaFinder Insider on Trends

I am also giving you a link to the press release that went to the media. As there is always a flurry of media interest in our trends, do let me know if you have spotted an example of one of them (perhaps you have experienced a fertility spa or know of an urban ethnic spa “gem”) or you are a spa which is an example of one of these trends.

SpaFinder Global Trends Press Release

For a quick snapshot….here are SpaFinder's 10 Spa Trends to Watch in 2008!

The "Feng Shui'd" Gym
A Star (Therapist) Is Born
Wellness, Wellness, Wellness
Luxury Detox and Luxury Bootcamps
Spa Real Estate Mania
Taking Sleep Seriously... Especially if you Want to Lose Weight
Fertility Tranquility
Hydro and Thermal Super-Experiences
Urban Spa Explorer
Plug-in or Unplug: It's up to You

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Nap Spa, Sleep Spa, Yelo Spa: Napping in New York City - $24 for 40 minutes
by Susie Ellis

Ever since SpaFinder and Yelo were mentioned in the same New York Times article, I have been wanting to give Yelo - the nap spa - a try. Late last year when we came out with our list of top 10 spa trends for 2007, "Sleep Health Added to Spa Menus" was at the top of our list. And coincidentally (or not) Yelo was just opening. Yelo is a place in Manhattan where you can go for some quick r & r. Basically they offer foot reflexology and naps - in a kind of sleep cab, equipped with a special sleep chair designed for the most comfortable sleep position, music and lighting, all perfectly conducive to sleep.

Here is my report:
It was late Sunday afternoon as I rushed in a cab to get to my nap before Yelo closed. No one was available for foot reflexology because "they were all booked" which in spa-speak usually means "we don't have enough therapists." Indeed that seemed to be the case...but understandable since they just started opening on Sundays. I paid $18 for a 30 minute nap (and was told if I wanted to extend it I could). So I went to sleep cabin number 3 with the attendant and sat in the chair. She gave me a choice of music - or no music - or white noise. I choose a dreamy kind of music, she put a cashmere blanket over my legs, checked my temperature and adjusted the chair so that my knees were bent and my legs were slightly elevated above my torso. She is turned out the lights and let me know I will be awakened gradually with a simulated sunrise.

It takes me time to relax....my mind is wandering, thinking about the financials of this concept, whether or not I chose the right music, etc. Before I knew it, 30 minutes had passed and the sunrise light is coming up and I have only slept a few minutes. I asked for an extension and also for a music change to white noise. As soon as she closed the door, turned the music off, and added white noise, I noticed I was falling asleep almost instantly. 15 minutes and another sunrise later I meandered back to the front desk, payed for my extra nap, perused the retail area(which had various sleep aid products) before heading out to the sound of mid-town Manhattan.

Bottom line? Clever concept. Has possibilities. Could do more for sleep health. Anticipate expansion in other big cities. Not sure how profitable it is.

It will be fun to watch if the sleep cabs catches on...clearly sleep health is an important issue and there certainly have been times (like in airports or at work) when I would love to crawl into a sleep cab for a few minutes.

As promised here are my thoughts regarding the presentations by the various vendors at the ISPA media event. Tomorrow I will talk about the research that was presented.

25 spas had booths each showcasing something special. I think that 25 might be a tad too many as I wasn’t able to get around to see everything despite staying the entire time from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. I suppose I could have gone more quickly but everyone’s booth seems to have interesting ways to keep you engaged. Here is what stood out to me:

1. Since Spa Finder predicted the sleep health trend for 2007 it was especially gratifying to see Sundara Inn & Spa's presentation since they really have made sleep health a cornerstone of their program! Sundara Inn & Spa brought in one of their famous featherbeds dressed with great sheets, duvet, pillows, etc. They were showcasing their new “Insomnia Relief Dream Facial” – an 80 minute facial with massage that relieves tension especially around the jaw. The guest can then sleep right where they are for another 30 minutes – or all night if they are in their room.

Sundara also gave out a little booklet titled, “Longing…for a good night’s sleep” which includes tips and testimonials from their hundreds of guests who write them saying things like “I don’t think we’ve slept that well since our son was born,” “The bed itself is worth the trip,Sinc” etc.

2. Since they had a Harley in their booth (and my hubby is a major motorcycle fan as you can see from recent posts), Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa got my attention. They now have a 40% men/60% women split of clientele which is great. (Most spas are more like 30%/70% and many day spas 20%/80% men to women.)

3. The Lodge at Woodloch, a destination spa had someone doing handwriting analysis and they gave out a beautiful journal. The analyst was quite accurate saying, among other things, that I am a detail person. (As my husband says, that’s a blessing and a curse.)

4. Mandarin Oriental, Miami demonstrated a massage with a bamboo stalk, tuning forks, and gem stones. I liked the idea of the bamboo stalk but it seemed like matching it with tuning forks and gem stones put a bit too much into the soup. The bamboo stalk massage could have stood on its own in my opinion.

5. Montage Resort & Spa presented its signature Surrender Retreat, a Personal Journey. They’ve been doing that for years now but you can’t argue with success. They are the only spa to have received the five star diamond award 2 years in a row. Kudos that they invest so much in their therapist training.

6. Spa of Colonial Williamsburg was interesting because I learned that Sylvia Sepielli created their treatment menu along the lines of various centuries. Since the spa used to be a museum, each century has a unique treatment. I always love the way Sylvia creates interesting spas and menus.

All in all, if someone were to ask me what trends I was seeing, I would say that there were a lot of “customized” treatments. This seems in line with what spas are really about… meeting individual needs.

I wonder if I will begin seeing the term “Bespoke” replace customized in the future. Bespoke is an old term used in tailoring which refers to something being customized exactly for you. I see this quite often now on European spa menus.

And in terms of future trends, I think the Willow Stream Spas at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts were right on the money – literally. They showcased a luxurious and expensive facial using real gold leaf as well as a “Generosity Massage” with proceeds going to a local charity.

Sleep Well, Siesta Time. That was the name of the class on the Rancho La Puerta schedule at 2:00pm on Monday and Tuesday. I was so glad to see it, since the issue of healthy sleep was one of the top trends we predicted for 2007. But what I liked about this class in particular was the timing; after lunch is a great time because our body rhythms tell us that this is an ideal time for a nap (or since we were in Mexico - a siesta). In a few months they are going to have couple’s specialty weeks featuring a sleep sanctuary class with Robert deStefano from Sleep Garden. Sort of “sleep intensive!"Then when I got back to my office in New York, I was reading through some of the latest spa press releases and noticed that the Qua Baths and Spa at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas has announced some of their special classes coming up; once again, one was a wellness series on sleep health. Wow, in Las Vegas no less! What a great contribution our industry could make if every spa would emphasize sleep as one of the pillars of health. It would also save a lot of money in health care costs and even lives. So many car and industrial (think Exon Valdez) accidents happen because of sleep deprivation.

I had the privilege of flying down to Greenville, South Carolina on a private plane Friday with the guys from Cliffs Communities. They have been wanting Peter and me to see their wellness communities ever since we all first met.

I think it was about two years ago when I was in my office working late one evening when I received a call from someone who turned out to be a very nice southern gentleman asking me some questions about spa lifestyle real estate - an up and coming trend Spa Finder had just identified. He told me a bit about what the Cliffs Communities was doing and how his father, Jim Anthony, had this passion for health and wellness, and had begun a program called ZestQuest which assisted kids in area schools with becoming more fit. He went on to explain that although they were famous for their six golfing communities set among the Carolina Preserve, they were increasingly putting more and more emphasis on wellness facilities and activities for their communities.

I shared with him some of the research Spa Finder had conducted, showing how aging baby boomers were attracted to these spa-lifestyle living communities and how major areas of interest were outdoor hiking and biking trails, organized activities and healthy nutrition, all to be enjoyed with other like-minded people. It seemed like their research showed very much the same thing. I learned that the lots and homes in their communities were selling briskly and that the wellness aspect had become a major draw. It was the beginning of what has now become a great business partnership and a delightful friendship.

Sitting in the Citation, which they use routinely to fly interested clients to South Carolina, I was really looking forward to seeing the blue ridge mountains, the dense greenery and bountiful lakes which their gorgeous collateral material showcases. I had spent some time in this very area about 15 years ago and remember it fondly. I also knew that most people who the Cliffs' fly down to South Carolina end up buying a home or lot, and was hoping that Peter wouldn't get impulsive - which he is known to do at times - as I was not ready to have yet one more reason to travel.

I was in for a real adventure.

Another interesting tidbit came out of our L.A. press breakfast on the topic of the latest spa trends. In addition to sharing Spa Finder’s predicted top ten spa trends of the year for the U.S. in general, I presented some specific information from the current area. We talked about the hot trend in L.A. of moms and babies going to spas together.

One writer for a yoga publication (who brought her eight-month-old!) shared her recent experience at a mommy and baby yoga class with 40 other women. What she found fascinating is that during much of the session there were many babies fussing, as you would expect when there are 40 in the room. But at one point the instructor asked all the moms to join her in a slow and lengthy chant of “ommmmm." Every single baby became quiet. Amazing what powerful transformations can happen in these settings.

Yesterday morning's press breakfast in Santa Monica on the terrace of Exhale's new spa was great fun. I especially enjoy these major-city breakfasts we sometimes hold because all the writers and reporters in attendance are really interested in the topic of spa. Many of the members of the press who were there have had a lot of experience visiting and writing about spas.

I shared in detail the top Spa Trends that Spa Finder predicted for 2007. Much of what I had to say was about the number-one trend for this year - spas adding sleep health to their menus. I shared some of the recent data from sleep scientists as well as a list of what various spas are doing currently - and what a few have in the works for later this year in terms of helping clients improve the quality of their sleep. I think the press found this trend - as well as the other nine I referenced - fascinating, as I saw them take copious notes.

But the most fun moment for me came later that evening. I was watching ABC News with Charles Gibson at the home of my host and friend, Carol Karlin, when a special segment came on about...You'll never guess the topic! The value of sleep for losing weight. The timing could not have been better. And yes, I had a sweet sleep last night in the knowledge that we are truly "on trend" and that this important aspect of health and well-being is going to be receiving a great deal more visibility and emphasis. As it should.

Well, I just finished a quick video interview for NBC as part of a story they are doing on spa services such as the BlackBerry Hand Massage. They are trying to ascertain whether or not this is a trend. Since we had the BlackBerry Hand Massage as part of our "Hot and Getting Hotter List," it was easy for me to confirm that we do see this as a trend.

Preparing for the interview gave me a chance to read up on RSI (repetitive stress injuries) and to take a look at what spas are doing to address some of these technology-related maladies. I found names such as "tech neck," "BlackBerry thumb," and "iPod finger." Some of the more progressive spas out there are indeed offering treatments to help clients suffering from these problems.

It's fascinating how widespread (and expensive!) these injuries have gotten. Here is a quote I found astonishing: "Repetitive musculoskeletal injuries like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome have become the nation's leading workplace health cost. RSI represents 62% of all North American WC claims and result in nearly $15-20 billion in lost work time and Workers Compensation claims each year." That's from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

And I think this is just the beginning…..

Heading to the Monaco Spa Event. After a mad dash to the airport for my 7:15 p.m. flight and trying to catch up on emails on my Treo (right up until the time the door of the plane closed - OK, and a few minutes beyond), it's finally time to wind down. I love long flights for just that reason - and in a way the longer the better. I'm guessing we had tail winds because the flight was only 5.5 hours. Bummer… They woke us around one a.m. for the transfer from London to Nice.

I have added one more reason (to my growing list) of why spas should offer sleep health programs, one of my Top 10 Spa Trends for 2007. The guy in front of me on the airplane put his seat all the way back, strapped on a pair of sleeping blinders, and fell asleep. Just a few minutes later he began to snore - loudly. It was absolutely dreadful. The man sitting next to him got up and moved as the rest of us tried to muffle the sound with headsets/music/tv - anything. I couldn't help noticing that the snorer was overweight and appeared to be breathing irregularly. Clearly a potential sleep apnea case.

This situation reminded me of my friend Rick Aidekman (he and his wife Ellen own the beautiful Cornelia Day Resort in Manhattan). Rick was diagnosed with sleep apnea at Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires about eight months ago. He is now using a small breathing apparatus and reports that his life has changed dramatically for the better. He has lost a lot of weight, the color in his face is restored, and he is no longer exhausted during the day. If more people would take the time to be tested and treated for sleep disorders, not only would they experience personal health benefits, but neighbors on airplanes would also not have to endure being terribly inconvenienced during a lengthy international flight.

Bob Henry, award-winning architect and author of Spa: The Sensuous Experience (and personal friend), recommended a bodyworker named Gary Wohlman a few months ago. Since Bob is "in the know," I decided to give Gary a try.

My session with Gary last night began with his specialized form of Deep Tissue Body Sculpting, which he described as having three parts: Creative Release, Emotional Release, and Physical Release. According to Gary, these steps respectively represent the concepts of "fine tuning," "retraining the patterns," and "freeing the stress."

What a great example of the Spa Fusion Trend we predicted as one of our Top Ten Spa Trends for 2007. Gary has fused massage, breath work, and verbal affirmations. While he did the deep massage and affirmations, I did the breath work; we continued this pattern throughout the entire hourlong session.

Results? Well, I can't say I love having to take such an active role by breathing a certain way with every stroke, visualizing the sun rising, water flowing, anxiety releasing, etc., when I would rather lie there like a blob and nod off. However, I have to say that not only did I feel as though I could perform ballet after the session, but I also slept well and felt more energetic this morning than I have in a long time.

As you probably know, Spa Finder issues an annual forecast of spa trends. While we have already issued our Top Ten Spa Trends for 2007, at the beginning of January I like to review all of the trends we are tracking at Spa Finder and share with you a few more of the buzzwords that made it to our "Hot" and "Getting Hotter" list for the upcoming year. Here they are!

HOT..............................................................................GETTING HOTTER
Fitness Boot Camp................................................................................................Sleep Boot Camp
Metrosexual................................................................................................................Metrospiritual
Pilates....................................................................................................................................Kinesis
Power Yoga..................................................................................................................Power Plate
Medical Spas..........................................................................................................Medical Tourism
Mommy Spa..................................................................................................Mommy and Baby Spa
Body Work..................................................................................................................Energy Work
Sauna.......................................................................................................................Infrared Sauna
Extreme Detox....................................................................................................Comfortable Detox
Facial.............................................................................................................................Body Facial
Topical Skin Care.............................................................................................Ingestible Skin Care
Retreats at Destination Spas....................................................................Retreats at Resort Spas
Book Vacation Online....................................................................................Book Massage Online
Variable Prices for Airlines.........................................................Variable Prices for Spa Services
Ayurveda.................................................................................TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine)
Personal Jacuzzi.............................................................................................Social Hydrotherapy Warm/Hot/Cold Bath.................................................................Tepidarium, Caldarium, Frigidarium
Flourescent-Lighted Gym ...................................................................................Feng Shui'd Gym
Spa Communities................................................................................ Spa Communities with Kids
Spa Brands....................................................................................................Brands Adding Spas
Computer Neck Massage......................................................................Blackberry Hand Massage
Green..................................................................................................................................Greener
Anti-Aging.......................................................................................................................Aging Well
Living........................................................................................................................Inspired Living


I would love to hear feedback from those who read my blog! Please post a comment by clicking on the link below that reads "Comments."

Happy New Year to everyone. Like all of us, I think about making some improvements in my personal life at this time of year. This year’s resolutions include eating more healthfully, exercising more, and getting more quality sleep. I thought it might be interesting to see what the statistics say regarding New Year’s resolutions.

ACNielsen, a global research group, surveyed consumers in 46 countries and found the following results for their top three New Year resolutions for 2007:

1) Striking a better balance between work and play
2) Exercising more
3) Avoiding disastrous relationships – detoxing in more intimate parts of life

Those were the global results. In addition, 33% of people in the U.S. mentioned going on a diet. Eating more natural and organic food was another popular resolution.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, then, that January is one of the top months for spa inquiries. We tracked a record number of emailed booking inquiries through Spafinder.com for yesterday alone. And when you look at the list of popular New Year’s resolutions, it is crystal-clear why people look for spas at this time of year!

USA Today shared Gerald Celente's (Trends Journal) predictions of the top trends for 2007 in yesterday's issue. Interesting that one of those trends is the same as what Spa Finder predicted for 2007 - a rise in medical tourism.



Here is how the Trends Journal describes medical tourism:



"American consumers will be "globetrotting to find the best prices for the best medical care," seeking out overseas doctors to perform procedures not readily available or not covered by insurance. Celente calls this "medical outsourcing."



Here is how Spa Finder described the same trend in last month's press release:



"In 2007, more and more people will travel to another city, state or country for medical spa experiences, creating a new trend: medical tourism. A range of new technologies will attract these medical tourists - DNA analysis, for example, and new generations of anti-aging medicines, injectables and lasers. But another big draw will be cost. Squeezed by domestic health care costs, many Americans are going online and discovering global destinations that offer cutting-edge medical procedures for a fraction of the cost ... often in beautiful, culturally rich locales like Bangkok, South Africa and India, to name a few."


I think that when a trend gets noticed both inside and outside the spa industry, we can be quite sure that this trend is gathering steam.

Sunday’s New York Times (December 12) ran a short, somewhat humorous piece, entitled “Spa Trends: Goodbye Pampering, Hello Rehab.” Jennifer Colin poked some fun at Spa Finder’s top spa trends for 2007, in which we predicted a new emphasis on healthy sleep at spas, detox programs, retreats, medical tourism, spa lifestyle communities with kids, bottom-line considerations, social spa-ing, and words such as "green," "beauty inside out and outside in," and "spa fusion." Apparently, it all seemed a bit too strenuous for her.

I will give her credit for her point, however. For people who are not very familiar with the spa world, it might be a bit overwhelming to think that all these things are now available at spas. After all, we know that the number-one reason people go to spas is to relax and de-stress. That list of trends might not sound very relaxing!

So let me correct the perception. Spas are still about relaxing and de-stressing – even pampering and taking baths – but they are also about a whole lot more. The trends we see are making it that much more worthwhile to go to a spa.

I have gotten hooked on a few reality shows over the past years, but the only one on my TiVo list this season was The Biggest Loser. Even if you haven't been following it, you will probably come across something about last night's finale today. It was quite extraordinary.

The winner was Erik from New York. He lost 214 pounds in about eight months. What amazed me was how fit and healthy he looked - trim, muscular, energized. The footage of him when he started at more than 400 pounds, with high blood pressure (which you could see in his face) and diabetes (with which he was diagnosed during the filming of the show), was such a contrast to the man he had become at the end. It brought tears to my eyes.

Something else that struck me about the program is that all of the people who were "on the ranch" for the four months lost a great deal of weight. The show's formula really works: exercise, nutrition, education and motivation from leadership, and forming a community among the participants. Their format is so much like some of the destination spas (pure spa settings) I know.

Last year, we started getting calls at our Spa Finder office from people wanting to know where "the ranch" was so that they could sign up and go. Well, we have learned that "the ranch" is in California, and it is only "made for TV." But thankfully there are destination spas.

It's been kind of a baby-focus week for me. Our Executive VP Technology, Daniel Lizio-Katzen, and his wife Noa had a baby boy they named Enzo. The day before I left for Thanksgiving in California, I had lunch with my friend Heidi who has just teamed up with Julie of Maternal Fitness to add the Spa Bebe program. She gave me a tour of the space where I was able to see how they welcome mothers-to-be, as well as new mothers and mothers and babies.

Then a few days ago I was contacted by a TV news program regarding a piece they are considering doing on Mommy and Babies at spas.

Although I have been following this trend since it came on the scene when the Greenhouse destination spa in Texas announced their first Mommy and Baby week in 2002, it was fun to brush up on how it has developed.

One of the newest spas on the scene is Baby Spa at Skin Spa in Encino, California which had its grand opening this month. Apparently it is a new business venture for Jonathan Baker - the Amazing Race contestant - who had a baby with wife Victoria Fuller just last month. I do like the names of some of their classes: in addition to the more traditional Infant Massage, Mommy and Baby Yoga they have Baby Sign Language, Belly Bonding, Kindermusick, Princess Ballet, Broadway Tots, Storeytime, etc.

Let me know what other programs you are coming across for mommies and babies. It seems like such a fun trend.

Yesterday I flew from New York to Palm Springs for a few days of Thanksgiving vacation. I had some time en route to catch up on reading. Mostly I read spa press releases, industry magazines, and articles people brought to my attention. My favorite from yesterday's batch was this article from the LA Times titled, "Rest: It's required. Adequate sleep is as crucial to a healthy life as diet and exercise, researchers are finding." Written by Susan Brink and published last month, the article seemed appropriate for perusal on my way to a vacation. And it made me smile, since the sleep factor was one of our predicted trends for spas in 2007. Since you might be having a few days off this week (or especially if you aren't), take a moment and read about the value of a good night's sleep.

Impressive. Clinique La Prairie Spa will be opening a 50-story residential tower in Miami next year called Ten Museum Park, which they term "a revolutionary evolution of spa living." I may have to agree with them. If they execute their plan according to current available information, I think it will be very appealing for a very specific audience.

What I like about this concept is that it seems as though they really know their customer. The famous Swiss company, known for its spa and its beauty products, is endeavoring to create a haven for that luxury, spa loving, beauty-oriented consumer. After 75 years of pampering kings, queens, heads of state, and movie stars at their spa in Switzerland, they should be able to satisfy those who purchase residences at this address. Here are the highlights:

• Sensational water views
• Opposite the new Miami Art Museum
• Famous Clinique La Prairie amenities in all condos, penthouses, and suites
• State-of-the-art Wellness Center on eighth and ninth floors
• Six pools including infinity-edge sunrise and sunset pools
• Forward-thinking Oppenheim Architecture + Design firm
• 25,000-square-foot sky garden with fruit trees and tropical vegetation
• Water water everywhere - views, pools, sounds
• 10,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor restaurant for residents and neighboring performing arts devotees
• Beauty-related businesses on lower floors
• Exclusive nightclub and lounge
• Massage, beauty care, thalasso, VIP cabins
• Hammam, Vichy shower and myriad electro, micro, and chromo treatments
• Proprietary beauty and health technology
• "Endless pampering, Swiss perfection, and service"

In typical European fashion they didn't mention anything about fitness in their press release, but thankfully I found a mention of cardio and fitness facilities on their website. Clearly, beauty is the focus here.