Spa Terminology: Wellness or Well-being?
by Susie Ellis, SpaFinder

Earlier this week I attended the New York Spa Promotion Alliance (NYSPA) conference. This year it was held at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Professor Mary Tabacchi organizes this event every year and despite the unfortunate timing (just days before the Global Spa Summit), I always try to attend because she gets great speakers and I always learn a lot from these interactions.

One of the "pearls of wisdom" I took away this time was as a result of something that Dr. Mark Liponis, Medical Director at Canyon Ranch, said during his remarks on a panel titled 'Spa to 'Wellness to Lifestyle.'

The debate came around to terminology (as it often does when the word spa is involved) yet the discussion this time was about the term wellness. Mark mentioned that he doesn't really like the term wellness and much prefers the term well-being because the 'being' part is really important.

Also on the same panel was Perry Garfinkel, a best selling author and regular contributor to the New York Times, National Geographic, etc. He has written a book called Buddha or Bust. Being one of those meditative-types, he too talked about the value of 'being.'

This issue of Human-Doing versus Human-Being is an important one. And if using the term 'well-being' helps drive the 'being' point home, maybe we should all use it a bit more.

All that aside, I predict that the term wellness will trump the term well-being in the marketplace because it has become an international term wildly popular in Europe and Asia. Maybe it's because people in those countries are much better at 'being' than many of us in the U.S.

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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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LA Spa Conference: A Medical Spa Insight, Touching Remarks from "The Godmother of the Spa Industry" and Excitement about Spa Booker
by Susie Ellis

Just returned from the Los Angeles Spa & Resort (and Medical Aesthetics) Expo & Conference. Highlights included hearing John Buckingham, the Founder and President of Solana MedSpas speak on "The Evolution & Revolution of the Medical Aesthetics Industry," hearing Deborah Szekely share some of her life's journey including the founding of Rancho La Puerta (60+ years ago) and the Golden Door (exactly 50 years ago this year), and seeing the energy surrounding the Spa Booker booth on the trade show floor.

The surprising thing I learned from John Buckingham, who has a network of more than 40 locally branded medical spa facilities, is that the real market for these services is NOT the aging baby boomer, but rather Gen X and Gen Y. They have an entirely different attitude toward these procedures - partaking with abandon, reasoning that it is worth the money they spend, and not caring who knows they are having "work" done.

Come to think of it, my husband's niece (in her 30's) is a perfect example. She pops in regularly for procedures like Botox®, laser hair removal, endermologie, and IPL, etc. I have to say she looks fantastic, has a lot of confidence and, as a mother of two with her MBA, enjoys "having it all." Even her husband does a bit of spray tanning now and then.

John said that many baby boomers have become "comfortable couples" meaning that they are happily married and no longer feel the need to iron out every wrinkle, or cover up every bulge. Although there are still plenty of single baby boomers, and people who want to keep a youthful appearance to stay competitive in the labor market, he predicts that the Gen X and Gen Y will be the bread and butter of medical spas in the future.

Deborah Szekely at age 85 looks marvelous, her memory is as sharp as ever and, she is as informed (and opinionated) about today's political scene as she was during the 17 years she worked in Washington D.C. Clearly...the Rancho La Puerta and Golden Door lifestyle she leads is working.

Spa Booker - the new software (that comes with leads) by SpaFinder - had a fun booth on the showroom floor. I loved watching the buzz from afar....so many of our young staff talking to new clients and demonstrating the product. It was an idea in Peter's mind a few years ago, and now it is a reality. I marvel at how Peter's mind works....he really is a visionary. With a single purpose - to bring more customers to our partner spas - he leaves no stone unturned. It makes me proud.

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Spa & Resort Expo & Conference LA: Keeping Up With Spa Trends
by Susie Ellis


The Spa & Resort Expo & Conference and the Medical Aesthetics Conference is happening tomorrow, February 23-25 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. I will be driving in from Palm Springs and attending all three days, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. One reason I will be there from bell-to-bell is because I am judging the New Product Showcase. With over 100 new products, I have my work cut out for me!

I remember when this show began many years ago….and how I first got involved. I happened to be sitting on an airplane next to a young good looking guy who noticed my SpaFinder bag and began asking me about the spa industry. That was probably seven years ago. It turned out to be Greg Topalian, who at the time had just been selected to launch a spa show for Reed Exhibitions. He has done an amazing job growing the event and produces it now in both New York and LA once a year. We've been friends ever since - he is now Group VP at Reed Exhibitions.

On Sunday SpaFinder and Spa Booker by SpaFinder are hosting a cocktail reception (please join us if you are coming to the expo!) and on Monday it is my privilege to introduce Deborah Szekely. She is the keynote speaker at 10:00 a.m. Her topic should hit a chord with everyone and as my husband would say - especially necessary for me.

Monday, February 25, 2008 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
“...and the answer is: Balance”Presented by Deborah Szekely, founder of Rancho La Puerta and the Golden Door Spas /lifetime achiever for the spa/medical industries

Finally! An end to all diets and exercise programs. Forget the which’s, what’s, how to’s, and when’s that rule your life. Deborah will share her keys to creating a lifestyle ever-in-balance.

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Spa Talk (very little so far) at the Lodging and Investment Conference Here in LA
By Susie Ellis

A sea of blue suits....that's what this American Lodging and Investment Conference looks like here in LA. I flew in for the conference a few days ago and just completed day one. People had recommended I attend since it is such a well run event and akin to our spa industry. Also, it is totally business focused and a good event to observe in preparation for the upcoming Global Spa Summit where executives gather for similar conversations.

Here are my observations so far:

1. Record attendance - almost 3,000 people. My guess is that out of that number there are maybe a few hundred women (and many I met seem to be from the investment side). Very male dominated. This morning I read an article about the glass ceiling for women at the executive level in the hospitality industry. Likely, it has much to do with the workaholic hours required. It is clearly not a myth.

2. Some stellar speakers - including Gene Sperling, Former White House National Economic Advisor and Former Director of the National Economic Council, and the heads of various research firms - all giving their predictions of what the lodging industry will likely encounter this upcoming year.

3. In summary, they aren't predicting a major recession but a major correction; that the luxury end will fare much better than the lower end with economy hotels being hit the hardest.

4. The general consensus in the lodging industry is to NOT LOWER RATES when turbulence happens. I guess they learned this after 9/11. Many hotels lowered rates and it cut into their profitability. As one analyst said, when people decide to travel and book a hotel...they are definitely coming so no need to lower the rates. Their decision to come has more to do with other factors therefore lowering rates only cuts into your profitability.

5. The talk here is all about numbers. Everything comes down to the bottom line. Occupancy, revenue per available room night (RevPar) and average daily rate (ADR) are the three key numbers mentioned most often. Everyone knows them and can compare how they are doing with others. Investors are looking at the numbers. Decisions are made based on the numbers.

6. One of my major conclusions is that one of the smartest things the spa industry could do to become more visible in the lodging and investment community is to establish benchmark numbers. This was one of the initiatives at the Global Spa Summit last year and with Ann McCall from the Fairmont spas and Andrew Gibson from the Mandarin Oriental spas heading up a task force to get this done. I think it will actually happen by the 2008 GSS this May. Many people contributed along the way, Judy Singer and Patti Monteson from Health Fitness Dynamics, Starwood is being very helpful, Cornell, etc. Jan Freitag from Smith Travel Research is working on the project and will present the results at the upcoming GSS. It is going to take everyone in the spa industry to get on board with the benchmarks...but this will clearly benefit everyone.

7. Green is everywhere in conversations, breakouts, special sessions, etc. To my surprise however, when speaking with Richard Dusseau from Spa Strategy, he said that this is the first year that the green issue has really been visible! Apparently many members of the hotel and investment community haven't been very supportive due to the extra costs involved; however, they have now turned the corner and realized that when looking ahead, if their buildings aren't LEED certified, they are likely to have a hard time making profits down the road. One gentleman mentioned that the green issue is a bit like taking smoking out of restaurants. At first people were aghast at the idea so they had smoking sections. Then smoking was banned from restaurants, then smoking was banned from cities, then smoking was banned from states, etc. And we all adjusted very well along the way.

Well...on to day two. With all this business focus, I may have to book a massage at the new Equinox Spa in the area. I miss the ying/yang balance of spa conferences. This one is definitely all yang.

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Are Spas a Necessary Evil? Impressions of the Monaco Spa Event
By Susie Ellis

Just returned from the Monaco Spa Event. With such a
jam-packed schedule of symposium sessions, meetings and exhibits to see, there was little time for plugging in and writing on my blog. The hotel’s charge of 20 euros ($30.00) for connecting to the Internet each day didn’t help either.

But I am back and happily thinking through some of the highlights. I will elaborate more in the next few posts, but here are a few things that stood out:

• The Director of the Lausanne Hotel School in Switzerland ended his remarks with “Spas are a necessary evil.” YIKES

• Jacques-Olivier Chauvin, CEO of Relais & Chateaux, has a keen understanding of the value of connection in hospitality. I was extremely impressed with his insights.

• The Monaco Spa Event really shone in the arena of spa architecture and design. My feeling is that this could be the foundation of its future.

• The Group Director of the Tschuggen Grand Bergoase in Switzerland (famous for its sail-like features which we featured on the cover of one of our Luxury SpaFinder Magazines) told the story of how that came to be and showed the photo which inspired it all.
  

• A 600 calorie meal prepared by a star spa chef, in an elegant setting such as the L'Hermitage Hotel, can be quite impressive.

• Rasmus Gaupp-Berghausen, Director of the European Research Center Hado Life Europe, in Liechtenstein gave a talk on water (with mixed reviews) yet struck a chord with me, when he suggested that the quality of a spa should be judged by the quality of its water. He also convinced me to drink local water wherever I am.

• Our magazine editor, Gary Walther, gave a presentation on spa architecture around the world - it was a visual feast of “wow’s” and made me proud to be part of the international spa industry.

• Energy medicine was a hot topic.
  

• The medical side of spas in Europe is beginning to soften its strict doctor-knows-best approach. Who would have thought that a European doctor would talk about “transformation” and refer to people suffering from heart disease as “broken hearted?”

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Monaco Spa Event and Monaco Spa Symposium – Expect to be Dazzled!
by Susie Ellis

I spent some time this afternoon studying the brochure for the Monaco Spa Event and the program for the Monaco Spa Symposium. Since I attended last year I thought I would share some things I learned in case anyone is thinking about attending.

1. The event is January 18, 19, and 20th from approximately 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
2. Fly into Nice and from there it is an easy bus ride of 45 minutes or a helicopter ride of 7 minutes to Monaco.
3. Know that there is the Exhibition and then there is the Spa Symposium. These are two separate happenings though held at the same place – the famous Grimaldi Forum.
4. Signing up for the Symposium (around 610 Euros for all three days) allows you to see the Exhibition. However just going to the Exhibition (which is either 25 Euros or 50 Euros depending on whether or not you are in the spa business) doesn’t get you into the Symposium. The Symposium looks stellar, so I would suggest going that route and then you’ll have access to Exhibition also.
5. If you want to stay near the Exhibition/Symposium, select the Hotel Meridian. Another close hotel is the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel. Both are within walking distance.

If you are on the fence in terms of whether or not you should attend:

Here are some reasons to go:
1. Spas in Europe are different than in the U.S. and in many ways more progressive. The area in which they are truly on the cutting edge is in architecture and design – especially thermal and water experiences. Walking through the Exhibition will make that crystal clear.
2. The list of exhibitors is much more hydro, balneo, thalasso, décor, and architecturally oriented. It isn’t just skin care after skin care after skin care (which is what I find at most of the U.S. shows). Here you will see dazzling design…but yes, some skin care.
3. There are plenty of spas to visit in Monaco which will give you a glimpse of what the European hotel spa scene is like. And do make an appointment for a treatment at Les Thermes Marins de Monte Carlo. Although I find their website dreadful, it will at least give you the contact information. But best to just walk in when you are there and make an appointment.
4. The Symposium has some compelling topics and speakers. Of particular interest to me:

• Results and Conclusions of a 3 year Research Study of the Spa Market
• Validating research regarding Energy Medicine
• An entire morning on future spa design
• Spa quality as discussed by the CEO of Relais & Chateaux – France

Here are some reasons not to go:
1. The exchange rate does not favor dollars at the moment so Europe in general feels expensive.
2. If you prefer to have a myopic view of the spa industry.

And finally…just a mention about why I like to promote certain quality spa events outside of the U.S. I think it makes the spa industry stronger when we learn from each other internationally. Having worked at some of the top spas in the U.S. and having visited countless other top spa properties, I must admit that when I go to Europe and see some of what is happening there spa-wise I am, quite frankly, humbled. Since this is the top quality spa event in Europe, it's the one to attend.
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The Monaco Spa Event: My First Spa Trip in 2008
By Susie Ellis

Now that our major trend predictions for 2008 have been announced, I get to spend some time looking ahead to 2008 in terms of my travel schedule. One of the most exciting trips looks like it will be right in the beginning – the Monaco Spa Event, January 18th-20th! I spoke at this event last year, but this year I am just an attendee, which always makes my trip just a little less stressful.

What I love about the Monaco Spa event is that it is very targeted. It is luxury. Like Monaco itself, it has a certain cachet. And how fun to be part of it for a few days. The event takes place at the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo – that’s the very-often photographed glass structure right on Monaco’s Larvotto Seafront.

Although I do look forward to viewing all of the interesting displays (the European spa product companies have magnificent showcases), my favorite part of the event is the conference. This year they are calling it a Symposium - and it has taken on an entirely new level. The logistics are being handled by a different team and can’t even be compared to the former format: 3 days of smart programming with some very high level (and new!) speakers. I’ll share more details about it in my next blog but thought you might enjoy a quick glimpse.

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ISPA Spa Conference: Moments of Note
By Susie Ellis

Although I was only able to spend two full days at the ISPA conference in Orlando – rather than the four which were offered – it was still a worthwhile investment of my time for five reasons:

1. Connecting with people I know teaches me a great deal about what is happening in the spa world (brands are on a roll.)
2. Walking the showroom floor gives me a sense of what is old, what is new, and what is missing (there were a lot of beverage products offered this year.)
3. It is inspiring to share a thoughtful evening at the Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award dinner which we host along with Deborah Szekely of Rancho LaPuerta & the Golden Door and Mary-Elizabeth Gifford of Jurlique. (Alex is not forgotten - his essence continues to inspire)
4. The ISPA research is always of particular interest (consumers who buy a retail product at a spa are far more likely to come back.)
5. The overall feeling I come away with helps me see how SpaFinder is positioned and what we can do to help the spa industry in a healthy way (growing the pie is the key…and that is exactly what we do.)


It takes me a few days to assimilate all of the information and impressions. Therefore I thought I would spread out my thoughts in a few blogs where I will cover which exhibits impressed me, what I learned from the new 2007 ISPA Industry Study which I purchased and ISPA’s Global Study which they recalled, what touched me at the conference, and some general musings on ISPA and the industry in general.

Qua Baths & Spa: a Las Vegas Day Spa or Stay Spa at Caeser's Palace Featuring Unique Spa Treatments
by Susie Ellis

From the Qua Baths & Spa menu at Caesar's Palace: Bath Liqueur, Sleep Health, Hypnosis for Wellness, Raindrop Therapy (registered), Morning Dew, Banana Leaf Body Wrap (with incense), Dilo Wrap (oil from Fiji), Volcanic Clay Body Mask, Chai Tea Mud Mask, Ten-Second Tan, Dancing Waters, Niagara Falls, Sand & Foam, Poker Face (an anti aging facial), Arabian Knights Facial (with Arabian coffee), Couples Lunaception (fertility-heightening experience), Red Carpet Facial, Vino Veritas (with Chardonnay Grapes), and the Seven Sacred Pools Bath.

Jennifer Lynn, the very impressive spa director, has created a very unique and interesting menu and experience!

It's my last day at the Virtuoso meeting at the Bellagio in Vegas and I decided to email Jennifer at the new Qua Baths & Spa at Caesar's to see if Sallie and I might be able to come over for a tour that evening. Jennifer gave us a “hard hat” tour last year and we were anxious to see the results.

In typical Jennifer fashion, I hear back from someone within an hour. Alyssa has made all the arrangements and even booked us in to experience some of their new treatments – a Sleep Health Aromatherapy Massage with Hypnosis for me, and a Chakra Balancing treatment for Sallie. We were happy to accept!

The spa’s interior design is very pleasing and successful in taking the Caesar’s Palace over-the-top Roman theme into the spa with an understated and contemporary interpretation of Roman bathing. Photos show it better than I can describe so click through for a tour. The concept for the spa was equally effective as Jennifer pulled together a nice blend of sophistication, intimacy, pampering, wellness, uniqueness and a bit of “Vegas-ness” for a spa menu that is interesting to read. .

In addition to the interesting menu of treatments, she incorporated words and concepts such as:
Artisans (rather than spa therapists)
Robe Sauna (your robe stays warm while you are in the baths)
Tepidarium (rather than warm Jacuzzi)
Caldarium (rather than hot Jacuzzi)
Frigidarium (rather than cold plunge)
Laconium (rather than warm Sauna)
Artic Ice Rooms (falling snow, heated floors and benches)
Tea Program (Tea Sommelier in the relaxation lounges)
Crystal Body Art (Swarovski crystal art applied to the body)
Dream coach (interpretation Journey)

The best value? Book a 50 minute Swedish Massage and stay for several hours. They waive the $45 facility fee which entitles you to the fitness area (where the cardio bikes are in a circle to encourage their “social spa-ing concept), all the baths and thermal rooms, and a generous supply of amenities. Total price $140 which isn’t bad considering you can lose that at the blackjack table much more quickly and you surely won’t feel as buffed and polished when you leave.

*By the way, if you want to search for spas in other areas which might have some of these interesting spa facilities and services, use the Spa Search on SpaFinder.com which allows you to click a variety of treatments and ammenities that you might want.

Spa Bellagio in Las Vegas Delivers Consistently Good Massage Treatments
by Susie Ellis

Sallie and I are in Las Vegas at Virtuoso’s Travel Mart where approximately 1,500 of Virtuoso’s top travel agents and 1,500 of their top resort and hotel property representatives meet yearly. It’s a time for agents to become more familiar with the products they book (cruises, properties, spas, etc.) and for strategic alliances to strengthen. It’s held at the Bellagio Hotel & Resort each year (fittingly since all attendees are used to five star travel and accommodations) and this is Spa Finder’s third year in attendance. We are their partners in selling spa vacations and teach a course to some of the top spa booking agents to become Spa Travel Specialists.

Except for the smoke in the casino, which I had to walk through several times a day on my way to sessions, I really like the Bellagio – as well as their spa.

In the training we give agents “insider info” so they can quickly become knowledgeable and skilled in understanding the differences between various spas all over the world. I love helping them learn the “DNA” of each hotel/resort or destination spa, so they can ultimately make an ideal match between their client and the best spa for them. It’s also fun to give them the vocabulary and resources necessary to talk like an expert – even if their client has been to many more spas than they have.

After the training class we went on a special tour of Spa Bellagio – all 65,000 square feet where we get to peek into various treatment rooms (including those where they do Ashiatsu), the waterfall and candled relaxation lounge (smelled too much like chlorine for my taste), the Watsu room, the bamboo movement studio, the gorgeous hair salon (where there were brides upon brides getting their up-dos), the soaking pools, fitness center (lots of neon and whirling fans), etc. It is a privilege to get this back house tour and the staff is very accommodating.


The day after our training I decided to treat myself to a spa treatment and was able to get a last minute booking for a sports massage (OK, not very adventurous but this was because my body needed it). Once again I was surprised at how good the Spa Bellagio therapists are. Don’t know how Shane and his staff do it…..but it is heartening to know that it is possible to train an army of therapists 100+ strong so that whatever treatment you get, you come out saying “wow, that was great."

This press release about the Global Spa Summit (GSS) went out yesterday and since it isn't posted anywhere yet, thought I would cut and paste it here.

We have already received one response from someone questioning whether or not it is a good idea to "air the spa industry dirty laundry" by citing the challenges facing us - in particular the labor shortage and the lack of industry wide standards.

That's a good question actually and shows how different this Summit was from other spa gatherings. The GSS was not just about congratulating ourselves on being in this fantastic industry and citing all the rosy statistics (although there was plenty of encouragement from Peter Yesawich from YPB&R, Smith Travel Research and Intelligent Spas out of Asia who all presented research.) This gathering of industry executives was about identifying and solving problems. The GSS tag line is, "joining together, shaping the future" and I, for one, am very excited about tackling our industry's challenges together.

One example (and this isn't exactly public knowledge yet), is Emanuel Berger's response to the conference. Mr. Berger is CEO of the Victoria-Jungfrau Collection in Switzerland and is an advisor to the esteemed Hospitality School, Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne. He made a point to let me know that he will be reporting back to the school's leaders the importance of incorporating a spa management program in their curriculum so that future hospitality leaders will be schooled in the business of spa.

And that's just the beginning.

We have also heard from another delegate, Gary Matkin, Dean of Continuing Education at the University of California, Irvine, and understand they are going to be expanding their spa management program in response to the need. A representative from the Philippines pointed out that they are one country with an over abundance of spa personnel and have training programs in place now whereby they will be able to export some of their labor. The delegates from CIDESCO also voiced some ideas.

When you share problems with others, you can get a lot of smart people contributing solutions.

The labor shortage challenge also points out an exciting aspect of our industry - it's explosive growth resulting in terrific career opportunities.

Here is the press release on the Global Spa Summit:

For Immediate Release:
Contact: Scott Piro (scott@mkpr.com)
Patrick Kowalczyk (patrick@mkpr.com)
MKPR, 212-627-8098

PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST


WITH SPA INDUSTRY BOOMING, DELEGATES AT FIRST-EVER GLOBAL SPA SUMMIT

CITE LABOR SHORTAGE AS TOP INDUSTRY CHALLENGE

More than 160 Leading Spa Executives From Around the World
Attended First-Ever Global Spa Summit in New York

http://www.globalspasummit.org/

New York, NY – May 30, 2007 – A shortage of high-quality, trained labor – including spa managers and directors, aestheticians, and therapists – is the major challenge facing the global spa industry today, according to a survey of more than 160 world spa and wellness industry leaders who attended the first-ever Global Spa Summit earlier this week in New York.

The three day, invitation-only gathering, held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, brought together leaders from the global spa, real estate, investment, travel, spa education, beauty, and wellness sectors to chart the future of the booming $40 billion plus spa industry, which has seen double digit growth for the past 20 years.

According to the survey, 29 percent of delegates cited labor shortages as the top issue facing the industry, while 22 percent said the main challenge was the lack of industry-wide standards for defining spa categories and best practices. Environmental sustainability was cited by 12 percent of the delegates as another top concern.

In terms of opportunities for the industry, delegates placed the greatest emphasis on enhancing clients’ health (29 percent), educating consumers that spas are about wellness (26 percent), and promoting preventative medicine (20 percent).

The summit featured keynote addresses by three of the leading visionaries in the spa and wellness industry: Steve Case, whose Revolution LLC is leading innovation in the health care, wellness, and resort industries; Kevin Kelly, president of Canyon Ranch, an international wellness lifestyle company; and Susan Harmsworth, founder and CEO of British-based ESPA International, which designs and operates spas in over 50 countries throughout the world.

“We are at a tipping point, as consumers are seeking more than an environment to be pampered in, but also a place to achieve balance,” said Case in his keynote address. “We have an opportunity now to take the idea of balanced living and bring it into the mainstream.”

Individual presentations showcased the latest spa industry data and statistics from around the world, while a series of presentations, panels, and break-out sessions also addressed industry investment opportunities, sustainability, and ownership and management arrangements for hotel spas.

Another major concern raised by delegates was “protecting the authenticity of the spa industry” – how its emphasis on the genuine transformation of mind, body, and spirit might be threatened by outside investors whose first priority is the bottom line. Maintaining the integrity of a fast-growing industry, while at the same time attracting investors and reaching more consumers, was cited as a key challenge that would require a world-wide strategy.

Kevin Kelly, president of Canyon Ranch, drove home this point in his keynote address. “Because demographic trends are so economically compelling, Wall Street has increased its interest in our industry,” Kelly said. “The danger to avoid is shifting the focus to efficiency at the cost of losing our soulfulness. I believe we can grow a profitable business and retain our authenticity. We need to hold fast to the vision.”

Delegates attended from 24 different countries, including Australia, Austria, Bermuda, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, Russia, Saint Lucia, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Turks and Caicos, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and United States.

Notable participants and presenters included:
Leonard Fluxman (U.S.), President & CEO, Steiner Leisure Ltd.
Peter Yesawich (U.S.), Chairman & CEO, YPB&R
Emanuel Berger (Switzerland), CEO, The Victoria-Jungfrau Collection
Steven Conquy (Thailand), CEO, MSpa International Ltd.
Philip Wolf (U.S.), CEO, PhoCusWright, Inc.
Leandro Gualtieri (Italy), Owner & President, STB Group
Stephen Purdew (U.K.), Director & Co-Owner, Champneys Health Resorts
Deborah Szekely (U.S.), founder, Rancho La Puerta and Golden Door
Marc Cohen (Australia), Medical doctor and Professor, RMIT University
Mary Tabacchi (U.S.), Professor, Cornell University - School of Hotel Administration

Other executives represented such leading spa brands as Mandarin Oriental, Ritz Carlton Hotel Company, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, One&Only Resorts, Starwood Spa Collection, Shangri-la International, Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, Inc., Six Senses Resorts & Spa, Hilton, Jumeriah, Spa Chakra, and Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa. For an overview of presenters, delegates, and sessions, please visit the Summit agenda at http://globalspasummit.org/agenda.php.

According to Spa Finder CEO Pete Ellis, delegates overwhelmingly agreed that the Summit should become an annual event and take place in different cities around the world to reflect the industry’s global stature.

A white paper will be developed based on the three-day series of presentations, panels, and speeches. An executive summary will be available to the media in mid-Summer.

About Global Spa Summit
Global Spa Summit is an international organization dedicated to bringing together leaders and visionaries to shape the future of the global spa and wellness industry. Founded in 2005, the organization hosted the first-ever Global Spa Summit in New York City in May 2007, where top industry executives gathered to exchange ideas and advance industry goals, such as establishing a common language and understanding across regions and continents and creating uniform performance benchmarks for spas worldwide. Global Spa Summit is underwritten by Spa Finder, Inc., the world's leading spa marketing and media company, in collaboration with a team of international advisors. For more information, visit http://www.globalspasummit.org/.

Since I haven't been able to catch my breath quite yet and get to the really exciting part where I get to share the insights from the Global Spa Summit with you, I thought I would at least share with you some of the feedback that is rolling in. I must say I am a bit overwhelmed in that I was hoping we would put on a good event but the reaction has been quite over the top. Clearly the credit goes to a team of people... the advisers who were the strength, wisdom and encouragement to make the GSS happen, the team of people from Global Executives who helped with the event logistics, and many on the Spa Finder staff who volunteered their time - and over time - to welcome the international spa delegates from around the world. Hope you enjoy reading some of the feedback!

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(From Steve Case)

I just wanted to thank you for hosting such a wonderful summit! Although I unfortunately wasn't able to attend the various sessions, the buzz was very positive. You should feel great about what you've accomplished, bringing all these different people together for such a major event. Keep up the great work - and thanks for inviting me to participate! I was happy to share some of my perspectives with your distinguished audience.

Regards,

Steve

P.S. to Pete - Thanks for your very kind introduction! And what was the name of that pool man who has the hot tips????? :)


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Congratulations on hosting the Global Spa Summit it seemed from all accounts to have been a huge success and I am sure you have had lots of positive feedback from all the delegates. I must say whomever I spoke was impressed with the quality of delegates who attended as opposed to the normal “service providers” that typically attend these spa summits, so huge kudos to both of you and your organization for hosting such a credible well run event.

Best regards

Leonard

Leonard Fluxman
President & CEO
Steiner Leisure Limited

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I am knocked flat by your extraordinary achievement.

The Global Spa Summit is world class and totally surpasses any spa related event that I have ever attended.
I learned, bonded, networked, laughed and listened. (and dined around on exotic wild mushrooms with exotic people)

When I pick myself off the floor and you guys pick yourselves off the floor I would love to get together with you both and share some thoughts and comments for the next one.

Love to you both.

GO CELEBRATE

Clodagh

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Wow…..is about all I can say. Not very often am I stuck for words!! With respect

MARK WUTTKE PRINCIPAL WUTTKE GROUP LLC

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What a wonderful experience. You delivered on the most ambitious Spa gathering ever attempted + you exceeded everyone’s expectations.

Truly International + Inspirational. It will shape the future, instilling a sense of leadership and commitment w/ all who attended.

Thank you again for including me in your Global Spa Summit.

Healthy regards,

Bob Henry - Principal

R O B E R T D. H E N R Y
a r c h i t e c t s

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Congratulations on this success.

Best wishes from Eva and I,
Sonu (owner, Six Senses)

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I wanted to thank you for your gracious hospitality and inclusion of Niki Bryan in this superb gathering of leader. I hope to have the opportunity to extend our hospitality should you choose to visit Orlando.

Many Thanks

Dan Shackleton-Jones
Dan Shackleton-Jones
President
GF Spa Ltd & Niki Bryan Inc.

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Thanks for inviting me. It was a great time and I hope I was able to contribute something to the experience.

Rich (Gersten from North Castle Partners)

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It was so lovely to see you again and have a chat, short though it was!
Thank you for all your help and concern about my laptop etc at the Waldorf and congratulations for your fabulous inaugural Global SPA summit!
I must commend you on all your staff and of course Sonya from the Event Management team, what a wonderful helpful person who appeared to come to my rescue today!
All the events and of course the contributions were great and the "Dine Around" fantastic, and we had the best fun at Daniel with Ken at the table and all the other guests.
How absolutely generous were the Cornelia people! What wonderful gift in our rooms and a superb cocktail party in a divine setting where again we met gorgeous friendly people surrounded by the New York skyline in lovely weather.
It was such a great opportunity to meet with like minds and my only regret was that I needed to leave before the Labour shortage talk got underway, although with Helene at the helm it would have been interesting!
I do hope the "high flyers" see the absolute necessity for this to be an ongoing opportunity for the Spa Industry and they take up the challenge.
You now need a well earned rest but knowing you that is unlikely to happen!
I am in the Admiral's lounge at JFK waiting to board for Zurich...flight delayed by four hours!!!! but that's the price one pays when we travel!

Take care and I hope we meet again soon and we keep in touch!
Warmest regards
Dianne (CIDESCO)

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Hi Juan

It was great to meet you at the GSS. Thanks for your impeccable and diligent support with our technology needs in the panels.

Greatly appreciated. Look forward to our next meeting.

Warm regards

MARK WUTTKE PRINCIPAL WUTTKE GROUP LLC

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My heartfelt congratulations. The sensibility, intelligence and effervescence will set the standards now and forever.
Love,
Muffin (Jurlique)

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I'm sure that you are exhausted - and hopefully relaxing tonight!
I want to congratulate you on a tremendously successful summit. You put so much into this event and it was truly a joy to see such fruits of your labor. Everyone was so impressed - with the caliber of attendees, of the substance of the program and of the genuine commitment of the two of you.
It sounds kind of corny, but I was so proud and pleased for you! I will share all of the comments, but I kept hearing that people were there because they saw that this was a unique and important gathering for the industry. You've done something special and you've brought the industry to the next plateau, together - a remarkable feat! I see great things to come!!
Thank you for generously including me in the summit; I loved learning, meeting and being immersed in this movement.
Big hugs,
Missy

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Thank you so much for including me in this momentous event.
Having been involved in initiating and then arranging the Leading Spas of Canada Annual Conference for many years, I have full appreciation for the amount of blood, sweat, tears and countless hours that must have gone into this global gathering – not to mention your personal financial support – you truly are industry leaders and visionaries! (I apologize for missing your closing remarks – plane to catch.) For me this was an event that I am very glad I attended. I had my “take aways” and hope that I also contributed with some “leave behinds” for those I had the opportunity to meet with personally – it should always be a two-way street.
In addition to meeting up with some great old friends & colleagues, I met some really interesting new people and made many new global resource contacts that I’m sure will be invaluable in the future.
Dulcy, you were a tremendous support & resource at the conference and it was truly a pleasure meeting you. I have a “Dulcy” (her name is Melanie) so I know how critical your efforts were in making this event so successful.
I look forward to the follow-up survey as I do have some constructive comments but please do not take these as any measure of dissatisfaction – I was totally delighted to be there!
Very best regards to all of you – thank you, thank you, thank you,
Jack

Jack Morrison, CMA
Managing Director, Elmcrest College

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A heartfelt thank you for putting together an awesome summit!
Warmest regards,
Cathy Feliciano-Chon

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Congratulations! You did it! The Summit was excellent. Thank you for making it happen. As everything you do, the Summit was 1st Class.
I'd be happy to be part of making it happen again.
Best regards,
Steve Kass
American Leisure


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Tom was very pleased with his experience at the Global Spa Summit this past weekend and wanted to get in contact with several people by email. He was hoping it would be possible to get email addresses for the following people from you.
Canopy Development

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I want to thank you for including us in this groundbreaking event. Your support and belief in our efforts has been the keystone in bringing us into the spa community. And, based on this event, we are both touched by what an incredible community it is - the willingness of everyone to share and support one another is refreshing and, as newcomers, it is also encouraging. The new contacts we made are invaluable, and the collective wisdom and learning opportunity afforded by this gathering is a particularly exciting outcome. I believe that we all walked away inspired, motivated, and re-energized to continue this growth process individually, with our own teams and together as colleagues.

All my best
Ellen

Ellen Sackoff Cornelia Fifth Avenue


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I have seen the agenda and it looks great. Congratulations on such a high quality group and a sell out for a "maiden voyage". Look forward to seeing you tomorrow!
John Vanderslice, Miraval

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Congratulations on staging what I thought was a very interesting and thought provoking conference. Having served as one of the original creators and continuing contributors to the annual Resort Management Conference, I fully appreciate the amount of work required to organize and host such an event…and you are to be commended for during such a splendid job!

Thanks also for the invitation to participate. I hope those in attendance found my remarks both interesting and informative.

Best wishes for continued success.

PCY

Peter C. Yesawich

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Thanks for all your efforts not only with the GGS but with everything you do for Spa. I was glad to be with you in New York and certainly appreciate the support you have shared with me. I'll look forward to connecting soon.
Jim (Root, Sea Island and Chairman of ISPA)

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Congratulations on the successful inauguration of the Global Spa Summit. A tremendous team effort has translated into an event with a remarkable participation in all of your sessions and activities. The delegates appeared inspired and eager to participate in the next Summit.

Please extend my congratulations and best wishes to your team for their good work.

We look forward to reviewing the event details with you in a post-conference meeting.

Sincerely,

The Global Executive Team

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I appreciate the opportunity and invitation to present at the first Global Spa Summit. It was a pleasure meeting the senior level executives of the industry, all under one roof. I am sure that you are glad that the conference is over, but from everyone I talked to it seems obvious that you have done your fellow spa lovers a great service.
It was great to be part of it all. Thanks again.
Jan (Freitag, Smith Travel Research)


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I would like to congratulate you both on the unbelievable success of this event. I've been to so many conferences that they become difficult to differentiate. That was not the case here - you put together a roster, schedule and experience that was truly unique and incredibly poignant and necessary. I can't thank you enough for allowing me to take part in the experience.

Congratulations!
Dan (Chandre)

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Hey Guys,

I am sure this is another email in the long list of “thank you” for the tremendous job not just you but all of Spa Finder did on this event in the big apple.

I think that when the dust settles and we see the actual information that will come out from this more and more folks will realize that we really started something special. I am just glad that I was a part of it and even though our individual contributions may not have been over the top our combined results were an absolute smash hit… You can count on Mandara’s support in the years ahead.

Again thank you for making me a part of the event.
Warm personnel regards
Jeff (Matthews, President, Mandara Spas)

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What a remarkable gathering of leadership. I can promise one thing – we will clear our calendars so that we do not miss any of it next year. Congratulations on leading the dialogue in such a dynamic and growing industry. We were honored to be included and are humbled by the opportunity to lend our voice in the years ahead.

We are looking forward to sharing with you our plans and vision for a spa lifestyle centered on well-being for the entire family that is changing lives right now.

Respectfully,

Scott
Scott Ziegler
Vice President of Marketing, The Cliffs Communities


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Many a " maiden voyage " unfortunately ends like the Titanic's. You not only sailed your new ship through perilous icebergs, but you brought it triumphantly and safely into port ! Congratulations !
Daniel
Daniel Aubry Studio & Gallery

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Missy said the Global Summit was an incredible success. What a great idea and I bet great execution.Your friend in awe (Beverly Chell)

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I feel I have had a rather whirlwind week. Mine must pale into insignificance compared to yours however! Please accept my congratulations on an excellent first Global Spa Summit. It was incredible to find so many of the top people of the industry under one roof and sharing their vision and challenges so freely. I thought the sessions were excellent and I learned something from each one I attended. I really hope you repeat the Summit and although it looks like it will be Europe next, when and if, it makes it to the Asian region I would very much like to assist you if I can. The summit created much food for thought and that is a very important step in bringing the industry together at this level.

Thanks for all your hard work and support and congratulations again on pulling the summit off with excellent results.

Warmest Regards

Joy

Joy Menzies
Managing Director
http://www.chivasom.com/

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I appreciate and thank you all for such a great and professional summit. I know how much hard work and hours you have put in to make it this fantastic.
I hope it turned out what you had wanted it to be. The presenters that I attended was good, especially good I thought Philip Wolf was, very informative to a person (me) who know nothing about IT. The SPA design session I enjoyed very much, very talented people poured out their heart for all of us to pick up. The retail session, it’s a difficult subject, Did not get what the return on the investment is. I think for next year the subject should be “How do you Benchmark retail” . Anni Hood’s talk about Middle Eastern was great.
Chaterine Feliciano-Chon Ga-Ga over China was terrific, could have listen to her for hours. Ann McCall and benchmarking the SPA’s was so informative and she really kept the pace and we got it before the end of the session. I liked the lunch and round table discussion. Over all I appreciated everything, especially you two for taking the imitative. I look forward to next year. I would be very happy to help nominating people who are very much decision makers in the industry. Let me know if I can help.
I’m enjoying my beautiful Notebook and the beautiful people in it.
THANK YOU FROM CHARLENE AND KERSTIN (Florian)

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Dulcy,

Thank you so much for taking such good care of everything during the Global Spa Summit. You made it easy and fun – thanks! I hope you take some much deserved time to relax and recharge. Take care and thanks again – you should be very proud!
Lynne
Lynne McNees
PresidentInternational SPA Association

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Just back in London and before I get caught up in catch up, I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for the most enjoyable and stimulating couple of days and indeed for inviting me to be a part of this special gathering. The organisation of the conference was impeccable and your generosity was well noted and I believe appreciated by all.

I met so many interesting and dynamic people, which does not totally surprise me as I have always found those associated with health and well being exceptional spirits, even in the commercial world.

Sallie, thank you for being a terrific moderator and making us all feel so comfortable on your panel.

Should the next conference come to Europe, it would be my pleasure to help you in any way I can with the organisation.

Once again, many thanks & warmest wishes,

Victoria
Victoria Fuller