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2) SpaFinder Spa Trend 2010: Year of the Hammam – Revisited

trump hammamimage003 300x274 2) SpaFinder Spa Trend 2010: Year of the Hammam RevisitedContinuing on with my review of SpaFinder’s 2010 Top 10 Spa Trends (and then evaluating how the trend actually developed), we predicted an increasing popularity of hammams.

Admittedly this trend took many people by surprise, in fact, I don’t think anyone really saw this one coming!  (I love it when that happens!)  Our research, however, put this one on our radar.  Having the chance to speak with many companies who create hydro and thermal experiences for spas, I knew that there were more hammams on the drawing board than in years past.  The spas at the Mandarin Oriental in Las Vegas and Trump Soho in New York were under construction and both would have hammams.  I knew that would be big news.  What I didn’t know was whether or not these spas would host authentic hammams, or if they would simply put the name hammam on a steam room (which is one of my pet peeves).  I was happy to learn that both committed to the traditional experience, even using authentic terms such as kese, pestemal, and belly stone for example.  The New York Times even made it a point to compliment the effort toward authenticity.

Here is what we wrote about the trend a year ago:

Spa Trend #2:  The Year of the Hammam

With spa-goers increasingly seeking authenticity, tradition, and that magical spa experience that also offers true results, the Eastern European/Middle Eastern/North African hammam (hamam in Turkey) represents one of the hottest trends for 2010, albeit with a distinctly modern expression. This is the year in which people who’ve never heard the term hammam will learn its meaning, and those already familiar with it will discover new places to experience it.

Anyone who has sampled this age-old ritual of cleansing and purification will not be surprised by its rising popularity. The combination of a vigorous full-body scrub and bubbly soaping, now often capped by a full-body massage, makes for an extraordinary experience, with results that last weeks. A traditional hammam, from an Arabic word meaning “heat,” consists of a hot room (the sıcaklık, or hararet), a warm, intermediate room, and the cool room (or soğukluk). And these are not ordinary rooms but typically architectural marvels.

Spa-goers love hammams because one can extend this Eastern European/Middle Eastern/North African multicircuit bathing experience for hours. Spa owners love them because of their photogenic “wow” design and the opportunity to make money, since the treatment requires a therapist and allows for top dollar/Euro pricing. And although traditionally they’ve been a same-sex experience, new modern twists have broadened the experience to couples.

Travel to venerable hammams like the 16th-century Çemberlita in Istanbul will increase, while brand-new spas will unveil distinctly modern incarnations. Introduced to the modern spa scene by lavish Middle Eastern resort spas (such as Dubai’s One and Only Royal Mirage or Morocco’s La Mamounia), next-generation versions are already gaining popularity in Europe, where top spa builders and product manufacturers report a serious increase in requests for a hammam component in new spa design. The trend is hitting North America: Ten Spa in Winnipeg, Canada opened a few years ago with a hamam and offers a variety of experiences including their “Hamam Fully Loaded” treatment. This year both the Drift Spa at Palms Place and Mandarin Oriental in Las Vegas recently rolled out hammams, as did the new InterContinental Montelucia in Arizona. Trump Soho in Manhattan (slated for early 2010) will boast separate luxury hammams for men and women. And expect Turkish hammams in both the Traymore and Epic Hotels in Miami. You can also expect more floating versions on cruise ships soon.

And delegates attending the 2010 Global Spa Summit (fittingly taking place in Istanbul next May) will sample both ancient and modern local interpretations. In the future, look for sauna or steam rooms around the world inappropriately labeled “hammams” to be taken to task as the industry commits to higher standards of authenticity.

So how did we do?  I think this one was a mixed bag; clearly there was buzz about hammams as expected, however, there were several on the drawing board that were nixed due to the recession.  I was somewhat disappointed to find out that some hammams in the U.S. (Drift Spa, Traymore and Epic) are still used as steam rooms without the great scrubbing, soaping, and detoxing ritual that makes it such a great treatment.

On the other hand, I was really impressed with some of the exciting new products that gave nods to the hammam including:  The Red Flower Hammam Range, Davines Hammam Soap Ritual,  and the wonderfully fragrant line of hammam blend oils from [comfort zone].

Finally, I am proud of the fact that our alliance with NewBeauty Magazine, which now includes a SpaFinder supplement with each issue, showcased hammams in their inaugural issue!  Furthermore, because the Global Spa Summit was held in Istanbul, and most of the 250 delegates experienced a traditional hammam ritual, I am very optomistic that we will continue to see more true hammams develop around the world.

So, my grade for this trend would be an A -.  I am giving myself some extra credit for having taken the risk to predict something totally out of the blue!

More information on Hammam.

My twitter address: @susieellis

Spa Article in WSJ on Hammams

les.ottomans.hammam 300x138 Spa Article in WSJ on Hammams
By Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider

Thought you might enjoy this article, “Istanbul’s Booming Spa Culture Is Revisiting Old Turkish Bathhouse Rituals” for your weekend reading!

Jayda Uras who is quoted in this Wall Street Journal article just sent me the link and I am delighted to share it with you right away so you will be among the first to know about something that is “sizzling” here in the U.S. (I am a NY Times reader and might not have come across this until later… so thank you to my network for helping keep all of us informed!)

This article titled “Hammam Rejuvenation” will be of particular interest to those who will be attending the Global Spa Summit in Istanbul in May. Many of the hammams mentioned are on the Summit itinerary.  However it should also be of interest to others who are connected with the spa and wellness industry.

The market seems to be embracing more of these kinds of fantastic authentic European/swissotel.hamam 300x200 Spa Article in WSJ on HammamsEastern European spa traditions, helping educate consumers and of particular importance stressing the therapeutic value of these experiences. Not only is this great news for the architects and manufacturers of hydro/thermal experiences (note the additional article about the sauna underneath the hammam article) but it also reinforces our industry’s commitment to authenticity.

Oh… and did I mention that one of SpaFinder’s Top 10 Spa Trends for 2010 was “Year of the Hammam?”

I just love it when this happens…

My twitter address: @susieellis

Aesthetic Medical Predictions for 2010

facelift 751523 Aesthetic Medical Predictions for 2010
By Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider
Francis X. Acunzo from Acara offered up his aesthetic medical predictions for 2010 . I think they are interesting – especially for aesthetic medical spas or medi spas. Here are the predictions in black – my comments in red.
 
1. Dysport will become a strong competitor to Botox.
In time it might, however doctors doing aesthetics who are currently using Botox (that would be all of them) are not all that excited about changing to a new product. I think we need to see a more significant difference in price between Dysport and Botox before it becomes a strong competitor. 2. Non-invasive body contouring will continue to grow in popularity lead by Erchonia's Zerona.
Erchonia's Zerona is new to me – interesting demo on Rachael Ray. 3. Face lifts will continue to drop in demand while liquid face-lifts grow in popularity, especially with the younger market (40 -54 year olds)
I like the term "liquid face-lift." 4. Fat transfer, specifically for natural breast enhancement, will become sought after by women who were previously uncomfortable with implants.
I was surprised to learn that fat transfer or fat grafting can be done in-office under local anesthesia.
5. Laser Lipolysis will continue to be one of the most in-demand medical aesthetic procedures due to its minimal downtime and great results.
This seems to be what others call Smart Lipo. It's less invasive than traditional liposuction, however it is still surgery.
6. The younger audience (24 – 40 year olds) will continue to discover aesthetic medical services for preventive aging. Unfortunately this seems to be true. I have family members and friends in that age group and while a few seem to be thinking prevention, most seem to be using aesthetic medical services to improve what they think needs improving. 7. There will be an increase in the number of men having aesthetic medical procedures starting with facial fillers and injectibles (i.e. Botox, Restylane, Radiesse, etc.)
I definitely agree and it isn't just vanity…they want to stay competitive in the marketplace. 8. The tipping point of when men and women want to have their tattoos removed will arrive and the demand will grow exponentially.
Interesting….I do think a tipping point is coming. Not sure why it would happen in 2010 (especially when money is tight) however it makes sense that tattoo removal will become more and more popular. 9. Facial Rejuvenation will come of age as medical practitioners perfect their skill combining aesthetic medical facial procedures.
The key here is "perfect their skill" as people begin realizing that this isn't just about skill – it is about art. 10. What was an Extreme Makeover in 2003 when the then popular TV show hit the airwaves will now become the Everyday Makeover.
Well…that might be a bit of an exaggeration since most on that show went through major plastic surgery – not just the medical aesthetics listed above. However, I do agree that makeovers are very "in."
 
 
Thanks Francis for keeping us on the cutting edge. (oops, sorry about that pun!)
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Calling All Spas to a Higher Level of Professionalism

Calling All Spas to a Higher Level of Professionalism

By Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider

Houston, we have a problem. Within the past two weeks we have had these headlines:

abcnews generic 731096 Calling All Spas to a Higher Level of Professionalism
“What Happened at the Weston MedSpa that Left Rohie Kah Brain Dead?” (Sept. 30)
(A woman in Florida went in for Carboxytherapy, a “medical service” that injects carbon dioxide into a patient to improve the appearance of cellulite or stretch marks.)

nytlogo379x64 761728 Calling All Spas to a Higher Level of Professionalism“2 die and 16 Are Sickened at Spa in Arizona” (Oct. 10)
(They were part of a group of about 48 people taking part in a sweat lodge ceremony at Angel Valley Retreat Center in Sedona.)

nyp logo 360x50 728561 Calling All Spas to a Higher Level of Professionalism“Astoria Spa under fire over ‘fish pedicures” (Oct. 12)
(Astoria’s Ritz Nail and Spa in Astoria, Queens New York practiced a “fish pedicure,” where part of the exfoliation process involves fish nibbling on client’s toes, which is considered by many to be unsanitary.)

Sadly the term “spa” is in each of these headlines. We can no longer argue the case that these facilities were mis-labeled. The term spa has become an umbrella term under which many businesses operate. Categories include: resorts and hotels with spas, new age retreats, med spas, mineral springs spas, beauty clinics, integrative wellness centers and others. The generally accepted definition of spa, as defined by the Global Spa Economy Report (now in wide release and available on the website), states that “spas are establishments that promote wellness through the provision of therapeutic and other professional services aimed at renewing the body, mind, and spirit.” This means that the three places mentioned above would likely consider themselves a spa. In the first case, a health retreat, in the second a med spa, and in the third a day spa.

Even those who have, for years, argued that a spa must have water therapies would not be able to distance themselves totally from the fish pedicure, which originated in a hot spring near Kangal, Turkey. The Garra Rufa fish were well-known there for their benefit in battling skin diseases.

Arguing about labels is not going to be fruitful. We must do much more.

While I have written about this in the past, I would like to emphasize it again: the spa industry must take itself more seriously. Not only should we consider what we do important in terms of contributing to people’s health, transformation, and the prevention of illness in general, but we must also require a higher standard of ourselves, our employees, and all places of business which use the spa label.

Our industry is making a great deal of headway in terms of prevention and providing valuable solutions to lifestyle issues through our emphasis on exercise, healthy nutrition, stress reduction, and education. Just this past month I attended Dr. Brent Bauer’s (Mayo Clinic) presentation at the ISPA conference on prevention, health and spas; presented Dr. Andrew Weil the 2010 SpaFinder Visionary Award here in NYC for his role in embracing the value of spas for health and well-being; and secured Dr. Ken Pelletier, author of dozens of books including New Medicine as a participant and speaker for the upcoming 2010 Global Spa Summit in May.

No doubt negative headlines sadden us all. And just like hospitals, corporations, government agencies, and the like, which occasionally get bad publicity because of mistakes, poor judgment or worse, we must do everything we can to minimize and ideally eliminate negatives associated with spas. Here are a few things I think we could do in response:

1. Headline science and not sensationalism. We should quit feeding the media stories like massages with snakes, pedicures with fish, or massage oils with diamonds (which even I have written about). Drop the tarot cards and astrology readings. Embrace the many evidenced based modalities that have been shown to produce real benefit (massage, exercise, good nutrition, breath work, meditation, body scrubs, etc).

We should produce a work titled something like, “Spa Treatments: The Science” and give it to every spa professional around the world and make it available to the media and consumers. It should catalog scientific studies which support the spa treatments we advocate in our spas.

2. Insist on transparency. We should encourage consumer input, industry feedback and make good use of shopping services – or establish our own. We must be transparent in our dealings and communications and insist on transparency from others.

3. Adhere strictly to regulations. We should confront and report those who are attempting shortcuts. We need to make certain that we are fully licensed in every aspect and even go beyond the minimums in many cases. That includes licensing for medical spas, licensing for massage therapists and aestheticians, enforcing rules on sanitation, how long you sterilize manicure tools, etc. We must commit to adhering to regulations in full and not be afraid if additional requirements are added.

Finally, I think it is important that every spa and every company in our industry does its part. Some initiatives that are helpful include ISPA’s code of conduct to which spas voluntarily submit, SpaQuality and other organizations who check standards, provide education, assessment, and certification programs, articles in industry spa magazines which showcase best practices, the Green Spa Network’s effort to promote sustainability, and many more.

A few examples from SpaFinder:
a) We added and encourage consumer spa reviews to give the consumer a voice in identifying issues that need to be addressed (and we allow the spa manager to respon.d)
b) We do not allow tanning beds to be marketed on Spafinder.com
c) We take spas off of our site when we see a pattern of complaints
d) We try to educate the industry on such things as the impropriety of writing fake reviews
e) We are currently taking
extra steps to check out the medical spas listed on our site to make sure they are licensed and give more information about the doctor’s licensing to the consumer

There are more initiatives in the works however after the recent flurry of unfortunate headlines, I think it would be great if we all step-it-up-a-notch. I hope many will join us.

Please do share your thoughts.
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