Tag Archives: media

Joan Lunden’s Spa Camp is a Dream Come True for Her and for Us!

Joan Lunden 763794 Joan Lundens Spa Camp is a Dream Come True for Her and for Us!Joan Lunden’s Spa Camp is a Dream Come True for Her and for Us!
By Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider

A few months ago Joan Lunden, of Good Morning America fame, visited us here at our SpaFinder offices with some of her staff. We were to learn about her summer “spa camp” for women and she would be learning a bit more about SpaFinder. It turned out to be a great match with a lot of synergy. In particular I thought her yearly “spa camp,” that she herself holds for four days and three nights each August in Maine, was a great opportunity for the women of our large spa enthusiast audience.

While I thought most people know of Joan Lunden (she was on ABC TV hosting Good Morning America for 17 years), a friend of mine suggested that there is an entire generation who wouldn’t necessarily know her and that not everyone watched ABC in the mornings. So I decided that at the end of this blog post, I will include some of her bio information. It certainly is impressive.

But most importantly – I wanted to communicate a bit about her spa camp called “Camp Reveille” and let people know that it is actually still possible to make a reservation. Joan herself joins all the women campers for a variety of experiences, which all contribute to people going home looking and feeling fabulous! This is the third year she is running Camp Reveille.

It is very reasonably priced which makes me think it will probably be sold out pretty soon. The entire experience includes luxury camp style lodging (and it is luxury), all meals, and all activities you would like to participate in. You can join fitness classes, sporting events, hikes, craft sessions, or just choose to relax and read a book. And who could resist the Murad Facial treatments and scrumptious s’mores around the campfire? The whole experience is about $899 for all four days.

Joan is a real health advocate; she has written numerous books on healthy cooking and balanced living, has starred in her own workout video, and has raised seven kids. Yes, you did read that number correctly, she has seven (two sets of twins)! And as you can see from the photo above, she is still as attractive as ever – and she turns 60 next year!

This is what she says on the camp’s website, “take a break from your busy schedule and come away with us for a chance to be energized, be inspired, and enjoy some guilt-free “me time.”

It might be one of the best spa experiences out there because it was designed by someone who loves spas herself and who really understands a woman’s role – Joan Lunden.

Now, as promised….some Joan Lunden bio information:

  • Born September, 1950 and became an American television personality

  • Co-hosted ABC’s Good Morning America (1980 – 1997) with David Harman and then later with Charlie Gibson.

  • Named by Entertainment Weekly national viewer poll “television’s favorite morning anchor”

  • She reported from 26 countries, covered four presidents, five Olympic Games, and two royal weddings.

  • Hosted DirectTV’s series Hometown Heroes and the Emmy-winning special America’s Invisible Children.

  • She is the face of Murad’s skincare line, Resurgence.

  • Is on the board of PassportMD, an online personal health record system

  • Had three daughters with first husband, Michael A. Krauss

  • Had four children (2 sets of boy/girl twins) with second husband Jeff Konigsberg

  • Books she has written:

Wake-Up Calls: Making The Most Out Of Every Day (Regardless Of What Life Throws You)

Joan Lunden’s a Bend in the Road Is Not the End of the Road: 10 Positive Principles For Dealing With Change

Joan Lunden’s Healthy Cooking

Joan Lunden’s Healthy Living: A Practical, Inspirational Guide to Creating Balance in Your Life

Growing Up Healthy: A Complete Guide to Childhood Nutrition, Birth Through Adolescence

Good Morning/Joan
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Spa Services In the Headlines – But In An Unexpected Way

aig 739040 Spa Services In the Headlines But In An Unexpected Way
Spa Services in the Headlines – But in an Unexpected Way.
by Susie Ellis, SpaFinder, Insider

Washington Post, “AIG Spa Trip Fuels Fury on Hill”
MSNBC, “White House calls AIG Spa Trip “Despicable”

Normally I would be applauding anyone going to a spa. But in this case, I am as outraged as everyone else!

By now most people have probably heard that 70 corporate executives of AIG, American International Group, Inc. went on a retreat to the St. Regis Resort in Monarch Beach, California just a week after the $85 billion government (that would be us taxpayers) bailout. AIG spent $440,000 in total. $23,380 of that was for spa services.
spa gaucin 791806 Spa Services In the Headlines But In An Unexpected Way
I did a little research and a bit of math. It looks like each executive was responsible for spending about $6285 and $330 of that was for spa services. At Spa Gaucin, which is the name of the spa at Monarch Beach, you can get a 60 minute Therapeutic Massage for $185 or a 90 minute one for $275. You can get a Coastal Stone Massage for 60 minutes at $190 or for 90 minutes at $285. Manicures are anywhere between $35 – $70 and pedicures are from $60 – $90.

It appears then that each executive got a 60 minute massage and a manicure and pedicure or a 90 minute massage with a manicure or pedicure. If not all the executives went to the spa, a few executives might have gotten a couple of massages.

Now what can the spa industry learn from all of this? If I were to try and find anything positive to see in this, it would be that most executive retreats these days are including spa services. It appears as if group bookings are now incorporating the spa just as our industry trends have predicted these past years.

Less encouraging is the fact that people are still associating spa with pampering rather than wellness. In this AIG fiasco, the spa was seen as totally indulgent. We as an industry have more work to do for spa to be seen as a “need” rather than a “want.”

Here is a write up I would have rather seen reported in the newspapers:

“AIG executives have been humbled by the embarrassing need to be bailed out by the government. As a company they are embarking on a plan to repay every dollar as well as give the taxpayers a good return on their money. They will work extra hours to strengthen their company, they will forgo raises and bonuses, and make sure this never happens again. In order to be in good physical and mental shape to carry this out, the company has encouraged all executives to enroll in stress reduction classes and to take part regularly in massage therapy which has been proven to help reduce stress. Executives are paying for spa services out of their own pockets.”
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Guerlain Spa at the Waldorf=Astoria Finally Opens

Guerlain Spa at the Waldorf=Astoria Finally Opens

by Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider

At last. The much anticipated Guerlain Spa at the Waldorf=Astoria (yes, the Waldorf does use that = sign in their name) has finally opened! And while I had already toured the spa a few days ago, last night’s opening party gave me a chance to see it again with hubby Peter. Lucky for us, Mike Canizales, CEO of Spa Chakra, Inc., which is the company responsible for the Guerlain Spas in the Astoria collection, was there and offered to show us around. I love getting to hear some of the inside scoop regarding how a spa came together.

My overall impression? I was impressed. And not because the spa is splashy with over-the-top-never-to-be-forgotten design. (I saw that at the Dolder Grand in Zurich a few weeks ago…subject of a future blog.) The Guerlain Spa is impressive because of its tasteful simplicity and sophistication. It is a beautifully appointed spspa new bottle 794355 Guerlain Spa at the Waldorf=Astoria Finally Opensace with some stunning – yet understated features.

There are custom-made chandeliers throughout with the standout being the rectangular one in the foyer which hangs almost to the floor and looks like strings of cascading crystals. There are large crystal framed mirrors in the treatment suites (each unique) and a lovely display of those beautiful antique gold Guerlain perfume bottles which just exude “royalty.” (photo on the left)

But it is the nuances – a few thoughtful and subtle points of differentiation – which I feel will end up setting this spa apart. I questioned Mike about how he decided to make these minor shifts in the traditional spa experience to appeal to the New York crowd. His answer? Lots of listening. Apparently his company does a lot of research. In this case they wanted to find out how to take the luxury spa experience to the next level. Here are some things I noticed:

  • Spotlessly clean…in fact, gleaming, amidst white, crystal, white, silver, more crystal and more white
  • No locker room experience to dread… every guest is given their very own spa suite (with a safe) where they change, have their treatment and, in most cases, shower and steam
  • No shared saunas and Jacuzzis… privacy and sophistication is what this experience is about
  • Treatments are at least two hours… this is a place where you linger
  • Intake form information is gathered while you are receiving a relaxing foot massage in the dreamy relaxation room…but there is no extra charge for a “foot ritual” which I have begun to find annoying
  • Guerlain products are used exclusively which communicates the high standard…and fragrance is given importance and incorporated into each experience
  • The fitness program is unique…the Slow Burn method where just 20 minutes of exercise twice a week is recommended…and there is no sweating
  • Gratuities are included and they mean it… staff will not accept extra gratuities no matter how hard you try to get them to take it
  • No clutter… no spa products sitting out in the treatments rooms…nothing on the reception desk…everything serene…sleek

When you think about it from the Guerlain and Spa Chakra point of view, it is quite a challenge to create a spa in New York City in a landmark location where you know your brand’s entire reputation is on the line! You have to see what the other luxury spas are doing and then try to differentiate and trump them all (to some degree) without overdoing it. You want to be able to attract a complex clientele – sophisticated international visitors, heads of state, business titans, the occasional celebrity as well as the tourist who comes to the Waldorf for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And, for your bottom line, you will most likely want to have some loyal local clientele who will call this spa their home.

Time will tell how things work out. The real test is ahead of them. Will the quality of their spa services live up to expectations? Having gotten quite a bit right so far, my bet is that the answer will be yes.

P.S. Rereading this blog the day after I wrote it (I usually let my blogs sit a day and then check back for spelling errors, rewording, etc. before hitting the “publish post” button), I thought I should share a comment Peter made to me post-event. He mentioned that he thought the spa will appeal to women more than men. Fair enough. I see his point. Other than the gym, in which I am sure any man would feel comfortable, the decor might be slightly more appealing to women. However, given that their clientele will likely be mostly women, that may not be such a bad thing. And I got to thinking…if you try to appeal equally to men and women, you often don’t “wow” either. In this case, the women will be “wowed”. And that’s fine with me!

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Believable Tan from a Sunless Spray-Tan Salon or Spa?

Believable Tan from a Sunless Spray-Tan Salon or Spa?
by Susie Ellis

So we are heading into New Year’s again and hoping to eradicate memories of last year’s disastrous New Year’s Eve festivities. We went to a country club party here in Palm Desert after which Peter went into severe depression. He thought the whole event seemed like an old-folk’s-home gathering and coupled with the fact that we are both getting older well, he decided that he just isn’t ready for ringing in the New Year at that pace.

True, there are a lot of elderly folks in Palm Desert however there seems to be the “young elderly” and then the “old elderly”. The “old elderly” are the ones who shuffle along the dance floor and celebrate what is called “Chicago New Year’s” which is where you toast at 10:00 p.m. when Chicago celebrates New Year so you still get to bed early. Oh dear.
las vegas 791335 Believable Tan from a Sunless Spray Tan Salon or Spa?
So this year Peter decided to make other plans and in typical Peter-form swung to the other extreme. We are flying to Las Vegas with several young couples who just love to drink, dance, and party – having dinner, nightclubbing and then flying back in the wee hours of the morning. I hope I survive it.

So now the big question is what to wear. It was easier to find something for last year’s soiree but for Vegas…well, I had to dig into some of the clothes from my past life (as in younger body and no longer age appropriate to wear). I decided on a bright red top with a huge bow in the back and black pants with sequenced accents at the bottom. (It looks better than it sounds.) The only problem…bare shoulders, bare back, bare arms. And that means white shoulders, white back, white arms.

Even though I would like to say that I have completely gotten on board the new Melanoma Awareness initiative which says “Go With Your Own Glow”…I decided to tag along with one of the young sexy girls who is going with us to Las Vegas since she was planning a visit to the tanning salon for a sunless spray-tan this afternoon.

So off we go to SunSational Tanning Salon in LaQuinta where we spent all of SunlessTan 749989 Believable Tan from a Sunless Spray Tan Salon or Spa?15 minutes and $45 each in a room getting spray painted with something the attendant called “All Organic.” After the woman sprayed every part of my body she directed me to “dry” in front of this fan for about 5 minutes. While I was drying, and she was out of the room, I decided to look at the label on the back of the bottles of tanning liquid. Aloe Vera was the first ingredient but there were probably another 15 with all kinds of unfamiliar chemical sounding names. Hmmm.

It remains to be seen how all this will work out – the tan, the nightclubbing, the staying up past 11:00 p.m. (which is my very latest bedtime after getting on the healthy sleep bandwagon last year) for tomorrow evening’s adventure. But for now I have to admit that getting a very believable tan in 15 minutes for a special event is pretty cool. It sure beats all the time I spent during my youth in the backyard with baby oil and a reflector screen soaking up the rays.

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A Helpful Explanation of the 2007 ISPA Spa Industry Study in Regards to “Male Visits on Average” and the “Number of Men going to Spas”

A Helpful Explanation of the 2007 ISPA Spa Industry Study in Regards to “Male Visits on Average” and the “Number of Men going to Spas”
by Susie Ellis

Received this email from Debra Locker at ISPA today. She helped clarify the question I had in my recent blog about what “male visits on average” meant in the recently released ISPA study and how that compares to the percentage of men going to spas. She wrote such a good explanation – with a helpful example – that I thought it would be best for me to share her response with you rather than try and put it into my own words.

In my mind….the additional thing I have now learned from looking at these two different numbers is that men do not use a spa as often as women. (which intuitively makes sense) And there is probably some way to figure out what that ratio is…however I will leave that up to the researchers to figure out!

Thanks Debra.
Susie

Here is the communication:

Hello Susie – we hope you are enjoying a lovely holiday season!

Thanks for your comprehensive coverage of ISPA’s 2007 Spa Industry Study on your blog. We wanted to clarify one of the questions you raised from your posting on Nov. 23 regarding the number of male patrons and visits.

“Male visits on average” is not the same as the number of male spa-goers. ISPA measures both visits and number of male vs. female spa-goers as two different ways to look at genders and their behaviors.

-The ISPA 2007 Spa Industry Study asks industry professionals the percentage of visits received in their spa by male guests. The percentage of male visits reported in the ISPA 2007 Spa Industry Study do not equal people, though equals the number of visits male guests make to a spa.

-The ISPA 2006 Spa-goer Study, which is a survey of consumers, reported that 31% of U.S. spa-goers and 29% of Canadian spa-goers were male. These figures represent the actual number of people and not visits.

For a practical example, your husband Pete may visit a spa 10 times in a year and my husband Ron may visit twice. They’d have a combined 12 visits, but we would only count them as two males. Their combined visits (12) would be measured as a percentage in the ISPA 2007 Spa Industry Study and the actual number of men (2) would be counted in the ISPA 2006 Spa-goer Study.

I hope that helps clarify your question about the percentage of male spa-goers and their visits. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with additional questions.

Once again, thank you for your coverage of the 2007 Industry Study, as well as the recent ISPA Conference & Expo, on your blog. Best, Debra

Debra Locker Public Relations Director International SPA Association 2365 Harrodsburg Road, Suite A325 Lexington, KY 40504 P 1.859.226.4374 F 1.859.226.4445 debra.locker@ispastaff.com and http://www.experienceispa.com/
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if you wish to be put on a list that automatically sends my blog posts to your email, just let dulcy.gregory@spafinder.com know and she will add you to that list. Thanks so much!