Tag Archives: New York

LA Spa Conference: A Medical Spa Insight, Touching Remarks from “the Godmother of the Spa Industry” and Excitement about Spa Booker

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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Macho Macho Spa: Why the Spa Industry is Partially at Fault for Fewer Men Enjoying Massages, Facials and other Spa Treatments

Macho Macho Spa
Why the Spa Industry is Partially at Fault for Fewer Men Enjoying Massages, Facials and Other Spa Treatments
by Susie Ellis

The spa industry has attracted more women than men here in the U.S. ever since I can remember. When I started in the industry in 1975, although there weren’t statistics, my guess is that the ratio of women to men was likely 95% to 5%. The industry figure is currently 70% to 30% although if broken down by resort/hotel versus day spas, there are more men at resorts/hotels (approximately 60% to 40%) than at day spas (approximately 80% to 20%).

In my opinion, part of the reason we haven’t reached 50%/50% yet is our own fault.

Here is why – illustrated by some recent spa visits.

Peter and I visited the beautiful new spa in Bedford Springs, PA. As we were driving home, we compared notes. I loved the spacious locker room and beautifully tiled wet area…the experience showers, the steam room, soaking pool, cool plunge mineral pool, etc. Peter said “What do you mean spacious?” The men’s room was so crowded I couldn’t undress without knocking into someone and I didn’t even bother getting into the Jacuzzi.” We discovered that the men’s area was much, much smaller than the women’s. And this is a brand new spa!

Also on our way home, we stopped to see the Hershey Spa, also in PA. During our tour we were told that because they have a great deal of female business, they had just turned their men’s locker room (which was smaller to begin with) into a second women’s locker room and relocated the men into an even smaller facility down the hall. Peter was so disappointed – on top of the “downgrade,” the men’s steam room was out of order too.

Rancho La Puerta in Mexico is another example. Amazing facilities for women….and a very small and much older facility for men. Even though Rancho La Puerta is a fabulous place for men (my husband loves it), I am sure men are continually reminded that the welcome mat seems favor the women.

Fortunately, there are examples of spas which have given men and women equal facilities. One is the new Lodge at Woodloch in Hawley, PA. If this were standard for the future, my prediction is that we would get to a 50/50 ratio of men to women spa-goers much sooner.

New Six Senses Spa at Punta Cana and Tortuga Bay

The Dominican Republic is probably known more for its all-inclusive affordable vacation packages than for its luxury resorts. Based on my recent visit, I’d say that is about to change.
01 777231 New Six Senses Spa at Punta Cana and Tortuga Bay
One of the properties leading the change is the repositioned PUNTACANA Resort & Club, no longer an all-inclusive but a more traditional resort offering – and yet it has remained very affordable. A luxury addition called Tortuga Bay with a few beachfront estate villas was added to the property. I was told that Oscar de la Renta designed the interiors of these villas (pictured at right), and they are exquisite! Both give you access to the newly opened Six Senses Spa.

The rooms at Tortuga Bay cost more than $600 per night and, at PUNTACANA, less than $200 per night. I was lucky enough to have the Tortuga Bay experience as well as a taste of the resort’s two gourmet res paa 706125 New Six Senses Spa at Punta Cana and Tortuga Bay taurants. But as usual, the Six Senses Spa was the highlight. My four-handed 90-minute massage was one of the best I have ever had. There is nothing like having someone massage a fragrant Sodashi product on your face while another therapist is giving you a foot massage. And of particular interest to me was their use of very warm towels as they alternated between compression and massage.

In all honesty, it is one of the first times I have thought that it truly is possible to have a signature spa treatment that is so unusual in its choreography (and its execution) that you can actually say “That’s a Six Senses Spa Treatment.”

Mystery of the “Treatment Cabins” Solved

suclrsparoom 773919 Mystery of the Treatment Cabins Solved Just received an email from Lee Ann Correa who is the Executive Spa Director of the chain of 19 Metamorphosis Spas in the Dominican Republic (pictured at right: the Metamorphosis Spa at the Sunscape Casa del Mar resort) . On the last day of my visit, she very graciously gave me a tour of one of her absolutely charming spa properties. Here is what she had to say about my question regarding the term spa “cabins”:

“Susie, I am one of those who couldn’t answer your question about spa cabins while you were in the Dominican Republic. I have investigated and the best that I can come up with is the translation of treatment rooms in Spanish is “Cabina” so I am assuming that a literal translation from Spanish to English was used. Perhaps due to lack of Spa culture many years ago a literal translation was used and never corrected since it is in common usage on the Island and we have just kept it since then. Speaking to Luisa Negret of Babor Cosmetics she also informed me that “cabine” is used in the French Spa culture.
Do you suggest we change it? Or shall we remain unique through whatever manner we arrived there?”

Thanks so much, Lee Ann. Your explanation sounds very plausible. I would keep the term “cabin” rather than changing over to “treatment room.” The unusual term conveys a distinct sense of place by acknowledging the French and Spanish roots that inform much of Caribbean culture. As they do with “kur” in Germany or “onsen” in Japan, spa enthusiasts love to learn and use local lingo.

Fall Colors at the Mayflower Inn and Spa

Sister time with my twin, Katrine, on a walk during our stay at the Mayflower Inn and Spa in Washington, CT. Things don’t get much better than this. Fall Colors at the Mayflower Inn and Spa

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