Tag Archives: preventative medicine

Latest Spa News from Germany and Austria

Impressed with…Surprised by…Suggestions for…

I thought it might be fun to review my whirlwind trip to Austria & Germany in the next few blogs with the above headlines in mind. Here are the stops I made:

The famous Lanserhof Health and Medical Centre in Austria

The New Schloss Elmau Luxury Resort and Cultural Hideaway in the German Alps

Klafs in Austria, the proud manufacturer of sauna, wellness and spa products

Toskanaworld, Bad Orb in Germany, a new spa with warm thermal salt water

The AHGZ German Wellness Conference I attended and at which I spoke

First stop Lanserhof located in a little community called Lans near Innsbruck.

I WAS IMPRESSED WITH… the famous Lanserhof program and especially its founder and visionary, Andreas Wieser. This successful property (that I would label a destination spa with medical components) has been around for 27 years. They require a minimum two week stay, and have had an impressive occupancy rate of over 95% for decades. The food I experienced at lunch was magnificent – and their new cookbook, Energy Cuisine, just came out.

Their mantra is “medicine of the future” and they describe themselves as Europe’s leading health center for regeneration and preventative medicine. I noticed some predictable offerings such as detox, movement therapies, executive health, sleep medicine, aesthetics, nutrition and such and then some novel terms such as Body Memory, Burn Out Program, Vital Aging, and Alzheimer Prevention.

I was impressed with how much time Andreas spent with me as he had just returned from a three week vacation hiking through the Alps by himself. While I would have probably been a crazy person getting back into work mode, here was someone clearly in a state of mindfulness. Andreas had remarkable vision when he started the Lanserhof program almost three decades ago, but he seems to have maintained his ability to think ahead – maybe even way ahead. His discussions regarding Body Memory, Fluid Dancing and Energy in general reminded me that he may be one of the most important visionaries in our industry – yet he is “understated” in his approach and manner so it isn’t as obvious. It was very helpful for me to spend some time getting to know him on this visit and at the subsequent Wellness Conference we both attended the next day. It gave me a better sense of his pulse on the future.

I WAS SURPRISED BY… Lanserhof’s stunning setting with picture-postcard-views of the Alps from almost every room! Did I miss this when I went to their website? I don’t remember seeing this in any of their brochures – in fact checking their main brochure I realized that most of their photos were taken on a cloudy day. A pity.

There are some spas where I get a clear picture in my mind of their setting because they have successfully used one fantastic image (sometimes with what looks like a bit of “color enhancement”) over and over again – in some cases for decades! Examples include: Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa with that turquoise pool in front of some very red rock (we even used it for the cover of one of our SpaFinder Directories), Six Senses Soneva Gili with a waiter appearing to walk on water between a pool and the brilliant color of the ocean water in the Maldives, or the natural rock cave of Grotta Giusti in Italy.

I really had no idea what to expect at Lanserhof so when I found a drop dead gorgeous view of the Alps as a major centerpiece, it was definitely a surprise.

I was also surprised (and thrilled actually) to learn that Andreas is going to be opening two more Lanserhof properties with a similar program in the next couple of years – one near Tegelsee that will be another destination spa and another near Hamburg that will be their first day spa. Interesting that this brand extension comes now…after 27 years. It reminds me that our 2011 SpaFinder Spa Trend forecast that included “The Spa Brandwagon” was really right on.

I was also surprised at how similar much of their program seemed to be to the many destination spas I am familiar with in the U.S. And then came an even greater surprise (although it explained the former one) – before Andreas opened Lanserhof all those years ago, he visited North America and stayed at the Golden Door, Canyon Ranch, Rancho La Puerta, The Oaks, the Cooper Clinic and the Greenhouse! It was heartening to know that he speaks of this fondly and with great gratitude for the hospitality and openness shown him while he was doing his research.

I HAVE SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR… the future based on my experience seeing the lifecycle of destination spas in the U.S. I remember the years when the destination spas Andreas visited also had very high occupancy rates. At that time they did almost no advertising. They lived off of PR which was plentiful back then. However the landscape began to change in the 80’s and 90’s as competition heated up with many new spas coming to market and people’s busy schedules shortening the time they would spend away at a spa. As a result, all the destination properties that had such high occupancy rates in the early years began to invest in advertising. The Greenhouse in Dallas even had to close.

With two new Lanserhof spas on the drawing board, it is likely that there will be some cannibalism of current guests from the established location at the same time the competitive landscape could increase. It is also more challenging to run three operations than it is to run one – and the day spa is an animal of a different kind from the destination spa. Planning to invest in a strategy for marketing and advertising now might be a good idea for the long term.

Another suggestion I have is a result of a funny moment that happened during my visit. I was getting ready to present Andreas with the award I had brought along that announced Lanserhof as this year’s SpaFinder Readers’ Choice Award for Favorite Spa in Austria. I asked him where would be the most picturesque spot for our photograph of me handing him the award’s plague. To my surprise, he didn’t know! It dawned on me that when you don’t do a lot of promotion or advertising, and have lived in these surroundings for so long, perhaps you aren’t even aware of the best photo opportunities at your property. So I looked out at the magnificent view and suggested, well how about we do a photo with the Alps in the background. Duh!

SpaTrends 2011 – “Aging…Raging” (Think pain relief massage.)

Whatever terms you use, “aging baby boomers,” “silver spa-ers” or “active retirees,” the fact is that the 65-plus spa-going demographic will have a massive impact on the industry for years to come. The data on the “graying” of the North American, European and Japanese populations could fill a library, with these regions’ populations aging at a rate unprecedented in human history. Millions of baby boomers (the generation that galvanized the spa/wellness revolution) are now turning 65 with 2011 as the year the oldest baby boomers first cross this threshold.

This demographic viciously rejects labels, and the days of “over-65” as a catchall “old-person” category will soon become ancient history. (After all, there’s a huge difference between a 70-year-old who plays tennis three times a week and an 85-year-old seeking pain relief.) Savvy spas will now be rethinking everything to address these all-too-often-ignored niches’ specific needs: from facilities, to equipment, to programming, to marketing and staffing. Physical therapy, rehabilitation, recuperation and just plain old pain relief will increase on spas’ menus, to meet the needs of clientele with back, neck, knee and mobility issues.

We are likely to see a renaissance in the hydrotherapy arena that was considered a relaxing past time for grandparents – especially in Europe. As the baby boomers discover the therapeutic benefits of exercising in water and the pain-relief benefits of soaking in thermal water, they will no doubt put their own spin on this activity making it chic and hip. SpaFinder forecasts a renewed respect for the benefits of sanitas per aqua that has recently taken a backseat to weight loss, beauty and fitness.

A few forward-thinking examples:

Fairmont’s Willow Stream Spas are launching an extensive program promising ache and pain relief called “Stay Active Rx” with new products, services, and experiences being rolled out through all of 2011.
More spas (modeling after a Canyon Ranch) are featuring exercise physiologists, sports medicine professionals, chiropractors, orthopedics, naturopaths and physical therapists on staff (or on call).
Look for a rise in usage of the term “corrective” — “corrective” massage, “corrective” facials, etc., and for the already used-to-death term “anti-aging” to get a further workout.
We’ll see a rise in offerings like Biofreeze Pain Management massages.
Infrared saunas, which function at far-less searing heat (but penetrate heat further into the body than a traditional sauna) will become more popular.
Issues such as massage to ease constipation will surface.
Active release massage will become more familiar as it deals with specific trouble areas.
Look for new chilled loungers that accomplish what cold plunge pools do, but are more comfortable and safer for older guests.
Discover new expressions of places to ‘take the waters’ such as the Scandinave and Le Nordic models in Canada, the Hakone Kowakien Yunessun in Japan, and the glammed up Glen Ivy Hot Springs in Southern California.
Many spas are even using larger print for their spa menus!

Prior research has concurred that the number-one reason people go to spas is to “relax and de-stress,” but in some regions of the world that may soon be replaced by to “relieve aches and pains.”

My twitter address: @susieellis

1) SpaFinder Spa Trend 2010: – Prevention – Revisited

I am busy doing research for our annual SpaFinder Top 10 Spa Trends for 2011 that I will announce this year in November. As always, I get very excited about what is on the horizon and I think you will agree that there are some interesting developments!

However, before we turn to 2011, I thought it might be fun to review each 2010 spa trend we predicted and see how we did. Did the trend become a reality? Did we miss anything important? Were we dead wrong on some? For the next 10 days, I’ll feature one spa trend, share my thoughts, and even assign myself a grade (hint, hint… I won’t get all A’s.) And please feel free to weigh in and give your grades as well!

Top 10 Spa Trends for 2010

#1: The New “P” Word

Goodbye, pampering. Hello, prevention. Well, not so fast. It’s more like, move over, pampering; hello, prevention. Against the backdrop of a global healthcare crisis, prevention is poised to be the new “it” word of the spa industry in 2010 and beyond. But rather than replacing established industry concepts like pampering and wellness, it’s a sharp (and smart) refocusing of the conversation. Pampering, after all, speaks to the goal of most spa-goers of stress reduction and relaxation, and that in itself is preventive.

Prevention has moved front and center on the world health stage, and the spa industry’s role in prevention-focused health regimes will be greatly emphasized and more forcefully promoted in 2010. For years, of course, spas have been “doing” prevention; i.e., focusing on exercise, nutrition, stress reduction and Eastern stay-well medical paradigms like Traditional Chinese Medicine or Ayurveda, years before new, cutting-edge hospitals unleashed “integrative health centers,” interweaving traditional medicine with many of these established spa approaches.

A global spotlight exposing how expensive, inefficient, and unsustainable the “wait-to-get-sick” healthcare model really is—new evidence that stress contributes directly to 80 percent of all disease—along with mounting evidence that the cornerstones of the modern spa industry are medically proven to forestall illness and promote longevity, are driving this trend. (And within the spa industry, the old, oft-maligned “P” word, pampering, will actually play a key role in the prevention focus, as basic relaxation and de-stressing are now known to have such a powerful impact on people’s health.)

Watch for the words prevent and prevention to be used more frequently. Examples already include Germany’s Brenner’s Park-Hotel Medical Spa’s PREVENT program, combining comprehensive examinations with personalized therapies, nutrition, and fitness, and the Pritikin Longevity Center and Spa (recently relocated to Miami, Florida), which for the first time will be covered by Medicare in 2010.

The analogous trend on the beauty front is the ever more intense focus on anti-aging: a continued explosion of treatments, diets, and products (of course, sunscreen) that get aggressive early to prevent problems and avoid costly, invasive actions after the fact.

Here we are a year later and I have to say that I think this one was a bull’s-eye! Prevention is definitely becoming more of a focus, not only in the spa arena but within corporations, insurance companies, governments, in medical circles, and where it counts the most… in peoples’ homes. Clearly the dollars and cents are fueling much of this; health care is so expensive that preventing illness is the most prudent course. While there is still a long way to go, I do feel that the heartbeat for prevention has begun. If I had any doubt at all whether this was a U.S. trend or a global trend… I need only look at the beautiful new AsiaSpa magazine that arrived on my desk today. Headline? The Preventative Health Issue! I am going to give myself an A on this one.

My twitter address: @susieellis

A Hotel General Manager who Understands Spa

A Hotel General Manager who Understands Spa
by Susie Ellis
SpaFinder, Insider

Had a lovely lunch with Rudy Tauscher, GM of the Mandarin Oriental, NY and Denise Vitiello who is their spa director extraordinaire. What a privilege to sit at one of the best tables in all of New York City overlooking Central Park on a beautiful fall day talking about my favorite topic – what else? The spa industry.

tauscher 761592 A Hotel General Manager who Understands Spa

Rudy is an unusual GM in that he really “gets” spa, and sees it as not only an integral part of the Mandarin Oriental brand but as an important part of the guest experience, thus giving it great visibility and priority. Denise is a very lucky spa director to have a GM with that much passion and understanding about spas. And I think Mandarin Oriental New York is lucky to have Denise as their spa director. She is genuinely passionate, smart, and extremely dedicated. How she does such a great job while juggling a very full life with a husband, two small babies at home, and a 2-hour commute to work each way is simply beyond my comprehension.

I asked Rudy, as I ask many GMs, when the last time was he enjoyed a spa treatment in the spa of his hotel? Many GM’s either can’t remember or have to admit that they’ve never experienced a spa treatment in their spa. (I always think that’s a bit like never having a meal in the restaurant of your hotel, which seems kind of crazy.) But I was thrilled to hear that Rudy has regular spa treatments and even had one booked for later in the week! Last week he was at the Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong and had a spa treatment there. He said, and this was the voice of experience, not promotion, that it really makes a difference for him when he travels in terms of getting over jet lag.

But there was another part of our conversation that will linger in my memory (oh, maybe in addition to the amount of security officers swarming around the MO and the fact that Rudy’s meeting shortly after ours was with President Obama, who just happened to be arriving for a fundraiser at the hotel). What really made an impression on me was Rudy’s expressed concern for the emotional well-being of spa therapists in general.

Rudy is very aware that people go into a spa treatment carrying a lot of stress and negative energy with them. A good therapist works very hard to release that negative energy for the client, which is why most of the time a guest will walk out of a spa treatment lighter, happier, relaxed, and totally de-stressed. What has to be managed, however, is where all of the stress and negativity goes to make sure it is not transferred to the therapist. Easier said than done. In particular, here in New York, where the high pace and high-pressure way of life is par for the course, therapists truly have a challenge.

It really is an important issue for our entire industry. Our therapists are in many ways caregivers; they give a lot of themselves. They are somewhat like nurses or family members who take care of elderly loved ones. Serious thought needs to be given to taking care of the caregivers and to helping caregivers take care of themselves.

I hear this concern from therapists, aestheticians, and spa directors quite often. How refreshing to hear it initiated from one of the top GMs in the world.
**
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/susieellis
**
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!

How Resilient is the Spa Industry?

How Resilient is the Spa Industry?
Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider

It’s been a few weeks since I attended the ISPA (International Spa Association) conference in Las Vegas. I have had some time to reflect on the days I spent there, visiting the expo exhibits, attending sessions, and catching up with many industry colleagues (which is the best part). I always learn things at ISPA and this year was no exception. But as I reflect on the various insights garnered, the most important conclusion is that our industry is really quite resilient.

There is no doubt that economic turbulence was on everyone’s mind. ISPA did a good job in trying to address some of these concerns through their keynote speakers and general sessions. What impressed me the most, however, was how robust the conference was in terms of the number of exhibitors and attendees. It is true that they didn’t report any all-time records, however, they got pretty darn close – and that to me is the real story.

When so many other industries are declining by 20 percent, 30 percent, and even 40 percent, workers are being laid off around the country, and we hear of large businesses shutting down altogether, it is pretty encouraging to see how buoyant the spa industry has been. The recent surveys that we have done at SpaFinder support the same conclusion – there have been shifts, however many spas are still doing good business.

I remember back to 9/11 when the country was “stunned” and travel and spa-ing were affected along with everything else. A few months later we published an issue of Luxury SpaFinder magazine with the cover line, “Spas for Challenging Times.” It was one of our best selling issues ever! Although 9/11 did affect revenues for many businesses, looking back, spas recovered quite quickly.

As I reflect on why our industry has such resiliency, I can’t help but think about one fundamental change that has taken place. Spas have as much to do with “wellness” as they do with “pampering.” Since we know that the number one reason people go to spas is “to relax and de-stress” (stress is at the root of almost 70 percent of doctor visits), it should come as no surprise that in these stressful times we are truly the very thing people need – and seek.

**
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!

Susie's Spa Blog

Susie's Spa Industry Blog