Tag Archives: training programs

NYSPA Panel Discussions – Revolving Around the Theme of Entrepreneurship.

When Mary Tabacchi asked me to join the panel of “Successful Entrepreneurs,” I knew immediately that I would not be talking about myself as an entrepreneur, but rather my husband, Peter. Although I may have some entrepreneurial traits which surface now and then with various projects (like the Global Spa Summit which has required some entrepreneurial talent) the true entrepreneurs who I have known and worked for are people like Deborah Szekely, Donald Trump, and Peter.

My personal definition of an entrepreneur is someone who sees things way ahead of the pack, rolls the dice, and can’t work for anyone else.

But I thought I better check for a more formal definition. Here is what the dictionary says, “a person who organizes and manages a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk.” Okay, I can go with that.

Peter has been my entrepreneur role model. In fact, some people have called him a “serial entrepreneur.” And two of the key things I have learned are 1) Get out of the way and let them dream, create, move…and 2) Don’t get too far out of the way because they need to have people around them who are honest, tell them the truth (not just what they want to hear) and fight as hard for reality as they do for their dream.

Hook your wagon to theirs but don’t just be a passenger. They need good people around them to get to where they are going.

It can be a fun ride.

The Art of Med Spa Treatments

I’m learning something interesting from my own experience of “freshening up” and experimenting, through Botox® and fillers, at cosmetic med spas over the past few years: Not only is it science, but a lot of it is art.

Traditionally I think we are brought up with the idea that you have “your” doctor for various needs. Hopping around from one doctor to the next isn’t exactly the norm, but this may not be the case when it comes to cosmetic/medical spa treatments. I travel quite often, which prevents me from being able to see the same medical doctor (plus for work purposes I see many different medical spas), so a while ago I took a leap of faith and decided that I should experiment with different doctors for cosmetic med spa treatments (the results of the procedures I have had are not permanent anyway, so it was a bit easier to rationalize that this was a good idea.) Well, indeed it has been. Not only because I learn something new from each doctor, but also because I notice that each doctor’s technique is really quite different in terms of what they use, how they use it, and the result you get. I now recognize them as artists in addition to being technicians, learning that everyone truly paints a picture differently. This I find to be rather liberating actually, because it means that I too can contribute to the artwork.

Champneys Spas…have Become a Formidable Spa Brand

spa 723398 Champneys Spas...have Become a Formidable Spa Brand Visited Champneys Henlow Grange and the Spa Finder Europe office today. They are within about 15 minutes of one another. It was great to meet Sasha, Tina, Monica, and Jessica from the Spa Finder UK office, which opened last June. I finally got a chance to add faces to their names. Bright and energetic, they are the nucleus of the new Spa Finder Europe team along with Cassandra and Kevin, who head up the operation.

At Champneys Henlow Grange, we had lunch, experienced a moisturizing float spa treatm image 718108 Champneys Spas...have Become a Formidable Spa Brand ent, and afterward had the good fortune to spend a bit of time with Stephen Purdew – who, along with his mother Dorothy, is the owner of the Champneys empire. They are developing it brilliantly….destination spas, day spas, a resort spa, various Champneys skin care and body care lines, electrical spa products, Champneys meals and nutritional supplements – and probably a few other extensions I didn’t have time to find out about.

But I just wanted to share my excitement about Champneys. They are truly destination spas, offering an outstanding program at a reasonable price. It had been more than ten years since I visited Grange – back then it was not called Champneys. And I must say I was amazed and impressed. It was busy, lunch was delicious, and it had a real English country feel. After spending time with Stephen, I am so glad that they will be expanding the brand further. There are very few people in the world today who “get it” when it comes to destination spas. Luckily for us, Dorothy (who I believe is in her mid-70s) is still alive, and her son has taken the business to another level, with his sights set on yet another level no one has seen yet.

Fireworks at Canyon Ranch Spa

lenox 001 full 702269 Fireworks at Canyon Ranch Spa Peter and I are at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA for a long Fourth of July holiday weekend. We drove up early on Friday because we had a meeting scheduled with CEO Jerry Cohen to discuss our partnership and some new initiatives. I’ve known Jerry for more than 15 years and marvel at what Canyon Ranch has accomplished under his leadership.

A simple statistic describes the early years of Canyon Ranch: At ten-year intervals, a new branch appeared. Canyon Ranch Tucson opened in 1979, Canyon Ranch Lenox opened in 1989 and Canyon Ranch SpaClub at the Venetian opened in 1999. Thereafter, the ten-year pace went out the window. With the announcement of Canyon Ranch Living Bethesda and Canyon Ranch Living Chicago – both this year – it is clear that the company is on an accelerated expansion program.

My first Canyon Ranch overnight experience was at Tucson in 1980. I remember they were doing some very new things back then – like launching a “Spiritual Fitness” program. And today they are still pioneering programs and leading the spa world in so many ways. I’ll share highs and lows in my next few entries, but suffice it to say that so far I am most impressed that the guests seem very, very happy to be here. The staff seems very, very happy to be here as well. And having run into Mel Zuckerman, Canyon Ranch’s founder, briefly yesterday, I can say that he too looks happy, fit, and vibrant.

Clearly, the Canyon Ranch philosophy is working.

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Famous Spa Consultants Open a Spa of Their Own

02 730234 Famous Spa Consultants Open a Spa of Their Own Before I continue with more branding tidbits, I have to tell you about today’s experience. Two of the four yearly meetings of the Spa Finder Board of Directors take place at spas. This time, we are at the brand-new Lodge at Woodloch. In fact, we are their “soft opening” group, here for three days to enjoy spa services, spa cuisine, and fitness activites in between meetings.

After a three-hour drive from Manhattan (the last half of it scenic), we drove just over the border from New York into Pennsylvania and soon found the sign that said, “The Lodge at Woodloch, a Destination Spa.” We walked into the enormous lobby with very high ceilings and windows everywhere. Although we were inside, it felt as though we were still outside – plants, trees, a view of the lake…Nature everywhere. I had been looking forward to seeing this spa because of who the owners are. Ginny and John Lopis are the proprietors and are well known in the spa industry. They have been in the industry in either operations or as spa consultants and designers for the past 25 years and have built some of the best spas in the world. They have their own spa at last, and I can’t wait to see how they have marshaled their expertise.

We check in, go to our rooms, and then meet once again in the lobby near the singing bowls for our tour. John gives us a gracious welcome and shows us around the entire property. I am so impressed. I change for my first spa service, the Lavender Garden Dream. After 75 minutes of exfoliation, massage, and a wrap (with some surprises incorporated) my therapist escorts me to the Whisper Lounge after my treatment just to relax in a chaise looking at beautiful scenery. That’s where I realize how brilliantly this place has been designed. It isn’t just the two-and-a-half years of construction; it is 50 years of Ginny and John’s expertise that has gone into making Woodloch a “must” for anyone who loves destination spas.