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Esalen Massage
Developed and refined over the last 20 years by the Esalen Institute in California, this massage combines Swedish and sensory relaxation massage techniques.
Every Body Is A Spa Body: Making spas more welcoming to clients of all sizes
For plus-size travelers, finding a spa that meets their needs can be a challenge. Common concerns include the availability of appropriately sized massage tables, robes and slippers, as well as comfortable seating.
Fortunately, many spa owners, managers, and consultants are actively addressing these issues, working to create spa environments that are welcoming and inclusive for everyone.
Every Question Answered: The ISPA Talent Toolkit
WHO will find value in the ISPA Talent Toolkit?
This suite of resources arms spa owners and directors, human resources leaders and marketing and communication departments with the checklists, templates and guides they need for success with talent recruitment and engagement concerns that are at the forefront of focus in the spa industry.
WHAT is included in the Toolkit? The Talent Toolkit comes equipped with resources for every talent-related function of your spa business. Each toolkit section below lists some currently-available tools.
Everyone Can Be a Healer: Creating a Healing Environment in Spa and Hospitality
Healing moments can come from unexpected places. True well-being is rooted in the experience of feeling accepted, loved and validated without expectation—something anyone can offer.
In a hospital where I was visiting patients on an acute care unit to offer counseling support, all the patients used to talk about Ida, a cleaning staff member. She saw most of them once a day and talked to them while she did her work. Despite receiving care from doctors, nurses and social workers, patients always mentioned Ida as the most comforting presence on the unit.
Evolve or Become Irrelevant
How do you make sure your spa stays relevant with the changes we’ve experienced in the past several years?
Embrace technology
Touchless therapies have become popular—especially during and since the Covid pandemic. While acknowledging that “it can be scary to embrace technology,” Emyln Brown offered hope that “it can also lead to change,” and the panel shared ways new technology can be a positive change for spas.
Amanda Al-Masri finds “more people are interested in wellness, but we have less people to work” and advises spa leaders to “embrace touchless therapies, as it’s a great way to add revenue. Hands-on therapies are still very important and should not be replaced, but the touchless helps amplify results.”
“Touchless is complementary to human interaction,” agrees Simon Marxer. “Being able to offer a broad menu is sound business.”
Exceptional Experiences: Providing Excellent Customer Service
In many industries, companies follow one of two “go to market” strategies: focus on providing extraordinary customer service, or emphasize low prices. While most bus[1]nesses make efforts to cater to both goals, every company leader has one or the other priority in mind when making day-to-day decisions. For spas, the default is nearly always to promote great experiences.
The challenge of creating a customer-centric environment is not new. But many spa leaders say staffing turnover during and since the pandemic has exacerbated an existing issue. In an era of decreasing service mentality, how can spa leaders train and promote exceptional customer service? Conversely, do spas face a decreasing return on investment when trying to win the approval of every client?
Executive/Management Focus: Spa Employee Wages
Three leaders in the fields of personnel management and employment policies offer the following insights that will be of special interest to spa leaders. With their knowledge of employee compensation and their experience guiding businesses through the complexities of hiring and workforce development, these professionals share valuable perspectives and provide practical advice and strategies on key employment topics.
- Candra Bryant leads Hanna Resource Group, an HR focused consulting firm dedicated to creating thriving workplaces. With a rich background in corporate HR leadership and consulting, Bryant excels in crafting employment policies that align with applicable regulations, best practices and organizational culture.
- l Alison Harrigan is a senior client partner and leads travel, hospitality and leisure practice for global organizational consulting firm Korn Ferry. Harrigan’s career background includes experience with franchised businesses, hospitality, real estate and wellness.
- Julie Keller-Callaghan is a co-founder of Well Defined and managing director of recruiting for Hutchinson Consulting: An Arch Amenities Group Company. A longtime influencer and advocate in the wellness world, Keller Callaghan serves as a consultant and content strategist for numerous wellness brands.
Expect More Be More: The Power of Holding Yourself to Higher Standards
Made for more. If you hold yourself to high expectations, you already know that a bare-minimum mentality is your enemy. Doing just enough is your rival. Merely complying with requests is your nemesis.
High expectations demand that you do more, reach higher and go farther. All of which requires effort. And that’s where the challenge lies: Many people are simply unwilling to make the sacrifices required to reach the next level. The late nights. The early mornings. The missed milestones.
Expect More, Lead More: The Art of Setting Stubbornly High Standards
Leadership is not for everyone. It demands a person who consistently sees the best in others—and acts on it. That takes energy, perseverance, forgiveness, faith and— gasp—stubbornness.
Wait, stubbornness? Yes, stubbornness.
As a leader of a high-performing spa team, you have to be stubborn enough to maintain high expectations every day— even when you don’t feel like it. There will be days when you’re tired. Emotionally, mentally and physically spent. Everything in you will urge you to “excuse” someone coming in late… or doing their job half-way… or being short with their teammates. Don’t do it.
Exploring Hospitality Trends with Jan Freitag
ISPA’s first Town Hall of 2025 set the stage for an insightful discussion on the trends shaping the hospitality industry this year. Presented by Jan Freitag, national director of hospitality analytics for CoStar Group, the session shed light on economic projections, consumer behavior and challenges facing the industry. Here are Freitag’s key takeaways: