Inspiration
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Sheila Johnson: Pioneering the Tranquil Revolution in Spa Hospitality
Sheila Johnson’s driving force when creating the Salamander Middleburg resort was the desire to craft a spa experience that seamlessly merged with nature. Reflecting on her professional entry into the spa scene, Johnson shares, “I had never previously been involved in either the hospitality or spa fields, but it was my interest in health and wellness that led me into both.”
Salamander Middleburg is a 340-acre resort in the heart of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Only 30 minutes from Dulles International Airport, Salamander Middleburg is the D.C. area’s first Forbes Five-Star destination resort and spa. Boasting equestrian programs, countryside bike tours and aerial parks, the resort is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts while also featuring gourmet dining, indulgent spa treatments and spacious, lavishly appointed guest rooms. For Johnson, Salamander Middleburg’s essence lies in its tranquility. “The spa’s carefully designed spaces draw the outdoors inside,” she notes.
Showing Appreciation is Often Overlooked (Elevate Your LeadershipPart V)
There is an alarming gap in the work place. The majority of employees don’t feel apprecaited at their job, while the majority of bosses feel they show appreciation to their employees. Why is that? How can it be fixed?
Smiley Poswolsky: Recruitment is Personal: Attracting Top Talent in Challenging Times
“There’s one word—one thing I want you to take away today,” Smiley Poswolsky said as the word BELONGING appeared on the digital display behind him. “We know it when we see it. We know it when we give it.” Smiley then shared an alarming statistic: 70 percent of Americans are disengaged with their jobs today. Some, he said, are so disengaged they actively work against their company.
The Five-Star Spa: The Spa at The Broadmoor
The spa at The Broadmoor is a 43,000-square-foot retreat that masterfully blends European elegance with modern luxury. Since its opening in 1994, this Forbes Five-Star spa has remained a serene haven for guests seeking a truly indulgent experience. A major renovation in 2004-2005 expanded the space, and a refresh in 2020 ensured the spa continues to captivate visitors with its timeless charm.
Designed to evoke the essence of a classic European bathhouse, The Spa at The Broadmoor features calming hues of blue, cream and gold, with every detail thoughtfully chosen to reflect the property’s Italian-inspired architecture. “We wanted to create a space that feels both luxurious and peaceful,” says Assistant Spa Director Saundra Quintana. This design approach ensures guests can enjoy the spa’s many amenities in a private and seamless manner.
The Hidden Gem of Horse Country: Inside the Kentucky Castle
Towering over the picturesque rolling hills of horse country lies a hidden gem, The Kentucky Castle Spa— a time capsule of tranquility and rejuvenation in the heart of Kentucky farmland. Chief Operating Officer Christie Eckerline invites Open House readers into this locally iconic space, sharing insights into its mysterious origin, transformation and retail philosophy.
The Humanleaigh Remedy for An Amplified Life
Pulse: As a Knowledge Builder presenter at the 2024 ISPA Conference, you will give attendees a wake-up call to inspire sharper focus, clarifying values and inspiring immediate action. Share a little about what that means.
Leigh Weinraub: Just as a muscle grows stronger from consistent flexing, our minds require healthy and refined repetition for optimization. I will offer an essential toolkit of psychological skills that will sustain a lifelong training program. Attendees will learn to master emotional regulation, access more authenticity, generate inner peace and channel gratitude as a catalyst for self-actualization.
The Importance of Love (Elevate Your Leadership Pt. II)
Do you come to work every day with love in your heart? Not the romantic kind, but rather the kind of love that shows you have intense passion for what you are doing.
The Next Generation: Creating Strategic Internships and Partnerships with Educational Institutions
This session will provide insights on shared mission and trends with education institutions as well as ways to create strategic alignment and partnerships.
Pulse: How will the ISPA Collaborative on Higher Education (CoHE) drive innovation in the spa and wellness industry?
Dr. Mary Wisnom: The focus on wellness on campuses is growing at a rapid pace. Not only are campus recreation centers offering spa and wellness services, but health centers, residential dorms and academic programs are also getting into the game. The CoHE team was formed in part to help create a connection between ISPA and those working in campus wellness.
Aaron Hobson: As we all know, wellness can mean many different things to many different people, particularly in higher education settings. I feel the CoHE will help drive new ideas for the spa and wellness industry and find ways to connect with students on university campuses.
Pulse: What are some barriers to education that CoHE will tackle?
Jennifer Aarons: As educators, we need to know what skills the industry desires so that we can tailor our programs to meet those expectations. Through conversations with industry leaders, we hope to gain insight on skillset needs so we can generate future leaders who are properly equipped for success in spa and wellness.
AH: There are many misconceptions regarding access, affordability and the intersection of spa-like services and wellbeing services at higher education institutions. The CoHE will explore each of these areas closely to bring additional perspective to ISPA and higher education fields alike.
The Next Generation: Creating Strategic Internships and Partnerships with Educational Institutions
The ISPA collaborative on higher education (COHE) is an initiative ISPA created to help bridge the gap between higher education and the resources and knowledge among ISPA members. Several paths already exist in higher education for individuals who wish to pursue a professional career in the spa industry, and opportunities continue to expand. CoHE’s mission is to educate and help connect those institutions with ISPA’s membership base of spa industry leaders.
Partnerships, rather than sponsorships, are an integral part of the higher education initiative. (It is important to note the difference between partnerships and sponsorships: A partnership is where both parties have something to give and something they wish to receive. A sponsorship is when one party receives money or other resources for a particular event or program.) When creating partnerships with higher education institutions, it’s important to remember the following:
The Positivity Principle: Helping Your Team Flourish and Thrive
Researchers are telling us that we can expect to see more change in the next decade than we did in the past hundred years. So, consider:
- Now more than ever, we have a reason to worry, to feel backed up against a wall or to even wring our hands as we look for new answers to old problems. For spa leaders, some of those ever-present daily challenges are staffing, retention and engagement.
- Now more than ever, we have an opportunity to put on our creativity capes, along with our best possible future glasses (not rose colored). In our industry, that means creating a flourishing environment for both our staff who stayed and our loyal, if somewhat exhausted, clients.
Which is the right perspective? You can make a case for each, and you get to decide.
You get to choose whether you view change as a threat or an opportunity. As difficult as disruption sometimes will be, you can use scientific research to stack the uncertain odds in your favor.
THE POSITIVITY PRINCIPLE
“Positive psychology is the scientific study of “what makes life most worth living,” as psychology professor Christopher Peterson wrote in Psychology Today. To dive a bit deeper, positive psychology is a scientific approach to studying human thoughts, feelings and behavior, with focus on strengths instead of weaknesses and with the objective to build on the good in life instead of repairing the bad.
Martin Seligman, Ph.D., who is often considered the pioneer of the positive psychology movement, coined an acronym for the five pillars that are needed to create a life where we can become our best self as we create our best future. PERMA comprises Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishments.