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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 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 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.
The Power of Moments with Christina Tosi and Will Guidara
A keynote conversation featuring restaurateur Will Guidara and Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi welcomed attendees of the Power Session on Day Two of the 2025 ISPA Conference. In an informal conversation format moderated by longtime ISPA partner Tim Mathy, Guidara and Tosi filled the session with personal stories and candid advice, speaking about a passion for hospitality they have in common with the spa community.
Think Local
As spa directors continually search for ways to create authentic experiences for their guests while also increasing revenue, many have decided the best way to do that is by tapping into local resources. Businesses need revenue-boosting partnerships to succeed, and spa directors have decided that looking at local resources does that and also distinguishes them from their competitors.
Tips & Tricks From Daniel Pink
Looking for new ways to increase productivity and improve your work life?
Town Hall Panel: Takeaways From the 2024 ISPA Conference
The Town Hall presented at the end of May took on a different twist. One month removed from the 2024 ISPA Conference in Phoenix, participants considered opportunities and outcomes from the annual gathering. Panelists Shana Ominsky, Catherine Warren and Eric Wilkinson identified notable takeaways and innovative offerings that will help ISPA members drive business growth in the months and years ahead.
Truth and Trust in 2025
I recently participated on a panel about wellness trends at Lake Austin Spa Resort’s annual Gathering of Wise Women program, where we took part in a lively discussion about what’s happening around the world that can affect our health and well-being.
Truth and trust are big topics for me. As a publicist, I’m hyper-aware of how people consume information and where they get their news—from current affairs and travel to the latest skincare techniques. Who would have imagined slathering snail mucin on our faces? And who am I to say that it’s wrong? (If you are not familiar, a quick TikTok search will provide some laughs.) The time it would take to disprove this information would be longer than clicking “buy now” after watching compelling testimonials on an Instagram reel.
Unreasonable Hospitality Meets Unforgettable Sweets
Christina Tosi and Will Guidara share a relentless drive to bring joy to people through culinary experiences. Guidara, the ISPA member-favorite hospitality guru best known for transforming Eleven Madison Park into the world’s best restaurant, champions the power of human connection in dining. Tosi, the creative genius behind Milk Bar, revolutionized desserts with her boundary-pushing, nostalgia-infused creations. Together, their stories showcase how passion and innovation can leave a lasting impact—both on taste buds and by inspiring others. The couple will appear on Day Two of the 2025 ISPA Conference in Colorado Springs to present an enlightening joint Power Session keynote address.
What Makes A Spa Endure
A few years ago, on a Silversea cruise, I sailed to one of the origins of spa: the famed temple of Asclepius at Epidaurus—arguably the world’s first international healing retreat. Seekers once sailed there from all over the ancient world and then walked seven miles from the sea to its gates, where they shed their possessions and lay down among asps and adders. Today, the snake of Asclepius is entwined around the staff of the American Medical Association; so clearly, something worked.