Spa Operations
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Spa: A Comprehensive Introduction | Chapter 9.3 | A Day in the Life of Three Spa Directors
Every day, spa directors around the world deal with the challenges of leading employees, managing profitability, and serving guests. While there are many types of spas, this chapter will follow hypothetical directors at three of the most common types of spas: resort spas, destination spas, and day spas.
Spa: A Comprehensive Introduction | Chapter 9.4 | A Career That Makes a Difference
Spa director is one of the most demanding and rewarding careers in the spa industry. The job requires an extensive knowledge of all aspects of spa operations, from financial management and human resources to facilities management and marketing and public relations.
Staying Connected to Today’s Spa-Goer
Understanding spa-goers is paramount for industry professionals seeking to tailor experiences that resonate with their clientele and maximize profits. The 2024 ISPA Consumer Snapshot Report offers a comprehensive glimpse into the behaviors, preferences and priorities of today’s spa-goers, empowering professionals to stay connected to the nature and habits of their audience. While members can access the full, robust study in the ISPA Research Library at experienceispa.com, the following five callouts are a helpful introduction to the study’s extensive findings.
Strategic Savings: Navigating the Tax Benefits of Section 179 for Spa Owners
In the ever-evolving spa and wellness industry, savvy owners are keen to optimize their financial strategies. Among various options, Section 179 of the tax code stands out. This underused provision offers significant tax advantages, serving as a key to financial growth for spa businesses.
UNDERSTANDING SECTION 179:
A Financial Lifeline for Spa Owners Section 179 is a vital part of the IRS tax code for spa owners. It allows businesses to deduct the full cost of eligible equipment purchased within the tax year. This encompasses a wide range of assets, from luxurious massage tables to advanced skincare technology.
Technology-driven Services in the Spa: ISPA Town Hall uncovers lessons learned by tech-forward spa leaders
Technology in the workplace has transformed how we work and communicate and even the services spas offer to their guests. In a recent ISPA Town Hall, panelists Jennifer Kirby, Luane McWhorter, Daniel Spencer and Geraldine Kasuba shared insights on the types of technology-driven services available in their spas. In addition, they discussed technology-based operational tools and resources they use to help improve efficiencies within their business.
The 2025 Insider’s Guide to What’s Shaping Spa Now
These days you can’t go to a spa without a blessing with water. You can’t go to a spa without a little prayer to yourself—an intention. You can’t go to a spa without taking a bath—in sound—downsized from pipe organs to singing bowls. What’s shaping spa now is church-like. But it’s older than any organized religion. We’re embracing the ritualization of everything.
Classic rituals are morphing—as always. Sitting cross-legged and focusing on your breath has become a knee-shaking immersion in breathtakingly cold water. A home ice bath is now $199 at Costco (buy the ice on the way out) or buy Kohler’s new home version, which will take your breath away anytime for about 10 grand. It (ultimately) feels so good and is so good for you—but it’s called a plunge for a reason.
The Balancing Act: Preserving Your Spa’s Identity Across Locations
Scaling a spa business presents an exciting opportunity for growth but comes with its own set of challenges. It’s about more than simply replicating what worked in your first location—it requires preserving the essence of your concept while adapting to the unique dynamics of new markets, meeting guest expectations and ensuring operational consistency. Thoughtful and strategic expansion offers spa professionals a chance to refine what makes their brand special while reaching new audiences.
The Facial Upsell
My definition of a great facial is when I fall asleep. Once I make it past the torture of the pore extractions, I settle in to a peaceful, meditative state. If I have to ask if I was purring (because, of course, I don’t snore), then it was an exceptional experience.Â
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 Statistics Behind Optimizing Online Reviews this Holiday Season
Each year, the holiday season seems to come quicker and quicker, pulling behind it a dependable stream of decorations, family gatherings and heightened consumerism. For spa professionals, the holidays present a tremendous opportunity to welcome new spa-goers into your universe and reach untapped segments of your community. More than at any other time of the year, friends and family give the gift of relaxation and restoration to loved ones in desperate need of a break from busy, sometimes backbreaking lifestyles. Many of them know the benefits of spa but are not intimately familiar with their local spa scene. Where do these thoughtful gift-givers go to get the lowdown on the best spas in town?
You guessed it—they go to online reviews. Waiting patiently in their pocket or within an arm’s reach, their phone is a gateway to all the gab and gossip surrounding local businesses. Review sites receive a constant flow of star ratings and reflections from customers whose experience with a local business, whether positive or negative, motivates them to let the world know. As we will see, understanding the statistics behind online reviews and managing your online reputation is of the utmost importance—especially during the holiday season.