Spa Operations
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Town Hall Examines “Hidden Fees Statute”
A new California law with ramifications for the spa industry went into effect July 1. Known as SB478 (California Senate Bill 478) and nicknamed the “Hidden Fees Statute,” this law prohibits businesses from advertising a price lower than the actual price consumers will ultimately pay for a good or service. SB478 aims to increase transparency for consumers by eliminating mandatory charges and fees, such as service fees and surcharges.
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.
Training for Success
According to a recent study conducted by the American Society for Training and Development, “companies with comprehensive employee training programs have 218 percent higher income per employee than companies without formalized training.” In addition, LinkedIn’s 2023 Workplace Learning Report found that “93 percent of organizations are concerned about employee retention—and that the number one way to improve retention is by ‘providing learning opportunities.’ In fact, 94 percent of workers said development opportunities would keep them in a role at their company.” These stats show that providing training makes good business sense, but figuring out the whats and hows of a training program can be a challenge for many small businesses. A good place to start is by creating standards and protocols that match your mission, vision and values. And there are resources that can help.
Trending: Cannabis in Spa
Word is getting around about the many benefits of cannabis and is particularly catching the attention of people who are into natural health and wellness.
Trends in Business Well-being
Straight from the leading business publications, Pulse brings you the most exciting trends and news shaping the spa industry. From the surging demand for holistic wellness to the innovative fusion of sustainability and hospitality in spa operations, here are the top stories you need to know to stay ahead of the curve. Dive into these updates to see how corporate life is evolving and how you can leverage these trends to enhance your spa business.
Uniform System of Financial Reporting for Spas
A uniform system of financial reporting establishes standardized formats and account classifications to guide individuals in the preparation and presentation of financial statements.
Uniform System of Financial Reporting for Spas
A uniform system of financial reporting establishes standardized formats and account classifications to guide individuals in the preparation and presentation of financial statements.
Unreasonable Hospitality: How Giving People More Than They Expect Can Get you to #1
Soon after opening his new restaurant in the heart of New York City, Will Guidara was excited to be included as one of the “50 Best Restaurants in the World.” Until he heard Eleven Madison Park’s rank: 50th place.
Of course, it was an honor just to make the esteemed list: It recognizes technically excellent dishes, near-perfect service, and a gorgeous dining room. But Will shared that he had to admit to himself many restaurants achieve those standards of excellence. He realized Eleven Madison Park had not yet pursued anything to set itself apart, while earlier winners were unreasonable in their pursuit of product and innovation. He vowed to be equally unreasonable in pursuit of people and experience.
At his Town Hall appearance at the 2023 ISPA Conference, Will Guidara shared several lessons he learned on the way to becoming the number one restaurant in the world:
What to Know When Engaging a Coach
The spa industry puts an emphasis on self-care and helping guests to be their best selves. It’s no wonder, then, that as coaching grows rapidly, spa owners and operators are working with coaches to bring their best selves to their companies, too.
When engaging a coach for the first time, spa professionals have a lot to consider. After all, working with a coach is an investment in the business and must be done thoughtfully and strategically to achieve the desired values.
Where is Spa Technology Heading?
Innovative spa technology has changed the experience of both staff and clients in the spa and wellness sector over the past four decades. The integration of spa technology— the use of equipment and machinery to enhance the customer experience and improve the efficiency of spa operations—has been a slow and steady process. It started with small steps like switching from burning real candles to using electronic versions with recharge[1]able batteries. A larger leap was the conversion of appointment scheduling, from a hand-written calendar to online booking systems. Vichy showers and spray-on tans in treatment rooms are other instances of new technology in spa menu offerings. In recent years, Covid-19 encouraged many facilities to incorporate new technology further and faster, with self-check-in and semiautonomous services as prime examples. A recent study of technology acceptance in the hospitality and spa sector indicates guests enjoy and sometimes even prefer the consistency of technology in various experiences.