Articles starting with “F”

The results analysis includes answers from all respondents who took the Snapshot Survey in an eight-day period from Friday, February 15, 2019 to Friday, February 22, 2019. During this time, 210 ISPA members responded to the survey. The categories “all spas” and “ISPA Spa Members” referred to within this report include data from all spa respondents (day, resort/hotel, medical and destination spas).

Over half, 54 percent, of all spa respondents have a formal guest policy for technology usage, which can include cell phones, tablets and other mobile devices. This number is low compared to the 81 percent of spa respondents having a formal employee technology policy. Conversely, just 20 percent of resource partner participants have a formal technology policy for employee cell phone usage.

More than half of all spa respondents (58 percent) offer wellness programs or workshops for things such as detox, weight management or fitness activities compared to 45 percent in 2013.  Among those offering wellness programs, 71 percent of spa member respondents have a mindfulness/meditation offering.  Nearly half of spa and resource partner members offer a wellness program for their employees (49 percent and 43 percent respectively).  Complimentary yoga, weight loss contests, health fairs, spa discounts and stretching classes were among the many different wellness resources offered by ISPA members to their employees.

Sometimes only an area such as a shoulder is covered. Otherwise the whole body is dipped or covered. "Parafango" is similar, using mud mixed with paraffin. This treatment relaxes the body, alleviates sore muscles, and softens the skin. Radioactivity is present in the mud at several spas. Pregnant women and women in their reproductive years should not risk possible genetic mutation by avoidable exposure to radioactivity. Fango creates an all-encompassing, gooey warmth and works like a poultice, softening the skin. Natural ingredients, such as peat moss and sea kelp, often are mixed into the mud to help contain the warmth and increase mineral content.

Other Name(s):

Faradism, Electrotherapy, Diathermy, Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation, Electrical Muscle Stimulation

Description of Offering:

Faradism is a variety of treatments that work with electro stimulation. This treatment works on toning and tightening muscles of the body. The pads deliver a faradic current to the skin and muscles that stimulate nerves that provide muscle contractions.

With these results, a personal trainer may then assist the person in choosing an exercise routine suitable for their body type.

IN DECEMBER OF 2020, Dr. Cindy Geyer joined the ISPA community to share with us her professional insights regarding holistic wellness in the spa workplace. A veteran clinician with more than 20 years’ experience at Canyon Ranch Lenox, in Lenox, Massachusetts, Dr. Geyer spoke to ISPA Chairman Patrick Huey about building up resilience to stress and supporting your team’s mental well-being along the way.

The large majority of spa member respondents, 97 percent, offer in-house hands-on vendor training to employees.  Four out of every ten spa respondents indicated they provide off-site training for their employees allowing them to visit vendors at their office or training facility.   Customer service training and retail sales training are also provided by a significant number of spa members (80 percent and 72 percent respectively).

Sixty-eight percent of spa respondents offer customer service training to their employees at least once per quarter, compared to only 45 percent of resource partner members.  Role-playing exercises and hands-on training were identified as two of the most effective types of customer service training.  Vendors are also serving as key partners for both customer service and retail sales training with the large majority, 94 percent, offering training opportunities to their clients.  Sixty-five percent of resource partner respondents offer complimentary hands-on training at their clients’ spas and 63 percent offer web-based training.  Vendors also help spas measure their staff’s product knowledge through hands-on evaluations and on-site testing at the conclusion of a training session (offered by 46 percent and 27 percent respectively).

Referral program are being used significantly more by day spa member respondents than resort/hotel spa member respondents (64 percent and 16 respectively).  Loyalty cards and points systems which result in discounted or free treatments or products are two of the most popular programs being used. Other referral incentives included giving customers free upgrades on services, gift cards to redeem for the products or services and percentage discounts on services and treatments.

Thirty-five percent of all spas reported they do not recognize customers who refer a new client in any way. Nearly half (48 percent) of all resort/hotel spas stated they give no recognition for referrals, with day spas reporting this number to be much lower at just 20 percent. The most popular means of recognition reported was expressing gratitude in person the next time the customer visits the spa, with 42 percent of all spas using this form of recognition.  An large majority of all spas (81 percent) reported that they do not have any sort of incentive in place for employees who refer new clients.