Pulse Spa Magazine October 2015

Page 1

OCTOBER 2015

â–

P U L S E . E X P E R I E N C E I S PA . C O M

2015 ISPA Conference & Expo

OCT. 19-21 Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Las Vegas, Nevada




FROM YOUR

CHAIRMAN

2015 ISPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS CHAIRMAN Michael Tompkins PALM Health VICE CHAIRMAN Ella Stimpson The Spa at Sea Island SECRETARY/TREASURER Todd Shaw The Club at Las Campanas DIRECTORS Noel Asmar Noel Asmar Uniforms, Inc.

hether you are reading this Pulse issue

Blake Feeney Feeney & Co.

weeks prior to the 2015 ISPA

Todd Hewitt Four Seasons Toronto

Conference & Expo or on-site in Las Vegas, allow me to warmly welcome

Kristine Huffman Huffman Hospitality Concepts

you. As an international community,

ISPA Foundation Chairman Jeff Kohl Spa & Club Ideations

we say welcome in different ways—but ultimately, we speak one language: the language of camaraderie. Beyond the education and the business reasons that motivate us to attend Conference, it is the sense of community that fuels our desire to gather every year. Like in any journey we take, we need to occasionally take a pit-stop to recharge our energies and passion; otherwise, we take the risk of running on empty fuel. Each time we reconnect with industry mentors, share a light conversation with long-lost friends or build new friendships at Conference, we revive our passion to make our own and the lives of others healthier and more meaningful. This ability to build bridges is what separates the ISPA Conference & Expo from other industry events. Indeed, every ISPA Conference & Expo is a moment of

Julie Oliff St. Regis Aspen Laura Parsons ZaSpa at Hotel ZaZa ISPA Foundation Vice Chairman Frank Pitsikalis ResortSuite Eric Stephenson Well World Group Todd Walter Red Door Spas

wonderful “welcomes.” How fitting it is then that, as we mark ISPA’s 25-year anniversary, we also picked “explore” as this year’s Conference theme? After all, when we are able to explore, we become more eager to welcome a world of opportunities. As a veteran attendee, I can assure you that there won’t be any shortage of opportunities at this year’s ISPA Conference

Lynne McNees ISPA President MEDICAL ADVISOR Brent A. Bauer, MD Mayo Clinic

& Expo. It is all up to you to grasp every moment and leverage every opportunity to expand your professional network, collaborate for new partnership ideas, implement better

CHAIRMEN’S COUNCIL

practices or bring more business for your company or spa.

Past ISPA Chairmen who are current members:

Ultimately, whether we say “Aloha” or “Shalom,” we hold in our hands the power to

Gayle Brady • Brady Spa Consulting

discover success and make a difference in our guests’ lives. Welcome to the 2015 ISPA

Jeff Kohl • Spa & Club Ideations

Conference & Expo—together let’s explore the many more great opportunities ahead of us!

Jean Kolb • Well By Choice John Korpi • Korpi & Korpi Kate Mearns • 5 Spa Consulting LLC Jim Root • Glen Ivy Hot Springs

—MICHAEL TOMPKINS, CHAIRMAN

2 PULSE

October 2015

Jane Segerberg • Segerberg Spa Consulting, LLC Deborah Waldvogel • Sedona Resorts



THE MAGAZINE FOR THE SPA PROFESSIONAL

EXECUTIVE Lynne McNees • ISPA President EDITORIAL Mae Mañacap-Johnson • Editor DESIGN Marja Walker ADVERTISING AND SALES Whitney Elswick ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Katherine Blake PRODUCTION MANAGER Chris Guzicki

Pulse is the official publication of the International SPA Association, a member organization for the spa and wellness industry. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of ISPA. All inquiries should be sent to Pulse, 2365 Harrodsburg Road, Suite A325, Lexington, KY. 40504 USA. Canadian publication agreement No. 40042114. PULSE ACCEPTS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. Please include your name, title, company,

EDITORIAL OFFICES International SPA Association 2365 Harrodsburg Road, Suite A325 Lexington, Kentucky 40504, USA Phone: 1.859.425.5062 1.888.651.ISPA (4772) • Fax: 1.859.226.4445 experienceispa.com

address, phone and email address. Only your name, title, company and location will be published in the magazine. The editor reserves the right to edit for clarity and content. By submitting the letter, you are giving ISPA publishing rights. Pulse (USPS 017-893, ISSN 15259226) is published 10 times a year – January/February, March/April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December by Associations International, 2365 Harrodsburg Road, Suite A325, Lexington, Ky., 40504. Periodicals postage paid at Lexington, Kentucky, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Pulse, Attn: Member Services, 2365 Harrodsburg Rd., Suite. A325, Lexington, Kentucky, 40504, USA.

4 PULSE

October 2015

PULSE

is the magazine for the spa professional. As the official publication of the International SPA Association, its mission is to serve as the preeminent resource of expert insights, trends, tools and research to help spa professionals create innovative solutions and make informed business decisions.



“There are definitely many reasons to bring out the champagne glass, but the best one by far is the opportunity to look back in the past, succeed in the present and leave a legacy for the future.”

THERE’S POWER IN 25. A quarter of a century signifies the start of independence for many of us. It is a magical age when we gain the wisdom to steer the sails to horizons we have yet to explore. It is also an age when we are hit with a realization that, with more than two decades gone, the time to make a meaningful impact is now. In a way, this is where ISPA is in its journey. At 25, ISPA has grown and continues to mature as an organization. It has seen many historical firsts, navigated numerous challenges and introduced game-changing ideas that helped elevate the standards of the global spa industry. These historical milestones (read “ISPA Evolution: 25 Defining Moments” on page 50) are celebrated in the pages of this 25year anniversary edition of Pulse. This issue also looks back at the decade when ISPA was born (read “90s Throwback: Blast From the Past” on page 63), not to dwell on glory days, but to appreciate the journey made. Oh, how hilarious and fun to see ISPA members in 90s fashion and spiked hairstyles! But we can’t really walk down memory lane without bringing to mind the many people who’ve been part of ISPA’s story, including past General Session keynote speakers (read “Where Are They Now? Catching Up with Past Keynote Speakers” on page 44). Plus, because celebrations are best shared, ISPA shares the limelight with ISPA members celebrating 25 years or more in the business (read “Marking a Milestone” on page 56). There are definitely many reasons to bring out the champagne glass, but the best one by far is the opportunity to look back in the past, succeed in the present and leave a legacy for the future. Raise your silver glasses—here’s to the next 25 years and more!

MARION PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @ISpaDoYou LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! International SPA Association

—MAE MAÑACAP-JOHNSON, EDITOR @ISPAPULSEEDITOR

Inside the Pulse Vault...

W

alk down memory lane through the eyes of the “godmother of spa” and Rancho La Puerta founder Deborah Szekely in “ISPA: Then and Now,” published in Pulse’s 20th anniversary issue (November 2010). To read the past issue, visit the Pulse archives page of experienceispa.com.

6 PULSE

October 2015



OCTOBER

2015 ISPA EVOLUTION

DEFINING MOMENTS BY MAE MAÑACAP-JOHNSON

28

VO LU M E 2 5 ISSUE 8

ISPA Innovate Awards Exploring Innovative Ideas B Y A N D R E W D E WS O N

32

ISPA 2015 U.S. Spa Industry Study

Pointing Up Moving Toward Positive Growth

50 34

34

38

6 Reasons Why You’ll Love Scott Harrison B Y M A E M A Ñ AC A P - J O H N S O N

38

Candid Randi Simplifying Dot Complicated B Y M A E M A Ñ AC A P - J O H N S O N

40

High Profile: Spotlight on Speakers B Y J E N N I F E R D U C K WO RT H

44

Where Are They Now? Catching Up with Past Keynote Speakers B Y M A E M A Ñ AC A P - J O H N S O N

8 PULSE

October 2015



ADDITIONAL FEATURES

56

Marking a Milestone BY ALEXANDER MENRISKY

63

16

90s Throwback Blast From the Past BY MAE MAÑACAP-JOHNSON

68

Putting Pulse Lessons into Good Practice BY ALEXANDER MENRISKY

75

Special Pulse Advertising Section New Product Launch Guide

IN EVERY ISSUE

2 6 12 16

From Your Chairman Pulse Preview Pulse Points Member Profile: Four Seasons Punta Mita Infusing the Local Flavors of Mexico BY MAE MAÑACAP-JOHNSON

20

Member News BY TARA SALAH ELDIN & SARAH HARMON

22 26

SEE + BE SEEN Conversations: Alice Waters ISPA Conference Speaker and Founder and Owner of Chez Panisse

63

BY MAE MAÑACAP-JOHNSON

72

Ask the Expert: Dr. Pamela Peeke ISPA Conference Speaker and Nutrition and Fitness Expert

74

Success Stories: Pollogen Ltd. Inventing TriPollar RF Technology BY CHRISTINA BUSWELL

84

A Day in the Life: Anne-Liise Verpson 2015 ISPA Foundation Mary Tabacchi Scholarship Co-Recipient BY ALEXANDER MENRISKY

85

Additional 2015 ISPA Conference & Expo Gold Sponsors

88 90 92 93 95

Product Spotlight

96

End Notes

ISPA Foundation ISPA Snapshot Survey ISPA News Social Connections: Bertice Berry ISPA Conference Speaker and President of Bertice Berry Productions, Inc.

10 PULSE

October 2015

26

72

74

ABOUT THE COVER ISPA is 25! The cover collage captures a few highlights of ISPA’s 25-year history. Explore key milestones and unforgettable moments featured on the pages of this ISPA Conference & Expo on-site edition. COVER DESIGN BY MARJA WALKER

95



PULSE POINTS CO M P I L E D B Y A L E X A N D E R M E N R I S K Y

Employees Make Use of Wellness Tracking Devices in Wellness Programs

A

ccording to a report entitled “Wearables in Wellness: Employer Use of Wearable Tracking Devices in Wellness Programs” by nonprofit health research firm Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO), nearly one half of employer respondents offered a tracker as part of a wellness program, ranging from wearables like Fitbit (77 percent) to pedometers (24 percent). Eighty-three percent subsidized trackers for their employees while 91 percent permitted an employee to use a tracker device they already owned. The survey gathered information from 188 respondents representing a variety of industries and sizes. Respondents indicate that they incorporated the use of trackers into their employee wellness programs in order to encourage employees to increase their physical activity (94 percent), increase engagement in health (77 percent), improve wellness program participation (59 percent) and improve employee performance and productivity (51 percent). The majority of organizations offering these tracker-based programs plan to continue doing so due to a perception of genuine interest and enhancement of existing wellness programs.

Expectations for Economic Expansion High in North America But Mixed in Other Parts of the Globe

R

eleased earlier this year, the eighth annual American Express/CFO Research Global Business and Spending Monitor surveys finance leadership around the world to determine how they view the pace of economic recovery in their own countries and what they plan to do to strengthen business in their sector. 12 PULSE

October 2015

Results from the annual survey indicate that respondents from North America (the U.S. and Canada) plan to continue building on the forward progress of 2013 and 2014, with 83 percent of U.S. respondents predicting expansion. Outside North America, expectations are mixed, though India leads the world in economic confidence with 94 percent of respondents predicting an economic expansion.

In terms of employment growth, anticipation in this area is strongest in India (78 percent), followed by Spain (66 percent) and the U.S. (61 percent). Russia and France had the weakest forecast in employment growth. The survey results are based on the responses of 565 respondents from companies with revenue of between US$500 million and over US$20 billion.


Diet Trends Around the Globe Indicate Going Back to Basics

I

n Nielsen’s 2015 Global Health and Wellness Report entitled “We Are What We Eat: Healthy Eating Trends Around the World,” the market research firm found that, when it comes to making healthy decisions about eating, consumers are going back to the basics and changing their diets to comprise more foods that are fresh, natural and minimally processed. Some key findings include: ●

Nearly half (49 percent) of global respondents believe they are overweight while half (50 percent) are trying to lose weight.

In the battle of the bulge, diet and exercise dominate. Three quarters of global respondents who are trying to lose weight plan to change their diet while 72 percent plan to exercise.

Among those who plan to diet, 65 percent intend to cut down on fats while 62 percent are eating less sugary sweets. But fat’s reputation as the top dietary enemy is fading in North America, while the low-carb movement appears to be gaining momentum. Asia-Pacific has the highest adoption, where 34 percent of respondents say they follow a low-carb, high-fat diet to lose weight.

A total of 57 percent of respondents plan to expand their diets with more natural and fresh foods.

In terms of cutting down on processed foods, 46 percent of respondents in North America are consuming less of these unhealthy foods, followed by respondents in Asia-Pacific (39 percent) and Latin America (39 percent). Across the globe, the top health attributes that drive purchasing decisions among consumers are all-natural (43 percent), GMO-free (43 percent) and no artificial colors (42 percent).

October 2015

PULSE 13




MEMBER PROFILE

FOUR SEASONS PUNTA MITA Infusing the Local Flavors of Mexico B Y M A E M A Ñ AC A P - J O H N S O N

N

estled along a small fishing village in Nayarit, Four Seasons Punta Mita is known to draw in global guests looking to explore the local flavors of Mexico. Guests, for instance, are treated to Mexicaninspired accommodations through the resort’s 173 renovated guest rooms and suites that reflect the modern casita design. All throughout the property, experiences are created to honor the local traditions of the Huichol Indians, native Mexicans living in the Sierra Madre Occidental range in the Mexican states, which include Nayarit. For example, the resort’s pool complex is named “Tamai,” which means “star” in the Huichol Indian language. Undoubtedly one of Four Seasons Punta Mita’s most unique experiences is “The Ultimate Tequila Tour” which provides guests a one-of-a-kind excursion to the family-run Jose Cuervo distillery in Tequila, the region that gave birth to Mexico’s national icon. Taking a private helicopter ride, guests get to see the

16 PULSE

October 2015

VIVIANA QUESADA Senior Spa Director Four Seasons Punta Mita Nayarit, Mexico


“Guests are more spa-savvy so we need to be on top of trends in order to gain their trust.”

distillery’s vast agave plantation, which is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. An expert sommelier then walks guests through the tequila-making process while a Four Seasons chef prepares gourmet lunch, paired perfectly with top-of-the-line aged tequila served straight from the barrel.

Tequila, Por Favor The resort’s unique tequila infusion is carried over to its spa, Apuana (Spanish for “healing waters”), which offers a signature massage treatment called Punta Mita and integrates the use of Mexico’s most famous liquor. “Tequila has been used for a long time in Mexico and our application tech-

nique is inspired in those traditions,” says Punta Mita Senior Spa Director Viviana Quesada. The treatment includes an application of tequila all throughout the body, followed by a warm towel wrap. “It does have a sedative effect,” she says. The therapist then performs a firm massage using mainly the forearms to

October 2015

PULSE 17


MEMBER PROFILE

deeply penetrate the muscles and ease the pain and tension. “By using pressure points, we increase the pain signal sent to the brain to stimulate an additional release of endorphins, decreasing the pain in the process,” Quesada says. “In conjunction with the [healing techniques] and the tequila [application], the therapist applies an indigenous sage oil to perform the massage. This wonderful oil has anti-inflammatory, [healing] and depurative benefits, making our Punta Mita massage a really special and complete experience.”

18 PULSE

October 2015

Quesada observes, more than ever, guests are seeking local experiences. As one might say, “Why try a Thai massage when in Mexico?” “Guests come and ask us what we’d recommend or what locally inspired offerings we have. This is one of the reasons why our signature treatments are so popular,” she says.

Healing Traditions The spa is committed to celebrating Mexico’s healing traditions through treatments like Lluvia de Miel, which fea-

tures the use of Mexican vanilla, an ingredient that plays a role in ancient folklore, specifically that of the Totonacas Indians in the south of Mexico. The experience starts with a relaxing massage and a drizzle of a special balsam incorporating vanilla and honey. A warm Vichy shower follows; the treatment ends with an application of a moisturizing vanilla cream. When designing treatments, Quesada keeps the well-informed spa guest in mind. “Guests are more spasavvy so we need to be on top of trends


in order to gain their trust. They know about ingredients in products, procedures and what is popular,” she says. “This is great for our industry as it adds pressure on us to keep our team properly trained and informed, elevating the level of service we should provide.” While she generally overhauls the spa menu every two years, she stays on-trend by adding seasonal and special treatments in between. “The process basically starts with listening to our guests, studying the top requested services and eliminating the ones that aren’t popular,” she says. Vendor selection is a big part of the treatment design process. “I look for passion,” she says, adding that it’s important for her to see that resource partners believe in the product they are selling in order to make her spa team love the products. “If the team believes in the product, it will sell!” she says, adding that she looks for qualities like high-quality, responsibility, consistency and efficacy in a product or brand.

Happy Guests When it comes to marketing, Quesada sums up the spa’s strategy: keep guests happy. “You need to know your market

in order to reach out to them. I have, as much as I don’t prefer to, offered discounts, because the local market likes to hear the word ‘discount,’” she says, adding that the spa offers specials daily at certain times and promote treatments during less peak times at a discounted rate. “The idea is to bring them into the spa and suggest an enhancement to their service, to justify the discount. We also offer ‘mini’ services at the pool and beach areas. This has been a great marketing strategy as the 25-minute treatment by the pool or beach areas turn out to be a great hook for them to come in for a longer experience at the spa,” Quesada says. The spa also stays on top of special holidays or celebrations and offer custom activities based on them. “For example, for Yoga Day, we increased our yoga and meditation classes for the day on a complimentary basis. When you open the door for them to experience the quality of your services, they are attracted to experience them again, even when treatments are no longer complimentary,” she says. Guest education is a big part of their marketing strategy. “We offer classes to teach our clients and increase their

awareness [about the benefits of spa]. Educating guests is for our very own benefit in the end,” she says. Quesada says she also works with other businesses for incentive programs and spa specials in order to better understand what their guests are looking for as well as capture a market that the spa may not normally reach because they don’t have access to a similar database. “I love the statement ‘If you don’t like your results, change the procedure but not the goal.’ If I need to improve my financial results, I need to try new things, including new marketing strategies in order to attract the clients I want,” she says. But with a focus on offering Mexico’s unique experiences, Four Seasons Punta Mita is infusing just the right kind of strategy to get guests coming back. ■

ABOUT THE SPA Spa open date: September 1999 Square footage: 20,500 Number of treatment rooms: 12 Number of full-time spa staff: 29 Guest ratio percentage (female vs. male): 60 percent vs. 40 percent Method of staff payment/ compensation: Flat salary plus commission Signature treatment: Punta Mita Massage and Hakali Massage Product lines used: Knesko Skin, COOLA Suncare, FarmHouse Fresh, Éminence Organic Skin Care, CND, Moroccanoil Contact: Four Seasons Punta Mita Punta Mita - Bahia de Banderas 63734 Nayarit, Mexico Phone: 52.329.291.6000 Website: fourseasons.com/puntamita

October 2015

PULSE 19


MEMBER NEWS B Y TA R A S A L A H E L D I N A N D S A R A H H A R M O N

THE SPA SHIFT Announcements marking spa industry players on the move.

Grant Dipman

Mark Bauer

William Margaritis

Sean Clancy

Previously with the The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix, Grant Dipman is appointed General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Denver.

William Margaritis is the new Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Hilton Worldwide in McLean, Virginia.

Alison Abbott is named Director of Spa at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa in Sonoma, California.

Mark Bauer is named General Manager at One Ocean Resort Hotel and Spa, located in Atlantic Beach, Florida.

Located in Coronado, California, Sea Spa at Loews Coronado Bay Resort has appointed Sean Clancy as Managing Director.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., located in Stamford, Connecticut, has promoted Mark Vondrasek to Senior Vice President of Commercial Services.

Jon Vesper, a 30-year veteran of the golf industry, is now the Director of Golf at Silverado Resort & Spa located in Napa, California.

Alison Abbott

Mark Vondrasek

Jon Vesper

GIVING BACK 1. Based at Scottsdale, Arizona, Massage Envy Franchising, LLC is helping students pursue careers in massage therapy through professional education. The company partnered with Beauty Changes Lives Foundation to provide a scholarship grant worth US$1,500 each to six deserving students. Each of the student’s school also received a US$500 award to invest in its massage therapy program.

1 2

2. Montage Kapalua Bay, located in Lahaina, Hawaii, is a sponsor for the Play for P.I.N.K. Kapalua Charity Golf and Tennis Tournament, taking place the weekend of October 9 – 12. A portion of the property’s proceeds during the event period will go toward breast cancer research. Participants in the tourna- 3 ment will have the opportunity to take advantage of special tennis, golf, spa and dining experiences.

3. Located in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, jane iredale—THE SKIN CARE MAKEUP has released a Breast Cancer Awareness product. All profits from its new Smell the Roses Hydration Spray will go toward the fight against breast cancer via Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a national education and support organization for those affected by the disease.

4. GrandeLASH-MD, based in White Plains, New York, is donating 20 percent of the sales of its GrandeBCAbag in the month of October to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., which helps to provide mammograms for women in need. 20 PULSE

October 2015

4


1 2

MEMBER UPDATES 1. Telli Industries has announced its expansion plans to the West Coast region. The company, based in North Las Vegas, will build on its current relationships and plans to form new partnerships with resort and hotel companies across the West Coast.

2. Stemulation Skin Care, of Newport, California, has partnered with Calistoga, California’s SpaCare Group, a division of SpaEquip, Inc. to make the Stemulation Skin Care line available to spas across the United States.

3. Located in Middleburg, Virginia, Salamander Resort & Spa estimates that approximately one million bees are now residing at the property as part of the resort’s initiative to produce its own honey. The resort has always focused on obtaining locally sourced food and preserving the grounds, so this partnership with a local beekeeper was a natural step forward. Salamander Resort & Spa also hopes that its initiative will help raise awareness of the problems facing honeybees and other pollinators.

3

4

4. Hilton Head Health is offering three new and all-inclusive wellness programs under its newly launched H3 Lifestyle. With H3 Lifestyle: Healthy Kitchen, guests will learn to create healthy and delicious meals through hands-on cooking classes and receive education, including a private nutrition consultation. Guests participating in H3 Lifestyle: Body + Mind will be able to connect with their relaxed selves through medication and yoga, and take a Life Balance Assessment. H3 Lifestyle: Fitness is for guests wishing to maintain an active lifestyle and includes a week-long exercise program and a personal training session.

BRILLIANT IDEA Resort guests at Mexico’s Spa at Las Ventanas al Paraiso can now bring their furry friends along with them worry-free, thanks to the resort’s new Dog Butlers. Providing care to these special guests, staff will walk pets while qualified pet sitters are available upon request. Special menus and massages are also available for the pampered pet, as well as Pet Cabanas for maximum comfort in the suite or at the pool.

NEW ON THE MENU Jindilli—located in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois—is now collaborating with Harrah’s Las Vegas to offer Jindilli Poolside Hand & Foot Bliss massages. Meant to raise brand awareness for both the spa and Jindilli products, the treatments feature Jindilli’s Lime Sugar Scrub and HydraOpulence lotion.

October 2015

PULSE 21


SEE + BE SEEN

BY ALLIE HEMBREE

At the recent East Coast ISPA Media Event held in New York, journalists were on hand to experience featured treatments from top global spas and product companies. FRESH UPDATE. colorescience offered makeovers with a celebrity makeup artist and educated journalists on how to address skin-care concerns and needs using

JAPANESE STYLE. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino

colorescience products.

offered Hanakasumi. Inspired by Japanese tradition, the treatment revives energy using reflexology.

MOISTURE BOOST. Cranwell Resort, Spa & Golf Club showcased BABOR hand and face treatments, using BABOR products to boost the skin’s moisture and nutrient levels.

MAYAN TRADITIONS. Grand Velas Resorts offered the Bacal and Grand Cora Massages, which use Mayan corn and honey applied using a corn cob for an exfoliating and detoxifying treatment.

FOCUS ON FACIALS. Eau Spa at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa highlighted their HydrEAUfacials, which use HydraFacial MD technology to extract and remove impurities and dead skin cells.

22 PULSE

â–

October 2015


HEALING HERBS. The Lodge at Woodloch offered an Herbalinfused Honey Treatment, using honey, sugar and seasonal healing

FROM DOWN UNDER. Jindilli showcased their

herbs for a thorough

BoomaGlam Massage, which uses a boomerang and

exfoliation.

macadamia oil, honoring the company’s Australian heritage.

WELLNESS CONSULTATION. The Mayflower Grace Spa gave a Biochemical Constitutional Consultation, with a wellness therapist recommending biochemical

HEALTHY FACIALS. Massage Envy Spa treated

elements to best

journalists to a Healthy Skin Vitamin C Infusion Mini Facial,

support the

using Murad products formulated with pure Vitamin C to

individual’s body.

repair and prevent free radical damage.

AROMATIC WHIFF. Mirbeau Inn & Spa offered Monet’s Favorite Fragrance Massage, an aromatherapy massage to address physical, mental and emotional well-being.

PROPER POSTURE. Mayo Clinic

CATCHING ZZZZ’S. Miraval

Healthy Living Program conducted

Resort & Spa offered a Healthy Sleep

a Postural Analysis, explaining the ways

Consultation, where Miraval’s sleep

to achieve and maintain optimal

specialist met with individuals and dis-

alignment for improved posture.

cussed how to improve sleep habits and patterns. October 2015

PULSE 23


SEE + BE SEEN FARM-TO-TREATMENT. Travaasa demonstrated Herbal Tinctures for Healing, with Travaasa’s farm manager explained how to make infusions using ingredients from the resort’s farm.

SOLE MATES. Omni Hotels & Resorts showcased their Restorative Native Foot Treatment, a steaming aromatic herbal treatment to penetrate into tired soles and relieve muscle tension.

TOTE FOR A CAUSE. Through a partnership with FEED, every attendee received a FEED tote bag. The proceeds from these bags go to feeding a total of 20,000 hungry children through the World Food Programme. The

MINI TREATMENTS. BIG BENEFITS. Mini treatments were also

bags were sponsored by Spa Week Media Group, Ltd.

offered by (clockwise) Clarins, Essie, The Indigo Spa at Hilton Head Health and Salamander Resort & Spa.

BOOKING WITH EASE. Media attendees were able to pre-book treatments through the appointment software ResortSuite. 24 PULSE

October 2015



CONVERSATIONS WITH ALICE WATERS

B Y M A E M A Ñ AC A P - J O H N S O N

ALICE WATERS—executive chef, founder and owner of Chez Panisse— adds a different flavor to the modern-day food revolution. A passionate advocate 2015 ISPA Y of the Slow Food movement, she KEL ALEX SZE IAN R A IT speaks of the indispensable role local N HUMA AWARD farmers play in providing everyone T RECIPIEN access to clean and healthy food, especially to children in public schools. Waters, who will be gracing this year’s General Session stage, has pushed for food education through The Edible Schoolyard Project, which calls for the integration of nutritious daily lunch and gardening experience in the academic curriculum of public schools. For her efforts, she has been widely recognized through multiple honors and awards, one of which is the 2015 ISPA Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award.

PULSE: Who influenced your love for food and cooking? Alice Waters: Elizabeth David, Lulu Peyraud, Richard Olney, Diana Kennedy, Madhur Jaffrey, Cecilia Chang and Darina Allen.

P: What sparked the idea of Chez Panisse? W: I wanted a place where my friends could come and eat delicious food—the way I had experienced it during my time spent living in France. I was looking for the taste of food in France and to share the awakening that I had there.

P: You once mentioned that when you started your restaurant business, you didn’t really intend to start a food revolution but simply wanted to offer different flavors. What tipped the scale for you to eventually be actively involved in this revolution? W: When I realized how valuable the organic farmers were to the success of Chez Panisse, I wanted to support them. So I put their names on the menus and spoke publicly about the importance of local organic food. 26 PULSE

October 2015

P: You are passionate about educating kids about sustainable food and providing them access to healthy meals in school. In what way has The Edible Schoolyard Project helped realize this mission? W: One thing The Edible Schoolyard Project has taught me is that, when children grow food and they cook it, they all want to eat it. Our program helps to bring children into a new relationship with food, agriculture and the environment. An Edible Education model with a sustainable school lunch program has the power to transform the health and values of every child in America. P: In your opinion, what are the factors that drive the growing acceptance and support of the Slow Food movement? W: Taking care of the land, educating children, feeding ourselves in nutritious and delicious ways and bringing communities together at the table is the common language of Slow Food. It was the values of taste and pleasure that brought me into this movement but I believe it is the values of social justice, connect-


ing to local and organic food movements, and the act of bringing people around the table together that keep people engaged and committed to Slow Food.

P: In what way has the palate of today’s consumers changed in terms of the food they consciously consume? W: Supporting small local farms and bringing more farmer’s markets to our cities means that more of us have access to delicious organic food being grown in the right way. Through that experience, our tastes and values change, and we begin to want to do what is right. By that, I don’t mean only what tastes right, but what is right about an entire process of growing, harvesting, transporting, purchasing, preparing and eating.

“...when children grow food and they cook it, they all want to eat it.”

P: Among the criticisms of organic and Slow Food are convenience and cost. What needs to be done to make organic food more accessible and inexpensive? W: It is so important for people to understand that things can be affordable, but they can never be cheap. Because if they’re cheap, then someone is missing out— and that is usually the farmer. Through an edible education in all public schools, we begin to value the farmer’s precious work and are willing to pay for it.

P: Some food manufacturers argue that Slow Food activists are out of touch with the realities of food supply and farms. What are some of the pressing issues you see in agriculture that need to be quickly addressed to further promote sustainable food sources? W: We absolutely need to be supporting young farmers and building networks and businesses of community-supported agriculture. Farm-to-table restaurants are one way to ensure the demand for local produce stays strong.

P: You’ve achieved a lot in preaching the virtues of Slow Food. What do you envision for the future in terms of further advancing the food revolution? W: If we could change the criteria for purchasing food in schools to local and organic, we could change farming overnight. Feeding all children for free in our public schools addresses both the issues of health and equality. ■

Personal Side Notes Ultimate Comfort Food: Garlic Soup Food Apps I’m Hooked On: Civil Eats, Food 52 and Eat Italy Book on My Nightstand Now: The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono Dream Guest I’d Be Happy to Host for a Lovely Dinner: Pope Francis—and I’d serve something fresh from the garden Hotel Amenity I Look for When Traveling: Having windows that open is very important to me. I like to have a room with a bathtub, a garden to walk in and of course, organic food in room service. Live the Spa Lifestyle by: Making sure I have a great massage once a week and a bath every morning

October 2015

PULSE 27


ISPA INNOVATE AWARD

EXPLORING

INNOVATIVE IDEAS BY ANDREW DEWSON

CONGRATULATIONS to this year’s ISPA Innovate Award winners that have been selected by ISPA members and recognized for their unique ideas and creative spirit in the following categories: experiences, products and business practices! EXPERIENCES Herb Wall by WTS International

Charity Zen Wall by Spa Gregorie’s

28 PULSE

October 2015

H

ow do you create a low-cost air purifier, a source of fresh organic ingredients and a key new spa revenue driver? Put up an “herb wall.” Designed and created by WTS International for the Spa Evangeline at the Epicurean Hotel in Tampa, Florida, the herb wall is “living, breathing art” that has grown popular among spa guests who want aromatic herbs grown feet away from treatment tables incorporated into their treatment experiences. “It is a new way to customize a guest’s treatment beyond simply choosing an aromatherapy addon,” says WTS Vice President of Spa Operations Susie Hammer.

W

hich charitable foundation should a spa give to and support? To help answer this question, Spa Gregorie’s introduced the “Zen Charity Wall.” Guests are invited to place a stone in a bowl set in the “Zen Charity Wall.” The charity with the most support gets the largest donation. “This is unique in the sense that it emotionally ties the community closer to Spa Gregorie’s by creating a collaborative partnership with our community philanthropic efforts,” says Spa Gregorie’s President Scott Duncan.


Bodhi Massage and Visualization

H

ow do you breathe new life into age-old treatments? “Bodhi Massage and Visualization” experience by Encore Spa at Wynn Las Vegas blends the physical benefits of a massage with the benefits of increased positive mind and energy levels. Massage therapist Mary Weber explains that the treatment “balances the body’s subtle energies by incorporating massage, colored light therapy, essential oils, chakra points, energy work, sound and vibration as well as a guided visualization.”

by Encore Spa at Wynn Las Vegas

PRODUCTS Body Therapeutics by HydroPeptide

“W

hile peptides are common in facial skin care, HydroPeptide’s Scientific Advisory Board has identified the peptides that are most effective in addressing a range of body imperfections,” says April Zangl, HydroPeptide’s chief executive and product co-formulator. This inspired HydroPeptide to create “Body Therapeutics,” a body-care range that addresses body-specific concerns, such as stretch marks and scars, blemishes and arm bumps, cellulite, unsightly veins and bruises, slackened skin, swelling and discomfort, and uneven skin tone.

Fusion + Studio

L

iving Earth Crafts’ “Fusion + Studio” combines a massage chair with a multitude of sensory technology enhancements: Zenvi™ Sound Cushion, LED chromatherapy lighting, heat therapy and a security-mounted iPad with Moving Art™ featuring meditative journeys by renowned artist Louie Schwartzberg. “Because there is nothing like it and the experience it offers is immediate and tangible, it functions as an indispensable spa equipment and as a means by which to promote spa business and generate revenue,” says Living Arts Chief Executive James Chenevey.

by Living Earth Crafts

Luxury Spa Micro-Fiber Linens by Comphy Co.

L

aundry and linen replacement is a major expense for any spa. Comphy Co.’s range of linens, the first specifically designed for the spa industry, combines breathability and softness in fabric with practical benefits like durability and low cost of ownership. Chief Executive Officer and Founder Mia Richardson attributes its company’s growth mainly by word-of-mouth marketing, which is why she makes it a point to consider customer feedback when innovating products.

October 2015

PULSE 29


BUSINESS PRACTICES Sanitas Charitable Partners Program

T

he “Sanitas Charitable Partners Program” supports spas, charities and communities in three ways: by buying back discontinued product and distributing the money to local charities; by compensating its staff for days spent volunteering locally; and by matching funds raised at partner events. “Allowing business partners and team members to choose their own focus means we are able to support a much wider range of charities than we would otherwise. If more vendors and spas were to implement similar programs, the potential to create support momentum for underserved communities and organizations could grow exponentially,” says Sanitas President and Chief Executive Lisa Crary.

by Sanitas Skincare

#BLANKCANCER by Saxon/Hart

30 PULSE

October 2015

A

spa marketing and consulting group, Saxon/Hart’s “#BLANKCANCER” campaign has allowed millions of people all over the world to contribute their voice to cancer awareness. Participants were asked to fill out the sign, add their feelings about cancer and share over social media. “It is the only campaign of its kind that allows participants to lend their voice to the fight against cancer in any way they want as artistically, creatively and emphatically as they are inspired,” says Saxon/Hart President Heidi Burkhart.


Ayurvedic Philosophy by BodiScience Wellness Center & Spa

Sunstoppable by colorescience

T

o help broaden its guests’ knowledge on family wellness issues and empower women to make better health decisions for themselves and their loved ones, BodiScience Wellness Center & Spa introduced “Ayurvedic Philosophy” in 1991. “Using Ayurveda as a strong foundation, we shared with our clients about the many areas of health that needed to have a focus, not just diet and exercise,” says BodiScience Founder and Chief Executive Dawn Tardif. Today, the spa inspires clients to pass on their health knowledge to their kids. “They have grown into incredibly well-educated, healthy young adults. We see it now.” To strengthen its education-focused offering, the spa first teaches staff members, who in turn, share their knowledge to guests. “We taught, shared with and invested in them through weekly meetings and inspiration focus,” Tardif says.

T

eaming up with elementary schools and the Women’s Dermatological Society, colorescience’s “Sunstoppable” campaign aims to teach children and young adults about the importance of sunscreen and the dangers of too much sun exposure. “We know that protection today means beautiful, healthy skin tomorrow but millions of Americans don’t always realize that every sunburn counts and UV rays can have an impact on your skin 365 days a year. We aim to change the conversation because prevention through sun protection matters every day to everyone,” says National Director of Hospitality & Strategic Accounts Lisa Edmonson. Providing shade from the sun is an important part of the campaign. Earlier this year, colorescience partnered with Ocean Knoll Elementary School in Encinitas, California and planted six trees in the school’s playground area. Aside from planting trees, the company also donated sun sails to ensure kids can take refuge from the sun when playing outdoors.


ISPA 2015 U.S. SPA INDUSTRY STUDY

POINTING UP Moving Toward Positive Growth

D

ata from the ISPA 2015 U.S. Spa Industry Study tells a story of continuing growth, which carries on last year’s “back on track” theme and reflects the spa industry’s positive recovery since the economic downturn in the previous years. The report shows growth in the majority of its “Big 5” indicators: revenue, spa visits, locations, revenue per visit and employment.

REVENUE Spa revenues in 2014 reached US$15.5 billion, which points to a 5.3 percent increase from the US$14.7 billion total revenue in 2013.

5.3%

73% Profitability Excluding the resort/hotel sector, 73 percent of spas reported a 2014 profit percentage in excess of 10 percent, a sharp increase in comparison to the 57 percent that reported increased profits in excess of 10 percent in 2013.

32 PULSE

October 2015

LOCATIONS A modest 2.4 percent increase in spa locations was reported in 2014. New spa locations reached a total of 20,660 versus the estimated 20,180 new locations in 2013.

2.4%


THE ISPA 2015 U.S. SPA INDUSTRY STUDY is a members-only benefit. To download your copy, go to the Research page of experienceispa.com and log on using your ISPA member login.

89% CONFIDENCE

CLIENT SPENDING PER VISIT

SPA VISITS

LEVEL

An overwhelming majority (89 percent) of respondents said they are “confident” that revenues will continue to increase in 2015, indicating a continued positive outlook for the spa industry.

PART-TIME EMPLOYEES

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES

EMPLOYMENT With an uptick in the U.S. economy evident in the labor market, the positive growth in employment is further reflected in the spa industry. As of May 2015, total employment has increased 2.9 percent compared to the same period last year. In total, the spa industry hired 360,000 individuals versus 349,900 in May 2014.

2.9%

Spas added full-time employees, growing its workforce from an estimated 148,300 in May 2014 to 153,800 in May 2015. The increase indicates that full-time employment in the spa sector has grown 3.7 percent.

3.7%

The highest growth in the employment category within the spa sector is in part-time employment. Within the May 2014 and May 2015 period, there were 7,500 more parttime jobs created in the spa industry, which represents a 4.8 percent increase in the part-time workforce.

4.8%

The increase in spa revenues was driven by strong growth in the number of spa visits, increasing from 164 million in 2013 to 176 million in 2014. The growth represents a 6.7 percent increase in spa visits.

When asked about their experienced in the past six months (September 2014 to March 2015) compared to the same period last year, 69 percent reported an increase in client spending per visit.

69%

6.7%

US$88 REVENUE Per Visit

Revenue per visit has slightly declined at 1.3 percent compared to the reported revenue per visit (US$89) in 2013.

October 2015

PULSE 33


Reasons Why You’ll Love Scott Harrison ISPA CONFE REN KEYNO CE TE SPEAKE R WEDNE SDAY, O CT. 21

BY MAE MAÑACAP-JOHNSON

s founder of charity:water and this year’s ISPA Conference & Expo General Session Keynote speaker, Scott Harrison has lived a life as inspiring as the stories he tells. Raised in a Christian home, he strayed and lived a worldly life as a nightlife promoter for 10 years before he realized how empty and meaningless his life was. “I was always chasing the wrong things,” he recalls. Lost but committed to finding his way back, he took a leap of faith, gave up his lavish lifestyle and committed one year of his life to service. Little did he know that one year was merely the beginning of a lifetime of commitment to charity and service. With his inspiring journey, there are many more reasons to love Harrison—let us count the ways.

1.

He became his mother’s caregiver at a young age. When Harrison was only four years old, his mother—then a journalist—suffered irreparable damage to her immune system due to carbon monoxide poisoning. The family just moved to their new house when the poisonous gas leaked from a tiny crack in a furnace. “I basically watched my mom go from this vibrant woman to an invalid. Anything with chemicals—soap, fragrance or even ink from books—made her sick,” he says.

34 PULSE

October 2015

2.

He went through and survived a rebellious phase. He grew up very active in church as a young kid, but took a wayward path during his adolescent years. At 18, he moved to New York and was quickly drawn into the nightlife scene, working as a club promoter. He was living large in the company of the rich and beautiful, partying hard and drinking harder. “I was a mess,” he admits, recalling the lifestyle he lived.

A decade later, he had a rude awakening: Despite all the status and money, he realized he was emotionally, morally and spiritually bankrupt. It was then he decided to give a year in service as a way to slowly redeem himself for wasting 10 years of his life.

3.

He was turned down by every single humanitarian organization he applied for as a volunteer— except Mercy Ships.


“There are two things I want to do before I die: Provide access to clean water and give people a charity they can believe in.” When he started to apply for volunteer work in humanitarian organizations, every single one turned him down. “They have no interest in taking on a nightclub promoter to their mission,” he says. Finally, he heard from one organization called Mercy Ships, an international hospital ship that provides lifesaving surgeries to people without access to medical care. “They called me and said, ‘If you’re willing to pay us US$500 a month, you can volunteer with us.” He boarded Mercy Ships with 300 volunteers and headed for Africa.

4.

He loves telling stories through his lens. With his passion to tell stories through photography, he volunteered to document Mercy Ships’ work through his lens. Although he was ready to share each patient’s story, he realized he wasn’t emotionally prepared for what he was about to see. At the time, Mercy Ships can only provide 1,500 medical surgeries, but close to 7,000 people with medical conditions showed up in the stadium. “Knowing that more than 5,000 people will be turned away was really hard,” he says. Then he saw the first person in line—a boy named Alfred with a giant tumor on his face. “I just remembered looking at his eyes, and I was terrified,” he says. “I ran into the corner of the stadium—I lost it.” Despite the initial shock, he soon realized how transformative it is to see patients embraced back into their community after the surgery. “It was a really unique position to be the photographer and see unimaginable suffering, and then see hope brought by these doctors and volunteers who have served,” he says.

5.

On his second Mercy Ships trip as a volunteer, he learned of the immensity of the global water crisis and was moved to do something about it. Harrison’s second tour with Mercy Ships brought him to Liberia, a country torn by poverty and civil war for many years. It was during this trip that he met an engineer volunteer from Colorado who dug up wells for rural communities and showed him the immensely dirty water sources from where people drink. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing and hearing about the lack of clean water access in Liberia and other developing countries. This experience left him with a profound impression on the root cause of many of these people’s diseases and how much more impact he can have if he focused his service on helping provide access to clean water. “My heart was on fire. I am going to do this for the rest of my life,” he says, returning home with a much clearer mission.

6.

To raise money for charity:water, he threw one epic birthday party. Combining his marketing and event planning skills honed from years of experience as a nightlife promoter, Harrison launched charity:water by throwing an epic birthday party with one goal in mind: raise money for charity:water. He raised US$15,000 from the party and used the money to build and fix wells in Northern Uganda in Africa. “We sent photos and GPS links of the locations of the wells we’ve built to the 700 people who donated and attended the party,” he says, adding that it was always his goal to reinvent the way charitable organizations operate by making charity:water’s finances and work transparent to the people who donated. “There are two things I want to do before I die: Provide access to clean water and give people a charity they can believe in,” Harrison says. At the rate he is going, it doesn’t seem he’s very far off from ticking these items off his bucket list. ■

TO KNOW MORE about Harrison and charity:water, visit charitywater.org.

October 2015

PULSE 35




CANDID

RANDI

Simplifying Dot Complicated BY MAE MAÑACAP-JOHNSON

andi Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media, knows the pains and joys of building a startup company. “It’s difficult to live in Silicon Valley and not want to have your own startup. When you’re surrounded by so many passionate people solving difficult problems to change the world, every single day, you can’t help but feel inspired to flex your own entrepreneurial muscles,” says the editor-in-chief of digital lifestyle destination, Dot Complicated. Zuckerberg says the rewarding aspects of launching a startup can far outweigh the challenges if one stays focused and persevere ISPA NCE through the hard times. “When you take baby business steps and CONFERE work through obstacles, you can celebrate those small victories KEYNOTE that add up to a greater whole. It’s an amazing feeling,” she says. ER SPEAK 19 OCT. In this candid interview, Zuckerberg offers a glimpse into the MONDAY, lessons she learned, the tech trends she’s keeping an eye on, and why she gives her self a permission to be imperfect. PHOTO CREDIT: DELBARR MORADI

Pulse: Can you share some lessons that can help new companies survive and thrive, especially during the critical first few years of business? Zuckerberg: The odds of succeeding as a startup have been said to be one out of every 10 and, according to the U.S. Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics, only about half of small businesses fail in the first five years. But failure doesn’t necessarily mean that your business won’t turn a profit. You have to get accustomed to failure. Wayne Gretzky was the highest scorer 38 PULSE

October 2015

in the NHL but he also missed the most shots. You have to take risks and have confidence in yourself taking those risks. How someone else ran his or her own company may not be the best way for you to run yours. Make sure to stay educated on your industry. See what else is out there. Listen to podcasts, read books, stay in the game and stay relevant. And never, never, never give up—just reassess and keep on keeping on. Just like a GPS in your car, if you make a wrong turn, you have to recalibrate. Ask questions, get business mentors and believe in yourself.

P: How did your previous work at Facebook influence the way you lead, manage and operate your own business today? Z: At Facebook, I noticed a lot of the innovation in online content had been by men for men and I wanted to change that. At Zuckerberg Media, I wanted to target more “wired women”—an emerging demographic of everyone, from young working women to grandmothers, who spend two to three hours a day online. I’d been taking notes from the women I’ve worked with along the way: Diane Sawyer, Tina Brown, advertising legend Shelly


Lazarus, and Facebook’s COO, Sheryl Sandberg, among them. I learned how to reach people and capture attention—something Facebook is revolutionary for. My idea was to distribute our own content wherever people are watching. We want to be with our audience, from tough political coverage to the fun show that they’re watching at the end of the day. I needed to shed my image as someone who has produced only for tech nerds so that when people heard the name “Zuckerberg” they didn’t just think it’s that one Zuckerberg from Facebook. P: What are some of the trends you’re seeing in terms of how people want to consume content and how it’s delivered to them?

in GIFs and emojis in what is almost disposable-like content. P: How do you envision the future and intersection of wellness and technology? Z: With technology changing the many facets of life, it’s only a matter of time before personal health and health care become another conquest of the digital world. Never before have we been so connected to medical information and medical providers as we are today. But where medicine will really benefit most is from online feedback, questions and commentary. Through the use of online analytics and algorithms, medical professionals can determine the side effects certain medications have within a particular demographic before a sick or

“With technology changing the many facets of life, it's only a matter of time before personal health and health care become another conquest of the digital world.” Z: I actually just discussed this on my radio show Dot Complicated [on SiriusXM Business 111]. One of my guests, Christian Brucculeri, CEO of Snaps (makesnaps.com), was saying how consumers are spending two to three hours a day sending messages back and forth. This means the next wave of brand advertising and commerce will be seen through visual messaging. Since the average attention span hovers somewhere around eight seconds, snackable media—such as Instagram and Vine—will become even shorter in length. We will see an uptick

injured person ever makes it into the emergency room simply based on a Google search. Patients can get matched to specialists, doctors can recommend other doctors in or out of their respective fields, and soon all health records will be consolidated onto one easy-to-manage data repository. With innovative companies such as CellScope, which has the world’s first smartphone-enabled digital first-aid kit, and interactive health-care company HealthTap, the technological disruption will bring health back to health care, generating a tremendous

positive impact for everyone. P: How can businesses best use and leverage big data to their advantage without making consumers feel threatened with issues like intrusion of privacy? Z: I think that companies need to do a better job of educating their customers as to why they need their data to deliver them a better experience. Businesses spend so much money building their apps and web presence, and so much money marketing...but they forget to spend money and time educating their customers. If a customer immediately sees a pop-up asking for data, or don’t fully understand why a business needs to access their location, of course they are going to be anxious about their privacy. But if you can explain to them that giving access to their location enables you to improve their daily lives, then you stand a much better chance. Of course, once you make that promise to your customers, you need to actually deliver on it with a good product! P: You’ve authored a book entitled Dot Complicated. If you can drill it down to the basics, what’s the one most important insight you’d like readers to take away from your book? Z: How important it is to find a work-life balance. You can’t pay attention to everyone and lately, it’s become difficult to pay attention even to yourself. I follow a simple mantra: Work. Sleep. Family. Friends. Fitness. Pick three. These are the essential things we need, but can’t do every day. Choose how to spend the in-between moments of your day, don’t let it just happen. In the quest for work-life balance, you have to give yourself permission to be imperfect. ■ October 2015

PULSE 39


HIGH PROFILE:

LAST OF TWO PARTS

Spotlight on Speakers BY JENNIFER DUCKWORTH

Gerry O’Brion

Big Branding, Small Dollars - Grow Any Spa like a BillionDollar Brand BEST PIECE OF ADVICE GIVEN TO YOU:

Follow your interests, not what you “should” do.

eSpeakers

FAVORITE MOBILE APP:

MUST-READ BOOK:

Kristine Huffman

o you know which apps this year’s Professional Development Session (PDS) speakers use for their own business or work? What books would they recommend you add to your mustread list? Get to know some of the PDS speakers in the last part of this feature series.

D Andrea Foster

Get it done! From Vision Spa & Wellness: Driving to Action in Three Steps the Opportunity in Hospitality Pause and breathe before responding.

Delta

What other people think of you is none of your business. Boldly be you.

LinkedIn

Scott Friedman

Deborah Evans Parker

Connecting with Customers

Spa Trends to Implement Today

Abundance flourishes in a grateful heart.

FlightTrack

Positioning

Clear Leadership

Rising Strong

On Fire at Work

BY AL RIES AND JACK TROUT

BY GERVASE R. BUSHE

BY BRENE BROWN

BY ERIC CHESTER

Be grateful for what you have and always pay it forward.

Twitter

The New Wellness Revolution: How to Make a Fortune in the Next Trillion Dollar Industry BY PAUL ZANE PILZER

LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARE WITH ISPA CONFERENCE ATTENDEES:

The breakthroughs people have during the presentation

40 PULSE

October 2015

The planning tools that have helped me build a successful career in hospitality

How spa industry leaders can interpret economic, hospitality and spa industry data to help them optimize the performance of their spa

How to turn on your GPS (Gratitude, Play and Surprise)

The potential of this amazing industry


BEST PIECE OF ADVICE GIVEN TO YOU:

FAVORITE MOBILE APP:

MUST-READ BOOK:

Petra Kolber

Tanya Chernova

Paula Gregorowicz

Patti Biro

Boldijarre Koronczay

Strengthening Your Bottom Line by Elevating your Employees’ Happiness

Increasing Sales and Employee Performance Through Effective Goal-setting

The Art of Pain-Free Profitability: Adventures in Doing Less and Earning More

Get Gift-Card Savvy— Maximizing the Power of Gifting

Achieve Your Dreams: Steps to Turn Your Vision into Success

Be generous with your knowledge and humble with your success.

Don’t wait for everything to be perfect, just start.

Some people are going to love you and some are going to hate you—it has more to do with them than you. So just keep being true to yourself.

Do what you love and it will never feel like “work.”

My mom once told me, “Reach for the stars but keep your feet on the ground.”

Word Swag

Uber

MileBug

Booker

Alarm

The How of Happiness

Goals! (How to Get

Profit First

Why She Buys

Delivering Happiness

BY SONJA LYUBOMIRSKY

Everything You Want— Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible)

BY MIKE MICHALOWICZ

BY BRIDGET BRENNAN

BY TONY HSIEH

Being profitable is not about how much you make—it’s about being intentional, keeping more of what you make and using it to create a great life. If you feel like a hamster on a wheel or a slave in your business, today is the time for that to shift.

Inspiration, innovation and at least three new out-of-the-box ideas that they can implement tomorrow

The story behind our charitable initiative, Eminence Kids, and the challenges and tribulations of building a successful business from the ground up with social responsibility

BY BRIAN TRACY

LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARE WITH ISPA CONFERENCE ATTENDEES:

The power of the pause and that we get 18,000 chances a day (in between each breath) to choose how we want to affect the world and those around us

I look forward to reigniting their passion for our amazing industry, to connect them to their purpose, their power and their ability to make a meaningful and joyful difference in the lives of everyone they touch.

WANT TO SEE the latest schedule of this year’s sessions and speakers? Visit pulse.experienceispa.com to see the full PDS list. October 2015

PULSE 41




Where

ARE They

Now

Catching Up with Past Keynote Speakers BY MAE MAÑACAP-JOHNSON

hroughout the ISPA Conference & Expo’s history, a remarkable number of speakers have graced the General Session stage—all leaving an indelible mark in the hearts of attendees who were once touched by their inspiring message of living life fearlessly, creatively and generously. For ISPA’s 25th anniversary, let’s lean back and enjoy a cup of tea while we catch up with some of the ISPA Conference’s well-loved keynote speakers.

ERIK WAHL Graffiti Artist, Entrepreneur and Author of UNthink 2004 and 2014 ISPA Conference & Expo Keynote Speaker

Pulse: What’s keeping you busy? Erik Wahl: I write and paint every single day. Writing is to thinking as painting is to seeing. They are the lenses by which I view the world and process new ideas. I am currently publishing my second major book in the spring of next year. I also have a production team of developers and agents creating online curriculum and films to make my writings, ideas and artwork into consumable and actionable bite-sized chunks. P: How do you productively manage your time? W: I am exceptionally disciplined in how I delegate time, including on relaxation, meditation, massage, yoga, wander walks, writing, working out, eating, relationships, research and strategy. P: How do you continue to grow your knowledge in your area of expertise? W: I consume information and musings from a wealth of different channels—from literature, art, movies, business, speakers to TED talks. I love this diversification. P: How do you handle stress in your daily work and personal life? W: Very intentionally. I am a passionate and wildly volatile individual. It is my greatest asset and my greatest weakness. To the extent that I am aware of this is the extent that I can harness 44 PULSE

October 2015

and manage it. As I feel stress overtaking my soul, I intentionally relax, breathe, meditate and get a massage to physically change the sight, smell and feel of the environment of my stress. P: If you have a chance to hear a fellow speaker or an expert in another field speak at an ISPA Conference, who would you like to see and hear? W: I see a different speaker every single day being on tour. I enjoy some. I learn from some. And I am bored by some. It depends as much on my current state of mind as it does on their content, skill or presence on the stage. But truth be told—I prefer live music to speakers. I get much greater ideas and inspiration from a concert than I do from an individual speaker. P: Recalling the time you spoke on stage at the ISPA Conference, what was your favorite moment? W: My favorite ISPA moment was remembering the engagement of the audience. The best kind of audience is an engaged audience—and ISPA was the best. FOR MORE ABOUT Wahl and his creative visions, visit theartofvision.com.


TIM SANDERS Motivational Speaker, Consulting Expert and Author of The Likeability Factor, Saving the World at Work, Love is the Killer App and Today We Are Rich 2005 ISPA Conference & Expo Keynote Speaker

Pulse: What’s keeping you busy? Tim Sanders: I’ve just completed my fifth book, entitled Dealstorming. It will be published Feb. 23, 2016 by Penguin Portfolio. It’s targeted to sales leaders and account executives and offers a process for building a diverse team to solve big challenges through collaboration. Otherwise, I spend my days traveling to speak at conferences and meetings. P: How do you productively manage your time? S: The trick for me is to “single task” (do one thing at a time) and use the Evernote service so everything I do can be synchronized to any of my devices. It allows me to capture all my ideas, information, interviews and project work in one place. The other secret to time management is to push back on projects or “asks” that aren’t on my product, marketing or services roadmap. I still do favors for people, such as mentorship or networking, but I have a strict budget for these things. P: How do you continue to grow your knowledge in your area of expertise? S: Writing new books is a good way to increase your expertise in an area quickly. For my latest book, I’ve read over a hundred

books, 1,000 studies and interviewed 200 experts. That’s a lot of knowledge collection! Otherwise, my advice is to schedule regular time, five days a week to read books or key trade publications that improve your understanding of the future, how you can better perform and how your colleagues can succeed. Read a book a month and you’ll get a lot smarter, faster! P: How do you handle stress in your daily work and personal life? S: It gets back to my earlier point about managing time: Don’t join the multi-tasking rat race. Do one thing at a time, with all your devices and notifications turned off. Also, I don’t go online for the first 45 minutes of the day. I walk my dog, have coffee and read a little. This makes a big difference on my psyche. The last thing I’d suggest is that you constantly reframe the news to understand if it’s really bad or just “get-busy” (meaning, you’ll have to change, adapt or do extra work). Once you get the reframe habit going, not much will really stress you out. P: If you have a chance to hear a fellow speaker or an expert in another field speak at an ISPA Conference, who would you like to see and hear? S: I’d like to see David Burkus, author of The Myths of Creativity, talk about innovation both at work and in marketing. He’s got a brilliant point-of-view about what it really takes to produce beautiful work that is unexpected and effective. P: Recalling the time you spoke on stage at the ISPA Conference, what was your favorite moment? S: My most memorable moment was after my talk, when I had a chance to meet with your members. They are kindred spirits to my key message: Bring love to work every day. Build up everyone you do business with. Be the person that parts the clouds in others’ lives “so the joy can shine through.” TO READ A SUMMARY of Sanders’ latest book, Dealstorming, visit tinyurl.com/DSsummary1. Plus, visit timsanders.com to know more about his other books and access free tips and downloads. October 2015

PULSE 45


PETER BURWASH Founder and President of Peter Burwash International, World-Renowned Tennis Coach and Author of The Key to Great Leadership, Total Health, Tennis for Life and Improving the Landscape of Your Life. 2004 ISPA Conference & Expo Speaker

Pulse: What’s keeping you busy? Peter Burwash: I just completed my 11th book entitled Behind Every Lesson There is a Wonderful Journey. I am also helping to build schools for girls in India. P: How do you productively manage your time? B: Write everything down. We are on information overload these days. Stay away from smartphones. They truly are “weapons of mass distraction,” and an addiction for so many people. P: How do you continue to grow your knowledge in your area of expertise? B: Read, read, read. I read magazines and newspapers, and ask questions to everyone I meet. P: How do you handle stress in your daily work and personal life? B: I start my day with a 7 am yoga class. Plus, I always try to remember Billie Jean King’s quote, “Pressure is a privilege. It only comes to those who earn it.”

P: If you have a chance to hear a fellow speaker or an expert in another field speak at an ISPA Conference, who would you like to see and hear? B: I’d like to hear Isadore “Issy” Sharp, founder of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group. Issy is a class act as a human being while Sir Richard is an outstanding innovator. P: Recalling the time you spoke on stage at the ISPA Conference, what was your favorite moment? B: I spoke a couple of times at the ISPA Conference. The second time I spoke, an attendee told me how her life was changed after she followed my recommendation and switched to a vegetarian diet. She brought a before and after photo of her 50-pound weight loss. ■

BURWASH RECENTLY became the 10th inductee into the Tennis Industry Hall of Fame. As the sole inductee for 2015, Burwash will join tennis legends Billie Jean King, Nick Bollettieri and Dennis Van der Meer. For more about Burwash and his work, visit pbitennis.com and peterburwash.com.

46 PULSE

October 2015





DEFINING MOMENTS

ISPA EVOLUTION

BY MAE MAÑACAP-JOHNSON

here are so many highlights within ISPA’s 25-year history. It’s impossible to sum up all the many milestones and historical firsts, but we can’t move forward unless we learn to look back and appreciate the journey made. Here’s to 25 years—and cheers to 25 more!

T

Attendees joined the stretching activity at the 1999 ISPA Conference & Expo at Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa, Florida.

1.

The idea of creating a community like ISPA was sparked by a group of spa professionals who first gathered in 1990 for a spa symposium at New Age Health Spa in Neversink, New York. Envisioning an association that will serve as the voice of the global spa industry, the group founded the International Spa and Fitness Association and held its first ISPA Conference a year later.

2.

& Club in Aventura, Florida. A total of 150 attendees representing 10 countries attended the event.

The first gathering that sparked the idea.

The first ISPA Conference. In 1991, the first ISPA Conference was held at Turnberry Isle Resort

50 PULSE

October 2015

3.

The launch of ISPA’s logo. The first ISPA logo was offi-

cially released in 1992. It has since undergone several makeovers, including a redesign in 1994 and a logo refresh in 2014.

4.

The publication of the first Pulse newsletter. The publication of the first Pulse issue in

spring of 1992 solidified Pulse’s role in ISPA’s history as its official trade publication and the preeminent resource for spa professionals.


ISPA's early newsletter highlights the importance of attending the ISPA Conference & Expo.

Featured on the cover of its first issue is the election of ISPA’s first Board of Directors. Werner Mendel, owner and operator of New Age Health Spa in Neversink, New York, was elected ISPA’s first president. Deborah Szekely, founder of Rancho La Puerta, was appointed “honorary chairman for life.”

5.

The first ISPA Media Luncheon. On July 1995, the first

ISPA Media Luncheon (now ISPA Media Event) was held in New York with a total of 63 journalists in attendance. The invite-only event has continued to grow through the years. Nearly 150 top journalists attended the recent East Coast ISPA Media Event in New York.

6.

The launch of the inaugural Silent Auction. The first ISPA Silent

Auction was held during the 1995 ISPA Conference at Wyndham Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas. Proceeds from the event were donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The annual Auction has since grown to include a Live Auction and was later officially named ISPA Foundation Live & Silent Auctions. Proceeds of the Auctions help to support the ISPA Foundation’s research and educational initiatives.

The establishment of ISPA’s international chapters. To strengthen its

7.

international presence, ISPA established its European chapter in 1997. A year later, the first ISPA Conference of its European Chapter was held in Austria. Its AsiaPacific Chapter was later established in 1999. Then, in 2003, both chapters were absorbed into the rest of the membership to reflect a unified ISPA voice.

8.

The rebranding of ISPA. In 1998, ISPA went

9.

The founding of ISPA Foundation.

through a brand identity makeover, starting with a name change. The International Spa and Fitness Association dropped “Fitness” from its name. The rebranding also included an unveiling of a new logo during the 1998 ISPA Conference at The Broadmoor in Colorado. The new brand identity included a globe as a visual element to emphasize ISPA’s international scope.

In 1999, the ISPA Education Foundation (now ISPA Foundation) was created from an initial seed grant of US$30,000 from Vicenzo R. Marra, founder of Italian Beauty Innovations. Today, the ISPA Foundation continues to fund and support industry-related education and research, and provide scholarships to the spa industry’s future leaders through the ISPA Foundation Mary Tabacchi Scholarship.

The international attendees were all smiles at the 1998 ISPA Conference & Expo held at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

October 2015

PULSE 51


10.

The evolution of Pulse into a glossy magazine. From an eight-page,

black-and-white newsletter, Pulse evolved into a glossy magazine in 1999. The new, full-color format allowed the award-winnig Pulse magazine to better engage readers, helping reinforce the magazine’s growing status as a leading source for spa industry news, game-changing trends and expert insights.

11.

ISPA Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award was given to Cooper Aerobics Center founder Dr. Kenneth Cooper during the 2003 ISPA Conference & Expo at the Wyndham Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas. The award recognizes exceptional contributions to well-being and honors the memory of former ISPA president, Alex Szekely, whose family founded Rancho La Puerta.

The launch of the new website.

In 2000, ISPA launched its new website, experienceispa.com. ISPA’s online presence provided ISPA members easy access to valuable industry resources and information 24/7. Earlier this year, ISPA rolled out a refreshed and digitally responsive website.

12.

14.

The creation of the ISPA Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award. The first

The first ISPA U.S. Industry Study was released. The first ISPA U.S. Industry

15.

The release of the first ISPA Consumer Trends Report. In 2004, ISPA

released its first ISPA Consumer Trends Report. Conducted by The Hartman Group, key findings in the study pointed toward consumers’ enhanced interest in local and indigenous spa experiences as well as a growing need for customization.

16.

The record-breaking attendance at the 2006 ISPA Conference & Expo.

Study, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, was released in 2000. Monitoring the “Big 5” indicators in the spa industry, the study allowed ISPA members to stay abreast with industry trends. The first report predicted a rapid spa industry growth and indicated that there were 5,689 spa locations and 95 million spa visits in 1999. In contrast, data from the ISPA 2015 U.S. Spa Industry Study showed that spa locations have reached 20,660 and spa visits were estimated at 176 million in 2014.

At the 2006 ISPA Conference & Expo at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, the event hit a historical first with 3,302 spa professionals in attendance, the most number of attendees the event has ever had. A testament to the event’s growing reputation as the premiere spa industry event, the ISPA Conference & Expo has grown exponentially since it was first held with 150 spa leaders in attendance.

The launch of the Supervisory Skill Builders program. In 2003, ISPA launched

The official release of the ISPA Mission/Vision. In 2003, ISPA released its

13.

its Supervisory Skill Builders program. As a prerequisite to a Certified Spa Supervisor (CSS) designation, the Supervisory Skill Builders program consists of nine books, each customized to key supervisory areas in the spa industry.

Attendees enjoyed an evening of fun during the 2000 ISPA Conference & Expo at The Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada.

52 PULSE

October 2015

17.

official mission and vision. ISPA continues to uphold its vision “to be the leader in promoting and enhancing the well-being of the spa industry and the people it serves.” (CONTINUED ON PAGE 54)



ISPA EVOLUTION: 25 DEFINING MOMENTS (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 52)

Past members of the ISPA Board of Directors.

18.

The ISPA Pavilion. In

2007, the first ISPA Pavilion was held during the Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) 11 Forum held in Marina del Ray, California.

The release of the firstever ISPA Global Consumer Report. In 2007, ISPA and ITEC

19.

France partnered to produce the first-ever global spa industry research. With respondents from 12 countries, the report highlighted ISPA’s role in providing global spa industry insights. The report estimated nearly 100 million active spa-goers worldwide.

20.

The inaugural ISPA Foundation Mary Tabacchi Scholarship. In 2008,

Arizona State University Michelle Bashore became the first recipient of the ISPA Foundation Mary Tabacchi Scholarship. Named in honor of industry pioneer and Cornell University Associate Professor Mary H. Tabacchi, the scholarship helps mold future spa leaders.

21.

The release of the first monthly ISPA Snapshot Survey. The first

monthly ISPA Snapshot Survey was released in 2009. Results from the January 2009 survey reflected the economic downturn with 69 percent of spas reported a decline in spa visits in the fourth quarter of 2008. The recent survey results (see page 92), however, point to an overall positive outlook for the spa industry. The Snapshot Survey continues to provide relevant insight on the most current industry trends. 54 PULSE

October 2015

The release of the Financial Management for Spas course and textbook.

22.

In 2010, ISPA released the Financial Management for Spas, one of ISPA’s many valuable resources. Always a leading resource of industry knowledge, ISPA has published several other resources throughout the years, including books like Retail Management for Spas, Uniform System of Financial Reporting, Spa Operations Manual, to name a few.

23.

The launch of the ISPA Foundation Consumer Snapshot Initiative.

In 2011, the ISPA Foundation commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers to conduct the Consumer Snapshot Initiative in order to better understand consumer choices and their overall perception of the spa industry.

24.

The launch of the inaugural West Coast ISPA Media Event. Seeing a

need to engage top journalists in the West Coast, ISPA expanded its highly successful Media Event to launch the West Coast ISPA Media Event in 2014. Held in Beverly Hills, the inaugural event was attended by 100 journalists.

25.

The continued growth of ISPA's membership. Since it’s founding, the ISPA

community has continued to grow, with membership currently exceeding at 4,000 representing 77 countries worldwide. ■


relief to go No matter where your guests feel pain, TheraPearl® Hot & Cold Therapy Packs conform perfectly to deliver the best care, comfortably. It’s a new degree of relief for them, and a new degree of revenue for your spa.

Visit TheraPearl.com/Spa PA R T O F T H E P E R F O R M A N C E H E A LT H F A M I LY O F B R A N D S

TheraPearl® trademarks are property of Performance Health and/or its subsidiaries and may be registered in the United States and other countries. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. ©2015 Performance Health, LLC. All rights reserved.


Special Anniversary Series

BY ALEXANDER MENRISKY

Along with ISPA which turns 25 this year, many other ISPA members are also marking a milestone with more than two decades in business. What was it like when they first opened their spa or business? What were the struggles and victories? How have they withstood the test of time? In this special anniversary series, discover the lessons and stories behind some of the spa industry’s most enduring spas and companies. EDITORS’ NOTE: Are you celebrating your 25-year or more anniversary this year? Email us at ispa@ispastaff.com for an opportunity to be highlighted in this special anniversary series in Pulse.

56 PULSE

October 2015


ELEMIS London W1K 5EX, United Kingdom

I

n the 25 years since its founding, Elemis has grown into a reputed British skin-care and spa line. The company serves over an estimated six and a half million clients in 60 countries, bringing together nature, science and aromatYEARS! ics through aromatherapy and body care. “Elemis has always been a treatmentled brand, using a combination of rigorous clinical trials and feedback from therapists to perfect formulas,” says Chief Marketing Officer Oriele Frank. The brand has long been dedicated to international growth and has expanded enormously outside its U.K. base, learning how to operate differently in various countries across a variety of cultures and skin types. In recent years, the brand has embraced the digital market and continued its international push, branching out into travel spas and cruise ships, while maintaining its retail success. “To support our ever-growing network of international Elemis theratraining center so that therapists can pists, we plan to open new training build on their knowledge in the workacademies across the world to deliver place or at home.” therapy training and business skills that To celebrate its 25th year, Elemis has ultimately help make spas a successful rolled out numerous changes and speand profitable business,” Frank says. cials, including three anniversary “We have also invested in our online products—a super-sized Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, a silver-embossed ProCollagen Marine Cream and its LONGEVITY TIP: “Always aim to celebratory silver Cellular Recovery Skin deliver the best in what you do. Live Bliss Capsules. The House of Elemis and breathe your brand from your opens with a new treatment menu and a head office to the customer’s journey. refreshed brand, including newly Don’t be afraid to make changes, designed modern packaging with clearly embrace it and drive it. Listen to your communicated product benefits. clients and customers and enjoy the “Our biggest and most exciting new relationships.” treatment launch is BIOTEC Facials,”

25

Clockwise: The Elemis team at The House of Elemis located in the United Kingdom; Elemis Men's Skin-Care line and Elemis Chief Marketing Officer Oriele Frank.

Frank says. “The power of actives, technology and touch are combined to deliver clinically proven results.” The company’s upcoming rebranding campaign and The House of Elemis launch are new contributions to a long list of what Frank considers to be major turning points for Elemis. Frank, alongside Elemis’ two other co-founders, Noella Gabriel and Sean Harrington, especially remembers the launch of the company’s Pro-Collagen Marine Cream in 2003, which placed Elemis on the map in anti-aging skin care. “At the heart of the brand, we will always stay true to our belief that it must have an incredible texture, aroma and experience, while delivering the best results,” Frank says.

October 2015

PULSE 57


GLEN IVY HOT SPRINGS Corona, California

G

len Ivy Hot Springs is one of the oldest and most esteemed spas in the United States. It opened its doors 155 years ago in March of 1860 as Temescal Hot Springs. To put that age into some perspective, Billy the Kid was still Billy the Baby when S! Glen Ivy started taking customers. YEAR Over the first few decades of its operation into the 20th century, Glen Ivy expanded its property and services, finally Top: Glen Ivy Hot Springs in its early years as a pioneering wellness destination. Right: Guests transforming into the modern destination enjoy a detoxifying mud bath. Below: The destination spa's lounge pool was added in 1984. resort it is today in the prosperous postwar economy of the late 1940s and 50s. “The Glen Ivy experience aims to A change of ownership in 1977 inspire an approach to personal health resulted in several exciting new develop- that comes with the integration of ments. The Lounge Pool was added in certain timeless values that can be 1984, the Bath House in 1999, the found on the Wheel of Wellness,” says Roman Baths in 2001, The Grotto in CEO and President Jim Root. “With 2002 and Under the Oaks in 2007. The Glen Ivy Hot Springs at its most facilities currently house 72 rooms and progressive point to date, 2015 is stations in five buildings, and the spa’s gearing up to usher in a new era of treatments use both organic and luxury wellness for this acclaimed property.” ingredients to complement personal To commemorate the 155th anniverwellness healing services such as yoga sary, Glen Ivy Hot Springs is offering and fitness activities. guests a special package for USD$155 that

155

LONGEVITY TIP: “Honor [your] spa’s rich history and look forward to a future of serving generations of guests and providing memorable, meaningful and enjoyable experiences to everyone, every day.”

includes a 50-minute service, Grotto and “Taking the Waters” admission, and a champagne toast. The spa is also hosting a 155th Anniversary Media Event for spa and wellness writers, bloggers and social media influencers to celebrate the organization’s rich history, development and its new directions. “In the next 25 years, we’re headed ‘back to the future.’ Glen Ivy will once again be a true wellness destination with overnight accommodations, programs, a working farm and access to the wonders of the Santa Ana Mountains as was first available in our founding year of 1860,” Root says. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 60)

58 PULSE

October 2015



MARKING A MILESTONE (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 58)

As a global brand, Jurlique has a LONGEVITY TIP: “Stay committed strong presence in Asia, Europe, North Santa Monica, California to your truth, even if your thinking America and Australia. The year 2014 has not caught on yet.” proved to be a milestone year for Jurlique hat started as an idea in for the launch of its latest technology South Australia in 1985 brand,” Fernandez says. “In crafting the called Nutri-Define. has grown into the major Precious Rose Hand Cream, we “Nutri-Define is a real milestone in global brand employed an innovative method of colnatural as it touts patent-pending that Jurlique is today, lecting precious rose water from pure technology with Biosome5 and thanks to its unrelenting Alchemist Roses through a dehumidifydelivers unexpected textures, commitment to the efficacy and scents in a sophisti- ing process.” The roses, she further founders’ vision: pure ! S R explains, were carefully picked by hand A cated and luxurious range,” YE and effective skin care and placed in a drying shed where dehuFernandez says. born out of the application of midifying is used to preserve and extract This year, Jurlique marks its 30th modern technology to time-honored pure Rosa Gallica flower water. anniversary by launching a limited organic formulations. “These roses have been tenderly edition version of its best-selling “The core of the brand is the same as grown, meticulously nurtured and honPrecious Rose Hand Cream. it always has been,” says Rose orably harvested by Jurlique in the “Understanding the process for how we Fernandez, vice president of sales and Adelaide Hills for 30 years.” developed this hand cream is integral marketing, North America. “We mainand speaks to the authenticity of our (CONTINUED ON PAGE 62) tain our farm in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia and our own manufacturing facility is just up the road from From far left: Jurlique Vice President of Sales and Marketing, North America Rose Fernandez. Jurlique marks its 30th anniversary with the the farm. It is exciting to note that we launch of its Precious Rose Hand Cream. are undergoing a major expansion in the area. Proudly, we do this with the latest global sustainability and operational standards.”

JURLIQUE

W

60 PULSE

October 2015

30



MARKING A MILESTONE (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 60)

THE MARSH, A CENTER FOR BALANCE AND FITNESS Minnetonka, Minnesota

A

fter a year of careful planning and building, The Marsh, A Center for Balance and Fitness opened in 1985, the culmination of owner and Executive Director Ruth Stricker’s 58 years of work in YEARS health education. Combining ! private membership with public access and blending Western medicine with holistic therapies, The Marsh has remained true to its mission while still developing innovative treatments. “We refer to The Marsh as ‘a place, a community and an attitude,’” Stricker says. “It has stayed true to its philosophy and mission of addressing the whole person, practicing life lessons, not perfection. Given that there is always change, its mission has remained relevant and appliClockwise: Front entrance of The Marsh, A Center for Balance and Fitness. Guests enjoying the cable.” scenic view while lounging at the spa. The Marsh The Marsh began with a cardiologist owner and Executive Director Ruth Stricker. and acupuncturist working side-by-side to ously celebrate The Marsh’s past as well diversity of people in the community and emphasize its mission. Eight years after it as look forward to its future. focusing on living healthier lives in differopened, The Marsh underwent a major “We envision growing the ranks of our ent ways. Every The Marsh anniversary expansion, doubling its treatment space health and well-being services with has hosted a visiting speaker who presto 67,000 square feet. This expansion additional mental and health service allowed the center to grow its staff to 200 ents a topic on health and well-being. specialists, and also establishing a and provided room for growth in program- This year, the spa offered a series of lifestyle foundation,” Stricker says. events and activities, some continuing ming and services with a full spa, second “Overall, it is most important for us to annual traditions, such as giving back to dining room, water therapy pool, meditamaintain and protect our warm and tion tower, mental gym, conference center the earth with tree-planting events. All of these activities are designed to simultane- unique The Marsh culture.” ■ and overnight accommodations. Physical therapy personnel were added to the staff, and the gym tripled in size to accommoLONGEVITY TIP: “Have a deep sense of integrity—know who you are, your purpose date new services such as Pilates classes. and mission. Be willing to be unique. Take risks. Follow where the people are. Read the In May 2015, The Marsh celebrated its front page of the newspaper, not just the industry publications. Be part of the commu30th anniversary with the theme “The nity. Create a place where people can just be.” Power of Community,” reflecting on the 62 PULSE

30

October 2015


9 0 s T H ROW BAC K

THE BY MAE MAÑACAP-JOHNSON

he 90s was ISPA’s decade. Founded during the birth of the Information Age, when pagers were the “hip” technology and grunge was the rebellious anthem, ISPA’s early years in the 90s were made up of many historical firsts, inspiring stories and “what were we thinking?” moments. In this throwback feature that takes a look back at this decade, ISPA members walk down memory lane to share their best (and sometimes hilarious!) 90s moments as well as favorite (and forgettable) trends.

From boxing to hula hoop and limbo dance, ISPA members knew how to put the fun in fitness during the 90s.

October 2015

PULSE 63


Left: Segerberg during her years of service as ISPA Chairman. Top: Segerberg (fourth from left) shared a light moment with Juanita Corbett, Gayle Brady and Martha Ashelman during an invitation by the Italian Tourism Board in 1993 in Italy.

Jane Segerberg President • Segerberg Spa Consulting, LLC Saint Simons Island, Georgia

In what way have the times changed for you or your brand? We now have a community. When I first started

working in the spa industry, there were only a few lone players involved. The general public didn’t have an idea of what a spa is (except for looking for a hot tub), and as an ISPA Board member, I had to beg the press to be interested in ISPA and spas. Now, “spas” have become a respectable household word and are sought-after for relaxation and stress relief. The press now clamors for spa news and we have many resources, great leadership and contacts to help us meet challenges and explore new ideas. What’s your most memorable 90s moment? My most memorable moment was attending the very first ISPA Conference at Turnberry Isle Resort & Club in Aventura, Florida in 1991. Long-lasting friendships were made at that first meeting. We were all so happy to see and interact with others in the industry, gain inspiration from Deborah Szekely, hold hands, play beach games and look forward to an exciting future. The second most memorable moment was being

64 PULSE

October 2015

called and asked to be on the board of ISPA soon after that first Conference. I have not missed an ISPA Conference in all of the 25 years. Which 90s trend you swore you wouldn’t be caught in? Platform shoes—they were a throwback fashion to the

70s. I tripped and fell off them back then in college, splat on the sidewalk! Tried them on again in the 90s and fell off again. So never again! Which 90s trend would you like to make a comeback? Loved rollerblading—and it is making a come-

back. With friends and children, we used to take our Rollerblades everywhere we traveled—from Central Park to the Golden Gate Park, and many more places in between. How do you see yourself or brand in another 25 years? In 25 years, as an octogenarian, I hope to still be

hiking mountains, involved as a leader in the spa community, and be as wise as Deborah Szekely! I see the spa industry becoming more and more accountable for the information that it distributes and for the treatments that are offered. ISPA has done a wonderful job of presenting valid facts and information from its studies and surveys, and I see this as the basis of all things “spa” as we move forward.


Angela Cortright Owner • Spa Gregorie’s Newport Beach, California

In what way have the times changed for you or your brand? Plus side:

We no longer have to explain what “spa” is. We are not a hot tub! Down side: A lot more spas in the market so we are less “unique.”

Above: Cortright was all smiles as she celebrated her 50th birthday. Right: Melanie Edwards (middle) with the Cortrights, Angela and Chuck, during the early years of Spa Gregorie’s.

What’s your most memorable 90s moment? My most memorable moment

was opening our first and flagship spa in Newport Beach, California.

Which 90s trend you swore you would’nt be caught in? Conspicuous consumption. Which 90s trend would you like to make a comeback? Beanie Babies—I still have a garage full of them! How do you see yourself or brand in another 25 years? The venerable old standard in the community. 2015 ISPA VISIONA RY AWARD RECIPIEN T

Jeremy McCarthy

Boldijarre Koronczay

Group Director of Spa • Mandarin Oriental Hotel

CEO • Eminence Organic Skin Care

Group • Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

In what way have the times changed for you or your brand? In the 1990s: Fitness was “aerobics.” Yoga was weird.

In what way have the times changed for you or your brand? Now, more people understand what organic and

Product brands were in the background. Asian spa therapies were exotic. Couple’s treatment rooms were almost unheard of. Replacing tennis courts in hotels, spas were an amenity, not a business.

Biodynamic means. In the 90s, I had to explain what these words actually meant. People now realize the value of natural, non-GMO and organic ingredients. The education we focus on now is making sure end-consumers realize that our health is internal and external—meaning, nutritional value, health and lifestyle encompass what we put on as well as what we put in our bodies.

What’s your most memorable 90’s moment? When I opened my

first spa in the early 90s, I was instantly hooked on this career. But when I mentioned my aspirations to an executive in my company at the McCarthy during his early years time, he said: “Forget about spa as a working at Four Seasons Punta Mita in Mexico. career. Spa is just a fad. Today every hotel is putting in spas, but five years from now, it will be something else.” Despite the discouragement, I decided to continue working in spas, until something better comes along. That was 25 years ago—and nothing better has come along yet! How do you see yourself or brand in another 25 years?

The pace of change is so fast now that I think we can’t even imagine what the world will be like 25 years from today. But I do think high-touch services, such as spas, will continue to be in demand.

From a handful team members during its annual business meeting in 1991, the Eminence Organic Skin Care team has grown in numbers to become the "one big happy family" that it is today.

October 2015

PULSE 65


What’s your most memorable 90s moment? My most

memorable moment was definitely in 1996 when my brother, Attila, and I moved from Budapest to Vancouver, British Columbia. Which 90s trend you swore you wouldn’t be caught in? I may or may not have frosted my hair… Which 90s trend would you like to make a comeback?

My hair! I had more of it then! How do you see yourself or brand in another 25 years?

Back in the late 1990s, the Koronczay brothers, Boldijarre and Attila, channelled the goofy Butabi brothers and their cool hairstyles in the hilarious movie, A Night at the Roxbury.

Attila and I envision that the charitable initiatives of our brand, such as Forests for the Future and Éminence Kids, would make a real difference in the world. In 25 years, we want to have planted enough trees to reforest the Amazon rainforest. We also want Éminence Kids to be in every country worldwide, replacing all fried, processed foods in hospitals with natural, organic, Biodynamic and locally sourced fruits and vegetables. As far as our vision for the Éminence skin care line, our brand will grow and evolve to feature all Biodynamic and non-GMO ingredients in our products.

Lynelle Lynch President • Bellus Academy The Academy of Beauty & Spa • Poway, California

In what way have the times changed for you or your brand? The 1990s may be remembered as a time of big hair

and bold fashion, but the decade was most influential in shaping my passion for connecting the worlds of fashion, beauty and philanthropy. In the early 1990s, I was managing Saks Fifth Avenue stores in Southern California and getting involved with local arts organizations. When I took over the Bellus Academy locations, one of my first priorities was to give the schools a makeover; not just in terms of the educational experience but the look of the schools. I knew we were on the right track when San Diego Magazine referred to Bellus Academy as the “Harvard of beauty schools!” What’s your most memorable 90s moment? My favorite

moment was the reopening of Saks Fifth Avenue in San Diego. It was an opportunity to connect fashion with the power of philanthropy. Instead of an evening gala, I launched a special opening day event that benefited four charities. The event exceeded all sales records, bringing in US$325,000 in sales. The event was a new model for the fashion store’s openings and it represented the return of an iconic retail brand to San Diego. Which 90s trend you swore you wouldn’t be caught in? I really didn’t enjoy the 90s grunge look. 66 PULSE

October 2015

Lynelle Lynch, seated, recalled the 1990s as an era of "go big or go home" hairstyle.

Which 90s trend would you like to make a comeback?

A well-groomed look never goes out of style. Some of the models who were just becoming popular in the 1990s—Kate Moss and Cindy Crawford, for example—look just as beautiful and timeless today.


How do you see yourself or brand in another 25 years?

I still keep a foot in the fashion world. In October, Bellus Academy will be sponsoring the “Beauty Behind the Fashion” at Fashion Week San Diego. We’re thrilled to host celebrity hairstylist and TLC’s What Not to Wear hairstylist Ted Gibson as we showcase the relationship between fashion and beauty. As time passes, you begin to see trends and relationships emerge. I love how the beauty and wellness industry gives back to support the next generation of professionals. As president of the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation, I am honored to be part of an industry that changes lives through the gift of scholarships for aspiring massage therapists, estheticians, hairstylists and nail professionals. Times may change but the beauty of giving back is timeless! Just as fashion, beauty and philanthropy were part of my life 25 years ago, I hope they’ll continue to be part of my life and the Bellus Academy culture into the future.

Todd Shaw Director of Fitness, Tennis and Spa • The Club

Rockin’ the 90s in Style Skinny Brows: Forget Cara Delevingne’s power brows, skinny brows that looked like they were drawn by Morticia Addams took the 90s beauty world by storm. Doc Martens: Thanks to the 90s rising punk and grunge culture, British brand Doc Martens “smelled like teen spirit.” Jelly Sandals: Hello, Jelly-o! Fashionista or not, plastic Jelly sandals were all the rave. Clunky Platforms: Never mind that it takes a Spice Girlswannabe to rock them, the vertigo-inducing clunky platforms were a hot 90s fashion item. Frosted Hair Tips: Before Justin Timberlake brought “SexyBack,” he and his boy band cohorts made spiked hair with frosting tips uber-cool. Are you glad we said “Bye, Bye, Bye” to that?

at Las Campanas • Santa Fe, New Mexico

In what way have the times changed for you or your brand? I have become a better manager because of the

people I worked with. During my early years in a leadership position managing the spas and fitness on cruise ships, these teams showed me that good communication, clear objectives and having fun were the road map to success. What’s your most memorable 90s moment? My most memorable moment was when I boarded my first ship in Miami in 1996 to work as a fitness director at sea. I had never seen a ship before and had no idea what to expect. Six weeks later, they sent me to Spain to board another ship. That was my first international experience. Which 90s trend you swore you wouldn’t be caught in? I loved all the trends! Count me in. Which 90s trend would you like to make a comeback? My long hair! There is a strong sense of carefree

and freedom when I look back at those old pictures, probably because I really didn’t have any responsibilities then. How do you see yourself or brand in another 25 years? I am going to strive to continue to learn and associate

myself with talented individuals over the next 25 years. I would like to see myself supporting younger people when I am 70 in their success, managing facilities that support preventative wellness and engaging our world in this movement. ■

Todd Shaw learned early to work hard and play hard, seen here with an Elvis impresonator and cruise ship crew.

October 2015

PULSE 67


Putting Lessons into Good Practice BY ALEXANDER MENRISKY

rom its humble beginnings as a newsletter to the 10-issue per year glossy magazine it is today, Pulse has long established itself as the preeminent industry resource for spa professionals. For more than two decades, the awardwinning magazine has picked the brains of many experts, brought to light innovations and trends, and shared business lessons and best practices. What have been some of these game-changing trends? What have been some of the lessons our readers learned from the pages of Pulse magazine? How are they putting the smart tips and ideas into practice? Pulse readers tell all.

68 PULSE

â–

October 2015


CASSIE HERNANDEZ Spa Director, The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Cassie Hernandez has found the November 2014 (All in the Details: Giving Guests the First-Class Treatment) issue of Pulse a constant source of inspiration over the last year. “I really enjoyed the article ‘Delivering the WOW Factor,’” she says. “It signified the importance of what going above and beyond can really do for your business and brand.” Hernandez has used the feature as a valuable training resource for her team. “I have made several copies of this article and used the material in my trainings for new team members and expand on it for new supervisors so they can in turn continue the philosophy in their own departments,” she says. The Pulse feature has also served as a daily personal reminder for Hernandez on

how to exceed guests’ expectations. “As a five-star rated spa, many of the lessons [shared by sources in the article] are already part of who we are as an organization and resonated to our culture,” Hernandez says. But to help ingrain the customer-centric mindset, she regularly

refers to the “nine best practices to delight customers” highlighted as a sidebar piece in the article. “These tips are powerful and simple. Usually, lessons like these take years to obtain and Pulse did an excellent job putting them all on one page!”

to become actively involved in solving social issues.” Casper thinks data from the research published in Pulse magazine helps validate Phytomer’s sustainability strategy. “We see the importance of also letting the consumer know what efforts we make in this area,” she says. Casper states Phytomer’s filtration garden waste-disposal system and macroalgae farming program for cosmetic use

are some of the sustainable practices that have been of great interest to consumers. Additionally, 100 percent of the electricity used at their production site is from renewable sources while its new spa and wellness center in St. Malo, France uses solar panels to reduce energy consumption. “This voluntary investment demonstrates Phytomer’s commitment to the environment and to our sustainable practices,” she says.

LENETTE CASPER President, Phytomer Group Brands Salt Lake City, Utah

Phytomer Group Brands has maintained a longstanding commitment to sustainability, which is why Phytomer Group Brands President Lenette Casper is often drawn to Pulse features that highlight research data on sustainability. “I loved reading the statistics mentioned in the Pulse Points section entitled ‘Corporate Social Responsibility Continues to Grow as a Global Consumer Sentiment’ in the October 2012 (Take the Road Less Traveled: Find Your Way to Greatness) issue,” Casper says. “It was nice to see that consumers also have a focus on wanting responsible, sustainable brands,” she says. “As mentioned [in the article], nearly 85 percent of consumers worldwide expect companies

October 2015

PULSE 69


MARIE PICTON Executive Manager, Spa Services Elmwood Spa Toronto, Ontario Canada

For Elmwood Spa Executive Manager, Spa Services Marie Picton, the article “Innovation Process: Turning Ideas Into Reality” published in the January/February 2015 (Shaping the Future: Predict Your Future by Creating It) stood out from the rest. “[In this feature, Ancient Cedars Spa at the Wickaninnish Inn Spa Manager Andrea Fisher] said: ‘Innovation happens when new ideas are researched and applied into practical use for business growth,’” Picton recalls. “I found this quote really interesting because in the spa industry, we always ask ourselves: ‘How do we keep innovating?’” For Picton, a focus on innovation reaffirms Elmwood Spa’s process because she and her team always look for ways of

doing things better. “When it gets down to it, we need to ask ourselves if the new process is actually doable and effective for everyday use, and does it tie back in to our vision in terms of what we’re trying to achieve as a company?” Picton says the lesson about innovation learned in Pulse is something she and her team implement on an ongoing basis. “We started the technological innovation process with the Elm Tablet as a communication tool. Due to multiple floors, and the high volume of people we have in the spa, this made sense,” Picton says. She adds that, as part of their innovation process, she and her team believes in regularly revisiting how they are doing things, tweaking what needs to be tweaked, and most importantly, under-

standing that it’s reasonable to pull back or stop something that is proven ineffective. “You have to be open to act on all three,” she says. ■ WHAT’S YOUR favorite business lesson learned from Pulse? Let’s continue the conversation on social media using hashtag #PulseLessons.



ASK THE EXPERT

DR. PAMELA PEEKE

GENERAL SESSION SPEAKER

Internationally renowned nutrition and fitness expert Dr. Pamela Peeke is one who walks the walk. An avid athlete, she founded The Peeke Performance Center for Healthy Living where she conducts Peeke Week Retreats and helps transform the lives of many. She is also the author of several health books, including Fight Fat After Forty and The Hunger Fix. At this year’s ISPA Conference & Expo General Session, she will bring her unique brand of high-energy talk on braving a new and high-tech spa world.

OCT. 19 MONDAY,

PULSE: Why do you think the spa industry should embrace technology for healing and joy? Dr. Pamela Peeke: Technology is now an integral part of life globally. When it emerged, there were no rules of engagement nor were there limits and boundaries placed on how, when, where and by whom it should be best utilized. Health clubs create smartphone-free zones, yet the treadmills and ellipticals have cardiovision and interactive programs. Children are weaned on technology, mentored by adults whose gaze is locked on screens. This is an intergenerational tech journey that profoundly affects every aspect of our waking and sleeping hours. It is, therefore, imperative to become knowledgeable about how to master its use for our optimal wellness. P: Of all the latest technology, which one, in your opinion, is the most important for the spa industry to embrace? P: Technologies that support the ability of each individual to experience a cosmic consciousness and connectivity, transcending beyond the physical self, expanding infinite possibilities are most important. Louie Schwartzberg’s brilliant time-lapse visuals are one of my favorite vehicles for people to inhale impossible beauty along with a shared sense of human72 PULSE

October 2015

ity. Science shows that this kind of modality can decrease stress hormone levels and, by doing so, reduces the risk of disease. Similarly, overall mental performance is enhanced when cortisol levels are managed. Further, controlled stress hormones increase the brain’s neurogenesis and interconnections. Spacoustic is another example of a similar program using audiotherapy to treat mood, stress and augment sleep. Sonos is an extraordinary sound system for the spa or home environment completely controlled by a smart phone. Playing ambient or spa music throughout a home or work environment is relaxing and healing. P: Why do you think there are some people who fear or are uncomfortable with the idea of merging technology into the spa world? P: Tech culture represents an external messaging system and as such, can be perceived as an intrusion. You read on a mobile device screen and gather data. You plug in and listen to learn or be entertained or get physical with limitless music options. However, so much of spa culture involves the teaching of how to turn this externalizing off, and to go inward and become mindfully aware of inner thoughts, fears, joys and challenges. But there are distinct, new technologies that facilitate that inward journey. These involve innovative technologies that


heighten the visual and auditory senses. There are apps that provide music and guidance for meditation and yoga. Other apps gently remind you to get up and move. Still others help to educate about nutrition and physical activity. Indeed, there is “an app for that.” It’s always about how one uses it appropriately and with limits and balance in the totality of one’s life. P: What tips can you offer to help spas successfully blend the high-tech and high-touch world? P: Offer a range of spa-tech options for people to experience if they feel inclined. Gently establish limits and boundaries within the spa (no texting during yoga!). Establish smartphone-free zones. Show people how to do the same once they leave the spa. Turning off technology is essential to optimal healing. But turning on also has a role. Show them apps and technologies they may wish to continue using once they return home. Help guide them to a balanced way to integrate healing technologies in the spa and within the home environment. P: In terms of consumer health demands, what new demands are you seeing? P: Consumers want to create a spa-like environment in their homes. They want to know how to create and sustain a spamind. Fitbit works for a reason. It’s easy, accessible and does simple things such as remind one that one has been sitting too long. Consumers are seeking easy, doable products and practices that will keep them on track while helping them navigate daily stresses and challenges. P: You touched on epigenetics in a previous talk. What is epigenetics and why is it relevant in the health and spa world? P: Epigenetics is the science of how environment and lifestyle choices can activate or de-activate how our own genes control our mind and body. Essentially, our thoughts, food and physical activity can significantly affect how each gene is behaving. You can decrease the expression of negative genes (obesity, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, mental disorders, addiction) through meditation, consuming whole foods and performing a routine physical activity. These healthy lifestyle practices then enhance other genes—stimulating the development of more brain cells, muscle fiber and stronger bones. Meditation, for instance, has been shown to decrease inflammation, which is the basis of most disease processes.

P: What are some of the challenges you are seeing that the spa industry faces in propagating the message of health and well-being? P: One of the biggest challenges is how the spa industry is perceived. Instead of an oasis of pampering for those who can afford it, it could instead be seen as an invaluable resource for learning how to deepen one’s level of self-care and self-awareness. People need a place to regroup, rejuvenate, readjust and finally learn how to rejoice. Multi-media marketing and outreach needs to help shape and redefine the message and the mission for spas. Prioritizing relaxation along with a real and meaningful learning experience is key. Inviting tired and lost souls to come and learn simple, practical tools to heal and apply those lessons in real life is a major goal that each spa should achieve. ■

Personal Side Notes: App I’m hooked on: Slack Book I’m reading: On the Move: A Life by Dr. Oliver Sacks Top of my bucket list: Sit down with Stephen Hawking and talk about black holes Amenity I look for in a hotel: Fluffy slippers Food craving I usually cave in: Anything from Georgetown Cupcakes I live the spa lifestyle by: Smiling with profound gratitude every time I wake up and realize I’m still here. I then say five repetitions of “carpe diem,” a recitation of gratitude, meditation, physical movement (code for swim, bike, run, lift and performing a sun salutation). I spend my day practicing mindful thinking, nourishing, challenging and connecting with others.

October 2015

PULSE 73


SUCCESS STORIES Inspiring Tales of Startups, Growth and Overcoming Hardships BY CHRISTINA BUSWELL

MARLA MAROM

Marketing Communications Manager • Pollogen Ltd. • Tel Aviv, Israel

Inventing TriPollar RF Technology

I

n 2006, Dr. Zion Azar and Pini Shalev, MSc co-founded Pollogen Ltd., manufacturers of medial aesthetics products for the skin-care professional markets. Pollogen’s products are based on clinically proven TriPollar radio-frequency (RF) technology which painlessly delivers focused and optimal RF energy to the skin surface and subcutaneous fat layers in order to contour and rejuvenate the skin, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and unwanted fat deposits, improve the appearance of stretch marks, among many other benefits. Early Beginnings According to Pollogen Ltd. Marketing Communications Manager Marla Marom, the impetus that inspired Dr. Azar and co-founder Shalev to introduce an advanced RF technology to the market was their desire to provide an RF product that produced immediate results but eliminated the pain associated with using the technology. Prior to the introduction of TriPollar RF, its predecessors—monopolar and bipolar technologies—offered limited functionalities. “The monopolar and bipolar radio-frequency technologies that had existed in the market prior to the invention of TriPollar RF had two drawbacks. First, initial results were only apparent after several weeks of use. Second, the treatments were painful,” says Marom. “The success of TriPollar, third-generation RF technology, was due to its ability to demonstrate immediate and visible skin-tightening and body-contouring results, and to provide a pleasant treatment experience for patients.” Growth and Challenges In its early years, the company encountered challenges common to most startup companies, such as in generating brand awareness, developing a client base and acquiring investment capital. Despite the challenges, Pollogen’s innovative technology and ability to offer results and value to clients have helped the company thrive. “I believe that the perfect combination of effective treatments with no pain or downtime for patients, combined

74 PULSE

October 2015

with affordable pricing for both spa and consumer [markets], make our products stand out and really offer a win-win situation for our customers. A strong marketing strategy, [coupled with knowledgeable] marketing, sales and clinical teams, contribute to the company’s success.” But even the most innovative company can take a wrong turn in strategy. “One of the company’s most painful failures was the launch of the OxyGeneo treatment in the U.S. market. OxyGeneo is a new facial technology that provides a three-in-one facial: exfoliation, infusion and oxygenation,” says Marom. “Our mistake was to [exclusively] target dermatologists and high-end spas, advertising only in media [channels] relevant to these audiences,” she says. It was soon clear that the product is relevant to many other spa types, including day and medical spas. This prompted a change in marketing strategy. Keys to Success As a company founded by inventors, Pollogen’s key to success rests in its culture of innovation. In fact, the company introduces a new technology almost every year. One of Pollogen founders’ inventions is the first tunable solid state laser system for dermatology applications, which was implemented in all ConBio tattoo removal products as well as in Light and Heat Energy (LHE) technology, and uses lower energy levels than Intense Pulse Light (IPL), making it safer and effective. “Pollogen technologies are patented, available in more than 60 countries, and have clearances from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Conformite Europeenne (CE) and Canadian Ministry of Health,” says Marom. In looking ahead, Marom is hopeful that Pollogen will continue to grow its line of products and technology. “We have just introduced VoluDerm, a micro-needle RF technology that offers great face-contouring and skin-tightening results without surgery. I’m sure we will incorporate it in some of our future products. We will also continue to develop new treatments for our OxyGeneo facial,” she says. ■


NEW PRODUCT

LAUNCH

GUIDE

Special Pulse Advertising Supplement


READY FOR

SOMETHING NEW FOR YOUR SPA OR RETAIL SPACE?

Check out the Expo Floor to discover these exciting new product launches at the 2015 ISPA Conference & Expo.

Bed of Nails bedofnails.org | 1.424.442.0660 New product or product line: Bed of Nails Acupressure Treatment: Bed of

ISPA BOOTH NUMBER: 1122

Nails is an acupressure mat and pillow that helps to ease stress, headaches and pain, improve circulation and relieve insomnia. Activating acupressure points triggers the body’s innate way to heal by stimulating energy, which releases endorphins and oxytocin, inducing a state of well-being. The self-healing benefits of treatments, such as acupuncture and massage, are crucial to create and sustain a healthy lifestyle amid the stresses of a modern world. Bed of Nails Aromatherapy candles and sprays help relax, relieve pain and energize. Reasons for attendees to explore your booth: Come visit our booth for a complimentary Bed

of Nails session to continue your day refreshed and relaxed. Experience for yourself why everyone is talking about Bed of Nails! Don’t miss out on our show special offer! Wholesale prices on “no minimum” order with free shipping.

Bio Natural Inc. dba BioRepublic SkinCare biorepublic.com| .1.888.887.5704 and 1.404.806.9937

ISPA BOOTH NUMBER: 211

New product or product line: We offer a line of ecofriendly, natural fiber sheetmasks as well as a premium line of

biocellulose face and eye masks. Our biodegradable sheetmasks feature seven superfoods for the skin, packaged in a convenient format that delivers immediate results in 15 minutes at an affordable price point. Our biocellulose line is priced higher, but the formulation and feeling of the products are incredible. One warning, once you try our biocellulose products, you won’t go back to fiber! Reasons for attendees to explore your booth: We’ll have plenty of free samples, plus we love to educate our customers about the benefits of sheetmasks over traditional masks. We have a lot of ideas to help you incorporate these products into your service menu. Finally, we’ll be running a 15 percent discount on any orders placed during the show!

SPECIAL PULSE ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT


Bissinger’s Handcrafted Chocolatier bissingers.com | 1.314.615.2438 New product or product line: We just introduced six new flavor profiles to our popular 0.3-ounce

Napolitain Bar Collection.These include Blueberry Cocoa Nib, Raspberry Seville Orange, Hazelnut Praline, Milk Chocolate & Ghost Chili Salt, Peanut Crunch and Milk Chocolate & Sea Salt. The foundation of our chocolate is our proprietary, sustainably sourced cocoa blend—crafted with beans from the Cote D’Ivoire for chocolate that’s rich and ISPA velvety. The new, more healthful chocolate bars satisfy traditional palates as well BOOTH NUMBER: as those who have a penchant for new tastes. 1029 Reasons for attendees to explore your booth: In addition to seeing and tasting our new Napolitain Bar Collection, guests can sample the different flavors in our award-winning Salt Caramel Collection, our premium Chocolate-Covered Fruit & Nuts as well as many of our most popular confections.

Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer dazzledry.com | 1.866.398.9357 New product or product line: Dazzle Dry™ is proudly launching VIVO’SOL™ Non-Acetone

ISPA BOOTH NUMBER: 1153

Lacquer Remover by Dr. Vivian Valenty, our industry-renowned bio-organic chemist, president and founder.Vegan and enhanced with spearmint and eucalyptus essential oils,VIVO’SOL is very much dedicated to the spa professional and formulated to be especially gentle to nails and soothing to surrounding skin tissue as it imparts a pleasant fresh scent. Dazzle Dry is also launching its new Spa Marketing Campaign and Retail Kit Packaging. Plus, there’s also one more big surprise: We cordially invite and encourage attendees to share our excitement in a very special “Surprise Spa-Exclusive Launch” to be exclusively unveiled at the ISPA Conference & Expo! Reasons for attendees to explore your booth: Visitors will receive free samples of VIVO’SOL Non-Acetone Lacquer Remover. They will also be the first to see our new Dazzle Dry Spa Marketing Campaign and Retail Kit Packaging, plus nothing is more exciting than our special “Surprise SpaExclusive Launch,” a not-to-be-missed booth event. There will be lots of excitement, including product demos, as we look forward to meeting new friends and forging new relationships.

Dr. Hauschka Skin Care drhauschka.com | 1.413.397.1239 New product or product line: Five years in the making, our new Night Serum is an

ISPA BOOTH NUMBER: 735

essential night-time product that revitalizes and helps the skin rediscover its natural balance. The oil-free formulation allows your skin to breathe freely and stimulates its natural renewal processes. Organic Rose Apple ingredients support the skin’s natural rhythms while guiding it through its essential nighttime work for a fresh, radiant complexion come morning. Reasons for attendees to explore your booth and Relaxation Area: We’re celebrating

the expertise of ISPA attendees at our booth in short video interviews. Come share your expertise or watch others! Everyone is invited to join our “Meeting of Experts” and discover the expertise we all have to share. While you’re there, pick up a free trial of Night Serum.

SPECIAL PULSE ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT


ELEMIS elemis.com | 1.866.643.0856 New product or product line: A global exclusive, ELEMIS will be showcasing the new brand packaging for Anti-aging, Skin Care and Men’s at the 2015 ISPA Conference & Expo. ELEMIS will demonstrate the brand’s strong holiday offering, which will drive amazing retail sales. In addition, ELEMIS will be launching and demonstrating the eight new BIOTEC Technology facials with a single machine that delivers real results. Clients will also get a sneak peek into the brand’s new treatment and product launches for 2016. Reasons for attendees to explore your booth: ELEMIS is the leading luxury British skin

ISPA BOOTH NUMBER: 201

care and spa brand and winner of CEW UK’s most coveted award of “Best British Brand.” Delivering pioneering, clinically trialed therapies and products for face and body, visit our booth to receive first look and exclusive offers on our new BIOTEC Machine and learn how we can help you drive profits and transform your spa business. With an award-winning marketing program, ELEMIS will provide business-focused training, strong visual merchandising, ground-breaking product development and a global PR strategy that drives consumers into ELEMIS locations around the world.

ESPA International (US) Ltd. us.espaskincare.com | 1.786.350.1192 New product or product line: ESPA is proud to introduce Naturally Radiant Gradual Tan at the

2015 ISPA Conference & Expo, launching in fall 2015. This nourishing moisturiser provides an effortless glow and radiant bronze color, for easily achievable healthy-looking skin all-year round. The unique formula blends antioxidant-rich natural tanning agents with nourishing shea butter, coconut oil and sweet almond oil to leave skin smooth and supple with a beautifully even, long-lasting tan.

ISPA BOOTH NUMBER: 447

Reasons for attendees to explore your booth: Make your way to booth 447, where you can explore the many ways ESPA can transform your spa. Learn about our renowned and award-winning spa design capabilities, successful commercial consultancy and pioneering, naturally effective and highly luxurious skin-care products and treatments.

FarmHouse Fresh ISPA BOOTH NUMBER: 901

farmhousefreshgoods.com| 1.888.773.9626 New product or product line: Dip into an Avocado, Lime & Honey Pedi, or be smoothed

with our Strawberry Himalayan Facial. True to our “celebrational” spa treatment approach, we’re showcasing an array of farm ingredient-infused treatments incorporating avocado Butter, tapioca flour, tonka bean-infused Marshmallow Shea butter, strawberry & organic lavender bud exfoliators and more. Come see what’s fresh off The Farm! Reasons for attendees to explore your booth: FarmHouse Fresh® creates natural

and certified organic spa products and treatments crafted using U.S. farm-harvested indigenous ingredients like organic pumpkin puree. Voted by American Spa readers as one of the” Top 5 Favorite Natural Lines in 2014” and “Top 5 Favorite Body Care Lines from 2012 to 2014.”

SPECIAL PULSE ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT


Feeling Smitten feelingsmitten.com | 1.253.666.3771 New product or product line: Each Feeling Smitten castile soap bar is naturally handcrafted

using virgin olive oil, natural essential oils, flowers and extracts with no animal fats or preservatives. Castile soap is gentle enough for the face and rich enough for the hair. Perfect for the most sensitive skin and available in four sweet scents, your skin will thank you for choosing natural nourishment.

ISPA BOOTH NUMBER: 951

Reasons for attendees to explore your booth: Visit our booth to experience the ultimate bath bakery treatment. In addition to our delectable soap bars, we are showcasing our new hand & body cream. Our ISPA exclusive specials will be complemented with daily giveaways. With glitter, sprinkles and goodies galore, our booth is always a fun treat!

Fibreluxe Lashes fibreluxelashes.com | 1.888.720.0288 New product or product line: Fibreluxe Lashes is a daily lash extension without the

ISPA BOOTH NUMBER: 1026

fuss of glue! Fibreluxe Lashes is applied like regular mascara but gives you the amazing look of false lashes in three easy steps. This Natural Lash Extension Mascara is a healthy alternative that will dramatically lengthen and thicken your eyelashes with each set of steps applied. Easily removes with warm water. Reasons for attendees to explore your booth: Come see the hottest mascara to

hit the cosmetics market! A healthier alternative to strip and “glue in� lash extensions. Visit us in booth 1026 for your free Fibreluxe Lash demo. Long, luxurious lashes in 60 seconds or less!

GrandeLASH - MD grandelashmd.com | 1.877.835.3010 New product or product line: GrandeBROW-FILL is a tinted brush on gel made with fibers and peptides. The gel adheres to even the finest hairs, leaving them fuller and more defined with a single application.This helps to shape and build your brows, leaving them looking natural while filling in thinning areas.

ISPA BOOTH NUMBER: 317

Reasons for attendees to explore your booth: For the holidays, we are offering a limited

edition GrandeBROW-TASTIC Beauty Box that includes: one GrandeBROW, one GrandeBROWFILL and a free GrandeTWEEZE.

SPECIAL PULSE ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT


HydroPeptide hydropeptide.com | 1.800.932.9873 New product or product line: Already famous for a results-driven, clean science approach to anti-aging skin care, HydroPeptide’s new Body Therapeutics collection addresses a range of body imperfections with proprietary peptide-based ingredient technology shown to create firmer, more radiant and younger-looking skin from head to toe. Reasons for attendees to explore your booth: HydroPeptide will unveil both pro-

ISPA BOOTH NUMBER: 601

fessional and retail versions of the leading peptide brand’s new Body Therapeutics: Serious and Active Body Care collection. Custom zero-downtime HydroPeptide facials, abbreviated body treatments featuring the new products and exclusive specials on products will be a part of this head-totoe, youth-accelerating experience.

Organic Male OM4 om4men.com | 1.877.898.6253 New product or product line: We are introducing RESTORATION Rx and SERIES SM at

the 2015 ISPA Conference & Expo. RESTORATION Rx pushes the green science envelope, featuring innovative gemmotherapy extraction technology and the use of embryonic plant tissue in five new intensive and age-delaying clinical night treatment serums. Each product is designed to treat a specific male skin condition. SERIES SM signals the launch of new men’s grooming category—dual-function skin-type and condition-specific shave masks which conveniently treat male skin conditions while shaving.

ISPA BOOTH NUMBER: 642

Reasons for attendees to explore your booth: OM4 is more than the first skin-type

and condition-specific professional men’s line to launch in the U.S. OM4 continuously scans the global men’s market for trends and statistics to build state-of-the-art partner resources to ensure treatment and retail sales targets are always top-of-mind.

Performance Health per formancehealth.com | 1.800.321.2135 New product or product line: Biofreeze Pain Reliever can be an extremely effective treatment for clients with pain or restricted range of motion, or both. As the no. 1 clinically used and recommended topical analgesic, millions of users rely on Biofreeze (biofreeze.com) to relieve back, neck and shoulder pain, joint pain and arthritis pain. It is 100 percent paraben-free and available in original green and colorless gel, roll-on and spray.

ISPA BOOTH NUMBER: 1024

Reasons for attendees to explore your booth: We’re featuring two perfect

products for spa retail and treatment use! Biofreeze Pain Reliever is the most frequently used topical pain reliever by massage therapists. Thera°Pearl masks and packs conveniently hold their temperature for 20 minutes and conform to the body to deliver the perfect relief from aches and pains.

SPECIAL PULSE ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT


Pevonia International, LLC pevoniapro.com | 1.800.PEVONIA New product or product line: Pevonia’s new Stem Cells Phyto-Elite® Body Line includes an extraordinary high-performing in-spa treatment, professional products and the perfect at-home Intensive Body Corrector to maintain outstanding results. Formulated using plant stem cells and featuring a duo-dermal target repair technology, this three-in-one exfoliating, contouring and regenerating wellness therapy infuses the skin with the latest ISPA de-aging actives and natural stem cells to dissolve unwanted fat accumulations, decrease cellulitic BOOTH deposits, reduce skin sagging and repair sun damage. NUMBER: 436 Reasons for attendees to explore your booth: Pevonia is made in the USA with European heritage and

has been empowering spas for 25 years. Pevonia’s award-winning skin care is clinically proven and uniquely formulated with advanced delivery systems for optimum absorbency. Unprecedented support via dedicated account executives and industry-leading educators makes Pevonia a global leader, 126 countries strong!

Phytomer Group Brands phytomerusa.com | 1.800.227.8051 New product or product line: We are excited to introduce the newest additions to our premier PIONNERE XMF Youth Revealing Collection. Using our most advanced laboratory innovations, specifically our 100 percent natural biotechnological ingredient EPS XMF (Extra Marine Filler), our XMF products are clinically proven to offer instant, visible results. Also featured in our signature XMF Youth Revealing Facial, our advanced anti-aging formulas and exclusive Pro-Youth Massage exemplify how Phytomer is leading the future of results-driven cosmetics.

ISPA BOOTH NUMBER: 301

Reasons for attendees to explore your booth and Relaxation Area: Exclusively launched

at the 2015 ISPA Conference & Expo, Phytomer is offering “free back bar” opening order packages. We will also be presenting our enhanced retailing system, featuring simple and comprehensive tools and methods to help our partner spas to comfortably and successfully increase retail sales for a major boost in profitability.

Pollogen Ltd. ox ygeneo.com | 1.855.201.0800 New product or product line: The geneO+, powered by OxyGeneo technology provides a three-in-one

Super Facial treatment. OxyGeneo provides three effective facial treatments simultaneously. It combines gentle exfoliation, natural skin oxygenation, and a deep facial rejuvenation preparing the skin for the infusion of essential revitalizing nutrients. The results are immediate: revitalizing dull complexion, restoring skin volume, reducing pores and the appearance of fine lines. The geneO+ is also available with ultrasound,enhancing the OxyGeneo treatment results. Reasons for attendees to explore your booth: OxyGeneo is the only technology using the body’s natural response for oxygenation from within. This increases cell metabolism, aiding in the enhanced absorption of active nutrients being infused into the skin for softer, smoother and brighter skin tone. The treatment is so gentle and effective, it’s suitable for all skin types.

ISPA BOOTH NUMBER: 148

SPECIAL PULSE ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT


ResortSuite resor tsuite.com | 1.866.4RSUITE (477.8483) New product or product line: ResortSuite introduces its new online Activity Scheduler. ResortSuite WEB

is a unique, integrated booking engine that provides a “one-stop shop” for guests to book real-time accommodations, spa services/treatments, activities/classes, golf tee times and ski lift tickets as well as purchase gift certificates and view online member statements.The ResortSuite Activity Scheduler will now allow guests to view scheduled classes, events, activities, programs and more in a highly visual, weekly view to enable guests to easily plan their stay itinerary. Engaged guests are happy guests. Reasons for attendees to explore your booth: Gain knowledge of innovations in hospital-

ISPA BOOTH NUMBER: 505

ity management technology by exploring the ResortSuite booth this year. We will be conducting demonstrations of our tablet-based applications and ever-evolving web booking engine, which allow for increased personalization of the guest experience at your spa. Stop by to pick up a free gift and meet our team!

Somme Institute sommeinstitute.com | 1.866.66SOMME (667.6653) New product or product line: Somme Institute® is launching SKIN RESET, a remark-

able restructuring cream which transforms skin from lax and wrinkled, to tight and smooth with even-tone radiance. Formulated with MDT5™, a matrix of potent, stable and re-engineered vitamins, which are encapsulated within peptides for trans-epidermal delivery.This technology was granted two patents and has undergone double-blind, placebocontrolled, clinical studies that have shown to firm, tighten and fill the skin while keeping it hydrated.

ISPA BOOTH NUMBER: 1147

Reasons for attendees to explore your booth: This will give attendees a chance to learn more about Somme Institute—its research, its product offerings and how these will help improve their revenue. Visitors at the booth will also enjoy receiving a very special gift.

SpaRitual sparitual.com | 1.877.772.7488 New product or product line: SpaRitual Gold: 2-Step Flexible Color System in 24 Shades.

ISPA BOOTH NUMBER: 500

SpaRitual Gold doubles the wear of your manicure. It comes with a Smudge-Repairing Technology and offers benefits like quick dry-time, easy application and removal. Slow Beauty Deep Massage: Slow down and get beneath the surface with a deep but gentle approach. Mindfully spaced strokes are personalized to reach your deepest nature, exposing brilliance. Frankincense grounds while ginger helps to re-energize and give you a deeper awakening.

Reasons for attendees to explore your booth and Relaxation Area: SpaRitual is a distinct and highly differentiated brand proposition; on the cutting-edge of eco-luxury with an unparalleled product and philosophical offering. SpaRitual takes a holistic approach to treating the mind, body, spirit need and we take the same holistic approach in our business with a rich product portfolio and business-building tools.

SPECIAL PULSE ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT


Supracor, Inc. supracor.com | 1.408.432.1616 New product or product line: The Stimulite® Dual-Sided Bath Mitt features two mitts in one for the ultimate spa

ISPA BOOTH NUMBER: 826

experience. Uniquely versatile for body exfoliation and massage treatments, Supracor’s new dual-textured Bath Mitt features a softer lavender and firmer green side of Stimulite honeycomb. Designed for easily reversing sides on either hand, this dual-sided Bath Mitt stimulates blood flow to enhance circulation and promote cellular regeneration. Naturally antimicrobial and allergen-free, the flexing action of the honeycomb cells gently removes dirt and dead skin while their massaging action helps to promote lymphatic drainage and eliminate the toxins that produce cellulite. Ideal for pre- and post-waxing and spray tan preparation. Reasons for attendees to explore your booth: Stimulite spa products cleanse, exfoliate and massage your clients’ skin

while promoting health, relaxation and well-being. Products are naturally antimicrobial, allergen-free, nontoxic, longlasting, washable and completely recyclable. Supracor will customize any package of its luxury Stimulite skin care and spa products, which include attractive, compact countertop displays, at show special prices to meet retailers’ needs.

VitaJuwel USA vitajuwel.com | 1.925.291.7490 New product or product line: The brand-new gemwater bottle VitaJuwel ViA is your personal

spa on-the go! It comes with an exchangeable gemstone pod and is the most beautiful way to inspirit drinking water.ViA is already a bestseller in Europe and a great way for spa customers to start thinking green and stop using plastic bottles. Designed in Germany and available in 17 fascinating gemstone blends,ViA is the high-quality companion for extraordinary trips. Simply jewelry for water!

ISPA BOOTH NUMBER: 1135

Reasons for attendees to explore your booth: Did you know that the true

meaning of spa is “Health through Water” (Sanus Per Aquam)? Water is the elixir of life and an essential component of holistic spa treatments.VitaJuwel is the exclusive manufacturer of handcrafted gemwater accessories. Sample several fascinating blends of gemwater at the VitaJuwel booth!

Place Your Brand in Front of the Decision-makers. Advertise in

Magazine.

CONTACT Whitney Elswick Sales Manager • 1.859.226.4372 whitney.elswick@ispastaff.com

SPECIAL PULSE ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT


A Day in the Life! BY ALEXANDER MENRISKY

The life of a spa professional is a continuous cycle of daily responsibilities that help make the spa world go round. Pulse asks ISPA members to give us a sneak peek into their daily lives to help us understand the roles they play and the difference they make on a daily basis.

between scholarship recipients and the broader industry. In turn, this fosters a networking habit crucial for young professionals entering the field ISPA with spa veterans. “Meeting ION FOUNDAT CHI C A B A professionals and being T Y R MA SHIP SCHOLAR involved in the discussions COand research on the topics that T RECIPIEN matter to the future of spa business provide newcomers with a sense of community. In the future, they can turn to this network when in need of ANNE-LIISE VERPSON inspiration, useful advice or a skillful Spa Student, University of Tartu partner,” she says. “Such a mutually Pärnu, Estonia rewarding combination of relationships and activities provides strong foundan the process of earning a tions for sustainable industry progress.” master’s degree in Wellness and Verpson hopes to use this experience Spa Service Design and to help her facilitate partnership projManagement at the University of ects, specifically between the ISPA Tartu in Pärnu, Estonia, Anne-Liise Foundation and the Estonian Spa Verpson learned about the ISPA Association in order to help develop Foundation Mary Tabbachi Scholarship international spa relations for future genand its mission from the ISPA website. “I erations. More importantly, she plans to admire [ISPA’s] generosity in supporting directly relate her experience to younger newcomers with an incredible scholar-

I

ship that would help novices like me to reach our career goals and contribute to the development of the spa industry,” Verpson says. She applied for the scholarship while on a three-month internship in Italy. The interview took place a day after her arrival back in Estonia. “My preparation for the interview started when I began my studies in the spa and wellness field a few years ago,” she says. “When the scholarship interview took place, it was my chance to let the [selection committee] know of my general knowledge of the industry and where I see myself in this big picture.” For Verpson, ISPA’s scholarship opportunities are an integral part of the future of the spa industry, creating the ability to forge strong connections 84 PULSE

October 2015

spa students, who one day might follow in her footsteps. “I would like to arouse the enthusiasm of novices in the field and encourage them to work on their dreams rather than stay at home and hope that one day they will do something,” she says. On the day she received the news about her selection as one of this year’s ISPA Foundation Mary Tabacchi Scholarship winners, Verpson recalls a simple time spent with family that was made more memorable after receiving a much-awaited surprise in her inbox. ★ 10 am Worked in the garden and dug up beds for beans and peas gathered during a trip to Italy. ★ 4 pm Visited her 97-year-old grandmother for some candy, in exchange for a back massage and news about her internship experience in Italy. ★ 9 pm Received an email announcing her selection as a co-recipient of the 2015 ISPA Foundation Mary Tabacchi Scholarship ■

Tips for a Successful Application Verpson offers the following tips to help spa students interested to apply for next year’s ISPA Foundation Mary Tabacchi Scholarship ace the application process. ●

Compile a thorough professional resume. This should include all of the steps and achievements on your educational and career path that you consider significant in reaching your goals in the field of spa and wellness.

Start gathering useful documents (e.g. school diplomas, reference letters) as soon as the application process is declared open. That way you can be operating within an adequate time frame.

Have properly functioning digital devices and a reliable Internet connection for the Skype interview.

VISIT experienceispa.com to learn more about the ISPA Foundation Mary Tabacchi Scholarship.


VISIT ATTENDISPA.COM TO LEARN MORE.

2015 ISPA CONFERENCE OCTOBER 19-21 MANDALAY BAY RESORT & CASINO LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

& EXPO

Additional Silver Sponsors AS OF AUGUST 18, 2015 Bio Natural Inc

Mio Skincare

dba BioRepublic SkinCare

Morning Refreshers

The Daily Pulse, Wednesday Edition

BOOTH NUMBER: 315 MIOSKINCARE.COM • 1.888.962.6264

BOOTH NUMBER: 211 BIOREPUBLIC.COM • 1.888.887.5704

What makes your brand stand out? BioRepublic SkinCare®

What makes your brand stand out? Mio is an industry

is the first eco-friendly sheetmask line. We don’t just talk about being green, it’s in our DNA. Our mask material is made from 100 percent biodegradable, natural fibers, while our products are cruelty-free and formulated without harsh chemicals. Our customers care about ingredient safety and so do we, which is why we include the Environmental Working Group (EWG)’s safety data directly on our website.

trendsetter. Ten years ago, we pioneered pregnancy skin care and quickly became the trusted category leader. In 2014, we launched the first body-care brand dedicated to skin fitness. Our wellness approach, high-quality, no-nasties formulas, industry awards and cult-like celebrity following singularize our brand.

What exciting new product or service are you showcasing this year? Our line of biodegradable, cruelty-free

sheetmasks forms the core of our line. The line was originally developed for retail, but the product is so effective that we see many spa professionals using it in their back bar! We’re also launching a new premium line of biocellulose face and eye masks that take performance and convenience to another level. Can you share one important tip to help attendees prepare for and explore the 2015 ISPA Conference & Expo? Come prepared, know who you want to meet and arrange

What exciting new product or service are you showcasing this year? Our new Mio kits make irresistible retail

purchases and complement wellness programs. Sleep Better will help your guests achieve restorative and natural sleep. Run Faster will help them do just that. Mio Skincare will feature easy treatment add-ons like full-body, dry-brushing that will increase the average guest transaction both in the treatment room and at retail. Can you share one important tip to help attendees prepare for and explore the 2015 ISPA Conference & Expo? Wear comfy shoes and a light crossbody bag or backpack.

You’ll be able to concentrate on what’s around you and not what’s ailing you.

appointments in advance, but also leave enough free time to wander the floor, network, and find new products and services! October 2015

PULSE 85


2015 ISPA CONFERENCE & EXPO Additional Sponsors AS OF AUGUST 18, 2015 Organic Male OM4

Skin Authority

Headshot Station Co-Sponsor

Headshot Station Co-Sponsor

BOOTH NUMBER: 642 OM4MEN.COM • 1.877.898.6253

SKINAUTHORITY.COM • 1.866.325.7546 EXT. 120

What makes your brand stand out? OM4 is the first skin

What makes your brand stand out? Skin Authority spa

type and condition-specific professional men’s line to bust the myth that all men’s skin is created equal. The brand mantra is: 4 PRODUCTS | 4 STEPS | 4 MINUTES | 4 MEN. Color-coded by skin type with each step numbered, OM4 takes the guess work out of choosing perfect pairings four biologically distinctive male skin.

partners love the instant gratification of our products, which improve guest appearance upon application and help them feel more connected to making skin healthier. Skin Authority leads a new category of skin care, re-imagining proven technology, while integrating new biotechnology for products that transform the healthy appearance of skin.

What exciting new product or service are you showcasing this year? RESTORATION Rx pushes the green science

What exciting new product or service are you showcasing this year? Skin Authority is a “game-changer”

envelope, featuring innovative gemmotherapy extraction technology and the use of embryonic plant tissue in five intensive, age-delaying clinical night treatment serums. SERIES SM signals the launch of a new men’s grooming category—dual-function and skin-type-specific shave masks that treat male skin conditions while shaving.

lifestyle brand that redefines the consumer skin-care experience – in a spa, at home, out shopping, or online. The My Skin Authority mobile app puts a live, certified skin coach at the guest’s fingertips to create new revenue streams for spas by delivering results in a way never before seen.

Can you share one important tip to help attendees prepare for and explore the 2015 ISPA Conference & Expo? First day, do a quick walk-through and approach the floor

as a retail customer. What immediately catches your attention? Write the booth down and spend time on subsequent passes.

86 PULSE

October 2015

Can you share one important tip to help attendees prepare for and explore the 2015 ISPA Conference & Expo? Take charge and schedule an appointment in advance

with vendors you are interested in meeting. Download the My Skin Authority App, free at the Apple and Google Play stores. Make sure to visit us at the Headshot Station and experience the instant gratification of our patented SGF-4 Technology™.


We

Our Sponsors*

Thank you to all our sponsors for their generous support of ISPA:

ZENTS Headshot Station Co-Sponsor ZENTS.COM • 1.760.940.2125

PLATINUM

SILVER

Elemis HydroPeptide

Bio Natural Inc dba BioRepublic SkinCare

ManageMySpa

COOLA Suncare

Matrix Fitness

Element Eden

ResortSuite

Éminence Organic Skin Care

Technogym

FarmHouse Fresh LEMI GROUP

GOLD

Mio Skincare

[ comfort zone ] north america

Organic Male OM4

BABOR

Skin Authority

colorescience

WebMD

What makes your brand stand out? ZENTS is a mindful

Decléor

Zents Body Care

company committed to bettering the world. GIVING BACK: We donate 10 percent of event sales to our Seva charity partners. SOURCED WITH LOVE: Our hand-harvested shea butter benefits women in Africa. Our Concreta stones support Indian artisans. Locally sourced ingredients from small U.S. farmers, including biodynamic flower essences in our new Unzented line, help to minimize our carbon footprint.

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare

What exciting new product or service are you showcasing this year? UNZENTED is our new unscented

collection of luxe retail and nourishing treatment products. Up to 98 percent organic, each product contains stress-relieving Demeter-certified biodynamic flower essences to boost your happiness. This line is ideal for those with sensitivities, mothers-to-be, and people who prefer scent-free. Learn how to increase revenue with home care on all your unscented and prenatal offerings.

Dr. Hauschka Skin Care

BRONZE

FIT Bodywrap

American Spa Magazine

jane iredale – THE SKIN CARE MAKEUP EuroSpa Aromatics Grounded Beauty Jurlique Naturopathica

Intrinsics

Phytomer Group Brands

Kneipp

Sanitas Skincare

RevitaLash

Spa Week Media Group, Ltd.

Skin Inc. Magazine

SpaRitual

Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics

SpaSoft/Springer-Miller Systems THALGO America *As of August 18, 2015

Can you share one important tip to help attendees prepare for and explore the 2015 ISPA Conference & Expo? Do as many activities as you can, and make sure to

carry around whatever you use to stay happy and healthy when traveling, like our new Zen Blend tonic.

October 2015

PULSE 87


PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Fresh Updates

1

Take a look at some of this year’s five-time consecutive exhibitors’ product showcases and discover fresh finds at the 2015 ISPA Conference & Expo.

3

4 2

1. Lavender Beauty. Sonoma Lavender’s Lavender Heated Spa Collection (Lavender Neck Pillow, Heat Wrap

5. Monitor and Track. With Book4Time Inc.’s Spa Monitor, you can keep tabs on your online reputation

and Spa Mask in Valencia fabric) contains lavender that helps to soothe nerves and flaxseed that relaxes and heals. SONOMALAVENDER.COM | 1.707.523.4411

fast and easy in one convenient location. SPAMONITOR.COM | 1.905.752.2588 2015 ISPA CONFERENCE & EXPO BOOTH NO: 416

2015 ISPA CONFERENCE & EXPO BOOTH NO: 515

2. Non-Stop Moisturizing. June Jacobs Spa Collection’s Rapid Repair Healing Cream is a clinically

tested product that helps to soothe irritation and provides up to 24-hour moisturization through key ingredients like edelweiss extract, imperatoria extract, allantoin and dimethicone.

3. Two Mitts in One. Uniquely versatile for body exfoliation and massage treatments, Supracor Inc.’s new Stimulite® Dual-Sided Bath Mitt features a softer lavender

6. Packed with Beta-Carotene. ilike organic skin care from Szep Elet’s Carotene Essentials™ product group

is filled with beta-carotene from concentrated carrots, calendula, cantaloupe and sorb apple that help nourish the skin, moderate cell turnover, strengthen tissue and improve elasticity. SZEPELET.COM | 1.888.290.6238

10. Peel Off. Reveal a softer, revitalized complexion with the VitaSkin™ Exfoliating Peels from Éminence Organic Skin Care. These results-oriented peels, formulated with natural, active ingredients, deliver visible results without the need for downtime.

2015 ISPA CONFERENCE & EXPO BOOTH NO: 827

EMINENCEORGANICS.COM | 1.888.747.6342 2015 ISPA CONFERENCE & EXPO BOOTH NO: 501

7. Versatile Lounge. TouchAmerica Inc.’s Well-Lounge

is a comfortable sofa that converts into a treatment table with a flip of a switch. TOUCHAMERICA.COM | 1.800.678.6824 2015 ISPA CONFERENCE & EXPO BOOTH NO: 204

and firmer green side of Stimulite honeycomb. 2015 ISPA CONFERENCE & EXPO BOOTH NO: 826

8. Style and Function. The Bravo by Continuum Footspas is the perfect balance of style and essential

4. Quick Plans. The ResortSuite Activity Scheduler

features, including a glimmering glass basin, luxurious upholstery and full shiatsu massage.

SUPRACOR.COM | 1.408.432.1616

now allows guests to view scheduled classes, events, activities, programs and more in a highly visual, weekly view to allow guests to easily plan their itinerary. RESORTSUITE.COM | 1.866.4RSUITE 2015 ISPA CONFERENCE & EXPO BOOTH NO: 505

88 PULSE

October 2015

five-minute removal! CND.COM | 1.858.766.9500 2015 ISPA CONFERENCE & EXPO BOOTH NO: 1011

JUNEJACOBS.COM | 1.212.471.4830 2015 ISPA CONFERENCE & EXPO BOOTH NO: 647

9. Express Colors. The next generation of the CND® SHELLAC® brand 14+ day nail color system features the SHELLAC Brand XPRESSS5™ Top Coat and CND LED Lamp for faster-than-ever service time and

MYCONTINUUMPEDICURE.COM | 1.877.255.3030 2015 ISPA CONFERENCE & EXPO BOOTH NO: 920

EDITOR’S NOTE: Thank you to all our sources who responded to our editorial lead. For a chance to highlight your latest product in the Product Spotlight of Pulse magazine, email product description and high-resolution product photo to ispa@ispastaff.com


7 5

8

10

6

9


ISPA FOUNDATION

SPONSORS Why Support the ISPA Foundation CHAT Live & Silent Auctions? ISPA: Why has your company chosen to sponsor the ISPA Foundation Live & Silent Auctions? COOLA Suncare: The ISPA Foundation Auctions brings everyone together at the end of what is always a successful show for everyone involved. It’s an amazing opportunity to be part of an event where we celebrate various passions—from art and travel to music and experiences. It’s common to see vendors and retailers having a great time playfully jockeying for position as they strategically place their bids as the clock winds down. A lot of fun for a great cause! Matrix Fitness: The ISPA Foundation Auctions is a great sponsorship for us as we love to see friends in the industry come together to support a cause that we are all passionate about. We rely on the research to make important business decisions, so we’re glad to be able to support ISPA and the Foundation in this way. ISPA: How does your team determine what to donate to the ISPA Foundation Auctions each year? C: Our marketing and sales departments always have a great time getting together to brainstorm fun and distinctive ideas that will generate a lot of donations. Last year’s project, a COOLA Stand Up Paddle Board, was extra fun because we got to design it as well!

FOUNDATION

2015 ISPA FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS CHAIRMAN Jeff Kohl Spa & Club Ideations VICE CHAIRMAN Frank Pitsikalis ResortSuite

DIRECTORS Ella Stimpson ISPA Vice Chairman The Spa at Sea Island Michael Tompkins ISPA Chairman PALM Health Lynne McNees ISPA President

MEDICAL ADVISOR Brent Bauer, M.D. Mayo Clinic

M: For the last several years we have donated an E3x Suspension Elliptical trainer to the Auctions. It’s always a big hit among bidders!

HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS Ruth Stricker The Marsh, A Center for Balance and Fitness

ISPA: What is your company’s favorite ISPA Foundation initiative?

Deborah Szekely WELLNESS WARRIOR

C: We love data—especially about the spa, health and wellness industry! The annual ISPA U.S. Spa Industry Study offers unique and insightful information gathered from some of the most respected people and properties in the spa world. It’s a study that year over year, helps us guide our business growth and target new and trending opportunities.

The ISPA Foundation wishes to thank the following supporters for their generous contributions:

M: The ISPA Foundation Mary Tabacchi Scholarship is such a great opportunity for young professionals to get involved with ISPA and the spa industry. We’re thrilled that for the second year in a row, the ISPA Foundation has been able to offer two scholarships. ■

LUMINARY

Ruth Stricker BENEFACTOR

Dr. Howard Murad PATRON

TO CHECK OUT all of this year’s exciting donations, grab a copy of the Auctions Catalog at the ISPA Resource Center or visit biddingforgood.com to access the online version. Plus, be sure to visit the Auction Area and join the Live Auction from 4:30 to 6 pm on Tuesday, Oct. 20 during the 2015 ISPA Conference & Expo. 90 PULSE

October 2015

Massage Envy Franchising, LLC Red Door Spas



OCTOBER 2015 October is... Positive Change Continues in the Second Quarter of 2015 The monthly ISPA Snapshot Survey provides ISPA members the opportunity to participate in and access useable and relevant industry research. In the latest quarterly report, survey respondents offered a closer look at their business performance from April 1 through June 30. Overall, the results were very positive. Compared to the second quarter of 2014, the majority of respondents (74 percent) confirmed that they have seen growth in gross revenue. In terms of gross profit, spa respondents (71 percent) and resource partners (71 percent) have respectively seen a positive change. The increase in numbers is further reflected in the number of spa visits, with 62 percent of spas reporting an increase in the number of spa visits in the second quarter this year compared to the same period in 2014. Perhaps the most encouraging long-term sign that spa owners are confident about the future was reflected in the workforce numbers. Across day and resort/hotel spas, 37 percent added new positions while 43 percent filled vacant positions. Only two percent laid-off staff and implemented a hiring freeze. A strong employment market is a key confidence indicator, reflecting a continued growth in the spa industry.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

National Diabetes Month (U.S.)

Eczema Awareness Month

National Cosmetology Month (U.S.)

1 2 12 16 18

World Vegetarian Day

September Snapshot Survey results are released

Columbus Day (Dia de la Raza, Discovery Day)

October Snapshot Survey opens Last day to participate in the 2015 ISPA Auction online bidding

2015 ISPA Conference & Expo registration (12 – 8 pm PT) 2015 ISPA Certified Spa Supervisor (CSS) Study Group (1 – 2 pm) 2015 ISPA Certified Spa Supervisor (CSS) Exam (2 – 4 pm) Conference Orientation (3 – 4 pm) Ruth Stricker’s Wise Voices (4:30 – 6 pm)

19 19-21 21 23 31

Evaluate Your Life Day (U.S.)

2015 ISPA Conference & Expo

Farewell Party at LIGHT Nightclub Last day to participate in October Snapshot Survey

To receive the full monthly report, check your inbox for the next survey link and participate in the survey.

92 PULSE

October 2015

Results from the October Snapshot Survey are released


ISPA NEWS TUNE IN TO WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE SPA INDUSTRY Are you looking for the latest industry trends or creative ideas implemented by your peers? Get your hands on invaluable industry information by participating in the Snapshot Survey. This member benefit provides you with a unique opportunity to receive valuable data by completing these quick, monthly surveys. By investing only a few seconds of your time, you can help ISPA identify your company’s needs, monitor industry trends and access the impact of the global economic situation toward the spa industry. In return for your time, you’ll receive the complete report filled with priceless insights.

Utilize the Digital ISPA Buyer’s Guide Don’t forget to browse the digital ISPA Buyer’s Guide when looking to connect with ISPA resource partners. Each month, the digital guide is updated with new members, so there’s always something new to be found. By visiting experienceispa.com, members can access the guide anytime whether at home, at the office or on-the-go.

HAVE QUESTIONS about the digital Buyer’s Guide or ISPA Snapshot Surveys? Email ispa@ispastaff.com


ISPA would like to thank the following Pulse advertisers for their support of the association:

AD INDEX Bio Natural Inc dba BioRepublic SkinCare 1.404.723.3396 biorepublic.com

89

Chaleur Beauty By Forever Young Intellectual Property, LLC 5 1.844.242.5387 foreveryoungintellectualproperty .com/chaleur/ Digilock 59 1.707.766.6000 digilock.com Éminence Organic Skin Care ICF, 1 1.888.747.6342 eminenceorganics.com ESPA International 1.888.705.0102 espaskincare.com

36, 37

FarmHouse Fresh INSERT 1.888.773.9626 farmhousefreshgoods.com G.M. Collin Skincare 1.800.341.1531 gmcollin.com

91

HydraFacial MD – Edge Systems LLC 11 1.800.603.4996 skinhealthforlife.com

Phytomer Group Brands 1.801.284.8200 phytomerusa.com

jane iredale – THE SKIN CARE MAKEUP OBC 1.800.762.1132 janeiredale.com

ResortSuite 3 1.866.477.8483 resortsuite.com

Comphy Co. BELLYBAND 1.323.225.8234 comphy.com

Sanitas Skincare 47 1.888.855.8425 sanitas-skincare.com

Thera-Pearl 55 1.800.321.2135 therapearl.com

Skin Authority 31 1.866.325.7546 skinauthority.com

Vie USA 42 1.877.843.0800 vieusa.com

Smith & Cult, LLC 93 1.855.768.4258 smithandcult.com

Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics 1.805.577.0102 ybskin.com

Sothys USA Inc. 1.800.325.0503 sothys-usa.com

Zents Body Care 1.888.463.4236 zents.com

Jurlique 7 1.800.854.1110 jurlique.com Matrix Fitness 25 1.866.693.4863 matrixfitness.com Moroccanoil Inc. 48, 49 1.888.700.1817 moroccanoil.com Nelly De Vuyst 61 1.800.263.8888 derme.ca Organic Male OM4 1.877.898.6253 om4men.com

43

SpaRitual 14, 15 1.818.988.2228 sparitual.com

HydroPeptide 9 1.800.932.9873 hydropeptide.com

5

89

31

Special Pulse Advertising Supplement

PCA Skin IBC 1.877.722.7546 pcaskin.com Philip Stein Holding, Inc. 1.855.533.3939 philipstein.com

71

Bed of Nails 76

GrandeLASH – MD 79

Bio Natural Inc dba BioRepublic SkinCare 76

HydroPeptide 80

Bissinger’s Handcrafted Chocolatier 77

Performance Health 80

Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquer 77 Dr. Hauschka Skin Care 77 Elemis 78 ESPA International 78

Bold indicates year-round Pulse advertisers and 2015 ISPA Conference & Expo Sponsors.

FarmHouse Fresh 78 Feeling Smitten 79 Fibreluxe Lashes 79

Organic Male OM4 80 Pevonia International LLC 81 Phytomer Group Brands 81 Pollogen Ltd. 81 ResortSuite 82 Somme Institute 82 SpaRitual 82 Supracor, Inc. 83 VitaJuwel USA 83

ISPA WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS TO THE ISPA COMMUNITY RESOURCE PARTNER BGC Retail Consultants Kirsti Wolfe Designs, Inc. Isawall Sysems LLC La Costa Organic Jewelry Londontown Inc Silver & Sage Jewelry Verve Jewelry Walk-in Apps, Inc. SPA AMOMI Pregnancy Wellness ~Spa Andaz Peninsula Papagayo

Bliss Boston Blush Boutique & Spa Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort Spa Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay Garden of the Gods Club Spa Gaylord National Resort and Convention Grooming Lounge Grupo Vidanta Harmony Day Spa Hyatt Zilara Cancun Hyatt Ziva and Zilara Rose Hall Jamaica

Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos Innovative Spa Management KSL Resorts Marcus Hotels & Resorts Miile Spa at Excellence Group Milagro Spa - Manasquan Milagro Spa - Red Bank mySpa at the InterContinental Miami Nine Stones Pelage Medi Spa Pro Beauty RnR Wellness THE SPA

Rosewood Sand Hill Sense, A Rosewood Spa Sailfish Point Club Salon Lorrene The Peninsula Beverly Hills Spa Woman’s Athletic Club of Chicago SPA UNDER DEVELOPMENT Claudia Jasmim Institute Royal Park Whole Foods Market Release Well-Being Center, LLC

EDITOR’S NOTE: This includes new members from August 6, 2015 – August 27, 2015. You can access the online membership directory at experienceispa.com.

94 PULSE

October 2015

70


Like a true community, let's make meaningful connections. Aimed at helping ISPA members discover each other, share one another's passions and inspirations, and hopefully kick-start warm introductions among peers, this section called Social Connections is all about buildISPA ing bridges. Share your passion with Pulse and see yourself CONFERENCE SPEAKER & ISPA featured in this section. FOUNDATION AUCTIONEER

SOCIAL CONNECTIONS

3 1

4

2

DR. BERTICE BERRY

■ PRESIDENT, BERTICE BERRY PRODUCTIONS ■ SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

1. Favorite app: This changes often, but I’m currently hooked on Dubsmash. It’s so silly—it’s fun!

I am equally passionate about promoting literacy programs, women’s health and The Hearing Aid Project.

Next travel destination: Las Vegas

Most important business lesson learned: No matter how hard you prepare, work or how big your lead is, you can’t succeed without a strong team. I learned this lesson at an ISPA Conference & Expo.

Fitness routine: Every day, I walk, stretch, do toning exercises and practice yoga. 2. Comfort food: Popcorn but I’m allergic to corn. Irony of ironies. 3. Books currently reading: I like reading multiple books each week. I’m currently reading The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race by Willie James Jennings; Sex, Time and Power: How Women’s Sexuality Helped Shape Evolution by Leonard Shlain, and Prince Lestat by Anne Rice. 4. Audio book on replay: I love listening to Across the Nightingale Floor series by Lian Hearn. Charity or causes you support: Emmaus House is just one of the many charities I support. I go and serve the homeless twice a week.

A great leader is: One who supports his or her team members so they exceed their own expectations and surpass his or her own achievements. Health and wellness blog you follow: The Art of Living—okay, I write it, but I try to follow the advice first. Personal achievement: Raising five adopted, special needs children. Most memorable ISPA moment: There are too many to choose from but one that stands out was during my first time to speaking at ISPA Conference. After my speech, the staff sang to me as I walked all the way through the door. It still makes me smile today. ■

@DrBerticeBerry

berticeberry.com

October 2015

PULSE 95


STYLING & PHOTO BY ECHOSTARMAKER.COM

“So sell ’em strawberries. But sell ’em.” —Former Plaza Hotel President James Lavenson

A

re you “thinking strawberries”? I know we are! The phrase “think strawberries” is borrowed from former Plaza Hotel President James Lavenson’s speech to the American Marketing Association in 1974, wherein he elaborated how he turned around the hotel’s struggling revenues by converting everyone into sales superstars, including waiters who learned to sell strawberry desserts in carts to New York’s diet-conscious guests. Today, the phrase “think strawberries” doesn’t only mean “everybody sells” but has also become a metaphor to “staying in focus.” This powerful idea kept popping up in ISPA conversations lately, including at an ISPA meeting. In reflection, an ISPA board member shared:

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER! @LynneMcNees LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! International SPA Association

TO READ Lavenson’s full speech, visit pulse.experienceispa.com.

96 PULSE

October 2015

“Earlier this year we took ‘think strawberries’ to a whole new level by making our P&L the ‘strawberry’ focus. Historically, May is a slow month due to the changing of the seasons. Our ‘strawberry’ for the month was to double our income from May last year. At every lineup, staff meeting, or daily update, we constantly kept team members informed of how we were doing on our ‘strawberry’ goal and challenged them daily to help drive revenue. By the end of the month, we not only beat our goal, we beat prior year by 629 percent!” A large part of Lavenson’s speech includes picking a focus and communicating it to your staff. Your focus can change over time, but it comes down to your staff rallying around the cause and staying on message. I saw this come into play at the recent East Coast ISPA Media Event. As journalists interviewed spa representatives, each spa’s representative stayed on message and made sure to share their “soundbite” at every opportunity. At ISPA headquarters, each staff member has a primary focus (their “strawberry”) throughout the year, whether it’s public relations, marketing, membership, media events or social media. But as it gets closer to the ISPA Conference & Expo (our one BIG “strawberry”), we all “think Conference.” We are so excited October is finally here and we are celebrating our 25th anniversary with you. In your spa or business, what’s your current focus? Are you and your team focused on the same “strawberries”?

—LYNNE McNEES, ISPA PRESIDENT












Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.