Go to
Spa the
july 2018
#1 DIRECTORY PROMOTING THE BEST SPA, YOGA & WELLNESS BREAKS IN IRELAND 1
Wellness break One night Spa Retreat at Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort Escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and submerge yourself in the tranquillity of Druids Glen. Relax and rejuvenate in our award winning spa and enjoy a 55-minute treatment, unwind further in the relaxation room and avail of the health club facilities. Linger over a sumptuous breakfast the following morning, served until 11am.
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• Full Irish Breakfast • 55-minute spa treatment per person • Full use of the Health & Fitness Club • Complimentary car parking • Wifi access throughout the hotel • Spa reservations are required in advance of your arrival date
From €325 Total Price
www.druidsglenresort.com
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PENNINSULA SPA
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MONTHLY PRODUCT SPOT
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GOLDEN RULES
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MEET EILEEN FLEMING
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MEET MARIA FROM BEAUTIFUL JOBS
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WELCOME NOTE
Heidi Grimwood Editor
My name is Heidi Grimwood and welcome to the first edition of Go to the Spa. I am an International Spa Consultant and Digital Marketer. My passion for all things spa and wellness started in 1996 when I travelled from the UK to New Zealand to work and train as a Fitness Class Instructor, Personal Trainer, Nutritional Therapist and Gym Membership Sales Executive. Since then I have opened Richard Branson’s first Corporate Gym at Virgin Atlantic Headquarters at London Gatwick Airport, worked on cruise ships as a fitness instructor and progressed to onboard Spa Business Development Manager for Steiner Trans Ocean where I developed existing Spa Businesses on Board their fleet finishing my ocean going career as Spa Manager on board the QE2 for two years. My portfolio also includes Kerzner International in the Maldives at the One and Only Resorts as Spa Director, the Aghadoe Heights Hotel and Inchydony Lodge and Spa, Clonakilty in County Cork as Spa Manager. I currently own TOA Digital Marketing Agency as well as consulting in spas and I have recently developed my online business spa manager development program. I am a Mum of one to a gorgeous girl called Gracie Aroha and my partner in crime (the most patient man in the world!) Bryan completes our little family of three. We live in West Cork and travel regularly on many exciting projects. I developed Go to the Spa web directory to give spas a digital voice in Ireland but I wanted to reach far more people. With the demise of email marketing largely due to GDPR and saturation of this marketing tool, I decided that apart from social media we needed another visual approach to reach people interested in learning about all things spa and well-being. So I hope you like our first publication of Go to the Spa. We would love your feedback to make sure we include all the information you are looking for in an online wellness magazine.
Have a wonderful day 4
KO SPA'S TOP PRODUCTS TO PACK FOR YOUR HOLIDAY THIS YEAR Are you wondering which beauty essentials to pack for your summer holidays this year? Sarah Holden from the KO Spa in Kilkenny has pick out some of her favourites for you.
Voyas Effervescence Body Scrub Get your skin summer ready with Voyas effervescence body scrub. An exfoliating sugar gel scrub that removes dead skin cells leaving your skin silky smooth. Dual action milky formula also hydrates and nourishes the skin leaving you refined, refreshed and noticeably smoother.
VOYA’s Ritzy Spritzy Toner A holiday essential to tone, soothe and hydrate your skin. Simply mist lightly over your face to hydrate your skin during a flight or to refresh and soothe on the beach.
VOYA Organic Travel Set The VOYA Organic Travel Set is made up of four products essential to your daily skin and hair care routine. All formulated from 100% organic ingredients including essential oils, vitamins and, of course, hand-harvested seaweed from the coast of Ireland, this handy kit keeps you looking and feeling refreshed and revitalized everywhere you go.
VOYA’s Organic Shampoo Create body and shine as nature intended with VOYA’’s gentle and all-natural organic shampoo. Infused with purifying properties of wild organic seaweed, Silky By Nature’s vitamin and mineral-enriched formula will leave your hair healthy, shiny and full of vitality from root to tip.
KO Spa at Kilkenny Ormonde www.gotothespa.ie/ireland/gardens/hotel-spa/ko-spa-at-kilkenny-ormonde
KO Spa at Kilkenny Ormonde KO Spa opens the door to luxury and sheer bliss! KO Spa is the ultimate in relaxed ‘me time’ and calm. www.kilkennyormonde.com
River Spa at Falls Hotel Co. Clare Relax and unwind with our range of Spa Rituals www.fallshotel.ie
MEET MARIA MORGAN Director of beautifuljobs Where did it all begin? For me, recruitment wasn't my intended career path. I studied Business & Food Science and like many people who complete a degree, it more confirmed what I didn't want to do! After graduating I landed a summer clerical role with Grafton recruitment which then led to a full-time recruitment job. It was a high-pressure environment but allowed me to learn the skills needed to become a recruitment consultant. After years of recruiting for general work sectors, I felt I could place people more accurately and quickly if I focused on a specific sector and decided to specialise in beauty. The biggest challenge to date: Being an online company is great in that we have unlimited potential within our industry but also leaves it more difficult to get noticed with all the other distractions online.
Parknasilla Resort and Spa Sneem Co. Kerry Nature Inspired Wellness www.parknasillaresort.com
That's why I am constantly trying to improve my business by introducing new features, such as career development and personality testing while also offering a service that gives the employer the ability to recruit their own staff very easily. The best business advice I can offer:
Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort Co Wicklow The most luxurious products The most dedicated therapists The most superior treatments www.druidsglenresort.com
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'I think quite often we only focus on end results and are often in a rush to get to the top. My advice is to enjoy the process, take your time and be proud of what you have accomplished so far. Where motivation stems from: When I stepped back from my career and took time out to have my
BOOK YOUR ONE ON ONE CONFIDENTIAL CAREER CONSULTATION WITH MARIA: Email - info@beautifuljobs.ie Tel - 01 9036279 (ire) Tel - 020 3608 6940 (UK)
three boys I realised I truly loved the interaction between people looking for a new job and the employer. There is a very rewarding feeling when connecting the two. What I love about my work: I enjoy building long lasting relationships with people I meet and love to see a candidate I have placed in a position in previous years come back to me when they are now ready for their next step in their career and be part of the process that enables them to proceed further. The biggest challenge: The same thing every business faces no matter if it's big or small, to continually improve on what we do. As the workload increases we must grow with the demands people place on us and still deliver the service they expect.
CELEBRITY ARCHITECT HUGH WALLACE WORKS HIS MAGIC TO BRING A TOUCH OF NATURE TO AN URBAN RETREAT
New €1.2 million spa set to open at the Osprey Hotel in June 2018
www.ospreyhotel.ie/wellness/osprey-spa
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PENINSULA SPA AT THE DINGLE SKELLIG HOTEL INTRODUCES VOYA TREATMENTS Have you visited Dingle lately? Because during my 12 years living in County Kerry I seemed to visit quite often and only realise now since moving to Cork two years ago how much I took the views and beautiful energy of the Wild Atlantic Way for granted. Dingle for those of you unfamiliar is a small coastal town in the South West of Ireland. Dingle is well known for its spectacular scenery and beautiful sandy beaches. If like me you live a bit of a distance away from there, it might be a good excuse to stay a night or two! The Dingle Skellig Hotel is set right on the coast of the Dingle Peninsula and for tourists visiting Ireland or keen adventurers it is also part of the Wild Atlantic Way. The hotel also has the only hotel spa in Dingle and is a well known spot for locals, visitors and tourists. I have known Sharron O’Connor the Spa Manager for many years and have frequently visited her spa as one of my favourite spots. However since moving to Cork nearly two years ago I had neglected
You are made to feel like an old friend even if it is your first time to visit or even pop in to say hi. So when I arrived to the spa, I reminded myself why a more frequent visit needs to be a part of my total well-being lifestyle. But let’s start with my journey from West Cork to Dingle which was about 2.5 hours long. I woke up to the most horrific weather and was so thankful I was heading to the spa to hide from this mini storm! But the roads are pretty quiet if you are travelling out of season so the journey wasn’t too bad even in the rain. Except of course for the typi-
cal Kerry traffic jams! As I arrived into Dingle it was like driving into a different country, in typical Kerry style the clouds parted and the sun was shining like a typical gorgeous spring day (can’t quite call it summer it was still a little chilly!). Walking through the Peninsula hotel to get to the spa, it is quaint, warm and inviting. You are made to feel like an old friend even if it is your first time. It’s what I love the most about Irish hospitality. When I arrive at the spa I am greeted by one of my favourite therapists Eimear ( I know I shouldn’t have favourites but I do!) . I get a gorgeous fluffy robe and slippers, invited to change and head to the relaxation area. Now remember I have frequented this spa many many times but today was like my very first time. I stood in awe of the beauty that was in front of me.
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I think to myself, how can we be so lucky to have such a gorgeous facility and such breath taking views – these places need to feature in Conde Naste! This is the Dingle Peninsula and this is my spa day in the Peninsula Spa.
The relaxation area has an essence steam room and a Finnish sauna as well as gorgeous sun loungers inside and out (for those rare hot Irish days). But the real treat is the outdoor hot tub. I settle myself down with some delicious snacks and a Mango and Passion fruit smoothie. Eimear arrives to whisk me into her treatment room where the magic begins. The Peninsula Spa offers Yon Ka treatments and products but they also wanted to connect the beauty of the surrounding area with an Irish brand and decided that Voya was the perfect fit. For those of you unfamiliar with Voya it is a luxury organic seaweed based face and body brand and best of all its Irish made. They originated in Sligo where they still run an active spa with pure seaweed baths and welcome over 40,000 people there each year. Voya products and treatments are available all over the world and even on cruise ships. My treatments today were a 30 minute taster Voya facial followed by a Voya back massage. Eimear started with a skin consul-
I was not ready to face the real world and wanted to hibernate in there forever tation to understand what products were going to be best to treat my skin. Then asked about my stress levels and type of massage I would like. I have very sensitive skin and usually get some redness during my facials which I am quite used to but at no stage during this treatment did I feel a reaction – it was a sign that the products chosen were perfect for me. Eimear used a gor-
geous balm cleanser called Totally Balmy on my skin which felt highly nourishing and instead of using a grain exfoliator because this would have over stimulated my already sensitive skin; she used Illuminating exfoliating gel which is a seaweed enzyme exfoliator. A gorgeous nourishing maskerade face mask finished with Me Time soothing moisturiser and regenerating eye cream. I may have turned 40 last month but I’m looking 30 now!! Then I was turned over and treated to a muscle melting back massage using a lavender based oil……… not much I can tell you after that as the next thing I remember is waking myself up with a little snort! Eimear bought be back to the relaxation area to enjoy a Voya herbal tea and to try and adjust back to the real world once again. I was not ready to face the real world and wanted to hibernate in there forever. But with a rumbling tummy and a spa lunch waiting for me, I floated down to the Blasket bar and enjoyed a delicious gluten free chicken curry. There were desserts in the spa menu also but that 9
It’s so important to take time for yourself, I am a devil for not having me time I work so much but then on days like this I am reminded why it is so important was a little too much for me today so I’ll have to update you with dessert options on my next visit! Now I am a spa consultant and a digital marketer so you might say I have a little insight into the spa world. People often ask me about the difference spas I visit and surely when you’ve been to one spa you’ve been to them all – it couldn’t be more opposite. 20 years in this industry working around the world and on cruise ships and my mind is still blown. 10
Check out our You Tube Link https://youtu.be/z-TzHiobmPY As I travelled back through the Wild Atlantic Way route back to Killarney and then on to Cork I simply had to stop and show you the gorgeous views on my way home. To me this only enhances my wellbeing experience for the day, and breathing in the sea air taking a few pictures, I remember why I am so blessed to live in Ireland and to be so close to all this beauty. So your wellbeing experience really doesn’t start when you are in
the spa, it starts from when you arrive on the Peninsula coastal roads. It’s so important to take time for yourself, I am a devil for not having me time I work so much but then on days like this I am reminded why it is so important. Do you fancy a spa day or spa break in Dingle. Contact the team here who will be delighted to help you create the perfect package to suit your needs.
www.dingleskellig.com/spa.html
Start your Pick ‘N’ Mix Treatments with Full use of the Thermal Suite including / Experience Showers / Salt Grotto / Essence Steam Room / Laconium & Herbal Sauna
Choose Three of the Following Treatments: Comfort Zone. Taster Facial
Hand & Arm Ritual
Back, Neck & Shoulder Massage
Foot & Leg Ritual
Hot Stone Foot & Calf Massage
Total Treatment Time
Express Manicure
1hour 25minutes
Express Pedicure
€99.00 Per Person www.knightsbrook.com
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MEETING EILEEN FLEMING Owner of The Buff Day Spa, Dublin Meet Eileen Fleming, owner of The Buff Day Spa, Dublin. Eileen is a highly successful spa and business owner and is someone who truly inspires me on a daily basis. Eileen started with two business partners back in 2002 and developed The Buff Day spa concept in the hub of Dublin City Centre, next door to the Gaiety Theatre. Then 2008 and 2015, she bought both business partners out and went out on her own. They offer Dermalogica treatments, Image, Voya and Medi Spa treatments. I took 5 minutes of Eileen’s busy schedule to ask her about her spa. Tell us a little about yourself? Well I’m 44, separated and have a beautiful ten year old daughter Saoirse who is the love of my life! I love open water swimming, gym and daily journaling and meditation. I am a personal development junkie; I’m just about to finish three courses on Management, Leadership and Holistic Intelligence so my schedule has been absolutely hectic all year! What inspired you to open The Buff Day Spa? I used to work in an intense, high pressure IT environment and was very aware of the effects of ongoing stress and my unhealthy habits in dealing with that stress. A friend brought me to a Spa in Holland for my first massage ever and it truly changed my life! Never before had I felt so relaxed and at peace, not asleep but in that beautiful space of semi-conscious bliss. I ended up returning to Ire12
Each and every therapist has to do a treatment on me on one of my senior team before they can go «live» on clients to ensure that we uphold our consistent high standard of treatments. One of the huge perks of my work!
land and training to be a Holistic and Massage Therapist. At the time in Dublin, there were no independent Day Spas so we had the idea of creating a beautiful space for women to come and relax before and after their high quality treatments with no obligation to leave at specific time. What is unique about the spa services you offer? The Buff Day Spa is unique in Dublin City Centre as we offer a complimentary Sauna, Tranquillity Room and Relaxation Area for our clients to use before and after their treatments. This is an often overlooked part of the Spa experience in the time pressured culture we live in. We invite our clients to come in about an hour before their treatment, switch the phone off and have some space and me-time before their actual massage or facial or whatever treatment they are having. We are renowned within the industry for the expert level of skincare treatments that we provide.
Last year I launched a new Medi-Spa range of treatments within the Spa. We launched the amazing Venus Freeze Skin Tightening/Wrinkle Reduction/ Cellulite reduction machine, which is totally non-invasive and feels like a hot stone massage! It’s FDA approved and used in doctors surgeries worldwide after tummy tucks and gives excellent results. I also introduced the first SHR/SSR (Super Hair Removal/Super Skin Rejuvenation) machine into Ireland. This is the next generation in Laser Hair Removal which is PAIN FREE, can treat blonde hairs and tanned skin. What top tips do you have for someone visiting your spa for the day? First and foremost, give yourself enough time. If you appointment is at 12, try to get in for 11 to use the Spa Facilities beforehand. When you arrive, we will show you around and you have the opportunity to change into a luxurious robe and spa sandals. Switch off your phone and leave it in your locker. Take the opportunity to relax! It’s a space to be a «human being» as opposed to our normal mode «human doing». Give yourself enough time after your treatment to let your body
rest in our Tranquillity Room and absorb all the benefits of the treatment you have just received. There is no need to bring anything with you, our changing rooms are fully stocked with everything from towels to hair straighteners and dry shampoo. How do you relax? I know it’s corny but I absolutely love the gym and pool, I would go everyday if I could make the time! Here is where I have to concentrate so hard on what I’m doing that everything else on my unending to-do list gets forgotten about for that hour. Complete bliss! I love open water swimming, cold doesn’t bother me. Last week,
Saoirse and myself took a Stand Up Paddling class in Banagher on the River Shannon, it was absolutely wonderful, I fell off five times, she only fell off once!
Finally I love eating out and going to see a movie in the cinema and ice-cream…am I allowed to say I love having an ice-cream to relax?
The Buff Day Spa Dublin Pamper, Indulge and Relax
www.thebuffdayspa.com
The Buff Day Spa is a welcoming haven of tranquillity and calm situated in the heart of Dublin’s City Centre. Step away from the crowded streets into a beautiful and relaxing environment. Our expert team of friendly therapists offers a wide range of spa and beauty treatments, individually tailored to revive and rejuvenate key areas of the body and provide an overall sense of wellbeing. Our services range from an hour long treatment to a whole days pampering. 13
GOLDEN RULES FOR THE ULTIMATE SPA DAY BOOKINGS When making your booking in the spa make sure you have got the best treatment for you. What we mean is, if you love the spa and have a massage or facial every time isn’t it time to try something new? There are so many types of treatments in the spa why not try a body wrap, or exfoliation treatment, the hydo baths are amazing and a dry flotation will take you on a road to pure bliss. But if all those treatments sound like a foreign language to you then ask your spa receptionist what they would recommend. You will be pleasantly surprised at your new choices. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE If you are booking time in the spa the last thing you need is to be rushing. So it is highly important that you book plenty of time to get to your spa, at least an hour before the start of the treatment so you can use the spa facilities – this can differ from place to place but you may have a pool, sauna, steam,
hot tub, Jacuzzi and relaxation rooms. Go and make the most of them as they are part if your spa journey! TREATMENT EXPERIENCE If you have knots in your shoulders or dry skin, make sure you let your therapist know so s/he can work on those areas for you. Your spa therapist is highly trained in how the body and skin works so it is the perfect time to let them know what you want and if you want any improvements and let them work their magic. POST TREATMENT STOP! No rushing please. Allow about an hour after your treatment
so you can lay down, sip juices, nibble on lush fruit and revel in the relaxed almost zombie like state your therapists magical hands have managed to achieve. Don’t hurry out of the spa, take time for you and enjoy your spa day to the max. RE-BOOKING We often forget to treat ourselves and can sometime consider things like spa days unnecessary luxuries. But it is important that in this ever so stressful world we live in that we are making a little time for ourselves and no better place than in the spa. Ireland is blessed to have some of the most beautiful spas around so go, enjoy and most importantly relax!
PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS WITH GO TO THE SPA We are delighted with the success of the Go to the Spa web directory. In the past 18 months we have introduced day spas, hotel spas, product companies and new categories inclusing well-being breaks and yoga retreats. We are excited to announce the development of an online magazine connected with our spa web directory www.gotothespa.ie But wait – if you are Full Digital Member on the Go to the Spa directory your business will be promoted absolutely FREE! Plus we will give you a full page feature once a year at no extra charge. So feel free to add or claim your business listing right here https://www.gotothespa.ie/join 14
Our quarterly subscription will be full of treatment, product and feature promotions on your business. As an introductory promotion we are offering you an opportunity to promote your business in a paid advert at the below rates: ¼ page ad €25 (usually €50) ½ page ad €50 (usually €100) Full page ad €100 (usually €200)
The Busy Botanist was set up in 2017. We are best friends, master herbalists and busy people! We are passionate about healthy options through easy choices. Our mission is to provide a convenient, straight talking range of herbal drinks to support a healthy lifestyle. Our inspiration for the range came from realising that most people don’t have the time or the inclination to figure out the health benefits of herbal teas, and the ones currently on the shelves were often disappointing. We found that almost all brands contained green or black tea, fillers, added sugars, flavourings, colourings and preservatives; not so healthy after all – and most importantly, they didn’t tell you how they supported a healthy lifestyle.
Locally produced in Kerry, our tailored blends of herbs support specific every day health & well being needs. We carefully select and hand blend our mixes, using only high quality and high performance organic herbs with nothing else added to bring a great taste sensation that is gentle yet effective. All ingredients are 100% organic with no added sugars, caffeine, fillers, artificial colours or flavours and no tea resulting in a high quality, hand-tied 3g bag that can be used throughout the day.
We hope you love the simplicity, honesty and taste. Life choices made pure & simple.
www.thebusybotanist.com
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