Industry News

Spa News

Glen Ivy Hot Springs, USA

Jim Root, Glen Ivy's CEO and President, who is often referred to as the 'Chief of Everything is OK', initiates a year-long celebration in honour of Glen Ivy's 150 year anniversary. Stretched across 12 acres of lush landscaping and gardens, Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa features 19 pools and spas and unique attractions including naturally thermal mineral water baths and Glen Ivy's famous "Club Mud" (therapeutic red clay mud bath). Celebrating 150 years of healing water and extraordinary service in 2010, Glen Ivy Spas in Corona, Brea and Valencia welcome over 250,000 guest visits annually and employ 450 people. As a Founding Seed Spa in the Green Spa Network and member of the International Spa Association (ISPA) and the Day Spa Association, Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa was named Favorite Hot Springs Spa and Most Affordable Spa in America in Spa Magazine's 2008 Reader's Choice Awards. Contact: Jennifer.Steinhart@glenivy.com. http://www.glenivy.com/

Spa Business On May 13th, the 8th APSWC Spa Business class was held at Jari Menari, an acclaimed Massage School and Day Spa, here on the island of Bali. It was attended by approximately 24 people of various Spa locations and positions & facilitated by Brian Hathaway & Mary Darling. Our standard topics were covered via a new and exciting game ~ ' Spa Business Trivia ' ~ topics were displayed on a white board with the questions on the reverse & teams were required to create calculations or answer questions with a group consensus. Our winning team consisted of: Mia Darmi ~ Laguna Spa, Robert Warren ~ Kaimana Spa, Mudastra ~ Laguna Spa, Veronica Supit ~ Aman Spa, Nita Mertasih ~ Kayumanis Ubud Spa,Sulyani ~ Intercontinental Spa and were recipients of Treatment Vouchers for both Jari Menari & Four Seasons. We ended the morning with a local local lunch and a small Planning meeting of the BSWA 'Green Group'. This was a fun and educational day for all. (Shown in photo: Yanti Rosita, Spa Director, Intercontinental & Trishnadewi, Spa Manager Kayu Manis Resorts calculating Therapist Productivity)

Global Spa Summit, 2009
Submitted by Sam Foster

This year's Global Spa Summit was held in Interlaken, Switzerland. Although numbers were down slightly due to the global economic turndown, the GSS enjoyed its most diverse audience ever: approximately 150 spa professionals participated from 32 countries. The European location had strong influence on both the profile of attendees, and the topics for discussion. Emphasis was given to hydrothermal facilities and treatments, which was fitting given Spa's European heritage, and provided good insight to those of us visiting from Asia.

Despite the economic gloom, snap polls showed the audience to be relatively optimistic about the future, with the majority expecting business to turn-around at the end of 2009 or early 2010. The global shift towards Wellness continues, with the most participants agreeing that 'preventative health' is the aspect of the business with greatest opportunity, and identifying the healthcare industry as the greatest potential partners for collaboration.

Collaboration was a central theme to this year's GSS, and as part of those discussions, APSWC's Samantha Foster co-chaired a pre-Summit session on Spa Association Collaboration, together with BISA President, Marion Schneider. Participants were most enthusiastic about creating a global network of associations; essentially expanding on what APSWC has developed over the last 3 years. A small 'working group' was formed, and the task is now with APSWC to prepare an overview of how such global collaboration could work. Watch FUSE for future developments!

For further information on this year's Global Spa Summit, see the official press release at http://www.globalspasummit.com/documents/GSS.Press.Release.6.1.09.pdf. For more information http://www.globalspasummit.org/


(Apr-May-Jun 2009)


(Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability)
Submitted by Carina Chatlani

Colorado (USA). - Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability, or LOHAS, refers to the $209 billion international market segment of consumers and businesses focused on health and fitness, the environment, personal development, sustainable living and social justice. The forum, which began Wednesday and continues through Friday, included panel discussions about corporate strategy by industry leaders; Fortune 500 companies attended this year's forum to learn and share eco-responsible business practices. This year attracted the likes of Whole Foods, Ebay & Wal-Mart. April Crow of the Coca-Cola Co. and Lewis Perkins of The Mohawk Group, were featured on a panel Thursday that discussed small steps big corporations are making in the world of sustainability.

Ted Ning, the LOHAS director for the past six years, said the increased interest by big corporations reflects a changing dynamic characterized by consumers demanding more environmentally aware businesses. "It was a huge learning experience for me," said Kate Alini, marketing communications manager for Mini USA, a division of BMW. For Debbie Williams, vice president and co-founder of GreenSmart - a company that transforms recycled bottles into products such as laptop bags - it is those relationships that drive the expanding sustainable marketplace.

Mallika Chopra, a member of the panel, said 'I am responsible for what I see for the goals we create...and the overall message was to 'Capture attention, engage interest, and overcome negative thought. Wade Davis, National Geographic Explorer in Residence, revealed that global indigenous healing is the wave of the future. Global tribes are not dying peoples but rather make up an intricate network weaved into tapestry of humans. 'The mythology of the indigenous peoples is a land management plan' says Davis. APSWC's Carina Chatlani observed the push for purpose and relevance of Traditional Therapies and the search for an ideal which would help educate members of the spa industry on best utilisation of indigenous therapies more authentically. More information www.lohas.com