Happy 2012!  Fresh starts, resolutions and getting healthy.  For many of us, a new year inspires an appetite for health, giving way to a season of spa and wellness. As you can see, this newsletter, as well as SpaFinder.com, has a fresh look to start the New Year. The Club Spa blog, one of the most popular spa and wellness blogs, will also debut a new look later this month.  Here are a few ideas that we hope will make this year a standout for you.

Mark Your Calendars

Wellness Week™ kicks off March 19-25, 2012.  The nationwide movement is dedicated to providing consumers an affordable way to discover and experience the wellness lifestyle. This year, SpaFinder has joined forces with celebrated actress and leading wellness advocate, Mariel Hemingway, as the national spokesperson for Wellness Week.

Our multimedia editorial is a key component in building awareness about the importance of a healthy lifestyle – and sending new business to participating spas and wellness businesses. This original content will focus on these six inspiring topics:

• The De-Stress Guide
• H20 Healthy
• Zen in Zzzz’s
• The NEW Fitness
• Glorious Food
• What Heals You

Plus, we have a social media campaign in store that includes contests, giveaways, original content, tips and tweet-chats with wellness experts. Let us know if you’re interested in providing prizes for social media contests leading up to and throughout Wellness Week. We also encourage you to share our wellness content on your own social media channels, blog and website.  If you aren’t already, please follow us on Twitter at @SpaFinder and use the tag #WellnessWeek for all related tweets.  We promise to follow you back!

I invite you to be part of the conversation with our wellness-seeking audience for Wellness Week and all year long by sending us your news as it relates to beauty, fitness, products, recipes, special deals, travel, trends, treatments, wellness tips, etc.

For more information on joining Wellness Week, contact Lea Crawford at (646)695-0584 or Lea.crawford@spafinder.com.

A Tasty Opportunity

It’s no surprise that healthy spa cuisine strikes a chord with SpaFinder.com readers.  Last year we launched a new monthly email, Spa Recipes, which has been a big hit! Each month we showcase a delicious, wholesome spa recipe from one of our partners.  As part of this year’s expansion of Wellness Week, SpaFinder will be making healthy spa menus visible to the national audience.

I encourage you to send Amy Sung, our food and wellness editor, your distinctive healthy spa recipes (preferably with nutritional information), the stories surrounding them and even bios of your exceptional chefs.

In this start of a New Year, I look forward to working with you in the months ahead and urge you to take full advantage of the many editorial opportunities SpaFinder offers.  Please feel free to contact me anytime at editorial@spafinder.com.

Be well,
Shari

Shari Rosenberg

Senior Editor

SpaFinder.com

editorial@spafinder.com

Last week, journalists and press from major national magazines, newspapers and websites gathered at the elegantly beautiful Guerlain Spa at the Waldorf = Astoria in New York City to attend a very special event focused on presenting the SpaFinder 2012 Global Spa Trends Report.
After champagne and hors d’oeurves, guests were welcomed to the spa’s relaxation area, which was transformed into a dining hall complete with centerpieces of rich red roses and Waldorf Astoria-engraved silverware. As a three course menu by Chef David Garcelon, director of culinary for the Waldorf = Astoria, was enjoyed, SpaFinder President Susie Ellis presented SpaFinder’s 2012 trends.

Five of the trends were brought to life through leaders in the industry sharing a taste of their specialty and knowledge and emphasizing the importance of these trends:

First came a closer look at the Spa, Wine & Dine Packages and Glambition trends with Richard Dusseau, president of Trilogy Spa Ventures, the company that operates Guerlain. Dusseau explained to the group that Guerlain embodies the superlative luxury spa experience through its anticipation of guests’ needs, impeccable service and attention to detail. In creating a new service platform, the luxury spa represents Parisian culture and the cosmopolitan lifestyle, Dusseau said. From floral artistry and handwritten welcome notes to handmade chocolates and rotating food selections, Guerlain returns glamour back to the spa experience.

Next, the trend of Good Vibrations (Sound, Music, Light and Color Therapies) was brought to life by Shannon Stringert, spa operations manager, Qua Baths & Spa, Las Vegas, and the spa’s Master Artisan, a double-certified esthetician and massage therapist, Lori Cloutier. Together, they presented the unique Aura-Soma concept offered at Qua Baths & Spas that incorporates color, light and vibration therapy. With “aura,” meaning light, and “soma,” meaning body, this treatment incorporates colors, massage, interpretation, light and acupuncture meridians to create a multi-sensory experience, connecting the mind, body and spirit.

Yamuna Zake then spoke to the Healthy Feet trend.  As a master body therapist, creator of the YAMUNA® Body Rolling fitness and therapy system, the YAMUNA® Body Logic hands-on therapy and YAMUNA® Foot Fitness, Zake spoke on the importance of foot education, saying “one third of the bones in our body are in our feet and without them, you can’t get anywhere.” With her development of the three related practices above, injury prevention, healing and wellness education is taught to last a lifetime. For more than 25 years, Yamuna has relieved all kinds of pain for thousands of people, teaching them how to achieve healthy, fully functioning bodies with minimal effort.

Last but not least, the enthusiastic co-recipient of SpaFinder’s 2011 Visionary Award, Dr. Daniel Friedland, spoke about The Science of Spa trend and SpaEvidence.com, the world’s first website to consolidate the validation for spa and wellness approaches.  As a highly respected educator and the president of SuperSmartHealth, which delivers wellness programs to organizations like the U.S. Army and Navy, Dr. Friedland emphasized how the creation of SpaEvidence.com is a real game changer in the industry; the site makes spa not just about relaxation, but about revitalization, enabling people to live their lives as their best self.  His book Evidence-Based Medicine:  A Framework for Clinical Practice, is one of the first to apply medical literature searches to patient care.

More photos from the event (click to enlarge):

All photos by Amy Sung

The New Year encourages a fresh start, which means the perfect opportunity to spruce up your spa. Updates or renovations, whether large or small, whether you have a big or small budget, are crucial to remaining competitive — and individualized — in the spa industry (and with 1,500 spas opening in the U.S. alone each year, it’s imperative). The SpaFinder 2012 Spa Trend Report: Top 10 Global Spa Trends Forecast is a guide to ideas you can utilize to give your spa a makeover this year.

As SpaFinder President Susie Ellis said in the SpaFinder Spa Trend Report, the industry is exiting recession mode and is beginning “a new era of pushing the envelope with fresh, new ideas that deliver more wows, more fun and quite serious wellness innovation…there seems to be something really new in the air — and we like what we are seeing!” While she was speaking on the new top 10 trends, we think her thoughts can pertain to new renovations for your spa as well.

If you think it’s time to renovate, consider the following ideas, taken from the 2012 Spa Trend Report (which is known to forecast the trends and ideas that will reshape spa and wellness this year) to keep your spa competitive.

If you’re ready for a big change…

Go for the wow factor: Big wows or small wows, have your spa serve up some surprises to please seasoned spa-goers who are searching for “aha” experiences. Ponder these wows for most any budget in your renovation process – from the bold “bubble design” of Milan’s Atomic Spa Suisse (LED-illuminated mirror bubbles rise to the top of treatment rooms, baths and the sauna)to the smaller wows such as Hilton’s eforea spas emphasizing Vichy showers or the Salt Yoga Studio (Thailand) highlighting its wall of Himalayan salt.

Play the hot-cold game: The trends report forecasts that spas will step out into the cold and there will be more icy therapies and cold design experiences (which promote the reduction of pain and inflammation and the release of endorphins) in 2012.

Consider adding ice/snow rooms, or “igloos” as an alternative to classic cold “plunges.” This February, leading spa designer Thermarium will launch the first-ever “snow shower”: With the touch of a digital touchscreen, spa-goers can choose between “light snowfall,” “moderate snowfall” or “blizzard.”

Pick up the good vibrations: Sound, music, color and light are becoming the main event — unleash this new wave and update your spa with the plethora of equipment and facilities that are now readily available. These include MUUSA, new software innovation that creates real-time treatment music directly generated by the therapist’s hand movements and the client’s bodily responses; rocking gravitational beds with chromo-therapy, found at Spaciomm at Hotel Omm (Spain); high-tech saunas, steam capsules, lounge chairs, massage tables, tubs and experiential “pods” that interweave light, color, sound and music/rhythm together; the award-winning AlphaSphere by sha.; and futuristic-type spa tables with “vibromotors,” “musical massage” and “oscillating waves” combining music and chromo-therapy from the likes of spa designers Gharieni, Klafs, Schletterer or Thermarium.

Spa as a family: Allow families to get their spa-on together, by designating areas where whole families can spa together or where kids can indulge in their own whimsical, child-friendly treatments, fitness classes and more.

Take a note from kid spas such as Keylime Cove (U.S.) or the Scoops Kids Spas at Great Wolf (North America).

Put your best feet forward: Unique specialty pedicures, treatments and foot spas are on the rise, as more people seek comfort for the most utilized part of the body — which means you may want to update mani/pedi chairs/stations or renovate to provide private, designated areas for treatments like reflexology.

…or if you like easy-breezing ideas that won’t break the budget

A little polish: It sounds like a no-brainer, but repainting your spa interiors can provide a glam, updated look. If you want to save a few bucks, have an after-hours painting party with your spa therapists, estheticians, etc.

It’s the little wows: Adding a few extras in the relaxation room, from new snacks and beverages to warm towels and warm neck pillows, let guests know you’re engaged with their needs and gives them a wow to talk about when they leave.

Give your menu a makeover: Your spa interiors may not be the only thing that needs updating – your spa menu might as well. Review SpaFinder’s hot spa trends of 2012 and update your menu accordingly to accommodate more seasoned spa-goers. Also, take a moment to possibly delete the services that are not so popular with guests.

Try wellness: With the industry moving into more “wellness,” it’s also important to update to accommodate guests looking for not just a spa but a wellness experience. If your spa includes a fitness center, see if your exercise equipment needs updating — and possibly add some additional exercise classes to your schedule as well.

Plus, seen and heard in the spa renovation world: A majority of the roughly 935 hotels that open (in the U.S.) annually now include a spa in their design blueprints, and many already established properties will end up renovating to include some type of spa or wellness facility to accommodate guests. Recent large-scale makeovers include the Rosewood Hotel Georgia, the historic hotel in Vancouver, which opened its doors in July 2011 following a dramatic restoration; the revival included Sense, A Rosewood Spa®, which debuted last October. Playa Del Carmen’s Acanto Boutique Hotel, a member of the Great Hotels of the World collection, recently completed a $5-million makeover that included a spa.  In addition, the Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto® is set to open later this month with the new Quartz Crystal Spa, a 15,000-square-foot bi-level facility with a personal spa concierge. January will also see the launch of the new 5,200-square-foot ZoiA Spa at the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Casino & Spa.

Lowes Hotel & Spa, New York, taps Paul W. Whetsell as new president and chief executive officer. Whetsell founded the original CapStar Hotel Company in 1987 and has recently served as a board member at Virgin Hotels. Whetsell succeeds Jack Adler, who is retiring from the hotel owner/operator.




Steiner Leisure Limited has appointed Glenn Fusfield as president and chief operating officer of its Onboard Spa Company arm. Fusfield joined the company in 2000 and was previously executive vice president since April 2007.

Trump Hotel Collection has chosen Andreas Oberoi to be general manager of Trump SoHo New York. Oberoi recently served as general manager of hotel and residences at the St. Regis Bangkok and spent the last 10 years managing hotels for St. Regis and The Luxury Collection.

Enchantment Group has appointed Victoria Strubbe as leisure sales manager. Prior to her new position Strubbe was the leisure and business travel sales manager of the Arizona Biltmore in Pheonix .

Castle Resorts & Hotels named Robin Graf as its new vice president of operations. Graf has over 20 years of senior level hospitality management experience and was last the general manager of the Kauai Beach Resort.

Starwood announced its new hotel manager at Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Vikram Mujumdar. Mujumdar has over 20 years of hospitality industry experience and was previously the hotel manager of Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket.

Taj Hotels has hired Brian Jones director of sales and marketing for The Pierre, A Taj Hotel on New York’s Central Park. Jones has 23 years of hotel sales and marketing experience, previously holding senior sales positions with Morgans Hotel Group, Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts and the Loews Hotels Corporation.

Eden Roc at Cap Cana, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World set to open February 2012, has named Daniele Trombacco as the director of sales and marketing. Trombacco comes to Eden Roc from The Waldorf Astoria in Rome.

Ananda Spa in the Himalayas announced its appointment of Luis Guillermo Molina Guisado as spa manager. Formally the spa manager at The Sanctuary Spa at Mount Wolseley Hotel in Ireland, Guisado has more than 14 years of spa industry experience.

Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa Joins The Leading Hotels of the World

Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa, Miami Beach, Florida, has announced its induction as a new member of The Leading Hotels of the World, the largest luxury hospitality organization in the world. In order to be considered for such an honor Canyon Ranch had to meet the highest standards of service, cuisine, accommodations and more.

Shangri-La Hotel and Spa to Reopen as a Health Spa in Bonita Springs

The historic Shangri-La Hotel and Spa, Bonita Springs, Florida, will reopen its doors in April since closing them to the public in 1998. While the building and its subsequent 8-acres were originally bought in order to preserve the property, its owners have worked diligently in order to open again as a fully operational hotel, spa and organic restaurant on the now, near 15-acre property.

GETTYS Hospitality Design Firm Announces Design Completion for the Westin Abu Dhabi Resort & Spa

Leading global hospitality design firm, GETTYS, has completed the interior design for the new Westin Hotel Golf Resort and Spa, Abu Dhabi. The five-star luxury resort features a two-story lobby and 172 guest rooms and suites. “We always aim to exceed our owners’ and guests’ expectations,” said Meg Prendergast, principal at GETTYS. “Through our collaboration…we’ve established a breathtaking, luxurious sanctuary for global travelers to experience and enjoy.”

Rezidor Hotel Group to Open Hotel Missoni Mauritius with a 9,688-Square-Foot Spa

Hotel Missoni, the luxury lifestyle brand of the Rezidor Hotel group, will open in Mauritius in 2014. The hotel will house 80 luxury suites, which will feature the iconic Missoni patterns and fabrics. “Combining Missoni’s iconic design with the local culture influenced by Europe, Africa and Asia, the hotel will be truly unique in Mauritius,” said Kurt Ritter, president and chief executive officer of Rezidor.

Starwood Opens St. Regis Hotel in Shenzhen

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has opened the fourth St. Regis in Asia in the past six months with the launch of the Shenzhen, China, location. The hotel features 297 bedrooms housed on the top 28 floors of the 100-story Kingkey 100 landmark building. Inside is the Iridium Spa, which has eight treatment rooms, including two large couple’s suites, a Vichy shower suite and a 28-meter indoor infinity pool offering views of the city.

Quartz Crystal Spa to Open at Trump Toronto

Talon International Development will open the 15,000-square-foot Quartz Crystal Spa at the Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto on January 31, 2012. Located on the 31^st floor, the spa will feature 10 treatment rooms, two couple’s suites, infrared saunas, an indoor heated salt-water infinity pool, a movement studio and a health club.

Four Seasons Disney Hotel Orlando Begins Construction

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has begun construction on its luxury resort at Walt Disney Resort in Orlando, Florida. The 444-room resort is scheduled to open in 2014, and will house a 14,000-square-foot spa, along with a fitness center, three pools and a lazy river, several dining options, an event space and meeting center.

107-Room Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge in Colorado Unveils $2-Million Renovation

Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge, Glenwood Springs, Colorado, has unveiled its $2-million renovation. The lodge has given 107 rooms a complete floor-to-ceiling makeover during its two-phase project, which finished December 24, 2011. Each room has been given a spa-like treatment from the colors to the linens. “The rooms were designed to echo the serene environment of the Spa of the Rockies,” said Jeremy Gilley, director of sales and revenue, Glenwood Hot Springs and Spa.

Other Industry Headlines

Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa in Miami Beach Joins The Leading Hotels of the World

Sheraton Reserva do Paiva Hotel and Convention Center Plan to Open Early 2014 and Boast a Spa

Tides Riviera Maya on Mexico’s Yucatan Completes Major Renovation and Rebrands as Viceroy Riviera Maya

First Hilton Hotels & Resorts Property, Riyadh King Fahd Road, to Open in 2014 with a spa

SpaHalekulani Introduces Eco-Friendly Waterless Pedicure and Manicure

With the SpaFinder’s Top 10 Trends for 2012 newly released, you might be wondering – how do I fit in the picture? How much of these trends am I already on top of and how can I implement these trends into my business model and service offerings?

Ponder no more – here are a few simple ways to incorporate aspects of some of the Top 10 trends, and whether it is on a small scale or the more grandiose, there are many ways to ensure that your company stays relevant and innovative in the coming year.

Trend #1: Healthy Feet Treatments
With the busy lives that people lead today (and with many women leading them in heels), tired and achy feet are a dime a dozen. Add the fact that the average person spends four hours a day on their feet, and it’s no wonder there is a national epidemic of foot problems like bunions, hammertoes, arthritis and worse. Reflexology is already offered at many spas and wellness centers, but even something as straightforward as a foot massage named in an interesting way to address the growing concerns of guests can play into this trend. Incorporate information and techniques that address more than just the relaxation factor – make it a wellness treatment to let guests know you’re caring for their wellbeing, and we’re sure their feet will thank you.

Trend #2: Cold and Ice Treatments
While not everyone is going to have the resources to build an Ice Fountain for guests to cool off in after hot treatments, like The Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, there are more economical ways to use this trend on your spa menu. If you already have hot stone massage, why not turn it into a hot-and-cold stone massage? To immediately incorporate the trend into your everyday business, start to offer ice-cold towels post-treatments to help invigorate guests and regulate their body temperature.

Trend #3: Wellness and Beauty Coaching
Wellness and beauty coaching are a serious trend right now, not just another passing fad. Clients are busy and need help figuring out a life routine that they can stick to, be it nutritional, skincare or just life coaching. While it is mostly destination spas that are offering these programs, that doesn’t exclude the rest of the industry from including this service for its clients. Wellpeople.com in the U.S. offers certified on-site or online wellness coaching for spas, hospitals and businesses. Early registration for certification training is being offered now on the company’s website.

Trend #5: Spa, Wine and Dine Packages
Fine dining and spa-ing are being aggressively paired, packaged, curated, marketed and savored together as never before. Hotel and resort spas are boasting their award-winning chefs by combining them with their five-star spas, giving pleasure-seeking foodies and spa enthusiasts an ultimate experience to remember. To take advantage of this trend, work with your chef to begin exploring the potential of merging spa and cuisine in a new and innovative way. Find out what your chef can commit to or take a look at the offerings on your restaurant’s menus and attempt to create a spa treatment around it, offering it as a part of a special and indulgent package. From matching ingredients like chocolate in a treatment with an imaginative chocolate dish to relish in after the spa to incorporating cooking classes or specially curated meals into spa packages like girlfriends’ getaways or romantic couples’ retreats, foodies and spa enthusiasts alike will be satisfied in more ways than one.

Trend #7: The Glam Factor
The “lipstick effect” is certainly in effect during this long economic downturn, showing that small beauty splurges are something women, and men alike, are willing to spend their money on. Take note from the trends and offer “quickie grooming and beauty.” If you already offer hair care, why not create a blow-dry happy hour for clients where they can indulge in a quick blowout with friends and a complimentary drink? Offer this service to new customers at a discount and watch the books fill up! For your male clientele, offer a private male grooming bar for eyebrow waxes, male mani/pedis and old-school shaves.

Trend #8: Spa Evidence
An empowering and game-changing new online resource is here for the spa and wellness industries: SpaEvidence.com. The site is the world’s first portal to the medical evidence – with thousands of clinical studies – that exist for 21 spa and wellness approaches. SpaEvidence.com represents a giant step forward for industry validation as it forges a new, common ground between the spa and medical worlds. But to unlock all this transformative potential, spas need to use the site! By spending just an initial 15-20 minutes at this easy-to-use portal, the entire fascinating world of Evidence-Based Medicine will open up to you. Bring this important and free resource to your customers by posting SpaEvidence to your site. You can add a direct link to your site or even display a SpaEvidence logo or banner, for free! Contact Dulcy Gregory at dulcy@globalspasummit.org for more information.

Trend #9: Spa Becomes a Family Affair
Our Trends Report notes that kid-specific spas are on the rise, and like wellness coaching, this trend is more commonly offered at getaways and resorts. Still, there are certainly ways that day spas can create revenue from this burgeoning trend. Mommy-and-Me (or Daddy-and-Me) services can be offered to busy moms who are looking to come in and enjoy a day of spa and wellness but cannot find a sitter or have a tween looking to join. If you have free space in the spa, offer a class for youngsters who come to the spa with mom or dad ─ whether it’s a mini spa-party with mani/pedis for the kids or a fun kids’ yoga or wellness class, moms, dads and children alike will be thrilled at the added services.

Check out all 10 trends by scrolling through our dynamic new slideshow presentation that depicts many of the trailblazing spas who exemplify the trends we’ve identified and summarizes each forecast. View the Trends Slideshow >

We’ve given you a quick snapshot of SpaFinder President Susie Ellis’ Top 10 Spa Trends for 2012, but if you’d like an in-depth breakdown detailing each trend, our full report is available.This annual report is highly respected among analysts, researchers, business leaders and experts from around the globe, and is your ticket to staying ahead of the curve in the spa and wellness industries.

From everything from online wellness gaming to the “wow” factor, read the full 2012 trend report here.

By Shari Rosenberg

ISPA’s 21st annual conference was held earlier this month at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, bringing together spa professionals from around the world.  As a press attendee, and not a spa professional or product vendor, I’m able to share a big-picture snapshot.

The keynote speakers played to the conference theme “inspiring happiness,” and were, well, quite inspirational. The first speaker was Bert Jacobs, chief executive optimist for the Life is good Company, who shared his message that “optimism can take you anywhere” and the importance of giving back; he also presented the word-of-mouth marketing tactics that helped him transform his T-shirt company, which he started with $78, into a $100 million business. Jacobs was also the winner of this year’s ISPA Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award for his work with the Life is good Kids Foundation.

On day two we heard from best-selling author and futurist Faith Popcorn of the BrainReserve.   She shared some cultural and business trends, recognizing that spa is “perfectly placed at the nexus of health, reward, indulgence and pleasure.”  Popcorn identified what she called the “female revolution” that will continue over the next decade, as women are owning more businesses and “have all the money, globally” as we experience a “he-cession.”  Popcorn expressed the changing consumer desire for substance over superficiality, and how businesses must use their feminine side to embrace change. (Read her full presentation here.) Like Jacobs of Life is good, Popcorn reiterated the idea of using your power for good or “Wellness Through Community,” citing the Heifer method of sustainability and Jon Bon Jovi’s New Jersey restaurant Soul Kitchen, where patrons pay what they can through his Hope is Delicious movement.

  

 

Note: If you enjoy trends, look for SpaFinder President Susie Ellis’ Top 10 Spa Trends set to debut in early 2012.

  

Last up was Tony Hsieh, Zappos.com CEO and author of the best-selling book Delivering Happiness. He shared his ideas on developing a culture of happiness in the workplace, underscoring customer service as a focal point for a service business and how excellence can make your business stand out.  Employees at his company (often ranked high as one of the best places to work for by Forbes, CNN Money, et al.), are encouraged to be themselves, while professional, and to give back to their communities. Hsieh has seen the results of a happy workplace that creates greater productivity.

ISPA attendees can walk the floor of the convention center and get samplings of hundreds of new and noteworthy products.  Here are a few that caught my attention as an editor (and you can expect to see these covered on our Club Spa blog).

OSEA Malibu, is an organic seaweed-based product and the story of how the seaweed is harvested from the pristine Argentinian waters off of Patagonia, not used for commercial fishing intrigued me. OSEA works with a local partner in Argentina to ensure eco-responsible harvesting. The benefits of seaweed are vast, and I loved my OSEA facial I received – at first tingly, but my skin looked plump and youthful immediately after.

Though not a product, Belly Friendly is a program that focuses on a pregnancy-friendly environment and creating properly trained staff, far beyond the skills involved in pre-natal massage. Pregnant women are a sub-culture that Stacy Denney, the founder, has figured out.  (Also, look for our Q&A with Stacy in an upcoming Partner Update.)

Mineral makeup is all the rage.  Three major brands were represented at ISPA: La Bella Donna, gloMinerals and jane iredale.  The last is infused with vitamins and anti-oxidants.  It’s makeup that feeds your skin and popular for post-surgery patients.

Clarisonic was highlighting its new Opal device for the eyes. People swear by it and after sampling it, I see why.

I had a lot to share with our food & wellness editor upon my return. BodyCoffee, a body product line intrigued me because it’s as stimulating for the body as when you drink it.  Plus, it’s popular in cellulite treatments. Big name spas like Hotel Hershey, Lake Austin, Canyon Ranch and the Spa at Norwich use their product.
Teatulia is woman-owned, sustainable company that harvests tea in a single garden in Bangladesh. EVOO by Caren are skincare/bodycare products that are aloe-based and infused with extra virgin olive oil, so great for post-cancer patients whose skin gets very dry. We’re also excited to review the arugula soy candle and more from Archipelago Botanicals, which is part of the brand’s new culinary collection.

The wildly popular hair care product line Moroccan Oil introduced its move into body care, with its argan-oil based line.  We’ll be looking for it to be launched in 2012.

From our ISPA booth #224, SpaFinder was able to connect with many of our spa partners, as well as many properties who were recipients of our 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards.  Winners took photos with Mariel Hemingway, renowned actress, wellness advocate and our spokesperson for Wellness Week 2012.

Lastly, I was excited to visit some of the newest, and most talked about, Vegas spas including: Cosmopolitan, Encore, Canyon Ranch and QUA Baths at Caesars. (Look for my Vegas Spas feature on Club Spa next month.) Vegas is not just for gambling anymore, as the town is becoming quite a center for luxury and group spa experiences.

SpaFinder has recently unveiled its 2011 Readers’ Choice Award winners, and we wanted to send a shout-out to some of your colleagues in the spa and wellness industry. In addition to such spas as “favorite new getaway,” “best for romance” and “best for yoga,” readers have voted on those they deem the best of the best for “favorite spa manager” and “favorite spa professional.”

We congratulate you!

Favorite Spa Manager:

• Cherie Lininger – Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago (Chicago, IL)
• Chris Bird – Mii Amo, a Destination Spa At Enchantment (Sedona, AZ)
• Deborah Zie – Cal-A-Vie Health Spa (Vista, CA)
• Jimmy Lesage – New Life Hiking Spa (Killington, VT)
• Joan Wolff – Deerfield Spa (East Stroudsburg, PA)
• Sharon Kolkka – Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat (Queensland, Australia)
• Tina Crawford – The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island (Amelia Island, FL)
• Todd Hewitt – Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica At Peninsula Papagayo (Guanacaste, Costa Rica)
• Verena Lavigne-Fox, Four Seasons Hotel George V (Paris, France)
• Wendy Woodward – Westglow Resort and Spa (Blowing Rock, NC)

Favorite Spa Professional:

• Bob Wright – Director of Education – Hilton Head Health (Hilton Head Island, SC)
• Catherine Slane-Carroll – Esthetician – The Elysian Spa and Health Club (Chicago, IL)
• Dr. Tim Frank – Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine – Miraval Arizona (Tuscon, AZ)
• Eric Kittay – Massage Therapist – Spa Gaucin at St. Regis Monarch Beach (Dana Point, CA)
• Gabriela Curry – Massage Therapist and Esthetician – La Quinta Resort & Club (La Quinta, CA)
• Heidi Gates – Massage Therapist – El Monte Sagrado Living Resort And Spa (Taos, NM)
• Ilona Dowgiallo – Naturopath – Spa Eastman (Eastman, Québec, Canada)
• Lisa Ferguson – Massage Therapist – Ste. Anne’s Spa (Grafton, Ontario, Canada)
• Lori Pavlack – Massage Therapist – Eau Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach (Palm Beach, FL)
• Lynn Ann Covell – Senior Fitness Specialist – Green Mountain At Fox Run (Ludlow, VT)

Have you heard? SpaFinder recently unveiled its new (and improved!) Travel Agent website – if you haven’t seen it yet, we encourage you to check out this dedicated Travel Agent site. It’s the premier place for travel agents in the know to discover expert advice, helpful tools and tips, check out commissionable deals and learn more about you, our getaway spa partners and your properties. We even have a team of travel agents dubbed “Spa Specialists,” some of the best in the business who have been certifiably trained by SpaFinder.

We urge you to send us your most current travel agent information, so we can upload it to our site for our network of travel agents to see – and bring more business to you.

Fill out the following information and email to our Travel Editor Kate Phillips at kate.phillips@spafinder.com, and we’ll get your responses updated on our SpaFinder travel agent site as soon as possible. It only takes a few minutes to fill out the following:

• Percent commission offered (REQUIRED):
• Cancellation policy details:
• Added value offers (e.g., room upgrades, free robe, or bottle of wine) for Spa Finder customers:
• Exclusive offers (e.g. additional commissions, travel agent incentives, etc.) offered to Spa Finder Travel Agent Affiliates. Please also provide start and end dates for each offer.
• Travel Agent Rate:
• FAM Trip Specials:
• Please provide separate contact information for travel agents, if different from main number:

If you have any questions, please feel free to email kate.phillips@spafinder.com or travelagent@spafinder.com.