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Social Space - Interested In A Spa Vacation?
Today Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel & Bookpleasures interviews Susie Ellis, President of Spa Finder Inc.
Norm:
Could you tell us a little about yourself and your expertise in spas, and why you became interested in them?
Susie:
I was athletic in my youth and naturally gravitated toward being as healthy as possible. After college in the mid 70's, I began working at the Golden Door Spa which, unbeknownst to me at the time, was the top spa in the country. After spending many years on staff, I became enthral
Norm:
Could you tell us a little about yourself and your expertise in spas, and why you became interested in them?
Susie:
I was athletic in my youth and naturally gravitated toward being as healthy as possible. After college in the mid 70's, I began working at the Golden Door Spa which, unbeknownst to me at the time, was the top spa in the country. After spending many years on staff, I became enthral
According to USFDA, a combination product is one composed of any combination of a drug and device; biological product and device; drug and biological product
led with how people's lives were transformed after just a one-week stay at this famous place. I decided to make spa my life's work, and the combination of movement, good nutrition, spa therapies and a mind/body/spirit approach to wellness became a passion. And lucky for me, the spa industry, which was just emerging at the time, was poised for explosive growth.
Norm:
Why have spas continued to grow and have become popular over the past several years?
Susie:
I see three general trends that have come together to pre
Norm:
Why have spas continued to grow and have become popular over the past several years?
Susie:
I see three general trends that have come together to pre
; or drug, device, and biological product and fixed dose combination would include two or more combinations of drug.
Examples of combination products may in
Examples of combination products may in
ipitate the popularity of spas.
1. The aging baby boomer. This demographic wants to maintain youth and vigor. Spas are a perfect place to achieve these goals.
2. Stress. The non-stop bombardment of information and connectivity is creating a need for people to have places to decompress, de-stress, slow down and pay attention to their body, mind and spirit.
3. A troubled health care system means people of all ages must become more responsible for their wellness and health.
Norm:
How do you go about identifying
1. The aging baby boomer. This demographic wants to maintain youth and vigor. Spas are a perfect place to achieve these goals.
2. Stress. The non-stop bombardment of information and connectivity is creating a need for people to have places to decompress, de-stress, slow down and pay attention to their body, mind and spirit.
3. A troubled health care system means people of all ages must become more responsible for their wellness and health.
Norm:
How do you go about identifying
lude drug-coated devices, drugs packaged with delivery devices in medical kits, and drugs and devices packaged separately but intended to be used together.
top-notch romantic spas in terms of quality of treatment, fitness, relaxation, location, atmosphere, and staff?
Susie:
Truly the best way to identify romantic spas is to consult the romantic/honeymoon spa category on www.spafinder.com. There are almost 50 romantic spas listed. Spa Finder's mission is to connect people with their ideal spa experience, and we also present spas in 20 other categories such as: weight loss spas, spas for horseback riding, hiking spas, spas for yoga, etc.
Norm:
As a follow up which ones
Susie:
Truly the best way to identify romantic spas is to consult the romantic/honeymoon spa category on www.spafinder.com. There are almost 50 romantic spas listed. Spa Finder's mission is to connect people with their ideal spa experience, and we also present spas in 20 other categories such as: weight loss spas, spas for horseback riding, hiking spas, spas for yoga, etc.
Norm:
As a follow up which ones
here is enormous increase in the number of combination products entering the market in the recent years. Combination products have proven advantages but fixe
ould make the top ten on your list?
Susie:
Here are a few of my favorite romantic spas in the U.S.:
Mirbeau, New York
Chateau Elan, Georgia
Miramante Resort & Spa, California
Silverado, California
Emerson, New York
The Spa at Sundance, Utah
Hampton Retreats, New York
Mana Lani , Hawaii
Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, Arizona
Westglow, North Carolina
Outside of the U.S.:
Brenner's Park, Baden Baden, Germany
CuisinArt Resort & Spa, Anguilla
El Santuario, Mexico
Samas, Park Kenmare Hotel, Ireland
Echo V
Susie:
Here are a few of my favorite romantic spas in the U.S.:
Mirbeau, New York
Chateau Elan, Georgia
Miramante Resort & Spa, California
Silverado, California
Emerson, New York
The Spa at Sundance, Utah
Hampton Retreats, New York
Mana Lani , Hawaii
Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, Arizona
Westglow, North Carolina
Outside of the U.S.:
Brenner's Park, Baden Baden, Germany
CuisinArt Resort & Spa, Anguilla
El Santuario, Mexico
Samas, Park Kenmare Hotel, Ireland
Echo V
d dose combinations are still in the process of convincing regulatory authority on their advantages over the single ingredient formulations.
Combination pro
Combination pro
alley Ranch Resort, Canada
Norm:
What are the benefits of spa treatments for honeymooners and romantic getaways for couples in search of de-stress?
Susie:
There are many ways to de-stress and spas specialize in this. Exercise is an excellent de-stresser. Bathing in hot water is a de-stresser. Massages are for many the ultimate de-stresser. At spas people typically leave their outside world behind, they slow down and their bodies become more relaxed. A spa has nurturing staff and there is lovely food that doesn't
Norm:
What are the benefits of spa treatments for honeymooners and romantic getaways for couples in search of de-stress?
Susie:
There are many ways to de-stress and spas specialize in this. Exercise is an excellent de-stresser. Bathing in hot water is a de-stresser. Massages are for many the ultimate de-stresser. At spas people typically leave their outside world behind, they slow down and their bodies become more relaxed. A spa has nurturing staff and there is lovely food that doesn't
ucts have become life saving products for the pharmaceutical companies who doesn’t have many innovative molecules in their product pipeline and have been inc
intoxicate but rather revitalizes. I think that what spas do is help us get back to who we really are and connecting at that level is always romantic.
Norm:
What spa treatments are especially recommended for those new to the spa experience?
Susie:
I think a good place to start for a newcomer is with a Swedish Massage and a facial. These are still the most favorite spa treatments because people love them. Although there are many wonderful treatments on most spa's menus, such as hot stone massage, Ayruvedic treatm
Norm:
What spa treatments are especially recommended for those new to the spa experience?
Susie:
I think a good place to start for a newcomer is with a Swedish Massage and a facial. These are still the most favorite spa treatments because people love them. Although there are many wonderful treatments on most spa's menus, such as hot stone massage, Ayruvedic treatm
easingly used in the product life cycle management. Even the companies having product patents are trying to extend their product life cycle through the combi
ents or even body scrubs and wraps, I would not recommend them for the first time spa-goer.
For a first time romantic experience, I would suggest choosing a "couple's massage" where both of you are in the same room for your treatment. Sometimes this can include a bathing ritual for the two of you together before or after...very romantic!
And finally, if a spa has a "signature treatment" that might also be a good place for a first time spa-goer to begin. Often this is an experience with more than one element - like
For a first time romantic experience, I would suggest choosing a "couple's massage" where both of you are in the same room for your treatment. Sometimes this can include a bathing ritual for the two of you together before or after...very romantic!
And finally, if a spa has a "signature treatment" that might also be a good place for a first time spa-goer to begin. Often this is an experience with more than one element - like
nation products and maximize the revenues. But the companies involved in this practice are overlooking that they are burdening the patients both economically
scrub and a massage, or a foot ritual and massage, etc.
And I do suggest that a person let the receptionist know that this is their first time spa experience so that the attendant and therapist can be a bit more thorough about explaining procedures and protocol.
Norm:
What is meant by "destination spas," and how do you differentiate them from other spas as well as between themselves?
Susie:
That's a great question and I'm glad you asked. In the world of spas we segment them into various categories. The most gen
And I do suggest that a person let the receptionist know that this is their first time spa experience so that the attendant and therapist can be a bit more thorough about explaining procedures and protocol.
Norm:
What is meant by "destination spas," and how do you differentiate them from other spas as well as between themselves?
Susie:
That's a great question and I'm glad you asked. In the world of spas we segment them into various categories. The most gen
and physically. They need to rightly judge the benefits of the combination products and they have to even look at the risks involved when combining the produ
eral categories are resort/hotel spas, day spas and destination spas. The resort/hotel spa is part of a hotel or resort where there are also activities such as golf, tennis, fine dining, etc. The spa is one of the amenities. A day spa is a place where people go for a spa experience but do not stay overnight - this can be for one spa treatment or for several or even for an entire day. Then there is the destination spa. Think of them as places to stay overnight with programs that makes it a full immersion spa experie
ts. Some of the combination products were well accepted by physicians while others suffered. Companies involved in development of combination products are fi
ce. In other words, everyone is there for the spa experience. Canyon Ranch Health Resorts and the Golden Door are good examples of a destination spa. La Costa or The Doral are examples of resort/hotel spas and Bliss or Elizabeth Arden's Red Door are examples of day spas.
Norm:
Can you tell us something about the new developments and trends in the spa industry, particularly as it affects those couples seeking romantic getaways together with spa treatments?
Susie:
We are seeing a variety of trends in the spa indu
Norm:
Can you tell us something about the new developments and trends in the spa industry, particularly as it affects those couples seeking romantic getaways together with spa treatments?
Susie:
We are seeing a variety of trends in the spa indu
ding difficulty in defining their combination products and facing various challenges from selecting a combination to marketing it.
Following aspects would a
Following aspects would a
stry. I will share with you the 10 trends that we predicted in January of this year:
Medical spas (medicine and spas coming together)
People mixing business and spas
The arrival of the "destination day spa"
More affordable spas and more inclusive
International treatments and unique and inviting spas internationally
Spa cuisine going mainstream
Travelers deciding on where to go and stay depending on the spa
Pets are welcomed at some spa
More men are going
More families, including teens and preteens
Of these I
Medical spas (medicine and spas coming together)
People mixing business and spas
The arrival of the "destination day spa"
More affordable spas and more inclusive
International treatments and unique and inviting spas internationally
Spa cuisine going mainstream
Travelers deciding on where to go and stay depending on the spa
Pets are welcomed at some spa
More men are going
More families, including teens and preteens
Of these I
dd to the challenges in developing combination products:
Which markets to tap where the combination products can do fairly well?
Which combination prod
Which markets to tap where the combination products can do fairly well?
Which combination prod
think one of the interesting trends for couples is that more men are going to spas. This means that it is becoming easier and easier for a woman to get her guy to go with her to a romantic spa get away. Increasingly, they already want to go!
Norm:
I have come across the term "quality assured" spa, what does this imply, and why should we believe the spa when it has this designation?
Susie:
To be honest, I am not aware of any such designation on a large scale. There are over 10,000 spas in the U.S. and no one has
Norm:
I have come across the term "quality assured" spa, what does this imply, and why should we believe the spa when it has this designation?
Susie:
To be honest, I am not aware of any such designation on a large scale. There are over 10,000 spas in the U.S. and no one has
cts are meaningful and rational?
Which therapeutic categories to select?
Which Combinations can address unmet needs of the patients?
Do combin
Which therapeutic categories to select?
Which Combinations can address unmet needs of the patients?
Do combin
been to all of them or able to rate them in terms of quality. There is no easy way to conclude the level of a spa's service. In fact, sometimes quality comes down more to an individual therapist than it does a facility.
That being said, there are some ways for the consumer to have more information that could help them make an informed decision. There is an association called the International Spa Association (ISPA) that has a "voluntary standards and practices designation" that spas may choose to apply for if they wis
That being said, there are some ways for the consumer to have more information that could help them make an informed decision. There is an association called the International Spa Association (ISPA) that has a "voluntary standards and practices designation" that spas may choose to apply for if they wis
tions increase the patient compliance?
What would be the developing cost?
How to tackle the risks encountered during combination product developmen
What would be the developing cost?
How to tackle the risks encountered during combination product developmen
. This could be of some help. But even here, many spas don't know about this so I wouldn't necessarily rule out selecting a spa if they don't have this designation.
It is also helpful to look at what awards a spa has won. For example the Spa Finder Readers' Choice Awards lists the top 10 spas in almost 20 categories. Since this award is voted on by readers, it is a good indication of quality.
Of course, word-of-mouth is always a good way to learn about a spa.
Norm:
Could you give our readers some suggestions as
It is also helpful to look at what awards a spa has won. For example the Spa Finder Readers' Choice Awards lists the top 10 spas in almost 20 categories. Since this award is voted on by readers, it is a good indication of quality.
Of course, word-of-mouth is always a good way to learn about a spa.
Norm:
Could you give our readers some suggestions as
t?
As combination products don't fit into the traditional categories of drugs, medical devices, or biological products, the USFDA is in the process of devel
As combination products don't fit into the traditional categories of drugs, medical devices, or biological products, the USFDA is in the process of devel
to tipping?
Susie:
Tipping policies differ among spas but in general it is customary to leave a gratuity of between 15% and 20% for the therapist or technician providing your service. In some cases, the gratuity is already added on to the final bill and in some very rare cases, tipping is discouraged. Most spas have their tipping policy printed on their brochure I often ask, "What is your tipping policy?" when I arrive at the spa and check in. That usually clears things up right away!
Norm:
I have read that the
Susie:
Tipping policies differ among spas but in general it is customary to leave a gratuity of between 15% and 20% for the therapist or technician providing your service. In some cases, the gratuity is already added on to the final bill and in some very rare cases, tipping is discouraged. Most spas have their tipping policy printed on their brochure I often ask, "What is your tipping policy?" when I arrive at the spa and check in. That usually clears things up right away!
Norm:
I have read that the
ping new procedures for reviewing their safety, efficacy and quality.
Professional from academic institutions, pharmaceutical industries, health care indust
Professional from academic institutions, pharmaceutical industries, health care indust
estination spa concept is evolving as some brands expand their product through other outlets. Could you give us some examples and explain why this is taking place?
Susie:
we are seeing brand extension from destination spas such as Canyon Ranch and The Golden Door. Canyon Ranch Health Resort began as a destination spa in Tucson, Arizona in the late 70's. They then opened in Lenox, MA and then opened their first Spa Club in Las Vegas. They are now the spa on the QM2 and are part of a retirement condominium spa facili
Susie:
we are seeing brand extension from destination spas such as Canyon Ranch and The Golden Door. Canyon Ranch Health Resort began as a destination spa in Tucson, Arizona in the late 70's. They then opened in Lenox, MA and then opened their first Spa Club in Las Vegas. They are now the spa on the QM2 and are part of a retirement condominium spa facili
y and representatives from various regulatory agencies are working out to design the regulatory requirements for manufacture and sale of combination products
ty being built in Miami. They have also added a Canyon Ranch product line and I hear there are more things in the pipeline.
The Golden Door branched out from its origins as the U.S.'s top destination spa...there are now Golden Door spas at resorts in Arizona, Colorado and Puerto Rico. There is a Golden Door product line.
But I am also seeing another type of brand expansion; that is product companies opening "retail spas". Jurlique comes to mind, Givenchy, and to a certain extent Elizabeth Arden's Red Door could be
The Golden Door branched out from its origins as the U.S.'s top destination spa...there are now Golden Door spas at resorts in Arizona, Colorado and Puerto Rico. There is a Golden Door product line.
But I am also seeing another type of brand expansion; that is product companies opening "retail spas". Jurlique comes to mind, Givenchy, and to a certain extent Elizabeth Arden's Red Door could be
.
As there is an increasing trend of the combination products companies manufacturing such products should be able to tackle the problems involved in the de
As there is an increasing trend of the combination products companies manufacturing such products should be able to tackle the problems involved in the de
considered a spa extending from a product. And there are day spas which have become as well known for their products as their spas, such as Bliss and Nichel.
Norm:
What should we expect in the future from spas?
Susie:
I think that medicine and spas coming together is a very exciting happening. We are seeing prevention/wellness as well as aesthetic/cosmetic medical spas now. Doctors and spa therapists working together is resulting in some very nurturing, comfortable medical settings with the best results possible
Norm:
What should we expect in the future from spas?
Susie:
I think that medicine and spas coming together is a very exciting happening. We are seeing prevention/wellness as well as aesthetic/cosmetic medical spas now. Doctors and spa therapists working together is resulting in some very nurturing, comfortable medical settings with the best results possible
elopment. They need to be wiser in analyzing the market trends and the regulatory requirements.
Companies that provide selfless information through particip
Companies that provide selfless information through particip
. In addition the entire arena of complementary and alternative (CAM) medicine is finding a home in the medical spa environment. Consumers are increasingly interested in being proactive when it comes to their health and well being. (They increasingly need to take responsibility for their own health.)
I think that spas will eventually become a very important part of the solution to health problems in the world.
Thanks Susie for replying to my questions.
_____________________________________________________________
I think that spas will eventually become a very important part of the solution to health problems in the world.
Thanks Susie for replying to my questions.
_____________________________________________________________
tion in industry events and feedback to regulatory authorities would be able to face the challenges and will be successful in developing combination products
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