spa industry

Spa Services and the Spa World Through a Teenager’s Eyesby Susie Ellis Well, I’m really convinced now. If I ever doubted that the younger generation is embracing spa-going enthusiastically (but in a different way than baby boomers), I need only remember yesterday – the day I spent with my niece (16-years-old) and her girlfriend. Niece […]

Sleep Health at Vacation Spas May be more Important than Massages, Facials, Manicures/Pedicures, Diet, or even Exercise! by Susie Ellis The importance of sleep is something that has been on our SpaFinder top 10 spa trends list for the past two years. In 2007 the focus was on adding sleep health to diet and exercise […]

Just reviewed some literature about the upcoming Turning Point Spa Seminar in Thailand which looks like it is shaping up nicely. Turning Point is a conference that is held in Asia (last year it was in Shanghai) every year which either Peter or I have attended for the past four years. Unfortunately, neither of us […]

Daytona Bike Weekend Photos by Susie Ellis As promised here are the photos from our weekend in Daytona during their big bike rally. A couple of things I learned: 1.When you are working long hours and going to bed late, etc. there is nothing like a total change of scenery and schedule to revive you. […]

After a weekend in Daytona at “Bike Week,” (my contribution to our marriage) am back at my desk. As soon as Peter sends me some photos of us on his Boss Hoss motorcycle I will post them. It did actually turn out to be a lot of fun. In the meantime an article in Hospitality […]

In the Club Spa e-newsletter, which goes out twice a month, I get to answer one of the many spa questions our readers send in. Here is the Q & A from this week. Am sharing it because I have received an avalanche of response and follow-up questions. Detox is a hot topic! Thought I […]

Spa Veteran, Thad Hyland from Ojai Valley Inn Resort & Spa, heads east to open new Spa at Kelley House Martha’s Vineyard by Susie Ellis Just learned that Thad Hyland, Managing Director of the Ojai Valley Inn Resort and Spa – and one of the spa industry’s “stars” – is leaving Ojai. After 12 years […]

New York Times Travel Show Always Makes Me Want to Go To A Spa (Now!) by Susie Ellis Just returned from the New York Times Travel Show at the Javits Center. Good Day New York, Fox 5 did some interviews to show viewers what they can expect at the show. Since SpaFinder is hosting the […]

LA Spa Conference: A Medical Spa Insight, Touching Remarks from “The Godmother of the Spa Industry” and Excitement about Spa Bookerby Susie Ellis Just returned from the Los Angeles Spa & Resort (and Medical Aesthetics) Expo & Conference. Highlights included hearing John Buckingham, the Founder and President of Solana MedSpas speak on “The Evolution & […]

Spa & Resort Expo & Conference LA: Keeping Up With Spa Trendsby Susie Ellis The Spa & Resort Expo & Conference and the Medical Aesthetics Conference is happening tomorrow, February 23-25 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. I will be driving in from Palm Springs and attending all three days, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. One […]

Spa Highs and Spa Lows for the New Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa by Susie Ellis I visited the renovated Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa in Palm Desert a few days ago. I remember when it was built (20 years ago I believe) – it was really quite a sensation. There […]

What great timing! I am in the middle of a book by Douglas Peter Mackaman called, Leisure Settings, Bourgeois Culture, Medicine, and the Spa in Modern France where I just finished reading the chapter on Vichy and Aix-les-Bains. These were two of the largest and most important spas in France during the 19th century. The […]

Since I receive quite a few Ask Susie questions from Club Spa and the Ask Susie column in Luxury SpaFinder Magazine – and can only answer a few each month – I thought I would answer some in my blog. Here are two questions which represent a subject I get asked about quite often: QUESTIONThe […]

Shorter Spa Weeks Available Now (“Spa Interludes”) at the Golden Door Spa. By Susie Ellis Well, I never thought it would happen. But alas….it did and I suppose it had to. The Golden Door Destination Spa in Escondido, California is introducing “Spa Interludes” which give guests the option, several times a year, to check in […]

Hot Spas in LA: Century City Fitness Club & Spa, Obagi Skin Health Institute and Voda Spa – One is Extremely Hot! By Susie Ellis After the ALIS event (American Lodging and Investment Summit), I had just enough time to visit three spas in the LA area before my flight back to New York. The […]

Day two of the American Lodging and Investment Summit (ALIS) here at the Hyatt Century Plaza in LA. There are great speakers and mostly business topics – economics, research numbers, forecasts, etc. I found the following comparison a good way to summarize what I have been hearing here. Headwinds for the U.S. (things slowing us […]

Spa Talk (very little so far) at the Lodging and Investment Conference Here in LA By Susie Ellis A sea of blue suits….that’s what this American Lodging and Investment Conference looks like here in LA. I flew in for the conference a few days ago and just completed day one. People had recommended I attend […]

Can the Spa Industry Learn Anything from the Conversation Going on in Davos? by Susie Ellis The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland is always an exciting “happening.” This year’s Forum is January 23rd through 26th so I have been following their website, blogs and YouTube videos. It is amazing how involved one can get […]

Club Spa’s Q&A; is For Bloggers Too!By Susie Ellis SpaFinder sends out an email newsletter, about special discounts and happenings, once a month to all of those who have signed up as Club Spa Members. This year we changed the format of the e-newsletter and begin with a Q & A and “quick Poll,” both […]

Are Spas a Necessary Evil? Impressions of the Monaco Spa Event By Susie Ellis Just returned from the Monaco Spa Event. With such a jam-packed schedule of symposium sessions, meetings and exhibits to see, there was little time for plugging in and writing on my blog.The hotel’s charge of 20 euros ($30.00) for connecting to […]