spa

Thankful for Spas, Thankful for being in the Spa Industry, and most Thankful for our Friends in the Spa Worldby Susie Ellis It’s Thanksgiving Eve and I did still want to post to my blog concerning the recent ISPA conference as promised in my last post. As it turns out, that works out just fine. […]

Although I was only able to spend two full days at the ISPA conference in Orlando – rather than the four which were offered – it was still a worthwhile investment of my time for five reasons: 1. Connecting with people I know teaches me a great deal about what is happening in the spa […]

Peter and I just arrived at the Lodge at Woodloch, a Destination Spa this afternoon. We drove up from Manhattan and arrived exactly five minutes before my Astara facial was to begin. What a delight to see how everything has come together. Woodloch opened a year ago this summer and we were part of their […]

Spas in the UK: Spa Illuminata, Champneys, Center Parcs, and Thermae Bath Spa. All in one week!By Susie Ellis Had a whirlwind trip to the UK last week and packed in was:1. A day at our SpaFinder Europe office2. A myriad of media appointments in London3. A press reception hosted for us by David Lieber, […]

A Week with the SpaFinder Europe Team By Susie Ellis Flew to London late Sunday evening to spend a week with our SpaFinder Europe team. Victoria Fuller (Founder and Director of PRCo) and IndigoPR (a subsidiary of PRCo and our PR agency in Europe) had set up 2 days of media appointments for me. I […]

The Chocolate Spa at Hotel Hershey: Chocolate Baths, Massage, and of course, Hershey Kisses! By Susie Ellis On the way back to Manhattan after spending a few nights at Bedford Springs Resort and sampling the Eternal Springs Spa, Peter and I were driving close to Hershey Pennsylvania so I asked him to stop so I […]

Need Information on the latest Day Spas, Resort Spas, and Spa Events? Spa Opportunities has it!By Susie Ellis If you are a spa lover and enjoy the global view – as I do – the very best way to keep up with what is going on I think is through Spa Opportunities (which is free) […]

Before leaving Utah, I wanted to take a quick look at Fitness Ridge which was the spa featured in the USA Today article in which we were also quoted (In particular they listed our top 10 Readers’ Choice winners for Most Affordable Spas.”) The story was titled “Fit & Frugal – Affordable spa resorts promise […]

Qua Baths & Spa: a Las Vegas Day Spa or Stay Spa at Caeser’s Palace Featuring Unique Spa Treatmentsby Susie Ellis From the Qua Baths & Spa menu at Caesar’s Palace: Bath Liqueur, Sleep Health, Hypnosis for Wellness, Raindrop Therapy (registered), Morning Dew, Banana Leaf Body Wrap (with incense), Dilo Wrap (oil from Fiji), Volcanic […]

I am currently at Rancho La Puerta for a few days. My plans included being here for the opening of their exciting new cooking school . However, as things generally go with construction, there is some delay and I will only be able to visit the cooking school on Wednesday – not experience a cooking […]

Have you even noticed that after some massages the first thing you want to do is head to the shower to get rid of the itchy oil and after other massages you want to let the oil soak in? (not that it does) On the last night of our vacation Peter and I had the […]

During dinner with Ian Brewis, who runs all of the Chi spas for Shangri La, we began discussing spas in Vegas and Macau. He had just come from Las Vegas where the Hong Kong-based Shangri La brand is apparently looking at possibilities for a new hotel and spa.We talked about how Asians – and especially […]

I am 3 for 3. Three scheduled spa services and three great services! And even more amazing, my husband, Peter, was 3 for 3 as well. After taking in all of the optics – setting, views, decor, materials used, etc. – the core part of the spa experience is when the therapist puts their hands […]

Flew directly from New York to Turks and Caicos on Friday – 3 1/2 hours. Nice to have this direct flight. Since I have lived most of my adult life on the West Coast, where we vacation in Hawaii, the Caribbean is still somewhat new to me. The chance to experience Parrot Cay while training […]

I am slightly annoyed. Ok, maybe irritated is a better word. Here’s the deal. Spa Magazine recently announced that they would be giving out annual awards for readers’ favorite spas. When I looked further into their new awards program it appears to me a very close replica of the Readers’ Choice Awards program which Spa […]

On our last morning in Shanghai before heading to the airport, Nicholas was up for one more spa experience as was I, so we decided to visit one of the large foot reflexology places which Geraldine Howard (Aromatherapy Associates) had recommended, telling us that we have to have an authentic Chinese pedicure where they”wield knives”. […]

A visit to the Evian Spa at Three on the Bund was on my list of “must do’s” while I was in Shanghai. Not only did its opening several years ago cause quite a splash, but Alexa Brue reviewed it in the May/June issue of Luxury Spa Finder Magazine, giving it a mixed review which […]

The Turning Point Conference which I attended here in Shanghai is over. A two-day conference and a third day of workshops has come to an end. I always feel so inspired after spending time exchanging ideas with spa professionals from all over the world. The size of an event really makes a difference, as the […]

After visiting six spas in Canada on this trip and combining these experiences with what I learned from visiting a few other spas in Canada in the past, here are the things that surprised me the most about the Canadian spa scene: 1. I didn’t realize that therapists in Canada go through much more extensive […]

Attended the Leading Spas of Canada conference in Toronto. Since I don’t know Canada well, I enjoyed learning about not only the spa scene but also the country itself and its tourism market. Some tidbits that caught my attention: The Canadian Tourism Commission recently performed a “Brand Canada” study including a survey of the top […]