| Today Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel | | | | and Bliss or Elizabeth Arden's Red Door are |
| & Bookpleasures interviews Susie Ellis, | | | | examples of day spas.Norm:Can you tell us |
| President of Spa Finder Inc.Norm:Could you | | | | something about the new developments and |
| tell us a little about yourself and your | | | | trends in the spa industry, particularly as |
| expertise in spas, and why you became | | | | it affects those couples seeking romantic |
| interested in them?Susie:I was athletic in my | | | | getaways together with spa |
| youth and naturally gravitated toward being | | | | treatments?Susie:We are seeing a variety of |
| as healthy as possible. After college in the | | | | trends in the spa industry. I will share with |
| mid 70's, I began working at the Golden Door | | | | you the 10 trends that we predicted in |
| Spa which, unbeknownst to me at the time, was | | | | January of this year:Medical spas (medicine |
| the top spa in the country. After spending | | | | and spas coming together)People mixing |
| many years on staff, I became enthralled with | | | | business and spasThe arrival of the |
| how people's lives were transformed after | | | | "destination day spa"More affordable spas and |
| just a one-week stay at this famous place. I | | | | more inclusiveInternational treatments and |
| decided to make spa my life's work, and the | | | | unique and inviting spas internationallySpa |
| combination of movement, good nutrition, spa | | | | cuisine going mainstreamTravelers deciding on |
| therapies and a mind/body/spirit approach to | | | | where to go and stay depending on the spaPets |
| wellness became a passion. And lucky for me, | | | | are welcomed at some spaMore men are |
| the spa industry, which was just emerging at | | | | goingMore families, including teens and |
| the time, was poised for explosive | | | | preteensOf these I think one of the |
| growth.Norm:Why have spas continued to grow | | | | interesting trends for couples is that more |
| and have become popular over the past several | | | | men are going to spas. This means that it is |
| years?Susie:I see three general trends that | | | | becoming easier and easier for a woman to get |
| have come together to precipitate the | | | | her guy to go with her to a romantic spa get |
| popularity of spas.1. The aging baby boomer. | | | | away. Increasingly, they already want to |
| This demographic wants to maintain youth and | | | | go!Norm:I have come across the term "quality |
| vigor. Spas are a perfect place to achieve | | | | assured" spa, what does this imply, and why |
| these goals.2. Stress. The non-stop | | | | should we believe the spa when it has this |
| bombardment of information and connectivity | | | | designation?Susie:To be honest, I am not |
| is creating a need for people to have places | | | | aware of any such designation on a large |
| to decompress, de-stress, slow down and pay | | | | scale. There are over 10,000 spas in the |
| attention to their body, mind and spirit.3. | | | | U.S. and no one has been to all of them or |
| A troubled health care system means people of | | | | able to rate them in terms of quality. There |
| all ages must become more responsible for | | | | is no easy way to conclude the level of a |
| their wellness and health.Norm:How do you go | | | | spa's service. In fact, sometimes quality |
| about identifying top-notch romantic spas in | | | | comes down more to an individual therapist |
| terms of quality of treatment, fitness, | | | | than it does a facility.That being said, |
| relaxation, location, atmosphere, and | | | | there are some ways for the consumer to have |
| staff?Susie:Truly the best way to identify | | | | more information that could help them make an |
| romantic spas is to consult the romantic | | | | informed decision. There is an association |
| honeymoon spa category on There are almost | | | | called the International Spa Association |
| 50 romantic spas listed. Spa Finder's mission | | | | (ISPA) that has a "voluntary standards and |
| is to connect people with their ideal spa | | | | practices designation" that spas may choose |
| experience, and we also present spas in 20 | | | | to apply for if they wish. This could be of |
| other categories such as: weight loss spas, | | | | some help. But even here, many spas don't |
| spas for horseback riding, hiking spas, spas | | | | know about this so I wouldn't necessarily |
| for yoga, etc.Norm:As a follow up which ones | | | | rule out selecting a spa if they don't have |
| would make the top ten on your | | | | this designation.It is also helpful to look |
| list?Susie:Here are a few of my favorite | | | | at what awards a spa has won. For example |
| romantic spas in the U.S.:Mirbeau, New | | | | the Spa Finder Readers' Choice Awards lists |
| YorkChateau Elan, GeorgiaMiramante Resort & | | | | the top 10 spas in almost 20 categories. |
| Spa, CaliforniaSilverado, CaliforniaEmerson, | | | | Since this award is voted on by readers, it |
| New YorkThe Spa at Sundance, UtahHampton | | | | is a good indication of quality.Of course, |
| Retreats, New YorkMana Lani , HawaiiSanctuary | | | | word-of-mouth is always a good way to learn |
| on Camelback Mountain, ArizonaWestglow, North | | | | about a spa.Norm:Could you give our readers |
| CarolinaOutside of the U.S.:Brenner's Park, | | | | some suggestions as to tipping?Susie:Tipping |
| Baden Baden, GermanyCuisinArt Resort & Spa, | | | | policies differ among spas but in general it |
| AnguillaEl Santuario, MexicoSamas, Park | | | | is customary to leave a gratuity of between |
| Kenmare Hotel, IrelandEcho Valley Ranch | | | | 15% and 20% for the therapist or technician |
| Resort, CanadaNorm:What are the benefits of | | | | providing your service. In some cases, the |
| spa treatments for honeymooners and romantic | | | | gratuity is already added on to the final |
| getaways for couples in search of | | | | bill and in some very rare cases, tipping is |
| de-stress?Susie:There are many ways to | | | | discouraged. Most spas have their tipping |
| de-stress and spas specialize in this. | | | | policy printed on their brochure I often ask, |
| Exercise is an excellent de-stresser. | | | | "What is your tipping policy?" when I arrive |
| Bathing in hot water is a de-stresser. | | | | at the spa and check in. That usually clears |
| Massages are for many the ultimate | | | | things up right away!Norm:I have read that |
| de-stresser. At spas people typically leave | | | | the destination spa concept is evolving as |
| their outside world behind, they slow down | | | | some brands expand their product through |
| and their bodies become more relaxed. A spa | | | | other outlets. Could you give us some |
| has nurturing staff and there is lovely food | | | | examples and explain why this is taking |
| that doesn't intoxicate but rather | | | | place?Susie:we are seeing brand extension |
| revitalizes. I think that what spas do is | | | | from destination spas such as Canyon Ranch |
| help us get back to who we really are and | | | | and The Golden Door. Canyon Ranch Health |
| connecting at that level is always | | | | Resort began as a destination spa in Tucson, |
| romantic.Norm:What spa treatments are | | | | Arizona in the late 70's. They then opened in |
| especially recommended for those new to the | | | | Lenox, MA and then opened their first Spa |
| spa experience?Susie:I think a good place to | | | | Club in Las Vegas. They are now the spa on |
| start for a newcomer is with a Swedish | | | | the QM2 and are part of a retirement |
| Massage and a facial. These are still the | | | | condominium spa facility being built in |
| most favorite spa treatments because people | | | | Miami. They have also added a Canyon Ranch |
| love them. Although there are many wonderful | | | | product line and I hear there are more things |
| treatments on most spa's menus, such as hot | | | | in the pipeline.The Golden Door branched out |
| stone massage, Ayruvedic treatments or even | | | | from its origins as the U.S.'s top |
| body scrubs and wraps, I would not recommend | | | | destination spa...there are now Golden Door |
| them for the first time spa-goer.For a first | | | | spas at resorts in Arizona, Colorado and |
| time romantic experience, I would suggest | | | | Puerto Rico. There is a Golden Door product |
| choosing a "couple's massage" where both of | | | | line.But I am also seeing another type of |
| you are in the same room for your treatment. | | | | brand expansion; that is product companies |
| Sometimes this can include a bathing ritual | | | | opening "retail spas". Jurlique comes to |
| for the two of you together before or | | | | mind, Givenchy, and to a certain extent |
| after...very romantic!And finally, if a spa | | | | Elizabeth Arden's Red Door could be |
| has a "signature treatment" that might also | | | | considered a spa extending from a product. |
| be a good place for a first time spa-goer to | | | | And there are day spas which have become as |
| begin. Often this is an experience with more | | | | well known for their products as their spas, |
| than one element - like a scrub and a | | | | such as Bliss and Nichel.Norm:What should we |
| massage, or a foot ritual and massage, | | | | expect in the future from spas?Susie:I think |
| etc.And I do suggest that a person let the | | | | that medicine and spas coming together is a |
| receptionist know that this is their first | | | | very exciting happening. We are seeing |
| time spa experience so that the attendant and | | | | prevention/wellness as well as aesthetic |
| therapist can be a bit more thorough about | | | | cosmetic medical spas now. Doctors and spa |
| explaining procedures and protocol.Norm:What | | | | therapists working together is resulting in |
| is meant by "destination spas," and how do | | | | some very nurturing, comfortable medical |
| you differentiate them from other spas as | | | | settings with the best results possible. In |
| well as between themselves?Susie:That's a | | | | addition the entire arena of complementary |
| great question and I'm glad you asked. In | | | | and alternative (CAM) medicine is finding a |
| the world of spas we segment them into | | | | home in the medical spa environment. |
| various categories. The most general | | | | Consumers are increasingly interested in |
| categories are resort/hotel spas, day spas | | | | being proactive when it comes to their health |
| and destination spas. The resort/hotel spa | | | | and well being. (They increasingly need to |
| is part of a hotel or resort where there are | | | | take responsibility for their own health.)I |
| also activities such as golf, tennis, fine | | | | think that spas will eventually become a very |
| dining, etc. The spa is one of the | | | | important part of the solution to health |
| amenities. A day spa is a place where people | | | | problems in the world.Thanks Susie for |
| go for a spa experience but do not stay | | | | replying to my |
| overnight - this can be for one spa treatment | | | | questions.___________________________________ |
| or for several or even for an entire day. | | | | ___________________________Norm Goldman is |
| Then there is the destination spa. Think of | | | | the editor of and The former is a travel |
| them as places to stay overnight with | | | | site that melds Norm's words with his wife |
| programs that makes it a full immersion spa | | | | Lily's water colors. Their articles focus on |
| experience. In other words, everyone is | | | | romantic and wedding destinations. You can |
| there for the spa experience. Canyon Ranch | | | | find out more about them by clicking on their |
| Health Resorts and the Golden Door are good | | | | site, is also a book reviewer and in |
| examples of a destination spa. La Costa or | | | | addition to contributing to his own site, he |
| The Doral are examples of resort/hotel spas | | | | is a regular contributor to many other sites. |