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