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