Spas in the News

Calgary Spa Receives SpaExcellence^SM Certification
SpaQuality LLC awards The Spa Ritual

Shauna Walker, President of The Spa Ritual
with the 2010 SpaExcellence^SM Crystal Award

GREENVILLE, Del. - August 1, 2010 - The Spa Ritual, a day spa in Calgary, Alberta, Canada has achieved SpaExcellence^SM certification. This certification is the culmination of months of organizing and documenting The Spa Ritual's quality system in accordance with The International Standards of SpaExcellence^SM2010 from SpaQuality LLC. The Standards provide a framework for everything that a spa does from day-to-day operations with Guest interactions and behind-the-scenes processes to leadership and teamwork to system evaluation and continual improvement and everything in between.

According to The Spa Ritual's Spa Director, Sandy Cutts, "Now that our quality system is established, it actually makes our day-to-day job so much easier and more effective. As an example, the HR documents are organized into a user-friendly checklist. This tool guarantees that new Team Members have all the certifications, complete all the necessary documents and are provided with a consistent introduction to our values, policies and procedures. Our Aesthetic and Massage Protocol Manuals are used every day - whether is it to confirm the exact measurements for a facial treatment, check for a medical contraindication prior to reserving a Guest's appointment, or as a step-by-step training guide."

Vivienne O'Keeffe, President and CEO of Spa Profits Consulting Inc., a renowned International Spa Development Company, and SpaQuality Certified Consultant since 2005, guided The Spa Ritual as they built and refined their quality system from concept through to fruition - with the objective from the outset of attaining Spa Quality's SpaExcellence^SM certification. Vivienne O'Keeffe strongly believes that all spas need to operate within a comprehensive quality system framework and encourages all businesses with whom she works to do so.

A SpaQuality Certified Assessor conducted the scheduled, "open-book" assessment of The Spa Ritual's quality system. The assessor sampled procedures, records and system integration and interviewed Team Members. The spa's processes were assessed in several categories - Intention and Strategy, Leadership, Guest Experience, Operations Support and Improvement - as well as how well they worked together as a quality system. The Spa Ritual passed with flying colors. The spa received a detailed feedback report from SpaQuality LLC highlighting things the spa does well and opportunities for improvement based on an analysis of the assessment. The spa can expect an unscheduled Anonymous Guest Assessment to evaluate the spa from a Guest's perspective before the next annual assessment.

Kent Macintyre, one of The Spa Ritual's owners, had this to say about adhering to The International Standards of SpaExcellence^SM and achieving SpaExcellence^SM certification, "We believe a spa business is built on reputation. The SpaExcellence^SM standards break a complex concept into bite size steps. Using these standards, we put the protocols and continuous improvement processes in place to allow us to deliver a quality experience congruent with our vision to our Guests, consistently and reliably. Satisfied Guests and the referrals they provide is the foundation upon which financial success is built."

Sandy Cutts added, "We encourage all Spa Owners and Directors to create their own SpaExcellence^SM System. It is the solid foundation of the spa's quality system that builds long-term success in our vulnerable spa industry. It's well worth the investment of time, energy and leadership's attention."

"We congratulate The Spa Ritual for their vision, enthusiasm and leadership in the spa industry," said Linda Bankoski, co-owner and Managing Director of Education and Assessment for SpaQuality LLC. "This exemplary spa demonstrates the value of discipline and is poised to serve as an oasis for the fortunate clients and staff who discover them."

About The Spa Ritual

Opened in 2008, The Spa Ritual is a 7,000 square-foot day spa providing "your path to rejuvenation" through therapies and treatments inspired by ancient practices of health and wellness from Southeast Asia. Unique facilities include:

The Spa Ritual is a founding member of the Green Spa Network and is committed to environmental protection and sustainability, guided by its Green Program, which strives to minimize the Spa's operational impact on the environment through resource conservation and best practices.

For more information about The Spa Ritual, please visit: www.thesparitual.com

About SpaQuality LLC
SpaQuality LLC is an independent observer of the spa industry that created and maintains The International Standards of SpaExcellence^SM, spa industry specific quality system standards; provides quality system education to spa leadership teams; assesses spas' quality systems; and certifies those spas that comply with The International Standards of SpaExcellence^SM.

Julie Register and Linda Bankoski created SpaQuality LLC in 2003 and released the first edition of The International Standards of SpaExcellence^SM in 2004. It is currently in its fifth edition.

For more information about SpaExcellence^SM certification and The International Standards of SpaExcellence^SM, please contact:

About Spa Profits Consulting Inc.
Spa Profits Consulting Inc. is a spa industry-specific consultancy that specializes, since 1994, in creating profitability in commercial spa operations- both existing and new; from concept to opening celebrations and daily spa operations. They have shown their many clients across Canada, the United States and Asia how to grow spa profit margins and manage risk by improving spa systems, enriching spa mission statements and philosophies, nurturing the spa's cultural authenticity, and developing spas as legitimately recognized health and leisure social resources.

For more information about Spa Profits Consulting Inc., please visit: www.spaprofits.com

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