Spa Reviews

Joya Spa at the Intercontinental Montelucia Resort & Spa Scottsdale in Paradise Valley, Arizona delivers both exterior and interior journeys. The spa's design makes you feel like your are in Andalucía, Spain with Moorish architecture, whitewashed walls, billowing "tents," and hand-made Moroccan tiles. Joya Spa also provides a guide to an interior journey throughout the spa experience with the Joy of Purification, the Joy of Insight, the Joy of Intention and the Joy of Illumination. Read about my experience at the newest luxury spa in Scottsdale.

~Julie

I am strolling on the wide beach in front of my room at Gurney's Inn on the eastern tip of Long Island. The fog has almost burned off. The sky is clear, the air is cool, and the sun is warm. My intention for a brisk walk has evaporated. My attention is drawn to the many small, colorful stones that have been perfectly polished by waves and sand and have been generously scattered all over the beach. Like a little kid, I have to stop and look at each one. I dawdle. The white, red, gold and black stones call me. I pick them up and brush them off. I put them in my pocket to later add to my fountains and plant trays at home. I will look at them and remember this beach, this time, this sun, this sky, the wee trace of fog, the seawater spa treatments and the child within. Read about my experience at the only thalasso spa in the continental United States.

~Julie

On my most recent visit to Atlantic City, I stayed at The Water Club, a 43-story, $400 million hotel connected to The Borgata. It has six retail shops and five heated pools - 3 indoor and 2 outdoor. It doesn't have its own casino, but guests can easily use The Borgata's. It does, however, have its own spa, Immersion - and it's a very nice one I might add. I love the name. It sets an expectation of the spa experience before you even enter the facility. Immersion met my expectations. It was completely relaxing. Read about my experience.

~Julie

More Reviews

Events for Spa Consumers

• Spa Cultures, Dreams & Healing Waters
  Bad Sulza, Germany
  Tuesday, July 21st – Sunday, July 26th, 2009
  This relaxing Spa Culture Course & Tour takes place in the medieval spa village of Bad Sulza near Weimar. Includes classical spa bathing, floating and social-dreaming in the warm mineral Healing Waters of the world famous Liquid Sound Temple. Learn how to apply these classical and avant-garde spa experiences to your own life and work. Seminars conducted by Professor Jonathan Paul De Vierville.
• Hay House Events - See how one day can improve your life
  

Spas in the News

Spas Opening August 2009

• The Allison Inn & Spa in Newberg, Oregon

Spas Opening October 2009

• The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte at Bank of America Center in Charlotte, North Carolina

Other News

• Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa Celebrates 150 Year Anniversary in 2010

More Spas in the News

Spa Products in the News

• The Healthy Back Bag® Launches Into Wellness Market
• COOLA Suncare Announces Spring Launch of Organic Moisturizing Suncare Line
• Get Warm-Weather Ready with OKA b.’s Spring 2009 Collection

More Spa Products in the News

Spa Books

Best Spa Lists

More Best Spa Lists

Events for Spa Professionals

• Building and Sustaining High Quality Systems for Spas
  6-Week Online Course
  July 27 - September 26, 2009 (Summer)
  Linda Bankoski and Julie Register of SpaQuality LLC will be teaching this as an online elective course again for the Spa and Hospitality Management Certificate Program at the University of California - Irvine Extension using The International Standards of SpaExcellence^SM2008 for the textbook. Enrollment in the certificate program is not required in order to take the course.
• Spa Hospitality Expo
  On-line expo hosted by Healing Arts Guide. Attendees enjoy product demos, event networking, educational presentations and show prizes. Vendors receive high quality sales leads via live online interaction at their booth, media center and virtual lounge.
  September 24-25, 2009
• ISPA Conference and Expo
  Austin Convention Center, Austin, Texas
  October 5-8, 2009
• Wellness Summit
  Kota Kinabalu
  October 14-16, 2009
• Salon & Spa Buyers Bazaar (SASBB)
  Fairplex Event Center, Pomona, California
  November 8 & 9, 2009
  

More Spa Events in the News

Spa Conference and Expo Report

Report on the 2009 NY IECSC / IBS Conference & Expo in New York, New York - On Monday April 27, I attended the 2009 IECSC (International Esthetics, Cosmetics and Spa Conference) and IBS ((International Beauty Show) at the Jacob Javitts Convention Center. The shows were open from the 26th to the 28th. It was the first time I went to the IBS, and I fount the expo huge - over 400 hair (color, extensions, tools, furniture, etc.), nails and makeup suppliers. I must have walked miles up and down the aisles. I also spent an hour or two in the IECSC expo, but most of my time was at the conference. I listened to presentations on: the New York Spa Trail, how spas can survive this economy from Wynne Business, the New York Spa Alliance (a panel discussion), best practices from the Ritz-Carlton, and Ask the Experts - a panel discussion of spa consultants. They were all excellent. A brief summary of each is provided in the report.

~Julie

IECSC Celebrates 7th Anniversary in New York City with Record-Breaking Participation
by Michelle Mitchell, Questex

More Spa Conference and Expo Reports

Spa Studies

• Intelligent Spas Publishes First Global Spa Benchmark Report (June 2009)
• Ernst & Young introduces the Middle East's First Monthly Spa Benchmark Report (May 2009)
• 2008 edition of Trends in the Hotel Spa Industry by PKF Consulting (January 2009)

More Spa Studies

Spa People in the News

• Enchantment Group Names Amy Mcdonald Vice President of Spa & Program Development
• Viceroy Palm Springs gains Melissa Solis-Caluya as Spa Director
• Capella Telluride Appoints Jenny Farrand as Spa Director
• Laura Parsons Appointed Spa Director At La Posada De Santa Fe Resort & Spa, A Rockresort
• Robert Seibel Appointed Spa Director of Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars Atlantic City
• Melinda K. Milner to Lead Opening Team at the Spa at Terranea
• Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort & Spa Announces Appointment of New Spa Director, Joe Herman

More Spa People in the News

SpaQuality LLC News

SpaQuality LLC to Teach Quality Management Course this Summer

Julie Register and Linda Bankoski will again teach Building and Sustaining High Quality Systems for Spas in conjunction with the University of California - Irvine Extension's Spa and Hospitality Management Certificate Program. The 6-week course will be offered as an online certificate elective from July 27 - September 6, 2009. However, it may be taken without enrolling in the full certificate. The textbook for this course is The International Standards of SpaExcellence^SM.

• Click HERE for details of the course.
  
• Click HERE to order a discounted PDF copy of the textbook.
  
• Click HERE to enroll in the course.

Here's a sample typical of the feedback provided by the Winter course participants:

• The instructors were very knowledgeable and very available for any questions we had as students. I learned a tremendous amount of information that will help me in my future career.
  
• The presentations were very organized & straightforward. Great visuals & examples. They were very friendly, helpful & knowledgeable.
  
• ...this course should become a part of the mandatory classes for the certification...
  
• I really liked this class. In the beginning it was quite challenging but I really began to understand the concepts.
  
• This course has provided some great information.
  
• This was a great course & I'm so happy that I took it.
  
  

Eva Crespi becomes a SpaQuality Certified Consultant
Eva Crespi of Barcelona, Spain became a SpaQuality Certified Spa Consultant in August 2008. Ms. Crespi specializes in the health and beauty industry and offers spa development, spa management and turnkey solutions in her consulting practice.
Eva Crespi Spa Development
Amigó, 67, 3o2a
08021
Barcelona, Spain
Phone: 00 (34) 607 77 48 57
evuxca@gmail.com

The New Year - A Good Time for Spa Business Review
by Julie Register

It's Time for The Spa Industry to Cross "The Chasm" and Step into "The Tornado"
by Julie Register, Owner of DiscoverSpas.com and SpaQuality's Managing Director of Operations

More Articles by Julie Register, Managing Director of Operations, SpaQuality LLC

Actionable Feedback:The Key to Guaranteed Results
by Linda Bankoski, SpaQuality's Managing Director of Education and Assessment

More Presentations and Articles by Linda Bankoski, Managing Director of Education and Assessment, SpaQuality LLC