Report on the International Spa Association (ISPA)- Spa Associations in the News at DiscoverSpas.com

Spa Associations in the News

Report on the International Spa Association (ISPA)
Conference and Expo 2005

The four-day ISPA Conference and Expo September 30 - October 3, 2005 was over all too soon. While the theme of the conference was Passion, I look back on my experience there and realize my own personal theme was Relationships. In prior years, I was primarily an observer. This year, I spent a majority of my time meeting individually with old friends and acquaintances and meeting new ones.

I sat in on two General Sessions and heard Dr. Kenneth Cooper, Ruth Stricker and Debroa Szekely speak of their vision for spa industry's future. Only given eight minutes each to speak, they all said they could have spoken for eight hours. I wish we all had the time for that. Regrettably, I missed Boris Brott's "Playing Together" which I have been told was excellent.

I only had time to sit in on two of the Professional Development Sessions. There were many to choose from, and the two I selected happened to be about relationships. The first was "Flipping the Switch: Turning Good (and Not-So-Good) Employees into Star Performers" by Kay Cannon, Founder & Chief Coaching Officer of Diamond Ingenuity, the Business Coaching Company. In it, she talked about seven critical factors to successfully lead others, tools available to measure the effectiveness of an individual's leadership, the difference between coercive and inspirational power and the tool of Printing (C) which can be used by leaders to understand and motivate their workforce. It was really great. The second was "Ensuring Success In An Important Relationship….You and Your Vendor" by Jennifer Di Francesco (THE WELL at The Miramonte Resort) & Gina Molinari (account executive). They spoke about how decisions are made to select vendors (business minded vs emotional), important characteristics of good vendors and the characteristics of a good vender relationship. More great information. Regretfully, I was unable to attend "Staff Recruitment & Retention in the Spa Industry" by Zahira Coll of Resources and Development which I heard was outstanding and full of useful and actionable information or "Overview Of Trends, Resources and Benefits of Greening Initiatives in the Spa Industry" by Janice Gronvold or "The Power of Passion in Healing: How Integrative Medicine and Spiritual Pursuits Promote Wellness" by Dr. Eve Wood nor did I hear Carol Phillips, Peggy Wynne Borgman or Clodagh whose talks I always enjoy. Thankfully, tapes of the sessions are available to purchase from ISPA - almost as good as being there.

The remainder of my time was spent on the Expo floor. Over 340 vendors were there. Here are a few that caught my eye (in no particular order):

Jamu's Benefit Bath, packaged in an authentic Indonesian pyramid glass bottle, topped with a prayer string with an authentic Balinese silver bead, and filled with sea salts and crushed tropical flowers. Jamu is donating 10% of proceeds from Benefit Bath to Tsunami and natural disaster relief efforts through UNNICEF, the American Red Cross and Vitamin Angels.	Pure Fiji Coconut Infused Body Butter, a thick, rich body butter with a luscious coconut aroma. I love it! Pure Fiji also has other "flavors" of body butter, Exotic Bath and Body Massage Oils, Coconut Sugar Rub, Coconut Milk Bath Soak, Hydrating Body Lotions, Shampoo, Conditioner, Coconut Milk Shower Gel, Coconut Creme Body Scrub, and a line of skin care.
Perfectsense Paraffin & Aromatherapy from Spa Revolutions - individual paraffin gloves and booties warmed by the same technology that the army's MREs use. No electricity. No more need to use a communal paraffin bath. A lovely essential oil - scented steam is released while the paraffin melts. The only downside I saw was the waste from the spent heating packs.	Eye Pillow System from Comphy Company consisting of a pillow and a changeable pillowcase. In the flap of the pillowcase are pockets in which to place aromatherapy patches and/or gem stones. Advantages are they are hygienic (designed to be changed for each client), individualized (therapy configured for each client) and color coordinated with other Comphy Company linens.
Mango Butter Cup from Malie Kauai, an in-shower moisturizer you rub on the skin. The heat activated product melts and hydrates your skin while providing anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals. It contains 100% natural mango butter, cocoa butter, vitamin E and turmeric. It can also be used for massage.	Elixir - I always have to stop by for a Virtual Buddha, Depth Recharger or Mind Over Muddle when I see Elixir on an expo floor. They now offer Chi Devil (a women's sensuality tonic), Mighty Joe Yang (a men's sex tonic) and Morning After for hangovers.
Aromafloria's Lemongrass Sugar Salt Scrub and Lemongrass Body Butter with Shea and Aloe, part of Aromafloria's new Sensory Fusion Collection which is a "Zen Euro" combination of herbal remedies, recipes and rituals and includes bath soaks, scrubs, foaming washes with shea butter and body butters with shea nut butter and aloe vera.	Need to Unwind? Bath Shots from a collection of aromatherapy bath oils by Body Bliss. I passed by the booth every day for a sample and used it that night in a relaxing bath after a long day at the show. Loved it! I will be ordering a large bottle or two for home. Other Body Bliss products and services include Ayurveda, Organic Aromatherapy, Vibrational Massage Oils based on chakras, southwest and Desert Botanicals and Exotic Butters and Scrubs.
Clodagh Spa by Boden, a full line of customizable furniture designed for all areas of the spa from reception to locker rooms.	Organic Teeccino Maya Chai, one of seven caffeine-free brewable beverages. Yum!
Soothe Your Soles cleansing towelettes for your feet. I wish I had one after going barefoot through the airport security check! Sold through Universal Companies	Norex Smartlit TM, a 24-hour rechargeable flickering candle that produces light similar to tea lights but has no heat, smoke or fire hazard. Burned out candles at a spa are a pet peeve of mine. These would take care of the problem.
Xela Xpress Creme Brulee Aromasticks allows you to freshen your room anywhere you go (home, office, hotel). It can be used as a mister or a diffuser with the wooden cap and diffuser sticks.	Osea Facial products - high tech, all natural marine-based skincare products. I spent a long time speaking with the Jenefer Palmer, owner and formulator. She strongly believes in purity, quality and effectiveness. I had a mini facial and liked the results. I look forward to trying some products at home.
Naturopathica - Lots of lovely products to sample - body lotions, massage and body oils and skin care products including a Green Tea Wasabi Mask. From October 1st- December 31st, Naturopathica will donate 5% from the sale of each Environmental Defense Mask to support breast cancer research.	Bissinger's Spa Chocolates - Hard to believe these treats are healthy, but research says flavonoids in cocoa powder are good for the heart, lower blood pressure and help the body resist the wear and tear of aging. I enjoyed a sample without the guilt!

There were many more products that I enjoyed learning about. Click on the photos below to go to the company's web site.

Body Coffee	Corman and Associates Inc.
Cypress Bathrobes and Towels	Dream Sacks
Dream Time	Jurlique
Karen Klein	Mother Earth Pillows
Numi Teas	Napa Valley Spa Products

I look forward to the event next year at the Venetian Hotel Resort Casino in Las Vegas, NV Nov. 6-9, 2006.

More Spa News