Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts and Okura Hotels & Resorts marked their fifth year of successful partnership today in an event held in Singapore at Fullerton Hotel. In celebration of the milestone, both hotel groups organised an event showcasing a selection of their properties, attended by over a hundred clients and partners in Singapore.
At the International Spa Association annual conference and expo, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announced it plans to expand its portfolio of hotel spas by more than 50 percent in the coming year. More than 150 new spas are planned or are in development at Starwood, which currently features more than 300 hotel spas across iconic hospitality brands, including W, St. Regis, Le Meridien, Westin, and Sheraton.
Hilton Hotels & Resorts unveils eforea: spa at Hilton, its new global spa concept that is poised to be one of the world's fastest growing spa brands. eforea: spa at Hilton features an exclusive menu of treatment journeys and innovative design elements, all providing a turnkey spa solution that owners can easily implement and customize. Leveraging its global reach and expertise, Hilton pulled the best elements and practices from Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and the Americas to create a unique concept for today's savvy global travelers.
As the voice of the global spa industry for 20 years, the International SPA Association continues its reputation for producing the most comprehensive and respected research with the release of the ISPA 2010 U.S. Spa Industry Study.
Medical tourism, the phenomenon whereby people who live in one country travel to another to receive medical, surgical or dental care for either personal or financial reasons, is of growing interest to U.S. travelers as revealed in the results of the Ypartnership/Harrison Group 2010 Portrait Of American Travelers (SM). Fielded in February 2010, the study details familiarity with the medical tourism concept, the reasons for considering this alternative to domestic care, and countries in which U.S. citizens would be most likely to seek this type of care.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) is proud to announce the launch of Shine for Sheraton, a global spa concept designed exclusively for Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. On the heels of the brand’s recent $6 billion brand revitalization effort, Shine for Sheraton will debut in new properties across the globe and as a new spa solution for existing hotels and resorts. Sheraton has selected Germaine de Capuccini, a leading global spa and skincare brand, as the preferred product partner for Shine spas.
Westin Hotels & Resorts continues the global expansion of its signature spa brand, the Heavenly Spa by Westin™, with the debut of two new Spas - The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa Phuket and The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa in Georgia. Each Heavenly Spa by Westin features signature treatments and experiences aimed at mind-body wellness and revitalization, including unique programs that reflect local culture and customs.
PATA aims to establish a Healthcare Travel Advisory Task Force, in conjunction with MEDICO Services International, Bangkok. Greg Duffell, CEO, PATA, is therefore seeking volunteers and vital contributions from PATA members with knowledge of, and experience in, this fast-expanding niche market across the Asia Pacific region.
As a response to the growing interest in both health tourism and personalized service, leading hotelier Barceló Hotels and Resorts announces the international debut of U Spa, an innovative spa concept providing specialized treatments based on each client’s specific needs.
Nineteen Hotel Management students from the University of Delaware were awarded Swiss Spa Management certificates Spas in a ceremony in Switzerland. Spas are one of the fastest growing segments in the hotel industry offering a variety of fitness, wellness, life enhancement and management opportunities. Students participated in classes, hands on spa activities at leading spas in Switzerland, Austria and Italy sharpening their skills for future spa management careers.
Spas, treatments and innovative products competed in nine different categories for the popular European Health & Spa Award, which is given away every year by the Agency for Wellness and Health. The Austrian software vendor TAC with its Digital Signage solution was nominated for "Best technical product innovation".
The International SPA Association (ISPA) and Smith Travel Research (STR) are pleased to announce that the Spa STAR report, a benchmarking tool for all types of spas, is now available. The report will aid spas in making well-informed and more profitable operating decisions. The online Spa STAR report allows spas to enter in data in three main categories: treatments (such as massages and facials), salon (such as manicure, pedicure and hair) and retail.
W Hotels Worldwide, the hotel category buster and industry innovator, has unveiled W Retreat & Spa - Vieques Island, the W brand’s 37th hotel globally and its first retreat within North America. Owned by REIG CAPITAL, through its affiliate Vieques Hotel Partners, W Vieques is located only eight miles off the southeast coast of Puerto Rico and opens as the second W Retreat in the world, following the successful opening of W Retreat & Spa – Maldives in 2006. As W Hotels continues its transformation into a global powerhouse, on track to expand its portfolio to more than 50 hotels by the end of 2011, W is slated to open nine new hotels this year, including two retreat properties in Bali and Koh Samui, Thailand.
Six Senses Resorts & Spas is set to establish its first Caribbean property in the Turks & Caicos, following the signing of an agreement with Salt Cay Devco Ltd. In the initial phase, the project will comprise a Six Senses resort, Residential Villas, Six Senses Spa, and Golf Course. The proposed opening date is 2013.
Jane Segerberg, whose career has spanned 30 years in the spa, wellness and hospitality industries, recently announced the formation of her new firm, Segerberg Spa Consulting, LLC. With 18 years of Five-Star resort experience and 11 years in the spa design and consulting business, Jane is considered an authority on spa operations and business strategies. As President of Segerberg Spa Consulting, LLC, Jane directs all aspects of the firm's consulting services including concept and facility design, operations and program development, staffing and training, marketing, facility openings and spa management.
Six Senses Resorts & Spas has entered into a strategic alliance with Miami based Saudi entrepreneur, Mr. Laith Pharaon, who will become a stakeholder in the management arm of Six Senses group - Six Senses Mauritius.
France’s first Six Senses urban well-being sanctuary - Six Senses rue de Castiglione, introduces a Parisian interpretation of the world-renowned Six Senses urban sanctuary. Scheduled to open late December 2009, the facility is splendidly located close to the famous Rue St Honore, the Jardin des Tuileries and the Louvre.
Directors of the Global Spa Summit (GSS) today announced that the fourth annual Summit will be held from May 16--19, 2010, at the historic Çıragan Palace Kempinski Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey. Attended by top spa, hospitality, and wellness executives from around the world, this year's invitation-only Summit is expected to attract a record number of delegates, representing 40 different countries.
It’s tough to keep up with the latest trends when everything from vampires to Snuggies is on the cultural radar. The International SPA Association makes it easy for you to stay up-to-date with the latest spa trends for 2010. Forecasts for the coming year prove one thing – a healthy lifestyle never goes out of style.
Morocco’s first Six Senses Spa is set to create a new benchmark of luxury and wellness in the region by combining contemporary Moroccan architecture and cutting-edge spa design with unique and enriching wellness experiences designed to balance the senses. Scheduled to open late 2011, the 1,500 square metre or 16,000 square feet spa will be a centrepiece of The Baglioni Marrakech - a boutique 5-star hotel set within a stunning 34-acre parkland resort and residential development located just 5-minutes by car from Marrakech Airport.