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Langham Hotels International has secured its first property in the Western United States with the purchase of the luxurious heritage hotel – The Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel & Spa in Pasadena, California which will be rebranded as The Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa, Pasadena on January 8th, 2008.
In its continued demand to select only world class destinations,Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announces plans to open its first W Hotel in Washington, D.C. Scheduled to debut in 2009, W Washington D.C. will open in what is currently the historic Hotel Washington, an Italian Renaissance revival building occupying the corner of the city's world-famous Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th Street.
W Washington D.C. will feature rooftop bar and terrace with unprecedented views of Washington D.C. and the White House, and a world-class signature restaurant and spa.
The Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School in Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania, plans to open a day spa, where it will operate a training program for students interested in skin and nail care. At the spa, students will offer their services at reduced rates, similar to the method used at the full-service salon operated by the school's cosmetology department, said Steel Center Director John Sandrene. Mr. Sandrene said it will be the first day spa operating at a public technical school in Allegheny County.
Wyndham Hotel Group recently introduced The Wyndham Grand Collection, an ensemble of elegant, one-of-a-kind hotels within the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts brand aimed at guests looking for unique experiences in distinctive destinations around the world.
The Wyndham Grand Collection locations feature regionalized design reflecting local surroundings, culinary experiences featuring local and international cuisine, expertise in regional events and attractions, well-appointed spa and wellness services and facilities and attentive service.
Inspiring Physicians Worldwide, an international leader in aesthetic training, cosmetic lasers and practice development for physicians and aesthetic professionals, recently announced the launch of the exclusive "IPW Aesthetic ToolBox(R)" Program.
The Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six Resort & Spa (http://www.pier66.com/) has come a long way since its original days as a small waterfront motel catering to the upscale yachting crowd. Fifty years later, this Fort Lauderdale landmark complete with a 127-slip mega-yacht marina, is a stunning 22-acre vacation paradise fresh from a $30 million transformation and belongs to the impressive collection of LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels.
According to Jeff Russell, president of the International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM), "the three top reasons why aesthetic physician practices fail relate directly to their lack of knowledge of the business side of aesthetic medicine." Recognizing this need, Cosmetic Management Network has developed a dynamic 2-day Business Success Workshop for physicians, med spa owners, practice managers and other practice professionals. "The Workshop is designed to teach participants the practical, real-world business and marketing skills and techniques they need to knwo to build a successful cosmetic medical business", states Don Curran, company president.
Entrepreneur Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia has expanded her Metro Vancouver spa empire to the River Rock Casino Resort Hotel, acquiring the Richmond hotel's spa for an undisclosed price. The acquisition creates the ninth Absolute Spa Group spa now operating in the region -- with others at the Century Plaza Hotel, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Fairmont Vancouver Airport, three at Vancouver.
If your life is Steel Magnolias, you go to the salon once a week to get a manicure, a pedicure, a haircut and curl, and--while you're sitting under an old fashioned blow dryer that turns your hair blue--the poop on the latest gossip.
If your life is MY life, you go to the spa for the first time in a decade to get a (crappy) facial, a (rushed) pedicure, a (lopsided) haircut, and--while you're taking a pee freshening up in the bathroom--the rat poop on the floor behind the door.
Nice.
4th annual Cornell Hotel Society Spa Symposium
January 18 to 21, 2008
The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn
California
Keynote speakers are Mark Harmon, CEO Auberge Resorts and Deborah Szekely, Founder, The Golden Door and Owner of Rancho La Puerta.
Hear the latest spa revenue research from Bruce Baltin and Gabrielle Lerner, PKF; Elaine Sahlins, HVS and Jan Freitag, STR. New spa development models will be presented by Elaine Fenard, Spa Strategy and Brett Blumenthal, Gensler.
Hotel and Spa General Managers from Miraval, Solage, The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, The Royal Palms and Four Seasons will discuss the value of spa and the general manager's perception of spa profits and effects on ADR, Occupancy, and RevPAR.
An owner's panel will discuss how spas are included in their development plans.
The need for revenue management in the spa will be explored by corporate officers from Mandarin Oriental, Nob Hill Spa, Fairmont and Starwood.
Spa sustainability and the cost/benefit analysis of sustainable spa practices top off this great opportunity for convivial networking and fun. There is spare time for wine tours, spa treatments or sight seeing in the beautiful Sonoma area.
Please register for the symposium at http://www.chssmi.eventbrite.com. The registration includes the symposium, meals including the Sunday night banquet, networking opportunities with friends, spa and hospitality leaders, and spa gifts.
Additionally to reserve a room at the Sonoma Mission Inn call 1-800-441-1414 and ask for the Cornell Hotel Society event starting January 18 (evening) and ending January 21 at noon. If you fly into SFO, you can take a van directly to Sonoma Mission Inn, a trip of 60-90 minutes depending on traffic. The website is http://www.sonomaairporter.com.
The special room rate is $219 per night which includes a bottle of wine at check in, daily wine tastings, fitness classes, robes, slippers, the famed mineral spa bathing ritual and gratis self parking.
To guarantee this special rate, please call early as rooms are limited.
Colin Hurren is doing his part to sharpen the appearance and raise the spirits of local at-risk youth - and he's going straight to the source. The local skin expert and CEO of Pasadena's Skin Deep Laser MedSpa, Hurren has been lending his epidermal knowledge and skin-care secrets to children and teenagers at youth homes and centers around the area. His aim is to teach them to look and feel their best, which he hopes will raise their self-esteem and get them on the road to success.
Kim Harty thought a few laser treatments would be a fast fix for a brown sunspot on her face. So did the nurse who suggested it. But after four sessions at a medical day spa and no improvement, she was told to see a specialist. “I thought, ‘This is really expensive for not doing anything,’” Harty said. Colorado Springs dermatologist Dr. Nathan Trookman quickly realized why. The spot was melanoma — the most serious form of skin cancer — and it should never have been zapped with a laser.
Many Americans who want a more youthful look are choosing laser treatments or injections along with their facials or manicure. There's a booming industry of medical spas and a growing concern about safety.
"When I saw smoke come off my chest that really to me said something is wrong," said Stephen Perez.
Want to smooth out some fine lines? Maybe a nice massage would do you good. The choice for most when it comes to these minute makeovers is a medical spa. You don't have to be a doctor or even have a medical background to open a medical spa. According to the American Society for Dermatology, improperly trained staff has led to led to a sharp rise in the number of serious complications from medi-spa treatments gone badly.
By the time Pam Parer made it home from the spa one August evening, she already had second thoughts about the contract she had just signed. Parer had agreed to pay $5,500 for a series of cosmetic laser skin treatments at the Pure Med Spa in Schaumburg, Illinois, money she was told was non-refundable. The spa helped her establish a new credit card on the spot, then charged the card for the entire amount. Before the first treatment, Parer called the manager and told her she wanted to back out. "She said, 'No problem, I'll take care of everything,'" Parer said. When the credit card statement arrived weeks later still showing a balance of $5,500, Parer called the manager again. This time, the manager told her she was out of luck. The manager didn't have the authority to remove the charges.
Read the Story, and we invite you to comment. Was the client due a refund? What's your spa's refund policy?
Some state medical boards are scrambling to regulate services at medical spas across the country to ensure that patients are safe and that physicians perform or supervise certain procedures properly.
Bonnie Brown was working as massage therapist at Google from 1999 to 2004. Before that, she ran a private school for 10 years. Now, Bonnie is traveling and also wrote a book called Giigle: How I Got Lucky Massaging Google.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota filed a lawsuit Thursday against current and former Minnesota Commissioners of Health over rules that prohibit a massage therapist from having a sexual relationship with a former client for two years.
Thai sport massage is a form of Thai yoga massage, which has been practiced by Buddhist monks for the last 2,500 years. It was introduced in the United States in 1980. In Thai sport massage, acupressure, stretching and deep tissue work help relieve pain, increase flexibility and warm up the muscles.
Votes needed to determine the Spa Person of the Year for 2007, to be presented at the “Hearts for A Cure” Annual Awards & Charity Celebration Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 at the Sand’s Exposition Center, Las Vegas during the Day Spa Expo.
Relais & Chateaux today announced the addition of 34 new members to the prestigious global association of 470 of the finest hotels and gourmet restaurants in 55 countries. The announcement was made during the association's esteemed annual International Congress that is taking place in Washington, DC, November 25-28. New Spa Members include the Wedgewood Hotel & Spa in Canada and Bauer Palladio Hotel & Spa in Italy.
10-Minute Manicure was born from a simple idea. Three friends, all busy professional women, desperately wanted something that would make their lives easier. "Women need a little bit of an oasis and we provide that as a service during their busy working day," Karen Janson, vice president of 10-Minute Manicure said.
Last January, the women opened their first 10-Minute Manicure in Cincinnati's airport. There are now 11 airport locations with one at Miami International opening soon.
Susan Kim, who worked for 17 years as a manicurist, complains of chronic itchiness in her eyes, an allergic reaction to the fumes and dust she inhaled in her workplace. Another former manicurist, Linda Chen, used to have a bumpy red rash on her face and neck. It finally faded after she quit the job. As nail workers nationwide experience ailments they assert are caused by the tools of their trade, concerned community groups and health advocates are trying to strengthen regulations on nail-care products and help promote "greener" nail shops.
In need of a facial? Want to smooth out some fine lines? Maybe a nice massage would do you good. The choice for most when it comes to these minute makeovers is a medical spa.
You don't have to be a doctor or even have a medical background to open a medical spa. According to the American Society for Dermatology, improperly trained staff has led to led to a sharp rise in the number of serious complications from medi-spa treatments gone badly.
Developer Anthony Marnell III has unveiled plans for the 80-acre M Resort, Spa and Casino in Las Vegas.
Located at the southeast corner of St. Rose Parkway and Las Vegas Boulevard, about 10 miles south of the Bellagio, the project is expected to be completed in the spring of 2009. The resort will be developed in multiple phases, with the first phase located on approximately 40 acres consisting of a resort, spa and casino. The development will include an outdoor canyon pool and entertainment venue, a top-of-the-tower ultra lounge and a convention center.
Japanese manufacturers usually go wild with their concept cars during the Tokyo Motor Show and introduce experimental vehicles that may or may not appear on the roads someday. This year, the "Spa Car" by Toyota made its debut:
The Toyota RiN resembles a spa on wheels. The automaker says the RiN is focused on promoting well-being and serene, healthy living. . . . Taking its design motif from the deep-rooted, tall-growing Yakusugi tree, a variety of Japanese cypress, Toyota says the RiN aims to express "harmony with nature and healthy mind and body."
Clare West has assumed the role of managing director Europe for the Six Senses Spas brand from her previous role as European operations and development manager. In her new role she will continue to pursue potential development projects in line with Six Senses Spas’ expansion strategy and oversee the existing Six Senses Spa operations in Europe - ensuring they meet group standards and best practices.
Also: Emlyn Brown – Operations Director Asia, Six Senses Spas; Sheron Boddy – Operations Director Europe, Six Senses Spas
Thirteen local day spas have joined forces with Destinations Medical Spa (DMS), Southern California’s first and only doctor-managed mobile cosmetic care service that provides the latest in laser, Botox®, injectables and other spa treatments, to offer a la carte treatments to their clientele.
Book4Time will be presenting the latest release of its Web-based Spa Management Software and Reservation platform at this year's ISPA Conference & Expo on November 12, 2007 at 10am EST.
Book4Time's Spa Management and Reservation platform is a comprehensive product suite built around a real-time reservation engine, online booking, centralized CRM and extensive front and back office functionality designed specifically for multi-location Resort Spas, Day Spas and Medi-Spas.
