SpaCast

Rubbed the Wrong Way: When a Massage Goes Wrong

She thought a massage would be soothing. Instead she ended up in pain. Here’s one woman’s account of what can go wrong in a massage—and what to know before you get one.

Read the Story

Massage and Prayer at Sister Rosalind Gefre Schools and Clinics of Massage

Since beginning her ministry of massage 34 years ago at the YMCA in Fargo, N.D., Sister Rosalind of Sister Rosalind Gefre Schools and Clinics of Massage in Sauk Rapids, has incorporated prayer into healing. "Prayer heals," she said.

Read the Story

Resort Study: Spas a Necessity, Not a Luxury

For travelers, a spa treatment – the hot stone massage, the seaweed body wrap – is a luxury, a guilty bit of pampering indulged in during a vacation or business trip.  But to any high-end hotel that hopes to stay competitive, the spa is a necessity.    The spa experience is becoming so engrained into American culture that travelers expect a state-of-the-art spa to be part of the hotel experience, like room service or valet parking, industry experts say.

Read the Story

Newsweek shares the 5 Secrets of Salon Safety

By definition, getting pampered shouldn't be painful. But if you're heading to the salon, you don't want your indulgent treatment to come with anything extra, like an infection. Millions of people visit manicurists each year, and every so often they end up with untrained beauty technicians or inadequately cleaned facilities that leave them with more than they bargained for. And according to a study published in the Annals of Occupational Hygiene, a salon that's poorly maintained can also lead to other problems, like respiratory and neurological conditions from breathing in the fumes of polishes, disinfectants and other chemical-laden products.

Read More

California Nail Salons on Probation

Ten California nail salons have been cited for unsanitary conditions under a 2006 state law that took effect this year.  The foot spas — scattered around the state — were placed on probation by the state Department of Consumer Affairs' Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.

Read the Story

In a crackdown under a new state law, inspectors have issued citations to five Southern California salons, putting them on probation for clipping toenails and soaking feet in unsanitary conditions, officials announced today.  The Southern California salons whose citations were announced today are Laser Nails in Huntington Beach, KC Nails in Anaheim, Top Hair Salon in Buena Park, Super Hair & Nails in Huntington Beach and LyLy Hair and Nails in Huntington Beach.

Read the Story

From the Department of Consumer Affairs:

Recommendations for FootSpa Safety (PDF) and Appendix (PDF)

Grand Openings: Solis Cambrian Hotel & Spa, Switzerland

Solís Cambrian Hotel & Spa in Adelboden, Switzerland celebrated its grand opening on 20th February, two months after the property was re-launched following a complete refurbishment that has seen the property emerge as an easy-going but luxurious hotel, with a contemporary design focus.

Read the Story

Visit Solis Cambrian Hotel & Spa Online

Browse Spa Resorts in Switzerland

Mike Ditka Opens Florida Spa Resort

Da Coach" Mike Ditka, former NFL Coach of the 1985 Super Bowl champs, the Chicago Bears, will soon celebrate his latest victory with the official grand opening of the first two Mike Ditka Resorts in Orlando, Lighthouse Key Resort & Spa and Runaway Beach Club Resort.

Read the Story

Browse Spa Resorts in Florida

More Than A Dozen Eco-Resorts Set to Join Four Seasons in Costa Rica

Howler monkeys roar in rosewood trees outside $2,000-a-night suites with plunge pools at the Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, where servers shuttle drinks to Rolex-wearing loungers on beaches that a decade ago were cooling-off spots mainly for locals or occasional backpackers.  Guanacaste Province, a remote and once-impoverished region in northwest Costa Rica near the Nicaraguan border, is bidding to be the next luxury hotspot.

Read the Story

Browse Spa Resorts in South America

In Australia, churches give way to day spas

South Australians spent more time looking after their health and appearance over the past 20 years but increasingly neglected traditional community pillars.  If the Yellow Pages directory is anything to go by, we have become increasingly hungry for ways to relax and beautify ourselves. But this snapshot also highlights how time-pressured and selfish our lives have become.   The number of day spas, cosmetic clinics, tattoo parlours, naturopaths and masseuses listed in the Yellow Pages guide have soared since 1988, while church organisations, union branches and corner delis and butchers are now a dying breed

Read the Story

Browse Spas in Australia

Luxury Adventure Eco Spa & Resort in the Yukon / Canada

On May 28th, 2008 the world’s first 99% organically sustainable high end luxury Adventure Eco Spa & Resort in the mountains of the Yukon Territory of Canada will open its door to the public. Through out the season the resort will have the generous musical support of over 15 Grammy winners. The opening ceremony will include a North American native dance ceremony and blessing of the grounds. It will also include well known artists and performers from around the globe.

Read the Story

Ten Million Dollar Jury Verdict Announced Against The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company

One of the hospitality industry's most closely-watched trials has ended in victory for a hotel owner against The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC ("Ritz-Carlton"). Bickel & Brewer law firm has announced that its client, Karang Mas Sejahtera ("KMS"), owner of the exclusive Ritz-Carlton Bali Resort & Spa ("Ritz-Carlton Bali"), prevailed in a case that may have wide-ranging implications on the manner in which hotel management agreements are interpreted -- and enforced.

Read the Story

Cussons Buys Sanctuary spa brand for £75m

PZ Cussons, the maker of Imperial Leather and Carex soap, has acquired the Sanctuary spa and beauty products business from British private equity group HgCapital for £75m.   Sanctuary's spa in Covent Garden, Central London, attracts 64,000 guests a year and it has an exclusive deal with Boots to sell its products on the high street.

Read the Story

LIVESPA debuts June 2008, a new publication to educate the spa consumer

“Images of beautiful ladies with cucumbers over their eyes are passé as savvy consumers are no longer fooled by this representation of the spa-goer,” said International SPA Association President Lynne McNees while talking about the association’s new magazine, LiveSpa. As the voice of the spa industry since 1991, ISPA is debuting LiveSpa in June to debunk myths, enrich lives and show that living a simple yet healthy lifestyle is not an oxymoron.

Read the Story

Omni Hotels unwraps in-house Mokara spa brand

Omni Hotels is getting more serious about the spa business. The Irving-based hotel owner has brought on a corporate spa director and has launched its own brand – called Mokara – in an effort to drive higher revenues from hotel guests and compete more effectively for group meetings.

Read the Story

The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. Achieves Sales and Production Records in 2007

The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. enjoyed its most successful year ever in 2007, setting new records in sales and revenue.  Roomnight sales production of nearly USD 1.65 million surpassed the previous record level reached in 2005.  This impressive achievement was the result of two major influences: the robust travel industry and the strength of client loyalty to the Leading Hotels brand among hoteliers and consumers. Website initiatives at lhw.com helped boost the growth of the Internet distribution channel, with production growing by 12% over the preceding year, from 220,884 room nights in 2006, to 247,269 in 2007.

Read the Story

Are Detox Foot Baths a Hoax?

We've all seen the advertisements.  Soak your feet in an Ion / Detox Foot Bath and watch the water turn a bright shade of orange or brown as the nasty gunk leaves your body.   A reader writes:  "Are those Detox Foot Baths really helpful?  The spa I use is now pushing them at $45 for a 30 minute session and guarantees I'll be amazed, but I'm really dubious."

Read Our Response

Gleneagles Luxury Hotel launches new destination spa in Scotland

The Gleneagles® Luxury Hotel in Scotland will launch its £8 million destination spa in early March 2008. Renowned skincare brand ESPA has worked in collaboration with award winning interior designer Amanda Rosa, to create the first ESPA branded spa in the UK at Gleneagles.

Read the Press Release

Browse Spas in Scotland at SpaIndex.com