Spa and Hotel news from SpaCast.com. Part of Spa Index Media Network.

Daufuskie Resort shuttered, could reopen after trustee is appointed

The Daufuskie Island Resort & Breathe Spa in South Carolina closed its doors this week, laying off what was left of its skeleton staff. A bankruptcy judge ruled Tuesday that a trustee will be appointed to manage the resort, which could lead to a reopening. A trustee has not yet been named.

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Danger at Your Local Salon: From Botox to manicures, make sure your beauty treatments are safe.

Most of us aren’t aware of the potentially ugly side of manicures, pedicures, Botox injections, haircuts, or waxing. “We assume that if a salon is operating it must be safe, but that’s not true,” says Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, M.D., a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine, who has studied salon infections and salon safety. “There’s lots to worry about, including poorly trained technicians and dirty or illegal instruments.”

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Hotel Spas luring local day guests to increase business

According to PKF Consulting, spa revenue rose 5 percent from 2006 to 2007, largely because of higher charges for treatments. But since last fall, hotel spas have been dealing with both reduced occupancy and guests who have sharply curbed their discretionary spending. PKF’s report on the outlook for hotel spas projected decreased attendance for 2009. To counteract this, hotel spa operators are trying several approaches to increase business and cut costs.

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Iconic Arizona lodge owners hope expansion will attract visitors

With room rates topping $500 a night in peak season for its signature creekside cottages, the exclusive L'Auberge de Sedona Resort  attracts a wealthy, well-traveled crowd.   Guests check in with ultrahigh expectations, expectations that hotel officials admit haven't been universally met as the 25-year-old resort showed its age in recent years. "Stale," "dated" and "old" are words sprinkled in reviews posted in the past year on TripAdvisor.com, a popular travel-review site.   L'Auberge's new owner hopes to erase any negative impressions - and attract a new generation of fans - by plowing $25 million into a major renovation and expansion.

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Ban on Feet-Nibbling Fish Leaves Nail Salons on the Hook

Cosmetology regulators insist fish pedicures are unsanitary. At least 14 states, including Texas and Florida, have outlawed them. Virginia doesn't see a problem. Ohio permitted fish pedicures after a review, and other states haven't yet made up their minds. The world of foot care, meanwhile, has been plunged into a piscine uproar. Salon owners who bought fish and tanks before the bans were imposed in their states are fuming.

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Stylists and Estheticians increasing out-call, in home services

Call it homestead-style beauty on a budget - haircuts, massages, even eyebrow-shaping without ever walking into a spa.   Increasingly, beauty professionals are freelancing, coming to your home or having you to theirs for the same services they offer at salons. In this win-win situation, pros can charge less because they get the whole fee.

"I color, cut and style in my clients' apartments. I carry all of my products, all the equipment and get to work on them just like I would in a salon. And I even use their kitchen sink to rinse out their hair," says hairstylist Joey Sanders, who charges $45 for a cut and blow dry and $65 for color.

That's 20 percent less than at the salon where he works.

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New spa technician certificate program in South Carolina

Despite the tough times, many people are still finding a few dollars to spend on managing the stress the economy is creating for them.  A new spa technician certificate program at Horry-Georgetown Technical College (South Carolina) is banking on a need for workers trained in the art of alleviating stress. With a handful of new spas opening or planned for the Grand Strand, and spa industry organizations reporting business is still strong, the program could be a safe bet for the college.

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Recession boom for Indian Spa industry

Wellness is doing particularly well these days, as spas emerge as more cost-effective and less time-consuming alternative to vacations. So, even as the tourism industry in general braces for a summer chill, city hotels and standalone spa outlets are warming up to reports of a 15-20% jump in business in the past 3-4 months. Experts say while people may have cut down on car purchases and foreign holidays, beauty treatments and personal care remain priority sectors.

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Spas can be profitable if created the right way

Building, marketing and operating a spa is really not that different than building, marketing and operating a hotel or resort.  You have to ask the right questions, hire the right people and deliver the promise so that you have a marketable and profitable business venture that meets the needs and interests of the investor, operator and guest.  There are typically several business centers within the hotel/resort, each of which is intended to complement one another in order to enhance the guest experience while also being profit center.  When a spa is properly planned, marketed and managed, it seamlessly co-exists within and enhances the lodging property.

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Spas On A Budget the Balm For Economic Woes

With the economy slumping and fuel prices soaring, facials and massages may not be a top priority for consumers on a budget.   "You can still go and have a spa experience without spending a ton of money," says Veronica Cole of the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa in Ojai, Calif. "Many spas, like ours, offer use of our facilities with one treatment, so you can come spend hours relaxing."

In other words, if you can't afford a weekend or overnight stay, consider booking one massage or scrub at a destination spa, which usually entitles you to use the pool, steam room and other facilities for the day.

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