Spa College News

Spa College will offer a workshop series in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica starting November 4, 2007 beginning with Element I, the Secrets of Spa Treatments, a 5-day intensive that should appeal to all service providers who work in a spa setting (whether day spa, medi spa, salon or resort spa), individual therapists in private practice as well as spa aficionados who who would like to learn the intricacies of spa therapy.

Following on the heels of Element I will be Element II, Advanced Spa Therapy which takes this work to a deeper level and includes many additional protocols.

Finally to conclude the series Spa College offers a 2 day Spa Manager Seminar. During the course of this workshop the focus will be on how to implement spa treatments, from writing an attractive menu to marketing and communication. A must for anyone in a leadership position or independent provider.

Liz Galloway just returned from Costa Rica and has secured a wonderful venue that promises to not only provide a great setting for the workshops but also the opportunity to discover beautiful Costa Rica.

We will not only forage the local markets on our mission to find creative ingredients for our treatments, but have our favorite vendors on board that will supply us with the best key ingredients.

• Click here for a Complete Calendar Overview at the bottom of the page.

Spa College also provides a custom service for existing spa operations or owners and developers in the pre-planning phase. Spa College will assist in developing a unique menu of services with proprietary protocols, cost of service calculations, equipment and back bar requirements.

As specialists, Spa College will then provide onsite training for staff and management, independent of vendors or suppliers, develop training manuals for future service providers and train management in consulting and selling treatments. For more information and to receive a tailored quote for your operation please contact: training@spa-college.com or call 917.922.5829.

The spa industry continues to grow with an anticpated annual $40 Billion worldwide; uninhibited by the challenges many face in sustaining themselves in an increasingly competitive market with the difficult task of finding well trained providers while developing a culture of service to retain a discerning clientele.

Education is emerging as a core issue pertaining to providers and management alike according to lifestyle consultant Mark Wuttke who participated in the recent invitation only Global Spa Summit last month. A stunning 16% per annum! Global branding of resort and hotel spas are setting the benchmarks for the client experience and savvy customers expect selection, quality and hospitality on every level.

Within this context there are always opportunities and pitfalls. Achieving and sustaining profitability while constantly improving and evolving with the market should be the primary focus. Spas as well as individual providers need to monitor their market and fine-tune their selection of services to not only exceed customer expectations but also to provide a well-formulated concept that addresses well being and the prevention of illness as the association of the spa world solely with pampering transitions to a world of health and wellness.

A sincere threat to any spa business is being rigid in the formulation of services and losing touch with a fast evolving market, product and service development. Spa College has stepped up to bridge that gap. By specializing in developing services unique to the individual operation and in collaboration with the provider or owner/operator as well as providing ongoing training and quality control, Spa College helps spas and providers alike to preempt client needs and desires and distinguish themselves from their competition.

Increasing Spa Revenue

One of the easiest ways to capture additional revenue whether as an individual reactionary or a spa operation is to offer treatments that appeal to clients who are not attracted to the selection of treatments offered. Not everyone likes a massage and at times they might feel that a massage is not the right thing and yet they might want to have a spa experience. Developing an inviting menu of services that includes spa treatments designed to embrace a local theme and available resources, is a great way to start.

An opportunity presents itself to set yourself apart by designing your own procedures with unique names, ingredients and procedures. Not only will these treatments capture the attention of new clients but also offer you a very nice venue to enhance your retail sales with the products used during the treatment.

Spa treatments can begin with very simple procedures and many do not even require a shower. Your creativity is the limit and not only will you be able to address a whole new level of clientele but also improve your image and position yourself as innovative and customer oriented.

In the life of spas, and the career of a practitioner, versatility is a highly sought skill. Being ready and able to adapt to a quickly changing environment, trends and the needs (not to mention the personalities) of your clients, will keep you successful. This is especially key with the growing number of spas popping up around your neighborhood, and in every conceivable landscape around the world. Spas are a business before they are an experience, and you need to know where to ebb and flow. Versatility is more than being pliable with the treatments you offer but resourceful in your business direction and maximizing sales for minimum dollars.

To keep both your practice and your professional development growing, it is key to seek out new training and new opportunities. Whether you are looking to grow an individual practice or obtain an exciting position in a foreign resort spa, you can capture new skills at seminars, expos, getaway's, and local schools. Spa and massage training have entered the mainstream! That means we receive more recognition and are seen as authorities on our subject matter by our clients; a perfect opportunity to implement a new treatment and educate tour clients on their benefits. Have you at least done one thing lately that has positioned you as an expert, or delivered you message in just the way you wanted?
Just pick new thing and start working towards it, whether it is related to bodywork or in another area. Categorize your list of task and start checking them off. 

To achieve versatility, our theory is you first need to exercise an open mind. An open mind stimulates new learning and experiences. When we consider what essential aspects go into our brand, and facility design, why would we think any differently when it comes to our fundamental service and training. Don't underscore the importance of versatility when it comes to keeping your clients consistent with return treatments, again and again. One way to do that is to introduce a new treatment, and have the ability to promote it. Continue reading at: Spa College

Healthy Success. Liz and Nicolay

PS: For more information please contact us at info@spa-college.com.

• The Secrets of Spa Treatments.
November 4 - 8, 2007. Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
5 days, 40 hours. Tuition: $800 plus accommodations.
Click here for more information and to register.

• Advanced Spa Therapy
November 10 - 14, 2007. Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
5 days, 40 hours. Tuition: $800 plus accommodations.
Click here for more information and to register.

• Spa Manager Seminar
November 15-16, 2007. Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
2 days, 16 hours. Tuition: $350 plus accommodations.
Click here for more information and to register.

More Workshops:

• The 100 hour Massage Intensive.
August 25 - September 7, 2007. Heartwood Institute. Garberville, California
14 days, 100 hours. Tuition: $1295 plus accommodations.
Click here for more information and to register call Toll Free 877-936-9663.

• The 100 hour Massage Intensive.
October 7 - 18, 2007. Kalani Honua. Big Island, Hawaii
11 days, 100 hours. Tuition: $1350 plus accommodations.
Click here for more information and to register call Toll Free 1-800-800-6886 X107.

• The 2 day clinic.
October 19 - 20, 2007. Kalani Honua. Big Island
2 days. Tuition: $175 plus accommodations.
Click here for more information and to register.

• The 100 hour Massage Intensive.
March 22 - April 2, 2008. Kalani Honua. Big Island, Hawaii
11 days, 100 hours. Tuition: $1350 plus accommodations.
Click here for more information.

• The 2 day clinic.
April 4 - 5, 2008. Kalani Honua. Big Island
2 days. Tuition: $175 plus accommodations.
Click here for more information.

• 5 Day Advanced Bodywork Training
April 7 - April 11, 2008. Kalani Honua. Big Island, Hawaii
5 days, 50 hours. Tuition: $650 plus accommodations.
Click here for more information.