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March 16, 2004
 

In This Issue:
-- Banyan Tree a winner at First Annual Spa Awards By Condé Nast Traveler
-- Bliss Soho Wins UK "Best Urban Day Spa Overseas"
-- Mandarin Oriental Announces Unique Cultural Retreat and Destination Spa In Thailand
-- Murdock Breaks Ground on new Spa Resort in Westlake Village
-- Riverside, Calif., Mall Is Latest Site in Spasm of Spa Openings
-- The Advent of the Dental Spa
-- Some Can't Wait to See Spa Dentist
-- Room to Spar in Singapore's Competitive Spa Market
-- Spa Management 101 with Leslie Wolski
-- Aromatherapy Alliance
-- Graphic, Logo, and Web Design for the Spa and Salon Industry
-- New Posts to the SpaIndex.Com Career Board

Welcome to SpaWire (tm), a complimentary digest of spa industry news, features, and resources for the spa and salon professional, brought to you by SpaIndex.Com: Guide to Day Spas and Stay Spas.

Banyan Tree a winner at First Annual Spa Awards By Condé Nast Traveller
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Spas by Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts and sister brand Angsana Resorts & Spas bagged a total of seven awards in an international ranking, emerging as a single spa group to win the most awards. The group received kudos in all three categories where its spas could participate and was also among the "World's Top 25" listings. (HospitalityNet.Org)

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Bliss Soho Wins UK "Best Urban Day Spa Overseas"
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Manhattan's Bliss Soho was voted "Best Overseas Spa" in the 2004 UK Conde Nast Traveller readers' poll. "Unbeatable ambience and facilities" and famous facials scored Bliss Soho the top billing to beat out luxury competitors in regions ranging from Paris and Bangkok to South Beach and Brisbane. (HospitalityNet.Org)

Full Story

Mandarin Oriental Announces Unique Cultural Retreat and Destination Spa In Thailand
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Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group announced that it will manage a luxurious hideaway resort that is under development in Chiang Mai, the cultural and historical heart of Northern Thailand. Designed to appeal to internationally sophisticated travelers in search of innovative ways to restore balance in their lives, the retreat will provide a holistic approach to the rejuvenation of body, mind and spirit. At the same time, it will offer a series of authentic culinary, educational and adventurous experiences on site and in the surrounding region. The resort is due to open at the end of 2004. (HospitalityNet.Org)

Full Story

Murdock Breaks Ground on new Spa Resort in Westlake Village
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Fresh-fruit magnate and land baron David H. Murdock, joined by his longtime friend Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, broke ground Friday on a five-star spa and resort in Westlake Village, California, that will extol the virtues of a healthy lifestyle. (DailyNews.Com)

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Riverside, Calif., Mall Is Latest Site in Spasm of Spa Openings
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For the third time in six months, a full-service spa will open in a regional shopping mall in California's Inland Empire. Tyler Ranch Spa & Salon will open in May at the Galleria at Tyler, said Paula Emanuele, the Riverside mall's marketing director. (Business Press)

Full Story

The Advent of the Dental Spa
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PlayStation®, cyber cafes, paraffin wax hand treatments, cappuccino and homemade cookies make going to the dentist a whole, new experience. This ain't the office of your daddy's dentist, for sure. You'll find "dental spas" in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta and Boca Raton and now in Richmond, Va. (BJournal.Com)

Full Story

Some Can't Wait to See Spa Dentist
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Dentist Kimberly Baer, owner of Bethesda Dental Spa, says she did a lot of research before opening a full-service spa as part of her dental practice last fall. "We got into it from a relaxation standpoint," Baer says. "We found that if we gave our patients a massage, the anesthetic worked better and lasted longer. We've had a really great response." Baer's dental spa offers a range of dental procedures as well as skin care services, laser hair removal and massage therapy. Most dental procedures come with a complimentary hand, neck or foot massage or mini- facial. (BaltimoreSun)

Full Story

Room to Spar in Singapore's Competitive Spa Market
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The local spa industry has seen increasingly more players, even those whose core businesses are not spas. For its diminutive size, Singapore has more than its fair share of spas, ranging from luxurious resort- style operations and chic urban dos to heartlander salon-cum-spas and sleazy wannabes. Peter Sng, president of the Spa Association of Singapore, estimates that on top of the 23 association members, there are some 200 other spa operators including boutique spas and day spas in the heartlands. (Corinne Kirk, BusinessTimesAsia)

Full Story

Spa Management 101 with Leslie Wolski
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So, you're in the Spa business? How does it feel? Are you calm and relaxed? Enjoying 2 or 3 spa treatments a day? Not likely. Spa is a business like any other. There are staffing challenges to overcome, guest service expectations to meet and budgets to balance. This course is for everyone in the spa business (or anyone considering it) who needs some solid and proven operational expertise to make your life a little easier and your business more profitable.

Leslie Wolski has been in Spa operations for over 10 years and has a long list of success stories. Leslie will cover the top 5 challenges involved in spa operations and will provide coaching on your specific challenges. Please register early, as space is limited to 50 attendees. Handouts will be provided. Next course: April 5, 2004, at the San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology, San Francisco, California.

Registration Information

Aromatherapy Alliance
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The AROMATHERAPY ALLIANCE is a not-for- profit organization serving the United States in the New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New Jersey Areas. We strive to provide our members with information regarding clinical aromatherapy and its applications, and we host FREE informational seminars and workshops. Meetings consist of a brief organizational portion, an educational presentation and a networking event. We are a low-key, friendly group of women and men who meet 4 - 6 times per year to educate each other about clinical aromatherapy and its applications.

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Graphic, Logo, and Web Design for the Spa and Salon Industry
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Would you like to brand your Spa or Salon facility with a unique look? Visit Oui d'Zine (we design) ... offering custom logos, corporate identity and more for the spa industry.

"Excellent work, top notch customer service, and competive rates. We highly recommend Oui d'Zine to our spa members." -- Spa Index (with SpaWire logo design by Oui d'Zine).





 

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New Posts to the SpaIndex.Com Career Board
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Job Seeker in California (03-15-04): I am an experienced licensed Aesthetician and Makeup Artist. I specialize in brow sculpting as well as body waxing. I am seeking a private room with a bathroom or access to a bathroom within a wellness center/cosmetic dermatologist's office or salon/day spa. I am looking for either a rental (reasonable rent) or commission situation in the West San Fernando Valley. I carry three skin care lines as well as Iredale Mineral Cosmetics for everyday wear. I have my fingers crossed that I will find the right situation with fun and caring individuals within a great environment to work!

Job Openings in Washington, D.C. (02-14-04): Newsmaking, upscale day spa opening in Downtown DC, seeking Asst. manager, massage therapists, estheticians, nail specialists, receptionists and spa attendants. Licensed, experienced personnel with great attitude and customer service skills.

Visit the SpaIndex.Com Career Board