Issue 2004 Q4

8 letters
Champneys’ Stephen Purdew explains the benefits of launching a private label product range with a supermarket chain

12 news
An Italian spa town seeks investors and Taj opens in India and Mauritius

20 interview: elaine fenard
The head of Starwood’s spa division tells Rhianon Howells about her vision for the group

26 opinion: blind therapists
What are the key issues surrounding the employment of blind therapists? Karen Maxwell finds out

30 mature attitudes
Leonor Stanton reviews the latest US spa industry study published by the International Spa Association

36 a fresh start
A new mineral water facility is reviving spa culture in the Belgian town of Spa. Magali Robathan pays a visit

42 yoga guru: rodney yee
A-list yoga teacher Rodney Yee tells Kath Seward how spa operators can make the most of their yoga offer

46 going for gold
A new thalasso centre is making its mark at the Divani Apollon Palace hotel in Athens. Catherine Larner reports

54 training: uc irvine
Karen Maxwell gets the lowdown on a new certificate programme for spa professionals offered by the University of California at Irvine

58 born again
La Costa resort in Carlsbad, California, has been given a new lease of life with a multi-million dollar renovation project and a brand new spa. Peter Sargent takes a look around

64 made in taiwan
The Spring Park Spa and Resort near the Taiwanese capital of Taipei combines traditional hot springs culture with a contemporary spa offer. Duncan Jenner pays a visit

72 mystery shopper: mandara spa tokyo
Jennifer Harbottle goes undercover at Mandara’s first spa in Japan at the Royal Park Shiodome Tower in Tokyo

76 360?: something old, something new
Lake Austin Spa Resort in Texas, USA, has reinvented itself with a new, multi-million dollar spa facility. Rhianon Howells goes behind the scenes